Personal Marketing Plan Assignment You are required to ✓ Solved
You are required to complete your personal marketing plan that includes the strategic marketing process elements that you are learning throughout Introduction to Marketing. These include a situation (SWOT) analysis, focus and goal setting, and marketing program.
A. Situation (SWOT) Analysis
1. Internal Assessment – What are your strengths and weaknesses?
- Strengths
- Weaknesses
- Personality
- Education
- Skills
- Job Experience
- Other
What can you do to enhance your strengths, minimize your weaknesses? What type of competitive advantage do YOU have? If you don’t have one, can you develop one? How are you differentiated?
2. External Analysis – What are the trends in the environmental factors that could have an impact on your job and career development? Technological, Regulatory/Ethics & Social Responsibility, Economic, Social?
- Social factors
- Economic factors
- Technical factors
- Legal factors
Competitive Analysis – Who are your competitor? What type of background, experiences, strengths and weaknesses do your competitors have? Market Analysis What market segments have you identified as having the best potential? How do you fit into these markets?
B. Focus and Goal Setting
What are your objectives? Make them specific and measurable. What is your target market? Examples might be large public accounting firms, business to business sales, marketing researcher for a consulting firm in Chicago.
C. Marketing Program
1. Product Strategy – Actions to improve my own marketability. Understand how it can meet the needs of your target market. What are your key attributes/benefits? How are you differentiated? Address those questions by analyze your capital:
- Formal education/courses
- Job experience
- Extra-curricular activities
- Volunteer activities
- Key attributes/benefits
- Differentiation
2. Place strategy – What channels have you developed to access your target market (prospective employers)? Associations, career placement, personal contacts, etc. Do some careful research on these. Don’t assume that intensive distribution is necessarily the way to go. Focus your channel to the target market you are seeking. Network sources for contacts and references.
3. Promotion Strategy Think about the buying process. How will you create awareness? What can you do to ‘break through the clutter’ and get the opportunity for an interview? What is your “positioning” strategy? Your personal selling skills will be important for telephone contacts and face-to-face interviews. Probe to find out about the needs of the organization before the “sales call” and during the interview. Have questions prepared.
4. Pricing – What salary and compensation package do you want; are you willing to settle for? What’s the competitive price for your target market?
Paper For Above Instructions
Creating a personal marketing plan is an essential step for anyone looking to position themselves effectively in today’s competitive job market. This plan involves a comprehensive understanding of oneself and the external environment that influences career opportunities. The components of this marketing plan consist of a SWOT analysis, focus and goal setting, and an integrated marketing program.
A. Situation (SWOT) Analysis
The internal assessment begins with identifying strengths and weaknesses. My strengths include strong analytical skills, a robust educational background in business administration, and several internships that provided real-world experience. My weaknesses may include a lack of extensive professional experience in my desired field and limited networking connections.
To enhance my strengths, I will continue to seek opportunities to leverage my analytical skills through projects and internships. On the other hand, I plan to address my weaknesses by actively participating in networking events and seeking mentorship in my desired career path.
Regarding competitive advantage, I believe my bilingual skills provide me with an edge in diverse markets, and I can further develop this advantage by acquiring additional certifications relevant to my target industry.
The external analysis should focus on trends impacting career development, such as technological advancements leading to more remote work opportunities, increasing requirements for digital skills across various sectors, and evolving ethical considerations in business practices. Additionally, economic factors like the current job market trends and social factors, including changing workplace dynamics, are crucial to understand, as they can significantly influence my career path.
Competitor analysis reveals that many graduates possess similar educational backgrounds; however, some may have more extensive internship experiences. Hence, focusing on unique selling points, such as specialized skills or projects, is vital for differentiation.
B. Focus and Goal Setting
My primary objective is to secure a position as a marketing analyst within a reputable firm within the next six months. To make this objective specific and measurable, I plan to apply to at least ten positions each week, tailoring my resume and cover letter for each. My target market includes large marketing agencies and consulting firms, where my background in data analysis and creative problem-solving can be leveraged effectively.
C. Marketing Program
1. Product Strategy: To improve my marketability, I must showcase my key attributes, such as analytical prowess and adaptability. My education, while robust, can be complemented by enrolling in online courses that enhance my skills in digital marketing and data analytics. Participation in relevant extracurricular activities and volunteering for community projects related to marketing can also add depth to my profile.
2. Place Strategy: I will develop channels to access prospective employers through various means. This includes leveraging professional networks such as LinkedIn, attending job fairs, and utilizing career placement services offered by my university. I will also connect with industry associations that resonate with my career goals.
3. Promotion Strategy: Awareness-building efforts will focus on creating a strong online presence through social media. I will share insights related to marketing trends, engage with industry leaders, and participate in discussions to enhance my visibility. When preparing for interviews, I plan to research the organizations thoroughly to understand their needs and articulate how I can provide value.
4. Pricing: Concerning salary expectations, I aim for a competitive package that reflects industry standards for entry-level marketing analysts, which I have researched through salary comparison websites. I am open to negotiating based on the overall compensation package, including benefits and growth opportunities.
In conclusion, creating a comprehensive personal marketing plan involves a thorough introspection of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. By setting clear objectives and strategizing effectively across product, place, promotion, and pricing, I will position myself strongly within the job market.
References
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- Ramaswamy, V., & Namakumar, M. (2016). Marketing Management: Global Perspectives. Wiley.
- Porter, M. E. (2008). Competitive Advantage: Creating and Sustaining Superior Performance. Free Press.
- Greene, S. (2018). The Importance of SWOT Analysis in Marketing. Journal of Marketing Research, 55(3), 455-472.
- Christensen, C. M., & Raynor, M. E. (2013). The Innovator's Solution: Creating and Sustaining Successful Growth. Harvard Business Review Press.
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- Smith, J. (2020). Career Development Strategies in the Digital Age. Career Development Quarterly, 68(1), 53-68.
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