Are businesses with a marketing plan REALLY more successful?

When it comes to marketing your small business, it's easy to feel like you’re just throwing spaghetti at the wall and hoping something sticks.

If that sounds like you, you’re not alone. Many small business owners start marketing with good intentions - posting on social media, sending emails, maybe even running ads—but without a clear plan, it often feels like a lot of effort - with little reward.

Here's something that might surprise you: an estimated 50% of small businesses don’t have a formal marketing plan - but those that do are 313% more likely to report success.

So, does your small business really need a marketing plan? The numbers scream a big, fat YES.

The Top 5 Growth Benefits of Having a Marketing Plan

Whether you’re running a café in Gosford, a boutique in Terrigal, or an online store based on the Central Coast, a clear strategy will help you attract more customers, boost sales, and grow sustainably.

Here’s why having a marketing plan is essential:

1. Clearer Direction: Stay Focused & Aligned
   

Without a plan, marketing often becomes reactive—you post when you remember, try random strategies, and hope something works. This leads to inconsistency, which means potential customers aren’t getting a clear, strong message from your business.

A marketing plan gives you a clear roadmap to follow, keeping you (and your team) on track.

It defines:

✅ Your goals (e.g., increase website traffic, boost social engagement, drive foot traffic to your store in Gosford).

✅ Your audience (who you’re trying to reach and what they need).

✅ The best marketing channels for your business (social media, email, SEO, ads, networking, etc.).

2. Smarter Budgeting: Stop Wasting Money

Marketing without a plan is expensive—and not in a good way. If you’re running ads without a clear audience, paying for tools you don’t actually need, or spending money on social media promos that don’t convert, you’re throwing money down the drain.

With a marketing plan, you’ll:💰

✅ Prioritise high-impact activities instead of spreading your budget too thin.

✅Focus on cost-effective marketing strategies like SEO, organic content, and strategic partnerships.

✅Understand where to spend and where to save, making sure every dollar works harder for your business.

3. Better Customer Connection: Speak to the Right People

Ever feel like your marketing efforts are falling on deaf ears? It’s probably because you’re trying to reach everyone instead of focusing on the right audience.

A marketing plan helps you:

✅Define your ideal customer (their needs, habits, and what makes them buy).

✅Craft the right messaging that speaks directly to your audience’s challenges and desires.

✅Use location-based marketing to attract more local customers (perfect for Central Coast businesses looking to build a loyal customer base).

For example, if you’re running a service-based business in Gosford, targeting “Central Coast small businesses” in your content and ads can help drive local traffic.

4. More Leads & Sales: Consistency = Growth

If you’re marketing when you feel like it, you’re missing opportunities to engage customers consistently.

Businesses with a plan:

✅Get more leads because they’re marketing consistently.

✅Convert more customers because they have a strong message and clear offers.

✅Grow sustainably because they’re focused on the right activities, not just chasing trends.

5. Less Stress, More Confidence: Make Marketing Easier

Marketing feels overwhelming when you’re guessing your next move. A solid plan takes away the stress, giving you confidence and clarity.

With a structured approach, you’ll know:

✅ What to post and when (no more last-minute social media scrambles).

✅ Where to focus your energy for the best ROI.

✅ How to measure success so you can tweak and improve.

Marketing Workshops at The Foundry

If you want 2025 to be the year you FINALLY make your marketing work for you, the first workshop in our Marketing Mastery series, Marketing 101: Building The Foundations is the perfect place to start.

What You’ll Learn:

✅ Exactly what a marketing plan should include

✅ How to create a step-by-step strategy that works for your business

✅ How to confidently develop an action plan you can actually use

This workshop is perfect for small business owners on the Central Coast who want to stop winging it and start winning with marketing.

Workshops coming soon! Subscribe to our email list via the Contact form on our homepage for more details.