Imagine running your business by the seat of your pants with no plan in place.

You know where you want to go, and luckily you make the right turns, take the right roads, and hit most of the green lights. You’re coasting along on auto-pilot, knowing that someday your dreams will come true.

But what happens if you get lost along the way?

Your marketing plan is your own personal road map, helping you stay on the right course, making continual progress toward your big vision. Think of it as your very own personal small business success compass. That way, if you do get lost or run into a detour, you can review your marketing plan and correct your course to keep you headed in the right direction.

Now, don’t get me wrong. A lot of entrepreneurs and business owners never create a marketing plan and do okay. They are completely happy taking whatever action they feel like, whenever they feel like it, and seeing results steadily trickle in.

But, if you’re anything like me, you don’t want to just do okay. You want to hit a home run and completely knock it out of the ballpark. And, you want to know exactly how to make that happen.

A good marketing plan will do that for you, and a coordinating marketing calendar can help you keep everything on track and on time.

Just remember, that your marketing plan is a living document that may need to be updated and revised as you grow your business. It is not something you stick on a self and look at again in a year.

QUICK TIP: Create a secondary, single page, mini-marketing plan and post it on the wall by your desk. Review it each day to stay motivated and inspired by the progress you are making.