Yes, Summer is the Perfect Time to Start Planning Your 2023 Marketing Strategy

This summer is the perfect time to start planning your 2023 marketing strategy.  

I know what you're thinking: "Why would I want to plan that far ahead?"  

I'll tell you why. Because it's easier to get started on a long-term plan now than during crunch time. And because the sooner you get going, the more momentum will build up behind your efforts and the more likely you'll be to achieve your 2023 goals.  

A successful annual marketing strategy requires serious time, attention, and research. Let's walk through an ideal timeline for planning a marketing strategy that will set you up for maximum success in 2023. 

STEP 1: Research   

July and August of 2022  

With any good plan, you need to start with "Step One."  

Start by researching and understanding your customer's wants and needs during these months. Times are changing, and trends are changing. What was working in years past may not work in 2023. With half a year ahead of you, there's plenty of time to slow down, step back, and wash away some of the pressure that a time crunch can bring.  

Here are some things you should be doing during this timeframe:   

• Do a target persona survey (or update an outdated one) to ensure that you have a clear/up-to-date picture of your current ideal customer.  

• Start to observe the competitive landscape within your industry – what are your competitors doing that you are not doing?  

• Look around at other websites and decide if your website needs a facelift.  

• Look at your past marketing strategies and examine what has and has not worked so far.  

STEP 2: Decision  

September, October, and November of 2022  

Step one is complete, and now we are getting into the final months of 2022. During these months, you should start to find actionable ways to use the research and observations you determined are right for your business these last few months. It is time to start walking the walk!   

Here are some things you should be doing during this time:   

• Take the target persona data you gathered and start researching the different places your ideal customers are that you are not.  

• Do some research on the different places your competitors are and find out how you can be there. Whether that is looking into social ads, finding events you should attend, webinars you should be planning for, etc.  

• If you decide that your website needs a facelift, start looking at developers who can help improve the user experience.  

• Make sure you get any ad creative or content created that you plan to run in 2023 in progress.  

• Finalize the budget and make sure you know exactly how much you have to spend in 2023.  

STEP 3: Finalize   

December 2022  

No plan is ever complete without the final step. In December, you are getting dangerously close to 2023, so this is the month to make it happen (if you have not already!)  

Here are some things you should be doing during this time:   

• Your Q1 marketing plans should be complete or wrapping up by December.  

• If you decide to work with an agency for 2023, make sure you get those contracts signed. You will want to get a kickoff call with your new marketing team scheduled and ready to go before January starts to slip away from you.  

The most successful companies are those that plan. By thinking about what you want to accomplish in the future and how you'll get there, you can put yourself at an advantage over your competitors.   

If you are looking for some help, download our free Marketing Infrastructure Checklist to ensure you have the pieces in place for success. You can also download lots of helpful resources from our resource center.