"Goals are dreams with deadlines." -Diana Scharf Hunt

When clients come to me for marketing help, the first thing I ask is, "What's your plan?" If I'm greeted with a blank stare, then I know we have work to do!

In order to set up a great marketing strategy, you need to write it out in black and white. I highly recommend a 12-month plan, which you can set up in your favorite spreadsheet program. Using a computer will allow you to easily move tasks around as the months progress, and add new ones as you think of them. Simply create columns for "date" and "proposed marketing activities." You might also include a column to check off when you accomplish each goal.

Some of the items to include in your plan might include: