Time and money are extremely valuable commodities for small businesses and startups. Indeed, wasting capital on any ventures that don’t deliver some form of meaningful ROI can have a severe negative impact on a growing company. Given that fact, all marketing professionals working for small organizations should seek to be as efficient with their resources as possible. While this is undoubtedly a difficult task, it is possible for small businesses to make the most of their time and money when they pursue a new marketing strategy. Here are four tips you can use to achieve the best results possible given common budgetary restraints:
Listen First
New business leaders may –– understandably –– feel excited to try out marketing tactics as soon as possible. However, it’s unwise to make any marketing decisions without meaningful data to back them up. It’s imperative for marketing pros to understand their customer base so that they can craft campaigns that will resonate with them. Partnering with telephone survey companies and other market research firms can give you a clear picture of your customer base and inform the choices you need to make down the road. Don’t skip this step!
Start Small
There’s no reason to expend a huge portion of your given marketing budget on an unproven or novel technique. Rather than going “all in” on any given strategy, it’s better to start things small. This way, you can increase or decrease the amount of money your company spends on a tactic depending on the success (or lack thereof) your team experiences.
Avoid Fads & Gimmicks
Just because your competitors decide to embrace every fad on social media, it doesn’t mean your company should follow suit. In many instances, popular fads and gimmicks don’t offer widespread value. Trying to replicate the success of large companies or businesses in unrelated fields won’t necessarily lead to positive results for your organization. Sticking with what works for you is preferable to constantly chasing the latest marketing craze.
Keep it Simple
Though some professionals try to make digital marketing seem inordinately complex, the truth is that following key, basic principles will ensure your business stays on the right track. Use common sense and provide your audience with a simple, but meaningful digital experience. Don’t worry if your blogs aren’t the most refined or if your video marketing techniques are elementary. Prioritizing the simple things will allow you to save money and time –– while also keeping your team happy as well. Remember, you don’t have to reinvent the wheel to find success through digital marketing and advertising.