I have to admit, when I first started, I didn’t. All I wanted to do was start doing what I loved to do. I figured if someone referred me, and that person referred me, then I was good. Well, that does work, but I soon realized that I needed more.

It takes a lot for me to tear away from the day-to-day and do what need to be done. I knew I had to complete a business plan, but didn’t have the time. When a business plan writing contest came about, I quickly signed up. I didn’t expect to win, place or show, all I wanted to do was complete it.

Within that document, I had to include how I planned to market my business. Sometimes what is required in the business plan is not enough. Luckily, the “Business Owners’ Toolkit” offers great advice on how to draft a separate marketing plan.

There are four marketing components in your business plan – Marketing 101 – product, price, place and promotion.

• How will you market your business, product or services?
• Have you conducted any marketing analysis? Are there enough people in your area or on the Internet interested or willing to purchase what you have to offer?
• Do you have a marketing strategy? Do you know how you plan to get your products or services into the hands of your customers?
• Have you developed marketing and sales plans? How will you reach your customers to market your products? What type of advertising will you use (print, broadcast, Internet)?