Marketing on a Budget: The key rules to follow

It's no secret that every business needs to have a marketing plan in place. However, if you're running a business on a tight budget, it can be a daunting task. After all, you need to think outside the box to make sure you're not blowing all your budget on expensive campaigns.

Fortunately, there are a few key rules you can follow to ensure you're able to make the most of your budget. Here are some of the key rules to remember when it comes to marketing on a budget.

Focus on one or two channels

One of the main things you need to remember when it comes to marketing on a budget is to focus on one or two channels. You don't want to spread yourself too thin and end up being ineffective.

So, pick one or two channels (e.g. social media, email marketing, search engine optimization etc) and focus on them. Take the time to build up those channels to ensure they are performing well. It’s worth mentioning that some of these channels, with SEO being an obvious one, take longer to mature than others. As any London SEO servicescompany will vouch for, this is where a patient strategy is key.

Set measurable goals

Another important rule to follow is to set measurable goals. This means having specific targets you want to hit and then tracking your progress in order to ensure you are on track.

It's important to keep track of your progress, as this will help you to stay on target and also give you an idea of what's working and what isn't. You’ll start to understand which channels have a better Return on Investment and which need shelving for the time being – at least until your budgets are in a healthier place.

Keep it simple

It's also important to keep it simple. Don't try to do too much at once. Instead, focus on what you can do that will have the biggest impact.

This doesn't mean you should skimp on quality, but it does mean that you should try to be as efficient as possible. Try to focus on the areas that will have the biggest impact and then look to build from there.

For example, if you’re trialing PPC – perhaps start with brand-only campaigns as you find your feet. Then, when things have settled down, you can move to trial non-brand ones.

Be creative

Finally, it's important to be creative when it comes to marketing on a budget. Think outside the box and experiment with different ways to reach your target audience.

For example, you could try content marketing, influencer marketing, or even creative guerrilla marketing. There are so many options out there if you're willing to be creative. Without looking to state the obvious, you don’t have the huge budgets that can compete with the big brands. However, sometimes it doesn’t take these huge figures and a simple dabble of creativity can be sufficient to turn your brand profitable and unlock higher marketing budgets for future years.