Every week in my client groups the same questions come up. “How much should I spend on Facebook and Instagram ads?” “How much should I pay for my website?” “How much should I budget for marketing each month?”
And the thing is, it’s different for each of us – but how much we spend is secondary. It’s what we DO with it that matters.
It’s Not About The Money
Some experts say invest 10% of profits. Others say up to 50%. But when you’re a one-woman band, even 50% might not amount to much!
Successful marketing depends far more on where you place your attention than how much you spend.
- £1 a day on a targeted Instagram or Facebook ad could bring you more customers than £100 a day on untargeted ones
- A simple Squarespace or WordPress website written for your ideal customer will outperform a £10,000 website that just looks pretty
- 30 minutes a week creating helpful Instagram Reels or TikToks could bring more traffic than paying someone £500 a month for generic SEO
- A free Canva account and your phone camera is all you need to create scroll-stopping content
Focus On The Right Marketing To The Right People
It’s about understanding why your ideal customers need you and how you can give them incredible value.
Once you get that right, THEN invest in making it bigger. But only once your message and targeting are spot on – otherwise you’re throwing good money after bad.
Where To Start (Without Spending A Fortune)
- Build an email list using a free Mailchimp or MailerLite account and a simple freebie
- Show up consistently on 1-2 social platforms with helpful, valuable content (use Canva for graphics, CapCut for video editing)
- Start a simple blog on your website to help with Google search rankings
- Ask happy customers for Google reviews and testimonials – this is free and incredibly powerful
- When you’re ready, start with £3-5/day on Instagram or Facebook ads targeting your ideal customer in your local area
Get it working first. See the benefits of your hard work. Then reinvest. A little at a time. Job done.