Writers plot with it. Businesses use it in meetings. Chris Brogan does it. And you can plan your email marketing campaign with it.
What is it? Well, the title probably gives it away. So enough with the dramatics. Let’s talk about how you can use a mind map to get your email campaign rolling.
This technique is right for you once you’ve already jumped the first few hurdles in deciding how email marketing fits your business. For the visual thinkers, mapping your plan of attack can help you see your goals more clearly.
Mind mapping is one way to focus your campaign. This post shows you how to do it.
The Definition
Some of you might already be familiar with the idea of mind mapping. For the uninitiated, a mind map is a non-linear visual outline used to explore concepts and find connections between topics you might not otherwise realize.
Mind mapping lets you visualize your ideas in an easy-to-read diagram that lays out the whole picture of your project. You can prioritize, brainstorm and manage your campaign by outlining it with a mind map.
The Technique
So how do you plot this campaign road map?
Think of your mind map like a tree with branches holding all your ideas. Your main topic (email marketing) goes in the center with your goals branching out on separate limbs. Some limbs might intertwine with others and some will stand apart on their own, contributing to the big picture.
Here’s what your map could look like:
This is just one way to organize. How you lay out your map is up to you. Some people prefer to use bubbles extending from a central circle. Others style it like a flow chart. You’re not limited to the format shown in this example.
The How-To
Take a blank sheet of paper and write “Email Marketing” in the center (or “My Campaign.” Or draw a picture. Whatever resonates with you). Circle it. Decorate it. Make it stand out.
Draw branches extending from the circle and label them with the parts of your campaign that need some fleshing out. This example brainstorms “Goals,” “Target Audience,” “Segments,” “Topics,” “Follow Up Series,” “Branding,” and “Social Media,” but you can draw branches for whatever aspects need more planning.
For instance, maybe you already have clear goals for your campaign. Use your mind map to plan out other components you haven’t fully realized yet, like email design or sign-up incentives to offer.
As your ideas build and grow from the center, you’ll have a visual strategy for your campaign, content and audience that will help you market effectively. You can’t market without a good vision, and mind mapping is one way to achieve that.
Let’s look at an example of how you can brainstorm your game plan.
Ask yourself questions about your segments and your audience. Grow your ideas out as you answer these questions for your business. Use this technique for your other branches, too:
- Does a cross-over with social media make sense for my company?
- How do we keep our brand consistent?
- What should my follow up series achieve and what kind of message topics will make that happen?
Start a new branch for each question you need to tackle until you address every point you need for your campaign.
Now that you have it plotted out, you can move forward with creating your campaign.
The Next Steps
Now you have a template for your campaign that you can use to keep your marketing goals on track.
Remember that you don’t have to follow our example map to the letter. The point is to customize your map and use it to flesh out the points in your campaign that you’re not sure about yet.
If you’re not into mapping with pen and paper, here are a few resources you can use instead:
15 free online mind mapping tools
11 more from LifeHack
6 Resources from MakeUseOf
What other tools would you use to help plot out your campaign?