Having no formal training in marketing, I was impressed by the straightforward way this book explains how to write a marketing plan. At times I'm tempted to go straight to the tactics-where should I advertise? What should I charge?-but this book prompted me to go back to the beginning, starting with my small business's situation, goals, and competition. This was the first time I've drafted a highly detailed, full-year marketing plan. I used the software packaged with the book as a starting point, but wound up creating a different format and order of topics for my finished plan.