a. External Environment

i. Regulatory
ii. Political
iii. Economic
iv. Social
v. International

b. Corporate Review

i. Mission statement, corporate vision, strategic intent
ii. Corporate plan
iii. Long term goals
iv. Objectives such as profit, ROI, share price
v. Organizational chart

c. Product Category Review

i. General description (life cycle state, needs/wants specified)
ii. Sales trends (years, seasonality, share of major brands)
iii. Distribution profile
iv. Pricing overview
v. Packaging overview

d. Competitive Analysis

i. Description of major competitors’ strengths/weaknesses

1. product
2. distribution
3. pricing

ii. Brand positioning and advertising

1. media spending (by medium, seasonality)
2. sales promotion (trade vs. consumer)

iii. Anticipated major programs (new/improved brands, new territories, changes in distribution, pricing, marketing communication)

e. Consumer Analysis

i. Customers/buyers vs. consumers/users (and influences)
ii. Demographics and psychographics
iii. Purchase rate
iv. Brand loyalty analysis
v. Difference between brand and category users

f. Brand Review

i. Current positioning, sales trends, performance test results, awareness, pricing history, distribution history, marketing communication history, stage in brand life cycle, source of additional business

II. PROBLEMS AND OPPORTUNITIES

a. SWOT

i. Internal Strengths and Weaknesses
ii. External Threats and Opportunities

b. Opportunity analysis

c. Problems

III. STRATEGIC PLANNING: THE BASIC DECISIONS

a. Marketing objectives (sales; share)

b. Marketing strategies

c. Targeting and segmenting

d. Identification or competitive advantage

e. Positioning and branding

IV. MARKETING MIX OBJECTIVES, STRATEGIES, AND TACTICS

a. Product

i. Objectives (brand/line extensions, improvements, deletions)

b. Place (distribution)

i. Objectives (penetration, type outlets, geography, service level)
ii. Channels
iii. Warehousing
iv. Retailing

c. Pricing

i. Objectives

d. Promotion (communication)

i. Personal selling
ii. Advertising
iii. Sales promotion
iv. Packaging
v. Direct marketing

V. CONTROL AND EVALUATION

a. Forecasting

b. Budgeting

c. Scheduling and Timing

d. Evaluation

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Additional Resources:

Sample Marketing Plans