Communication Plans & Communication Strategies ... Are They The Same OR Different?

Hi .. 

My last blog post was all about having a plan.  Plans are great! They lay out what you want to do. Let's say for example, you are planning a vacation.  You need to choose where you are going.  how you will get there, where you will stay, what you will do, etc.  

The plan is made. Now you need to put it into action and make it all happen! That is the strategy!  So in the case of your vacation, the strategy might be that you add sick days to vacation time to get enough time off for your vacation,  save on groceries for extra spending money, call some friends for free places to stay, etc.  

Are you seeing the difference?  Plans are wonderful for your online planning. They map how what you "plan" to do via your online presence.  And again, the strategy is putting that plan into action.

Using a business example,  your plan is to create 5 new clients via Linkedin via posts, group activity, Linkedin email and requests for new connections. The strategy would base itself upon the content you need to use to attract and connect to the type of client you are looking for and how you would take the Linkedin areas defined in the plan and integrate their functionality to create a bigger whole and create the 5 new clients! 

Do you see the difference now?  Let me know!  Leave your comments below. I would love to have you share your thoughts.

Keep your business growing ...
margie

How Do You Make Online Marketing Easy? Have A PLAN!

Is it "really"  more fun NOT to have a plan?  Winging it .. last minute changes ...go with the flow ... random stabbing at opportunities .... never knowing what you are going to do, etc!  

Really? ... I mean REALLY? You would think so because so many small businesses have taken on the above "ways" for their daily online marketing activities! The overwhelming number of resources all shouting out how valuable they "each" are is probably one of the reasons that this sad state of affairs exist.  It really is a mess out there ... with lots and lots of duplication.

When you stop to think about it, do any of these "ways" ... winging it, last minute changes, go with the flow, etc, ... sound like a smart way to create, manage and grow a business?  Do any of them represent a "style" that you would use for your future security? I don't think so.  Yet again, online marketing is being managed this way by many small businesses.  Time might be a factor, especially for the entrepreneur. 

Just last week, an online group that I follow, had a post in which someone asked  followers when they are short of time, which marketing resources do they grab to use if limited to just two?

1. First ... one should not be just "grabbing" at resources.   This speaks to my point that winging it, random stabbing, etc is no way to run a business. 
2. It also speaks to online marketing resources having the control of a business success NOT the communications going over the resources. 
3. And lastly, it makes it sound like all businesses might have the same priorities. 

ALL of the above chaos goes away when you have a plan!  Planning is vital at "any" level of your marketing! Plan your marketing for one product or plan for a huge marketing campaign over a certain amount of time ... BUT DO PLAN!

Identifying the "jobs" that need to be done to attract, connect, interest and convert buyers, choosing and assigning resources to do these jobs and creating the messaging for your plan makes your life soooo much easier AND more successful. 

Going back to the question in the online group that I follow .... let's say the resources in this question were people  Which two people would you keep working in the same scenario. Wouldn't you first be asking what you needed to get done that day?  Of course.  It's really the same with online marketing. If you have a plan and on a given day you are short of time, you know the two most important tasks that need to get done on that day for the unique communications needs of "your" business!  It probably won't be the same as other businesses! And you probably would feel foolish even asking the question! 

Do you see the difference?  I hope so!   Let me know your thoughts! 

If you need help creating a plan for your online marketing you may want to know more about our Lay Of The Land training!  One-on-one, hand-holding and guaranteed to enlighten your online experience, empower you and give you the confidence you need to drive your business forward ! 

Keep your business growing ... 

margie