Going into business for you can be both an exciting and scary proposition. The idea of making money doing something that you know and love can be overshadowed by all the business aspects that need to be tended to. One such aspect is developing a marketing plan.

A marketing plan is essential for several reasons; the most important being that without a marketing plan in place your small business stands a much better chance of failing. You need a direction to focus on and steps to get you to your goal.

Some tips to bear in mind when you are developing a marketing plan include:

' The time frame the plan covers. In the case of most small business, experts agree that developing a marketing plan that covers a one-year period is sufficient. During that year, the marketing plan should be referred to often and sales and revenue should be carefully tracked and compared against the marketing plan. After the first year has passed a new marketing plan can be developed that covers a longer period, perhaps two to five years.
' Who to share the plan with. Your marketing plan should be shared with everyone who has a stake in your business. This includes any investors that you may have and in some cases your employees as well. If you are in a highly specialized niche industry you would serve your company well to keep the marketing plan as private as possible.
' Use it motivate your staff. A solid marketing plan can help motivate your employees. When they read it and see the vision you have for the success of your company it can set a fire beneath them as well. The marketing plan should also be a motivator for you, the business owner.

The marketing plan for any small business captures the vision that the company hopes to achieve. Once written down, it can be referred to on a regular basis so that the vision is never lost. Although your marketing plan will no doubt need to be amended from time to time, it's important to keep a current plan in place. When used in conjunction with a well thought out business plan, a marketing plan provides a focus for everyone involved with the company.

Remember that your marketing plan isn't set in stone and if your company achieves more success than you anticipated, amending the plan to reflect your continued growth is a very good thing.