How to create a 2025 Marketing Plan that actually works

Hi everyone, and welcome to my video series! Today, I’m going to talk about something that’s close to every marketer’s heart—how to create a marketing plan that actually works.

Now, I don’t know about you, but it can be quite frustrating when marketing plans don’t deliver the results you expect. So, I want to walk you through a few key points (don’t worry, I won’t cover the entire marketing plan process—I’d be here for hours!) to help you when writing your marketing plan for 2025.

1. Set SMART Objectives

The first thing I always recommend is to set clear objectives, and make them SMART. That stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic (I’ll have to think about the exact ‘R’!), and Timely.

Having SMART objectives gives your plan structure and focus. For example, you could say:

“I want to increase traffic to my homepage by 15% by March 2025.”

This way, you know exactly what you’re aiming for and where your benchmark is. So, make sure you start by setting your SMART objectives!

2. Conduct a SWOT Analysis

Next, I suggest you do a SWOT analysis—yes, it’s a bit of a classic, but it’s really helpful. SWOT stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. It’s great for getting into a mindset where you can be objective about where your business stands, helping you pinpoint opportunities and potential challenges going forward.

3. Use Data to Drive Your Plan

Another critical step is to use data to guide your planning. Dive into the analytics—look at things like traffic sources, email open rates, referral rates, and client retention or acquisition stats. Understanding this data will help you set realistic benchmarks based on past performance. Without knowing where you currently stand, it’s difficult to know where you can improve.

If you don’t understand the data, you won’t know how to drive your strategy forward—so it’s essential to get familiar with it.

4. Allocate Your Budget Wisely

When it comes to budgeting, invest in areas where you’ll see the highest return on investment. I know that’s easier said than done, especially when it’s tempting to try new things. My advice? Set aside some budget for experimentation while still focusing on key areas like retention and acquisition. Also, leave room for the unexpected—you never know what might come up during the year!

5. Build in Flexibility

Lastly, don’t just write a marketing plan and forget about it. Be agile. Make sure you have quarterly reviews to assess your progress, adjust your tactics if necessary, and potentially have a Plan B ready. A good marketing plan needs to evolve with your business and the market, so build in that flexibility.

Final Thoughts

Hopefully, these tips will help you put together a marketing plan for 2025 that truly delivers results. If you need any support with marketing planning, feel free to book a discovery call —it’s one of the services I offer.