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Prepare (and Budget!) Now to Not Only Survive the Coming Year, but to Thrive

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An arrow representing looking ahead with your marketing budget.

It’s time to create your marketing budget for the coming year, but you may be wondering how to even get started with so much uncertainty surrounding your business. Whether your industry is one that is thriving right now (real estate and home builders and remodelers, we are looking at you) or one that is trying to find footing in this new normal, the uncertainty is real regardless. Not ideal circumstances for planning ahead, for sure, but that doesn’t mean it is not still necessary to do.

Tips to Help You Plan for Change in Your Marketing Plan and Budget

1. Plan Ahead, But Stay Flexible

While you may still create an annual marketing plan and budget, build in monthly or quarterly reviews to provide opportunities to pivot, if necessary. It’s unlikely that a “set and forget” annual plan will be successful as we continue to face uncertainty and rapid change within the world.

2. Understand Your Priorities

Create high-level goals, regardless of whether you know exactly how you are going to get there. Enlist the guidance of professionals, whether your in-house marketing team or an out-sourced agency, to help you get there. Again, keep in mind that the “how” may change throughout the year.

3. Invest In Your Business

Now more than ever it is essential to invest in your business and the marketing of it. Short-term budget cuts can result in a reduction of brand visibility, which is critical during an economic downturn. Create a plan that includes both organic and paid content to amplify your brand, maintain your audience’s trust, and keep you top of mind.

4. Stay Ready, So You Don’t Have To Get Ready

Brands that work now to position themselves in a way that is most valuable to their customers now, as well as in the future are more likely to create brand loyalty and come out ahead as we move past this time of uncertainty.

How MJ2 Can Help

At MJ2 Marketing, we don’t have a crystal ball or Magic 8 Ball to have an “exact” answer, but we do have more than 75 years of marketing and sales expertise among us. And – if we may say so ourselves – we do social media, content, and digital marketing extremely well. Just ask our current customers, as 95% repeat projects with us year over year. Results? KPI’s? We got this!

The best part, you don’t have to embark on this uncertain journey alone. Marketing strategy and planning can feel overwhelming, especially when it is unclear what the next few months will bring. And, truthfully, even if you think you can just stick with the same old thing, you may be missing amazing opportunities as markets evolve and the digital rules change.

It may be tempting to throw out those annual marketing budgets this year but resist the urge to give in to uncertainty. By understanding how and when you will adjust your plan, you’ll equip yourself to make decisions that will maximize impact.

Make Marketing in the Coming Year Different for Your Brand. Make It…

  • Innovative. 
  • Thoughtful.
  • Strategic.

There are unique challenges ahead of all of us, but we think our team of blended resources can help you not only survive but thrive in the coming year. Contact us today and sleep a little better tonight.