2021 is almost over, and there are many things we should pay attention to. As you start wrapping up your campaigns for the year, the creative cycle begins all over again. Before you start implementing new ideas or pursuing new milestones, starting the new year on a clean slate is crucial. Planning for most business owners can be frustrating, especially regarding time-sensitive priorities. Still, it will give you a good start to the year.

Five Steps to Plan Your Marketing Strategy

#1 Evaluate your present business strategy.

Your marketing strategy is a blueprint for your decisions in the coming year. The first step is to evaluate what you have done this year. Are you happy with your sales results? What did you do differently with your marketing campaigns? Did you meet your goals? Are your customers happy with you? Take an assessment of your campaigns this year and note areas you would have improved. Next, perform a marketing SWOT analysis to help you uncover the blind spots of your industry that you may want to leverage in 2022. Moreso, a lot has changed in your industry in the past year and sticking to the same analyses may be unproductive next year.

#2 Understand trends in your industry.

The year 2021 began with most business owners recovering from the global pandemic, Covid19. While entrepreneurs are trying to find innovative ways to run a successful business amid the pandemic, staying up-to-date with trends and happenings in your industry is essential. You might as well check out Forbes and Finance Online predictions on entrepreneurship.

#3 Have clear goals.

Besides understanding market trends, ensure that your marketing goals should be measurable and tied to a timeframe. Immediately you have identified your goals, create a strategy to meet your goals. It is creating new products, raising brand awareness or building a successful partnership. Then place the methods to achieve your goals: digital advertising, influencer marketing or physical advertising. If you have any challenges understanding how to navigate your goals, you can reach out to me.

#4 Refocus on your marketing.

The next step is to refocus on your marketing. The new year does not have to involve new goals, it can be the same goals, but redefined with a clearer focus. It is quite easy to lose focus on your objectives as the year goes by. In fact, many businesses lose their focus in the bid to trend. Sometimes, it can be as a result of fear of missing out. Hence, you need to re-introduce your brand, vision and mission to your audience. Ensure that you do not forget the major details that make your company stand out. Grow your marketing efforts around your vision and mission and find better ways to communicate to your audience.

#5 Prioritize your projects.

I don’t want to focus on big projects because size does not always drive results. However, understanding the effect of each project on your business will help you prioritize properly. What is your major goal for the year? How does this project affect your brand visibility and income? If you are unsure, you might have to re-analyse your budget, hire or project management, or consult a business coach. You don’t have to create a project with a huge budget to m