Questions to be answered:
Product/Service:
What need does the product or service satisfy for the customer?
What features does it have to meet these needs?
How and where will the customer use it?
What does it look like? Think size, colors, materials, etc.
What will it be called?
How is it differentiated versus your competitors?
Place
Where will buyers get your product or service?
How can you access the right distribution channels?
Do you need to use a sales force? Or attend trade fairs? Or make online submissions? Or send samples to catalog companies?
How can you differentiate from the competition?
Price
What is the value of the product or service to the buyer?
What pricing strategy will you use?
How will your price compare with your competitors?
Promotion
Where and when can you get your marketing messages across to your target market?
Will you reach your audience by advertising online, in the press, on TV, on radio, or on billboards? By using direct marketing mailshots? Through PR? On the internet?
When is the best time to promote? Is there seasonality in the market? Are there any wider environmental issues that suggest or dictate the timing of your market launch or subsequent promotions?
How do your competitors do their promotions? And how does that influence your choice of promotional activity?
