Analyzing a Marketing Plan

The goal of the tourism strategic marketing plan for Connecticut is to direct and coordinate marketing efforts. The levels in which a marketing plan operates are strategic and tactical. Strategic focuses on target market and the company’s value proposition. Tactical market plans specify marketing tactics such as product features, promotions, pricing, sales channels, and service. The salient features of the Connecticut marketing plan include its overall goals and objectives. The State is looking to gain visitors by introducing awareness of its history, activities, and art and culture. Additionally, the marketing plan has a solid understanding of its desired consumer and marketing goals.
 
Overall, the plan has a good idea as to what is needed to generate awareness. The objectives are simple and seem achievable by the company. The plan, however, has no detailed strategy for achieving the desired results. Marketing implementation should address the who, where, when, and how of a marketing goal. To address the desired segment of users, the plan suggest building the brand through marketing efforts and industry partners. The goal of the plan is to influence visitors to the State by increasing the State’s relevancy and attractiveness to potential visitors. The plan suggests that in order to communicate to the desired market segment, the company should focus on markets that have the greatest visitor potential. Those markets include women who are between the age of 25 and 54, individuals who live within surrounding areas, and individuals with a household income of $80,000 or more. 
 
To improve the current marketing plan, the marketing company should create an actual strategy that can be followed to implement the plan. Marketing implementation is the process that ensures the strategy accomplishes the stated objectives. For instance, the plan refers to building search engine optimization into its production. However, it does not mention which keywords to optimize for and why those keywords are best suited for the task. Additionally, the plan has no mention why this plan will be effective at producing positive results. Furthermore, there is no mention of competition and market potential. A marketing strategy should address the what and why of marketing activity.
 
Marketing plans are the starting points for successful companies, and the plan often includes dozens to hundreds of pages worth of data analysis. The difference between a marketing plan and a business plan is that a business plan focuses mainly on defining the company, its history, mission, and goals. A business plan includes more than just a marketing plan or strategy. It also includes discussion regarding staffing, locations, finances, and strategic alliances. A marketing plan focuses on creating keys to success. Additionally, the marketing plan tells the story of how to achieve goals and generate success. Each of the company’s leaders and managers should see the plan and give insight into whether the plan is achievable. Marketing plans are best when there are many people involved in its creation. Gaining feedback is important considering most all ideas will affect each department within the company. Leaders and managers can provide realistic data, experiences, and share insight into market opportunities. 
 
Marketing plans are crucial for starting and growing a business. A good marketing plan will help organizations identify there target customers, and generate a plan to reach and retain those customers. The marketing plan is the roadmap to gain customers and improve organizational success if done properly. A Key section of the marketing plan includes the executive summary, which is helpful for providing an overview of the organization and the plan. Additionally, the plan describes the desired customer by targeting their precise needs based on their demographic profiles. This is helpful for identifying targeted customers and creating pinpointed advertisement aimed directly at those prospective customers. 
 
An additional crucial point of the marketing plan is its plan of distribution. The distribution plan details how customers will purchase or buy in to the organization. The promotional strategy of the plan is considered one of the most important sections of the plan. The promotional strategy details how new customers are to be reached. Examples of an affective promotional strategy include distribution and promotional tactics on television, at trade shows, and through online advertising. A marketing plan includes everything from understanding the desired customer, to determining how to outperform and strategize the competition. A marketing plan is paramount to achieving business success and the time taken to develop a marketing plan, is an investment worth making considering it defines who to connect with customers and generate sales.