Format for the Marketing Plan

1. Executive Summary

A. Summary of Situation Analysis (one A4 page)

B. Summary of Marketing Objectives. ( ¼ A4 page)

C. Summary of Marketing Strategies. ( one A4 page)

D. Summary of Financial Projections.( one A4 page)

2. Vision and Mission ( 1/4 A4 page)

3 The Company

3.1. Brief history( one A4 page)

3.2. Current size, the areas where the company is operating, growth and profitability etc.

( one A4 page)

3.3. Internal Environment

a. Staff Relations( one A4 page)

b. Resource Constraints ( one A4 page)

c. Corporate Structure and Culture ( two A 4 page)

4. The Product / Service

4.1. General Product Story

a. Development, introduction and history.( one A4 page)

b. Product category and characteristics ( ½ A4 page)

c. Stage of Product Life Cycle. ( one A4 page)

d. Product uses ( 1/4 A 4 page)

5. The overall Market ( customers)

5.2. Market size estimates

a. Current ( 1/2 A4 page)

b. Trends and Future growth ( ½ A4 page)

c. Expected market ( demand estimates) ( ½ A4 page)

5.2. Market Segments

a. Geographic( ½ A4 page)

b. Demographic( ½ A4 page)

c. Psychographic( 1/2 A4 page)

d. Behavioral( ½ A4 page)

5.3. Description of the characteristics of target customers

a. Needs and benefits sought( ½ A4 page)

b. Product usage( ½ A4 page)

who is using, why they use, when do they use, how it is used

d. Attitudes of the customers

i. As to product category, ( ½ A4 page)

ii. As to company’s product( ½ A4 page) ( if it is a new product, support with specific research done with your product)

(iii. Why they like our product or not, ( ½ A4 page)( If it is a new product, support with specific research done with your product)

iv. Any unique character of our customers( ½ A4 page)

5.4. Description of the purchasing process

a. Buying decision making process( one A4 page)

b. What sources of information is sought( ½ A4 page)

c. Who makes the purchase? ( 1/4 A4 page)

d. Is purchaser the consumer? ( 1/4 A4 page)

e. Who or what may influence the purchase? ( ½ A4 page)

6. Competition and Market share

. 6.1. Identification of competitors

a. List of Primary competitors( ½ A4 page)

b. List of Secondary competitors( ¼ A4 page)

c. Possible new competitors( ¼ A4 page)

6.2 Market Share

a. Total industry sale by market( 1/2 A4 page)

b. Comparative analysis of Market share held by the company and competitors

(½ A4 page)

c. Market share potential for the company( ½ A4 page)

6.2 Describe following details of top three players in the market and any other competitor that would pose a threat to you or that you would be fighting with in order to enter into the market-

a. Background of competitors ( use one A4 page per competitor)

i. Company and its size/type

ii. Reputation

iii. Sales force and their expertise

iv. Financial strength

v. Technology used

vi. Research and development capabilities

vii. Any other important aspect

b. Current Product Strategy of competitors ( use one A4 page per competitor)

Comparative analysis of competitors product strategy

i. Product Mix

ii. Branding and packaging

iii. Positioning

iv. Image and reputation of brand

v . Product Strengths and weaknesses

c. Current distribution strategy of competitors ( use one A4 page per competitor)

Comparative Analysis about the competitors distribution strategy

i. Type of distribution network used

ii. Evaluation of how distribution targets accomplished

iii. Relationship with channel members

iv. Strength of the channel members

d. Current Pricing Strategy ( use one A4 page per competitor)

v. Comparative analysis of Competitors prices

i. Pricing objectives

ii. Pricing strategies

iii. Buyers attitude about the company prices

iv. Channel attitude of about the company’s prices

e. Current Promotional Strategy ( use one A4 page per competitor)

Comparative Analysis of Competitor promo tools and campaigns

i. Promotional Objectives

ii. Strategies and themes used

iii. Promotional Budgets and methods of allocation

iv. Promotional tools used

a. Advertising

b. Sales Promotions

c. Public Relations

d. Direct marketing

e. Personal Selling

vi. Success and failures of promo campaigns

6.3 Summary of the competition

7. External Environmental factors

7.1 PESTEEL Factors ( use only ¼ A4 page per sub topic)

1. Political

2. Economical

3. Social

4. Technological

5. Ecological

6. Environmental

7. Legal

8. SWOT Analysis( use ¼ A 4 page per sub topic)

3.G.1. Strengths

3.G.2. Weaknesses

3.G.3 Opportunities

3.G. 4 Threats

9. Sales Objectives: ( ½ A4 page)

It represents projected level of sales to be achieved. This is the most important element because it creates the direction for entire marketing plan. It should be SMART. Everything that follows in the plan designed to meet the sales objectives.

10. Marketing Objectives ( one A4 page)

Marketing Objectives: Clearly defines what need of the market that you serve and what behavior you want from the market. It should be SMART. Objectives would be for retaining existing customers, increasing sales from existing customers, developing new customers, increasing usage of the product etc.

11.Overall Marketing Strategies

11. 1 Targeting and Positioning

11.1.1. Targeting ( ½ A4 page)

11.1.2. Positioning ( ½ A4 page)

11.2 Tactical Marketing Mix Strategy Development ( 7 ps)

11.2.1 Product Strategy( one A4 page)

11.2.2 Pricing Strategy( one A4 page)

11.2.3 Promotional Strategy( upto four A4 pages)

11.2.4 Distribution Strategy ( one A4 page)

11.2.5 Physical Evidence Strategy ( one A4 page)

11.2.6 Process Strategy ( one A4 page)

11.2.7 People Strategy ( one A4 page)

13. Budgets and financial Analysis ( one A4 page)

You should strictly adhere to the given format. If deviations take place, a comparative evaluation cannot be done. Therefore any analysis that does not conform to given format will be rejected.

Projected profit and Loss statement should be on one A 4 pages as provided. You have to explain in detail the income and expenditure in notes to the budget.

14. Marketing Strategy Implementation (Action plans) ( three A 4 pages)

A Gnat chart should be given in one or two A4 pages. If needed you may explain it on notes.

15. Monitoring and Evaluation ( 2 A4 pages)

Graphical illustration plus a detailed explanation should be given and maximum of 2 A 4 pages can be used.

List of References

( Harvard Format)

Appendix

(Relevant data, research questionnaire, rate cards or any other material that would substantiate your arguments or information in the assignment)

( The body of the Marketing Plan other than the appendixes would contain about 55 to 60 A 4 pages or in other words around 12000 to 13500 words)

General format to be used

All pages should be A4 sheets on one side

• Text font to be “Times New Roman”

• Font size of the text should be 12 pt.

• Main Headings 14 pt. ( Bold)

• Sub headings 12 pt.

• Line spacing should be 1.5 lines

• Margins on Top and Bottom 1 inch

• Margins on right 1 inch

• Margins on left 1.25 inch

• Text justified

• Beginning of each Para 4 spaces indented

• All reports should be spiral bound and should be handed over to SLIM before the deadline.

(Please read the Program Handbook for general guidelines in writing assignments)