Learning Topics

• Marketing plans; strategy and implementation

In plain language:

• We will learn what is in a successful marketing plan.

Learning Skills

• We will learn to use free online tools to create a designed website.
• We will use reflection to determine a business that is of interest to us.
• We will use critical thinking to ensure the business is viable.
• We will learn to learn and work online.
• We will learn to present and pitch ideas to peers.

Resources

• Chapter 1 – What is Marketing
• Chapter 16 – The Marketing Plan
• Video explanation of how to create a free online website.:

Learning Activities

In your module 1 video, be sure to discuss the following:

• Review what a marketing plan consists of and have a discussion of the importance. Ask students to consider the following questions:
  • Why should a business put together a marketing plan?
  • Who is the end user of a marketing plan?
  • What information should a marketing plan address?
• Discuss the business idea phase and the follow-up group discussion. The important details are:
  • The strict criteria – explain that the hope is that students can develop a business idea that the student can actually do if they ever get the desire. Large scale businesses aren’t feasible for most students.
• Discuss the online marketing plan by creating a free website. There are a variety of free options available that can be used, some Canadian options would be weebly.ca or godaddy.ca. A very user-friendly, free web development tool that is recommended is wix.com (as of November 2020, the service is completely free) but the students should be aware that this is a US-based company and should be aware of their personal information being stored internationally. The important details are:
  • The how-to video. This assignment can feel extremely burdensome for students with no website development experience. The free online platform is very user friendly and almost all students have no problems once they start.
  • The pages of the marketing plan clearly shown in a drop down or banner of the webpage.
  • Using color and images that match the business idea and a logo that they will have to develop.

Assignment

Assignment Title: Course Introduction [Word doc]

Topics: Marketing plans; strategy and implementation

Description:

Throughout this course we will be working on a business idea that you will generate based upon your interests. To do so, you must think about what you can do or sell to make extra money. You must follow these basic restrictions for your idea. Throughout this course, you will be referring to this business but you will not have to actually create this business. When your business idea is mentioned throughout your course, treat it as a mock business.

• The activity cannot cost more than $20,000 upfront.
• You must reasonably believe you can profit $5,000 annually from this idea.
• It must be able to be done this year, consider what is happening this year and choose accordingly. (i.e. would you start an indoor spin fitness class in 2020 with Covid restrictions on indoor training facilities?)
• It must be something you have the skill or ability to do (i.e. if you say you will develop apps for clients but have no software development skills you wouldn’t receive marks).

Throughout the course you will see examples of a mock business. This is a previous student’s example of creating a wood pellet business from Haida Gwaii. This is a fictitious business but an excellent example of that you can reference. Consider what interests you for this course, if you are looking for examples to inspire you, some are:

• Cleaning.
• Social media consultant for local small businesses.
• Delivery.
• Safe ride home.
• Firewood collection.
• Design work.
• T-shirt printing press.
• Arts or Crafts virtual store.

Once you have chosen your business idea, choose a meeting time with your instructor and be prepared to defend your business against the criteria.

After the idea has been generated and verified go to the free online web development platform of your choice and create a free Website as per your business idea. This website is your online marketing plan platform. Follow the help prompts in setting up the site. In case you feel any difficulty, check out this robust how to guide.

Students need to be able to show the ability to work with a number of online tools, especially internet marketing, to compete in business throughout this generation. Consumers, investors, and funders look at hundreds of options every week for their money, what makes you stand out? We are going to be using online applications throughout this course and will be developing new skills to help give your local business a competitive edge.

Throughout the course you will be required to use stock images to complete this assignment. As you begin developing your website, use images that are openly licensed. You can find a huge bank of open images at unsplash.com. Review information available on finding openly licensed images and videos. BCcampus has a list of resources that offer stock photos focused on diversity, equity and inclusion.

Required Resources: Computer, Internet access.

Technical specifications:

1. Book a group interview with your instructor. Four students to each group meeting. This is not a group assignment, any four can enter any time slot available to discuss your idea. If your idea is not feasible, the group and instructor will discuss ways to adjust your idea. If no adjustments can be made, you will be required to consider a new idea and prepare a report showing the criteria can be met
2. The website developed should use colours and images that match and enhance your business idea. Consider what a logo for your business would look like, in future assignments you will be required to design your logo and adjust your online marketing plan colour scheme to match the logo. Your website will consist of a home page and nine individual pages that should be set up with headers. Do not fill the information in for each page as they will be filled in as you complete your course. The nine pages in excess of the homepage should include the following titles:

• Strategic Focus and plan
• Situation Analysis
• Market-Product Focus
• Marketing Program
• Financial Data and Projections
• Organization
• Implementation
• Evaluation and Control
• Frequently Asked Questions

Due Date: Sunday, 11:59pm

Marks: 10%

Rubric

The first assignment uses an all or nothing marking scheme. Choosing your business and setting up the online marketing plan correctly will be the frame for the entire course. The student must complete the project to the correct standard even if it has to be redone several times. The student should receive full marks upon the completion of the following:

• The business idea meets the criteria and the student presented it to the instructor.
• The website has been developed with the appropriate pages and color scheme.

If the student has not completed these two tasks, they should be given feedback and should complete it again as soon as possible.