This trimester, I am in a principles of marketing and communications course. We have covered a lot of practical information in the weekly lectures. However, we did not only learn about the various concepts. More importantly, we actually have been applying the information to an ongoing project. For me, the main highlight of this course has been the final product of this project that I have been working on all trimester—my business and marketing plan.

Throughout the trimester, I have worked on various elements of my business and marketing plan:

• I brainstormed my future niche.
• I defined my mission statement (Note: I love my mission statement and find it very inspiring)!
• I clearly defined my target market along with two “patient personas” that match it.
• I researched the location of my future practice along with potential opportunities.
• I created a business card, incorporating elements that appeal to my target market.
• I defined the services and products that I will offer.
• I researched the competitors present within the city where I will practice.
• I evaluated my future practice, carrying out a SWOT analysis. I defined Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats.
• I researched various ways to engage the community and planned out which types of community events and forms of advertisement I will carry out.
• I came up with a clear plan on how to support positive patient experiences.
• I planned out my website, along with how I will bring it higher on search engines like Google.
• I defined my plan for social media.
• I calculated my yearly budget based on of everything I previously defined.

Even though I am busy with school, it is great to know that I have already created the backbone of my business and marketing plan! Over the course of the last several weeks, I have built a plan that not only speaks to the way that I personally want to carry out my business, but I have also given my future self a step-by-step guide of what to do once I graduate and want to start my business. It is very useful.