A free sales plan template is a tool which is used to describe the objectives, target audience, and obstacles that a sales team has to face to bring results. It is like any business plan but it focuses only on the strategies that can increase sales volume during a targeted period. Moreover, these strategies elaborate how the sales team will achieve their allocated targets within available sources. In other words, we can say that a sales plan is used for the development of the company’s sales activity with a few sets of objectives within a specific time period. Going further, a sales manager will need to identify the methods which can be adopted to achieve the annual goals. Besides, the profitability targets set by the company are based on how effectively sales teams execute their sales plan. However, a sales plan can be further divided into many action plans, like for setting annual sales targets, sales force challenges, and execution of effective marketing campaigns. Make sure that whatever you include in your sales plan, should be realistic and possible to achieve. All members of your sales team should be clear about their responsibilities.
Steps of Writing a good Sales Plan:
A good sales plan is one which can analyze all the available resources, prepare a budget for financial needs and marketing activities which we need to perform to achieve set goals. The following are the elements you need to include in your sales plan:
1- Summary of the plan:
Summary of the sales plan means writing the foundation steps you need to take. In this part you should include the vision and mission of your company. Also, don’t forget to include the background of your company and what all your company had to do to reach this point and where you want your company to lead in the future.
2- Goals, target and cost:
There are two ways of setting your goals for sales; the first is revenue-based and the second is quantity-based. It means either you will set a specific target of hitting the sales enough to earn the revenue you decide or that your target will be to sell a specific quantity of your products. Make sure you keep an achievable goal and not something out of hand, otherwise your target for sales won’t be achieved.
3- Analysis of the performance of your sales team in the previous year:
You should also include information about how the sales of your company were in the previous year. This will help you know how well your sales team is doing and what needs to be done to improve your performance.
4- Overview of the industry and the market:
It is also important to consider the new trends that are going on in the market and industry. In this way, you will know what is most likely to sell more this year and what you need to manufacture. This will help you in crafting your sales plan better.
5- Strategies and tactics?
This means, for example, if we think that your goal is to achieve 200 million in revenue, then you should describe the strategy you have to achieve this number. Therefore, your sales plan should include:
• Different types of strategies you have.
• Any discounts you can give.
• The targeted customers.
• Sell the products to your already existing customers.
• New trend of the market.
Templates for Free Sales Plan