Top tips to make your marketing budget go further
As we head into the second half of the year and advertising budgets show signs of wearing, it can be easy to fall into the trap of thinking you need to cut back to reduce costs.
But as seasonal campaigns begin to ramp up and the nation begins to spend, now really isn’t the time to cut corners.
If you’re stuck between ambitious plans and a lack of cash, don’t worry, we’ve got 3 top tips to help make your advertising budget go further.
Get to know Google AdWords
As content marketing still reigns supreme, marketers are often keen to rely on organic search and SEO to boost their reach.
Not only does organic search have the huge advantage of being free, there is also a wealth of advice available online to help build content tailored to boosting visibility and traffic.
However, a recent article by entrepreneur.com has argued that in fact Google AdWords should not be overlooked simply because it has some cost involved.
Scott Langdon is an entrepreneur.com contributor and managing partner of US-based Higher Visibility. He argues that ‘Google AdWords is by far one of the best ways to spend marketing dollars.’
Langdon argues that using AdWords you can quickly build new leads and gain good insights into your audience. With this information you can begin to create a strong picture of what is and isn’t working. You can direct your marketing spending accordingly.
Focus your efforts
There are obvious advantages to testing new marketing strategies and exploring new platforms. But, at some point you need to focus your efforts into a strategy. Use what you learn to create something that really works for your business.
AdWords can give you an indication of what is working and what isn’t. But, it is also important for you to be constantly monitoring your organisation’s progress. That way, you can focus your efforts on what works best.
For the hugely influential AllBusiness, this should be seen as ‘trimming the fat’. It is suggested that in scrutinising your ROI ‘your main goal […] is to trim the fat, ceasing investments into strategies where you aren’t seeing a positive return, or at least a promising early start.’
When your advertising budget is tight this can be a great way of making your money go further. It improves your efficiency and adds clarity to your key aims.
Go viral
Sometimes creating something viral can be as much about luck and timing as the content you create. Yet, it still remains a cost effective way to get your brand out there and make audiences take note.
In another entrepreneur.com article it is argued that creating something like a viral video enables you to get noticed quickly and provides a platform on which to build future success.
A good example of affordable video marketing is the success of Fatherly. At only a year old, this online resource for millennial Dads has enjoyed phenomenal growth since its inception. This growth is owed, at least in part, to conquering the viral world.
According to Digiday UK, Fatherly has used its viral videos ‘to grow not just its presence on the social network, but its email subscriber base.’ Recent figures shows that of its ‘250,000 email subscribers, more than 40,000 have come from Facebook video viewers.’
Fatherly use an eclectic mix of amateur footage, user submissions and product footage. Doing so, they’ve cleverly built a huge network around its content, without spending vast sums on filming.
As these examples show, you don’t need to spend a lot to get a lot back. With a little thought and a clear goal, it is entirely possible to create a winning strategy, cheaply. Learn clever tips and tricks from those who have succeeded and think outside the box. Any organisation can bring a spark to their strategy with a modest advertising budget.
