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A Formal Marketing Plan Purpose

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A formal marketing plan provides a clear reference point for activities throughout the planning period.
LEARNING OBJECTIVE * Identify the purpose and use of creating marketing plans

KEY POINTS * Marketing plans are included in business plans, offering data showing investors how the company will grow and what kind return they will get on their investment. * Marketing plans make the marketing team look at the environment in which they operate. * Marketing plans can be written to fulfill the requirements of the yearly planning process within the marketing department.

TERM * return on investment
Return on investment (ROI) is one way of considering profits in relation to capital invested.

EXAMPLE * The competitive business environment in addition to the current financial crises makes it mandatory to have a business plan if you want funding for your company.
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Introduction
Failing to plan is planning to fail. -- Alan Lakein
You've probably heard this expression before, and many successful businessmen will probably tell you the same. Still, what's the point of creating a formal marketing plan? Exactly what purpose does a marketing plan serve?

Marketing Plan
Marketing plans serve both an internal and external purpose.
In this unit, we're going to answer that question.
Why a Marketing Plan is Essential
A formal marketing plan provides a clear reference point for activities throughout the planning period. However, perhaps the most important benefit of these plans is the planning process itself. This typically offers a unique opportunity, a forum, for information-rich and productively focused discussions between the various managers involved. The plan, together with the associated discussions, then provides an agreed context for their subsequent management activities, even for those not

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