Increased marketing budget? What should you spend yours on?

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A recent report has shown approximately 63% of companies will increase their marketing budgets this year. But what’s the best thing to spend that extra cash on?

Depending on where your business is in its marketing journey, and the goals you want to achieve, there are a few key elements that you should focus on, before you consider implementing an integrated approach to marketing activity.

GET THE FOUNDATIONS RIGHT

There are a few crucial elements to implementing a great marketing campaign, spending time and budget getting these right will help ensure you can achieve all your goals in the future.

Your proposition to market

Do you know who your best customers are? And can you communicate with them effectively? Knowing your proposition to market, and understanding your target customers is a crucial process that fuels every element of your marketing in the future.

Key sales messages

Are you truly capturing your customers’ attention? Developing the key messages that will sell your products and services in the best way is a vital part of your marketing strategy. Get these right and the rest is easy.

Your brand identity

Does your brand identity truly reflect your business? Does it look professional and speak volumes to your target market? It might be time to invest in a refreshed look and feel to breathe new life into your brand.

GET YOUR SALES TOOLS RIGHT

Once your foundations are in place, it’s time to consider the tools you’re using to communicate with your target market.

Website

Your digital presence is your shop window. If you’re confident about your key sales messages and target market, spending your marketing budget on a new website can be a great investment to help you achieve your goals.

Social Media platforms

Are your customers active on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest or LinkedIn? Find out what social media platforms they’re using, and communicate and engage with them there. Investment in making your profiles look professional, and consistent with the rest of your marketing approach is worth the time and money.

Printed materials and collateral

Don’t forget about offline marketing, even in the digital age. A bespoke direct mail piece or beautiful, high quality brochure can make your business stand out from the crowd.

GET THE APPROACH RIGHT

The next step in your marketing journey should be to implement an integrated, consistent approach that truly engages your target market.

An integrated approach means your messages are in front of your customers, everywhere they look. Focusing your efforts on this approach is the single best thing you can do for your marketing in 2015.

You can read more about an integrated marketing strategy here.

If you need any support or guidance on how best to utilise your marketing budget, get in touch!

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