8.0 Resource Requirements and Budgets

For the long term plan it is sufficient to use the forecasts used in your business plan.

The Mini Plan - the One Year Operational Plan

Your mini plan is all about implementation - what actions you need to take in the short term to move towards your long-term objectives. It is more budget-focused, with costs being set against marketing objectives.

It is suggested that you follow the layout of the long term plan, however you do not need to reproduce the background work you have carried out in the audit and used for market background etc.

Start the plan with your objectives for the year, and follow with the strategies you will be adopting to meet those objectives. You can then support the strategies with detailed action plans, showing timing and costs. You should also consider adding a contingency plan - what assumptions have you made, and how would you deal with the situation if the assumptions proved incorrect.

It may then be appropriate to include a section on financials, demonstrating the effect your marketing activities will have on revenues and profitability.

Finally, you should include a master spreadsheet, detailing when key activities start and finish, and how they dovetail into one another.

Evaluation & Control

  • Worked example

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