Do You Have a Plan?

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As we start the journey down the path identifying the various pieces involved in developing an Internet Message Delivery System (remember that Message Delivery can be replaced with Marketing), it is essential that we have a “Plan” with a clear vision of what is to be accomplished.

Now understand that the “Plan” I am talking about here isn’t the Internet delivery system because in actuality that system is a part of the “Plan”.

The “Plan” I am talking about here defines the:

1.      Purpose of the message;

2.      Nature of the message;

3.      Desired outcome after delivery of the message.

What does this mean exactly?

Every time I think of a plan, there is commercial pops into my mind where Dennis Hopper is sitting in the middle of an intersection in the desert talking about retirement to the “Baby Boomers”.

Towards the end of the video he states in a pleading voice ” you gotta have a plan!”  (Somehow I can hear him saying it as I typed it!)

Just as Dennis Hopper said in the video, we have to have our “Plan” as well!

Here’s another way you can think about it ….

Let’s say you have just finished a marathon session of culinary creation in the kitchen and you created the tastiest, low-cal Cajun dish in the world.  You’re so excited about your new creation and others produced during your session, you just need to get the word out to the world!

Why?

Well perhaps you just want to share it.

Perhaps you’re hoping to get other “like-minded” people to share their Cajun culinary gems as well.

Maybe you’ve decided to take it to the next level to create a low-cal Cajun cookbook and want to get the recipe field-tested plus build your “Brand” so to speak.

Each of these scenarios has a different purpose, will change the nature of the message and the expected outcome; all key factors in defining your target audience (or target market as appropriate).

See as important as the Internet Message Delivery System may appear, it is only a part of the overall “Plan”. That must be in place before you develop the system.

Once the “Plan” is set and you’ve selected the Internet as the medium for delivery of the message, it’s time to define the road-map for the system. The road-map starts by identifying the target audience (target market).

We’ll pick it up there the next time …..