Where to delegate your 2022 marketing budget
4 essential budget tips for business marketing
I know I know: we haven’t even hit Halloween yet, let alone the holidays. But stay with me. Because if you are a fellow entrepreneur, now is the time to start thinking about your business goals for 2022.
Business goals start with marketing. And marketing starts with a plan. Start planning early and you are preparing yourself ahead of your competition, so you are ready to go in 2022.
Having the right marketing plan can make or break your business (I know – I saw it both ways). Here are my top 4 recommendations for delegating your marketing funds in 2022.
4 budget tips for business marketing for 2022
# 1: set your budget
First of all: do you have a marketing budget? If not, define one (pronto!). It is quite difficult to build a successful business if you don’t have the money to spend on it.
Set a budget that you think will give you enough money to grow your business. And don’t worry. Your marketing budget can be small – it all depends on how far along your business is, how fast and how far you want to go.
You don’t need a big marketing budget for your business, as long as you spend it wisely.
# 2: improve yourself
It doesn’t matter where you are in your business. There is always something more you can learn. So plan to first invest part of your 2022 marketing budget in your own training and expertise. Update your professional growth and broaden your knowledge base, so that you grow like your business does.
For example, in my own business we do branding and graphic design, online marketing, custom web development, and more, and our industry is constantly changing. So I need to continually learn new skills while updating the skills I already have. Every year, I take classes, read books, and strive to learn as much as possible so that I can share this expertise with my clients.
Think about what you can learn in your industry, whatever it is. By improving your expertise, you also improve your business and its growth potential.
Invest part of your budget in yourself, because the more expert you are in your field, the more you will shine above your competition.
# 3: attend live events
Another thing to consider in 2022 is attending live events that relate to your business.
They are great not only for learning from speakers, but also for meeting new people who work in your industry.
You’ll meet great people, deal cards, and build new relationships, all while learning from experts in your field and doing critical market research.
Of course, the pandemic has changed live events a bit. Lots of events have been uploaded which can be a good thing as now you can access a lot more relevant events without having to travel.
But still try to research relevant speaking events in your area. As long as it’s safe, meeting people “in real life” can be incredibly powerful.
So allocate some of your marketing budget and try to attend at least one event in 2022! I always have a great time at networking events and meet a lot of interesting people who help me grow.
# 4: business marketing
Finally, we have the field marketing itself. These are your SEO, social media, social media ads, search engine ads, and content marketing.
This is an area where so many entrepreneurs are stuck because they think they can learn to do it all on their own. Believe me: this is unrealistic at best.
Trying to become a marketing expert will waste your time and get no results. It takes years to become a marketing snippet – all time is much better spent focusing on what you do as a business.
I know the courses you see popping up in your newsfeeds are tempting. They make it so easy! But most people don’t even finish them!
So, if you are planning to take an online course to learn something quickly, remember that only 10% of people who start an online course actually complete it. And those who rarely finish come away with something of value.
Instead, use your 2022 marketing budget to hire an expert. Just make sure they are an expert! Outsource to a reputable source like an established online marketing company. You might also benefit from working with a consultant. Just make sure you examine them carefully.
Then, once you’ve done your research and found a good candidate, trust their experience and expertise and let them guide you. They’ll likely need some time to understand your branding and message, but then let them shine (remember organic marketing takes time).
Originally published here.
