What is Strategic planning? In the words of our new marketing assistant Jenna Sedmak.

1. What is Strategic Planning?

2. What is Strategic Planning?
 Building or developing a business is like planning a road
map. The directions, turns and potential obstacles need to be
decided in advance.
 A successful business will have a unique strategy to help the
company grow and adapt to the market as technology, market
competition and client needs change.
 As every business is unique, each one will have their own
strategic plan, suited to their specific needs.

3. What is Strategic Planning?
A basic strategic plan involves knowing: “What do we do, who
is it for, and how do we do it?”
Strategic planning is understanding your target market and
knowing ahead of time how you want your business to develop.
A good strategy will change and grow approximately every
three years to adapt to market and technological changes.

4. Key Ingredients for a Successful
Business Strategy
Branding and Marketing
Be unique!
Networking
Operational and Cost effectiveness

5. Branding and Marketing
Creating a face for your company is essential for success.
Every business has a “personality” and a face that the public
will see.
Choose a brand that represents the services you offer, and how
you would like your target market to perceive you.
Avoid being generic, especially if you have a lot of
competition.

6. Be Unique!
Whether you have many or few competitors, set yourself apart
from potential competition.
Focus on what your company has to offer, and develop your
strengths.
Anticipate potential market and technological advances, and
devise a plan for how to adapt your company to these new
standards.
Create your own niche.

7. Networking
See and be seen: know who your potential allies and
competitors are.
Utilize technology, especially social media and online
networking services.
Public networking and events can give a face to your company.
Event networking can be fun and rewarding!

8. Operational and Cost
Effectiveness
Convince your market that your company can perform better
than rivals.
Either offer different services than rivals, or similar services in
different ways. (Be unique!)
Be innovative: Generic solutions can be imitated.
Offer products at a better value than competitors, or offer the
product for the same value, but with a lower overhead cost.

9. Why These Concepts are
Important
Although the planning and implementation are necessary
phases for every company, the unique ways of using branding,
networking, and effectiveness will vary for every business.
These guidelines are a great starting point for implementing
your company's strategic plan.

10. Contact us
www.smestrategy.net
1.778.895.5446 (Vancouver)
1.855.895.5446 (Toll Free)
Jenna Sedmak- Marketing Assistant
jsedmak@smestrategy.net