Prepare a PRACTICAL services marketing plan that gives your client relevant and insightful strategic input that can be affordably implemented into their business.

• Find out as much as possible about the firm, the industry in which it operates its customers and staff in order to demonstrate a thorough analysis of their business environment.

• Given the Covid19 restrictions, be aware that you may not be able to visit and observe the service, thus you will have to rely on information provided by your client and the clients service business websites. You should be able to gain industry knowledge from other online sources e.g., industry reports and competitors websites.

• Demonstrate critical thinking, develop carefully considered solutions and practical strategic direction.

• Justify any suggestions you make and ensure they are realistic within this service context.

• Ensure your client report covers all the sections outlined in the marking guide for this assessment.

• Ensure that the report is written with clarity and that there is coordination and consistency across the sections.

• As with any good business report, include a cover page, executive summary, table of contents, a reference list and appendix.

• Do not give your client a lesson in services marketing. Rather, package your plan as a solution to your clients services marketing needs and make use of relevant headings to showcase the contribution and the flow of the document.

• Be careful to give recommendations for the future only in the Service Marketing Strategies section of your client report. All other sections preceding the strategy section set out what the business is currently doing.

• Where you have consulted external sources (e.g., industry reports, competitor websites), remember to reference these appropriately in the sections of your report and the reference list.

• Include all emails to the client (as well as their answers to your emails) in the appendix.

• Include a copy of your customer survey questionnaire in the appendix.

• Provide a copy of your report to the client only if you have produced excellent work. In return, request a reference letter from the client that you can add to your CV.