How To Make A Marketing Plan Using Free Mindmap Software
May 12th, 2009 | General
I have a confession to make. I’m not even sure I want to say this, but here goes:
I don’t have a marketing plan.
I mean, I do have a marketing plan, but it exists inside my head. And that’s worked fine so far. I know, for example, that I need to write at least one blog post a week. And I know I need to get my e-mail newsletter and podcast out on the 1st and 15th of each month.
But lately I’ve been swamped with marketing stuff that needs “caught up:” web site updates and SEO adjustments and little details that usually get swept under the rug until they become glaringly obvious.
So today, I decided to make a marketing plan once and for all. Not an exact, step-by-step, long-term marketing plan, but a way to organize all the stuff I want to tend to on a regular basis.
At first I tried writing up a Word document, but it got kind of long and unwieldy. Then a friend’s blog post inspired me to use mindmaps.
What The Heck Is A Mind Map?
Mindmapping is just a fancy word for a thought web. You probably did this exercise in elementary school. You start with your main idea written in a circle at the center of the page, then you branch out from there. One idea may lead to several others, so you connect each each one to the main concept with a line.
I’m a perfectionist, so I used a free software called FreeMind to make my mindmap. The layout of the software intimidated me at first, but it’s really easy to use. Just click ‘File→New,’ then right-click your mouse to add new categories and subcategories. (Note: I use Windows. Other versions may differ.)
Each entry is called a ‘node.’ There are two kinds of nodes: child nodes are items that extend from another category; sibling nodes are multiple items in a list. That’s all you need to know to start mind-mapping. Once you get comfortable with the program, you can change the layout and add graphics.
Steal My Marketing Mind Map
I’ve included my own marketing mind map for you to download and use however you like. You can:
• View the JPEG version, or
• Save the FreeMind file itself
Then you can open it up, play around, and make changes. (Please note that the FreeMind file will ONLY work if you have FreeMind installed on your computer.)
My marketing mindmap is in no way a complete marketing plan, but it might give you some ideas on how to create your own.
What’s your experience with mindmaps? Have you used them in other areas of business? Let me know in the comments section below.
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