powerplanning - better business strategy

Thanks for your interestin MarketPower’s much better way to produce efficient Business Strategy.

Introducing...thePowerPlanning Strategic Action Plan

What’s good “strategy” all about…is it valuable,or just babble…and do I really need it?

Why not make tactical improvements, do some tactical and marketing programs first…then work on strategy?

What should we do first?© 2011 Joel Alpert / MarketPower Atlanta, GA

© 2011-2013 Joel Alpert / MarketPower Atlanta, GA

Introducing a practical and efficient approach to Strategic Planning, Branding and Marketing that will help you gain traction and move forward with velocity.

Take a step back from your company.

Do you know where you’re going…and how to get there efficiently?

What business and marketing factorsshould integrate for strong results?

Pssssst!

Product Services Competition Talent Experience Systems Operations Brand Positioning Sales & Marketing Product Development Customer Support

YOUR

COMPANY

YOUR

MARKETING

MarketPlace Website Brand Execution Offers Integrated Programs Webinars Email / Direct Mail / CRM Social Marketing Trade Shows Content Right Media Customer Experience

With all the issues of business to deal with—

target audiences, marketing, technology,

sales, people, processes,

service and support, and more —

…wouldn’t you expect that smart

integrated thinking, and clear, defined plans

to get your business goals produced efficiently,

would make a significant difference

in your company’s performance,

your sales and marketing ROI,

and your bottom line?

Good Strategic Planning has the potential

to do this for your company.

How would I know if my companyreally needs Strategic Planning?

And what’s up with most “Strategic Planning”?

Most “Strategic Planning”...is neither

Most “Strategic Planning” is…arghh!

• GIGO…strategy is not only about gathering “data,” but really thinking

• Not objective...internal company or consultant predisposition

• At best, most strategic planning is decent Situation Analysis… but is not a step-by-step plan designed to generate action and results

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Companies need a good plan. Because business growth don’t happen by accident.

Strategic Planning (or “Business Strategy”) is the overall plan for what you’re doing to produce results, and make everything work well together for the company, its customers, and stakeholders.

It’s distinct from…

Management…the way you run the company day-to-day, including such things as operations, finance, production, HR and customer service. This should all be guided by the strategy you develop.

Even if you think “Strategic Planning”

is a good idea, you won’t want

“3-ring-binder babble”

…you’ll want action.

So what should be the focus of “Strategic Planning”?

WHEREare you going?

What’s the terrain of your company and your marketplace look like?

What’s your starting point?

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HOWare you going to get there?

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PowerPlanning® Strategic Action Plan helps you define where you want to go… …and how get there efficiently generating profitability and viability.

We work together to crystallize key information for charting the directionof the company, its branding, and its processes.

Here’s a quick overview of the PowerPlanning process…

© 2011 -2013 Joel Alpert / MarketPower Atlanta, GA

Maps terrain with a composite picture:

4 using unique Structural Dynamics consulting principles and methodology, we quickly gain information and perspective, and develop refreshing clarity about the company’s “current reality”

4 we gain working knowledge of how the goals, people, processes, markets and current strategies interrelate, and how these affect the company

4 tends to uncover “hidden dynamics,” so we can avoid any “company quicksand” during our process

Debrief

— overall trends and key findings presented

— opportunity for clarification and correction

321Consulting Discussions

11 KeyQuestions

ChartingAction Steps

PowerPlanning Phase 1Specialized consulting interviews, generating a clear snapshot of the organization

(time period varies from one day to longer,based on the scope of the company)

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Clear Perspective on Key Business Components:

4 product or service offering

4 market

4 market needs and motivations

4 organization needs

4 what is the “match” between market and your offerings?

4 how do you delivery your offering

4 getting the word out (marketing)

4 legal...trends...more

End of Day: Focused Business Goals (for Internal Use)

PowerPlanning Phase 2

We work with a selected team fromyour company to think through 11 Key Business Questionsand clearly define the Business Goals


11 KeyQuestions


DVDguided

Proprietary DVD videos developed by Robert Fritz, Inc.

help guide the process, andboost the session’s productivity


Charting Action Steps

Big-Picture Strategy…with drill-down detailsSimple but powerful model helps drive results

(Your “Level One” chartgets completed in just one day)


11 KeyQuestions


Here’s a key principle the runs throughthis consulting methodology, and how it works in charting the “Strategic Action Plan”…

Good strategy defines and harnesses the

discrepancy between where you are…and where you

want to be. It clarifies and maintains this “creative

tension” — like a stretched rubber band — that

seeks resolution when results are produced.

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MarketPower’s process, using the innovative strategic thinking of Robert Fritz, Inc. charts your action steps in a clear, practical way…© 2011 -2013 Joel Alpert / MarketPower Atlanta, GA

• where are we going?• goals (not the “process”)• clear and specific…you’ll know when you get there

• your starting point• objective • the state of things now (this will change as you produce your action steps)

End Results

Current Reality

Your Strategic Action Plan charts the discrepancy between End Results (Goals) and Current Reality (Current State)…and helps you efficiently organize Action Steps to resolve this discrepancy, and produce results.

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Creative Tension & Charting Your Actions

Action Steps• practical and clear direction• how are we getting there?• efficient & adjustable


The action steps are designed using “creative tension”… having both clear goals and starting point in view at each step of the way. The steps you take are designed to get that goal done efficiently. The details are dynamic…evolving as you accomplish your goals.

This unique process seems straightforward, because it it —the thinking process to get there, and this charting tool to map out the plan, are specifi-cally designed to be practical, clear, and understood by everyone on your team.

Here’s what the Strategic Action Plan looks like…

2 caution flags…

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Caution Flag 1: Beware the chicken joke!

?“Why did the chicken cross the road”You know the answer. Everybody does.C’mon, it’s in your head…say it out loud now.

The mind has a quirky thing about it —it cannot stand unresolved questions. It wants to know…and it wants answers – NOW! So we give answers, make up theories, or we adopt the speculation of others — to resolve the tension of not knowing — even when we don’t know what we are talking about. We like the sense of resolution. This is all very natural.

But this dynamic is quite limiting, especially when it comes to any strategic thinking process.

If we assume we know the answers to questions, we stop asking. Yet, the gaps in our knowledge and perspective can come back to haunt us. We may make strategic decisions based on misconception…but practically, it’s hard to build a strong plan on a weak foundation.


When doing strategic planning, branding, or marketing, it’s important to ensure there are not “unseen” or “opposing” business forces at play that conflict with your goals.

If any unseen forces are in play, a second “rubber band” materializes, represent-ing this dynamic. As you approach your goal, the tension on the second rubber band increases, pulling you back. But then interest and pressure to produce your goals kicks in again — the first rubber band now pulls with greater tension — and your di-rection is reversed once more.

Can you guess how these opposing “rubber band forces” operate over time? They cause a frustrating oscillation — making your quest for results unproductive...feeling like ping-pong purgatory within your organization. (And that oscillation is why people usually hate “strategic planning”!)

The remarkably efficient PowerPlanning “digital” tools clarify, distill and create powerful new “creative tension”…a superior strategic design. This sets up a series of straightforward, “one rubber band” action steps that are unhampered by the unseen. Producing results immediately.And helping to ensure that your success…succeeds over time. © 2011 -2013 Joel Alpert / MarketPower Atlanta, GA

Caution Flag 2: “Unseen issues” will reverse any progress you make

vs.

PowerBranding is derived from the overall Strategic Action Plan process. It’s for compa-nies that don’t need or want the overall integra-tion of the Stratgic Action PLan.

PowerBranding focuses on your brand, your market and clarifyies the“match of interests” between your company, your prospects and customers…so you can sell more effectively.

It includes key brand positioning information that translates into logo and tagline, targeted marketing, inbound marketing/social media, and all sales materials.

• Great for developing your brand, as input for marketing programs, or re-energizing your brand

• Consulting thinking can be adapted and used as smart input for target marketing (including focused marketing efforts, gaining key high-end sales, and pitching the company’s value proposition to investors)

PowerBranding® helps you focus your brand and marketing

Marketing &Customer Interactions

BrandPositioning

Marketing Plan

Tactics & Programs

Strategic Action Plan

CreativeExpertise

The Tip Of The Iceberg:Customers interactwith your company via your peopleand your marketing.

Beneath The Surface:The basis for your company’s direction, synergy, and momentum is your Strategy and Branding

What’s the “big picture”?©

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?“You Might Say…” We Might Suggest…

• We have no plan• We’re not coordinated• Things aren’t working• We’ve got big ideas to produce• We’re partnering or merging

PowerPlanning Strategic Action Plan— you’ll have an actionable plan in a few days, defining your goals…with clear steps to approach your business… a foundation for your branding & marketing…and more. (Covers everything in PowerBranding.)

• We don’t have a strong identity• Our logo and tagline is weak• We need a stronger pitch (to

prospects…customers…VC’s…)• Our company, product or service

names may be weak

PowerBranding — develops or renews your company’s brand, helping you differentiate from the competition, and cut through the communica-tions clutter.

PowerSessions — are specialized tactical or creative consulting, or product/service development.

• Our marketing isn’t working• Our programs, services and

marketing are a bit disjointed• We want to be effective at going

after target market segments • We want to create strong impact

for a special initiative

MarketPower’s unique capabilities include…— award-winning content and creative execution, inclusing 27 DMA Gold & Silver SouthStar Awards for the combination of Strategy, Creativity & Results— specialized consulting, developing products & services, maximizing tactics & offers

So what should we do now?

PowerPlanning® and PowerBranding®

are unique programs offered by MarketPower.

They’re based on a combination of the cutting-edge strategic thinking of Robert Fritz, Inc. Then the rubber band meets the road as MarketPower helps you accelerate these pivotal plans into practical marketing tactics across digital and print media.

These processes don’t take many months…they take days or only weeks. They bring out the best in everyone’sabilities…motivate with their focus and clarity…and help you boost efficiency and profitability.

They focus your company’s overall efforts, your product development and targeted marketing programs. So you can concentrate on what you’re good at — doing your best work.

Know where you’re going now?

To tap the power of PowerPlanning or PowerBranding, punch in these coordinates:

[email protected]


powerplanning - better business strategy

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