As a business owner you’ll often find you need to put yourself out there in order to generate leads and ultimately, secure work. This can often feel impossible in an increasingly competitive landscape where the rise of social media has resulted in people’s attention becoming somewhat fragmented, and so you may be left scratching your head as to what steps to take (which is normal, by the way).
You may even know that the solution to this problem is an effective marketing campaign, but the question is, how soon should this be implemented for the best results?
What is a marketing campaign?
In case you don’t know (or as a friendly reminder), a marketing campaign is basically just a series of activities linked by a plan of action which all contribute towards a larger defined business goal.
These activities may be simultaneous (meaning they are done at the same time), sequential (meaning they are done in a particular order), or both, and can encompass virtually any course of action a business might choose to take.
The nature of a campaign means it’s not defined by any one activity, but rather by the larger goals to be achieved and the plan put in place to achieve them. Importantly, these goals are well-defined and plausibly achievable. Their success (or failure) can be measured, and they can range from marketing objectives to brand awareness, to specific business reforms.
A well thought-out marketing campaign will also consider cost, helping the business to get the best possible return on its spending.
Why do I need a marketing campaign?
Essentially, a marketing campaign is a form of organising and giving structure to your marketing activities. This is different from, say, an ‘initiative,’ which is vague and unactionable, lacking a clear roadmap.
How soon should I start planning my marketing campaign?
Okay. So… The reality is that a business needs metrics and methodology in place from the start in order to be able to track the progress of its campaign, so the sooner the better really.
You should come up with a plan at the outset and monitor it throughout. If you feel it would be more sensible to abandon it, make this decision based on as many facts as possible.
Can an accountant help me with my marketing budget?
Absolutely. An accountant can assist you in creating a realistic budget that helps keep your cash flow positive and considers include all the necessary costs, like agency fees, wages, ad space, etc.
Visit our accounting support hub for more help or to ask a free tax question!
