How to piece together an advertising budget

What are your goals and objectives?

First off, what are you trying to achieve with your advertising? Are you aiming to get your brand out there, or are you more focussed on making sales? Knowing this helps you pick the right marketing tactics and channels, which then helps you work out your budget.

Who are you trying to reach?

Think about who your target audience is. Knowing your audience is key to figuring out how much you should spend on advertising. It helps you pick the right channels and gives you an idea of what it might cost to reach them.

Check out the competition

Take a look at what your competitors are up to. How much are they spending on advertising? This can give you a clue about what you might need to do to keep up.

Learn from past successes (and failures)

Take a look back at what you've done before. What worked well, and what didn't? Learning from your past experiences can help you decide where to invest your money and where to skip.

Pick your advertising platforms and channels

Decide where you want to advertise – whether it's on social media, search engines, in print, on TV, or on the radio. Each channel has its costs and potential returns, so it's important to think about how they fit into your overall plan.

Divvy up your budget

Figure out how you want to split your budget between different channels and campaigns. You might want to put more money into channels that have worked for you in the past or that seem like they'll give you the best bang for your buck.

Time it right

Consider when you want to run your advertising campaigns. Some times of the year might be busier or more expensive than others. Make sure your budget lines up with your goals and the timing of your campaigns.

Keep track of results and learnings

Set up ways to measure how your ads are doing. This helps you see what's working and what's not, so you can tweak your budget as you go.

So, there you have it! Figuring out your advertising budget is all about doing your homework, planning carefully, and keeping an eye on how things are going. With these tips in mind, you can craft an advertising strategy that hits the mark without breaking the bank.