In order to set up a great marketing strategy, you need to write your marketing operations in black and white. The marketing timeline is one of the most important tools when starting a marketing campaign for your company. It helps to track the objectives and strategies of the campaign along with the campaign completion deadline. The marketing timeline helps you to create follow up programs, research liability and business insurance issues and reviewing your expenses and revenue. It is a good platform for marketing professionals to outline their plans and communicate them in a more impressive way. The marketing timeline template serves as a guide to create this robust marketing campaign.
There is a lot of marketing timeline templates available online that can be downloaded and used. However, you can create one yourself. Whatever the decision, the basic format is the same for all good marketing timeline template. The format should include the objectives, strategy creation, action plan, tactics and control mechanism with a clear and well defined timelines which will include a start to end date. When creating on a computer, the format will include creating column for date and proposed marketing activities. It is advisable to also include a column for check off when each goal is accomplished.
Now that you understand the format for a marketing timeline, it becomes very easy to create a well designed marketing timeline template. It is important to state once more that a well developed and executed marketing timeline is the key to successful marketing campaign. Note that without a timeline, your goals and strategy will have no real ending. The following steps will help in creating a good marketing timeline template.
Step1
First of all, you have to brainstorm with team members to develop a marketing strategy. Note that a good marketing strategy has the potential of helping you to discover opportunities and the marketing timeline helps in executing this strategy in a timely fashion.
Step2
With a strategy known, you will have to set a time frame. Depending on the level of task involved, it is important to set a realistic time frame on your marketing timeline. It could be short or long time frame but it must form a synergy with the strategy involved.
Step3
Put your strategies and timelines in black and white. You can use a word processing application to create a template for your marketing timelines. Open a fresh document and record your plans. Create columns for date and the corresponding proposed marketing activities. You may also include the column for checking off the activities when each of the goals is accomplished.
Step4
Create the marketing activities on the left side and the corresponding dates on the right. However, this is not compulsory since you can do it your own way.
Step5
Crosscheck the marketing timeline template again to ensure that all information and activities listed conforms to the overall business goals and strategies. Also ensure the dates are realistic and achievable.
Step6
Proofread and save your template. You can update it as at when due, add emerging activities, delete and review activities and dates at your own discretion.
1
If creating a new template looks difficult for you, it is advisable to download a marketing template and use it. However, you must ensure that the categories on the template fit into your marketing plan. If not discard it and keep searching for a similar plan till you find it. Once found, make the necessary adjustments to suit your goals and strategy.
2
It is not out of place to include the business goals such as creating a follow up program, researching business insurance and liability issues and improving business skills.
3
It is advisable to make smaller task complete larger goals. In fact, it is sometimes better to break larger goals into smaller task. However, do not forget to record them on your marketing timeline no matter how small the task may be.
4
It is important to state that the hardest part of creating timelines of a marketing activity is estimating the amount of time needed to complete each of the activities. Therefore it is advisable to consult your team and obtain realistic timelines for the task.
5
Ensure you stick with your timelines but remain flexible to adjust to clear challenges and setbacks. Doing this, your marketing timeline template will work perfectly for you.
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