Updated links to marketing planning ideas and resources

My list of links to marketing planing ideas and resources has been updated. Now you can click to see more than 50 sources of data, advice and news related to:

• Preparing for marketing planning and implementation
• Analysing the marketing environment
• Researching consumer and business demographics
• Marketing ethics, social responsibility and sustainability
• Branding issues and ideas
• Marketing mix issues and ideas
• Marketing channels and retailing trends

For instance, if you're looking for a marketing plan template, my list includes a link to the Australian government's business page with a downloadable guide and template.

So please browse the links the next time you're researching the background for a marketing plan project.

Writing a marketing plan? Check newly updated links

If you're preparing a marketing plan, you may find some valuable ideas amongst the 80+ hotlinks here on my blog. The list is now updated with additional sources of marketing news and links to marketing resources around the world. 

• For marketing plan templates and tips, be sure to check the CIM Marketing Expert page.
• For an overview of the main components of a marketing plan, visit NI Business Info.
• For more detail about writing a marketing plan and planning for social media, visit Business Victoria.

Just as important as your marketing choices: Plan ahead for metrics to measure results to evaluate the outcome of each marketing programme.

Researching the marketing environment

DEVELOPING YOUR MARKETING PLAN

Every marketing plan begins with a review of the external trends and changes that affect the company, product, customers, buying trends and competition.

To get a headstart on researching the marketing environment, try clicking on the links shown on my Marketing planning links page. Every link is regularly tested and updated as needed--plus new links are added as well.

Links are categorised according to:

• Preparing for marketing planning
• Analysing the marketing environment
• Researching consumer and business demographics
• Marketing ethics, social responsibility and sustainability
• Branding issues and ideas
• Marketing issues and ideas
• Marketing control and implementation
• Retailing and channel trends

For a broad overview of the marketing plan, including a free downloadable template, click here.

Facebook sources for marketing plan research

Don't overlook Facebook sources for marketing plan research. Here are four content-rich FB pages to get you started in your search for competitive information, industry profiles, consumer behaviour insights and more:

• Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) posts content and links to interviews and articles of interest to marketers on its FB page. Take a look at the posts for #keepsocialhonest, for example, which reveal consumer attitudes towards brand behaviour on social media.
• Statista posts links to statistics about consumers, business and marketing on its Facebook page. A recent post looked at mobile use of news sites, which would be of interest to marketers planning for publicity.
• CMO.com's FB page covers news and interviews of interest to marketers who target consumers or B2B. One recent post mentioned how the ability to research vendors and products online is affecting B2B sales.
• E-consultancy's FB page links to valuable content such as surveys, summaries, statistics, critiques and news about digital marketing. New posts appear frequently so check this page often.

Updating the Lost Legends Luxury Chocolatier marketing plan

Lost Legends Luxury Chocolatier is a fictional startup created to illustrate a sample marketing plan in my Essential Guide to Marketing Planning text. To update this marketing plan, consider:

• Products and marketing by competitors such as the Grown Up Chocolate Company, Hotel Chocolat, Thorntons and Paul A Young. See what they're offering, the prices they charge, the markets they serve and the flavours they're introducing.
• The cocoa supply situation, supplier concerns and potential problems that might disrupt delivery of chocolate and other ingredients.
• UK chocolate consumption trends and implications for future demand.
• Social-cultural issues that affect consumption and brand loyalty, such as consumer preference for authenticity.
• Legal issues such as new food labelling requirements to indicate allergens.
• Technological issues such as 3D choco printing.
• Pricing trends and consumer reaction.