Marketing Plan - Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I need a marketing plan?
Marketing is an essential part of business operations. Careful planning and a thorough understanding of the marketplace are keys to developing a strategy that will ensure success. A good marketing plan for your product helps you focus on your markets, streamlines your advertising activities and ensures that a consistent, high quality image is portrayed and maintained.

What is included in a marketing plan?

The marketing plan is one of the components of your business plan and should include the following:
Who are your clients/customers?
What is unique about your product?
When will you launch your product?
Where and how will you market your product?
How much sales, spending and profits will be achieved?

The financial projections in your business plan are based on the assumptions contained in your marketing plan.

Where can I find information on business plans?
Information on developing marketing plans is available from provincial government departments, the federal government, business service centres, banks, libraries, universities and consulting companies. It is very important that you are actively involved in the development of your marketing plan as you are the one that has to make the business decisions. The research and gathering of information helps you more fully understand all elements and factors that may affect your business.

Further information can be found on the Alberta Agriculture & Food web site www.agric.gov.ab.ca or by calling Alberta Agriculture New Venture Specialist at 310-FARM (3276).

Developing a Promotional Plan
Starting and Growing a Business: Marketing

Prepared by Kathy Bosse, Ag-Info Centre, Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development

For more information about the content of this document, contact Kathy Bosse.
This document is maintained by Mary Ann Nelson.
This information published to the web on February 27, 2004.
Last Reviewed/Revised on November 16, 2017.