A marketing plan must be created to meet clear objectives. Objectives guide marketing actions and are used to measure how well a plan is working. These can be related to market share, sales, goals, reaching the target audience and creating awareness in the marketplace. The objectives communicate what marketeers want to achieve.
Long-term objectives are broken down into shorter-term measurable targets, which McDonald's uses as milestones along the way. Results can be analysed regularly to see whether objectives are being met. This type of feedback allows the company to change plans. It gives flexibility. Once marketing objectives are set the next stage is to define how they will be achieved. The marketing strategy is the statement of how objectives will be delivered. It explains what marketing actions and resources will be used and how they will work together.
Page 5: The 4Ps
At this point the marketing mix is put together: