5 Tips To
Make Your Marketing Budget Go Further
Here
are some tips to help you maximize your marketing budget
without sacrificing quality or results.
1.
Artwork and photography
If possible, when planning a photo shoot, think ahead
and try to get as many shots in as possible. Most photographers
charge by half or whole day, so try to make the most
of your money. Having a library of images for current
and future advertising needs will not only save you
time, but money.
Use
your existing images and copy in multiple marketing
elements. For example, copy and images from a brochure
can also be used on your website.
2.
Do what you can yourself
Hiring experts is always recommended for professional
design, photography, copy writing, press release development,
web development, etc. But it is recommended to do as
many tasks in-house as possible. For example, stuffing
press releases into envelopes is something that you
could do which will save your budget for tasks that
really need the expertise of a professional.
3.
Smart print buying
When you print anything for your business evaluate your
quantities closely. In most cases running a thousand
or two more costs only a few dollars. If you know that
the document will not be changing and that you will
need to reorder within the year, print a two-years supply
vs. one.
Also,
contemplate printing multiple items at once. For example
when printing letterhead, inventory your business cards,
note pads, envelopes, etc. Anything that is printed
on the same stock or at least the same ink colors will
save you set up fees and press wash fees as the printer
can run all the jobs simultaneously or in succession.
4.
Use of articles
Remember that article that was written about your company
in the local paper or trade journal? Well, dust it off
and use it. Make copies of it and give it to prospective
clients and/or if appropriate enlarge it and hang it
on your wall.
5.
Reuse your ads
You paid a lot of money to design your ad and it's working.
You are generating leads. Now take that ad and reprint
it to use in your sales literature. Add additional information
to the sheet and make it a product data sheet, mail
a copy of the ad with a sales letter, turn them into
postcards, or if they are really eye catching, make
reprints and make them suitable for framing.
Nicole
Shields has owned and operated a marketing firm since
1996. She developed a do-it-yourself workbook, 7 Step
Marketing Plan, to help busy business owners and managers
easily create marketing plans that generate profits. You
can learn more and sign up for her free marketing course
at: http://www.1shoppingcart.com/app/adtrack.asp? AdID=11610 |