There comes a time when you have to decide on how much to spend on marketing. You need to sit down and come up with a budget. When you sit down to figure this out, make sure you have your sales from last year handy. This can be of great help. You should have a budget for everything you spend on your business, from utilities to marketing. Budgeting is the core of the business. 

What is the age of your brand? If it is new you will need to set aside 30% of your forecasted sales. Just make sure you can finance this even if you do not meet your forecasted sales. If it’s a brand that’s already established than you figure on anything between 2-10% of sales. 

What is your set objective? Are you looking at a massive or an incremental growth? When you set up your objective, make sure it’s realistic. 

What are other businesses spending on their marketing? You might have to match them but you have to be smarter then them. Put the money where it's going to get the most attention. You might have to do some homework on this. On the other hand if they don’t spend a lot on marketing then you don’t want a large budget. You have to keep in mind that not spending is not a way to savings. It does take money to make money. 

James Hickey

Master Business Consultant

http://www.SDCCPRO.com

http://www.sd-entrepreneur.com

James Hickey is a top leader in the Internet Marketing industry.  He provides his clients and students with a proven Internet Marketing system for retail, self-employed individuals and home-based businesses.  He is skilled in all aspects of Internet Marketing including Video/Article Marketing, Blogging, Google PPC, E-mail Campaigns, Lead Generation and Social Media Marketing, dominating Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and much more.

At some point in your business you need to slow down and put a marketing plan in order. At the end of the year would be a good time to look back and reflect.

First ask yourself what worked for me in my business last year? See how you can improve this for next year.

Then ask yourself what didn’t work for me in my business? You always learn more from failures than from your success. Just take time to reflect on them and learn from your mistakes.

Did you planned out all of your marketing tactics? Make sure your honest with yourself. Sometime we go with things that are thrown at us at the time. Sometimes this works, but to plan things out works better.

In the last year what change did your business go though? How will this affect your business? This question is probably the most important. You can’t do the same thing you did last year if this year’s economy is different. You would have to change something.

You have to set a budget for your marketing plans in order. This will make you prioritize your priories. This will even tell you how much to spend. We have seen so many other businesses go under. This could very much happen to you.

Take the time to set your budget and marketing plans up. This will give you a head start for the new business year.

James Hickey

Master Business Consultant

http://www.SDCCPRO.com

http://www.sd-entrepreneur.com

James Hickey is a top leader in the Internet Marketing industry.  He provides his clients and students with a proven Internet Marketing system for retail, self-employed individuals and home-based businesses.  He is skilled in all aspects of Internet Marketing including Video/Article Marketing, Blogging, Google PPC, E-mail Campaigns, Lead Generation and Social Media Marketing, dominating Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and much more.

What To Post Or Not To Post

I see myself as a social media expert. I’m always following the newest trends. I’m like a sponge absorbing all the new gadgets. I’m into feeds, blogs, badges, and different media sites. If it’s new, I know about it. I even challenge myself and master it. Then of course teach my friends.

When you use twitter you come across all the latest gossip but it can also provide information that you might find useful. I use it to see how traffic conditions are before I head out. I even look at the scores on the game that I’m following.

Social media is a form of communication with your friends. You can let all of your friends know something all at once. But some tweets that people post are very annoying. Some people find it interesting to tweet what they are eating. No one cares what you are eating so don’t tweet it. I’m not saying don’t post a review on a restaurant or on a good dish. But “I’m eating a sandwich in front of my tv” is annoying. No one wants to know that.

I guess updating your friends your location can get annoying at times too. But in the same thought that can be fun. I mean finding someone near you without planning it. Or you are driving down the road and you want to stop to eat. You see a friend location nearby. Why not stop and eat with them. Maybe catch up on things.

James Hickey

Master Business Consultant

http://www.SDCCPRO.com

http://www.sd-entrepreneur.com

James Hickey is a top leader in the Internet Marketing industry. He provides his clients and students with a proven Internet Marketing system for retail, self-employed individuals and home-based businesses. He is skilled in all aspects of Internet Marketing including Video/Article Marketing, Blogging, Google PPC, E-mail Campaigns, Lead Generation and Social Media Marketing, dominating Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and much more.

Who Is Internet Marketing For?

Many people want to know if Internet Marketing is for them. First of all Internet Marketing is not easy. You have to have confident in yourself that you can learn everything there is to know about Internet marketing. New things always show up with the Internet. You think you have it down and before you know it, there are something new to learn. I find it a challenge and like it.

To be apart of Internet Marketing you have to be willing to work hard. Don’t worry too much on learning cause they’re a great deal of people willing to help you out. Everyone will have advise for you, you just listen to the ones that you feel will help you the most.

Before long you will find your own way in Internet marketing. You will develop ways to deal with different people. You will learn what to advertise. Maybe you will start giving other people tips. After you get into it, you will enjoy it. Everything is moving towards Internet, you need to start moving too.

With Internet marketing you set your own schedule. That is the biggest plus. You work for yourself. You take off the days you want. Work as many hours as you would like. There will be no getting approval from the boss. You are the boss. Feel proud of your self. The hard work will reward you. Good luck and best wishes. Feel free to ask me any questions that you may have.

James Hickey

Master Business Consultant

http://www.SDCCPRO.com

http://www.sd-entrepreneur.com

James Hickey is a top leader in the Internet Marketing industry.  He provides his clients and students with a proven Internet Marketing system for retail, self-employed individuals and home-based businesses.  He is skilled in all aspects of Internet Marketing including Video/Article Marketing, Blogging, Google PPC, E-mail Campaigns, Lead Generation and Social Media Marketing, dominating Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and much more.

What Is Foursquare?

You might think Foursquare is just another social networking site It looks to me like it’s the newest hot thing out there. This is a great tool for all of the social media people. It lets you share tips on coffee shops, bars or anyplace else. If you were to go to a café and ‘check in’ on the site . This then leaves your location for friends to join you.

Some people might be unsure of this. Having people know where you are at all times. Is this a way of asking for stalkers? Or telling people my house is empty? But like with everything else on the Internet you have to be careful. Just remember everything and anything is seen after you post.

But for some it’s very appealing. Foursquare users use this service as a way to see if their friends are near by and can meet up with them. Foursquare even has a game you can play. You earn points for checking in. With points you get badges. You even become mayor of the location if you checked in the most. Some location rewards their mayor with free drinks. In fact I’m a mayor of Proper and Red Pearl Kitchen. Let’s see whom de throws me.

Businesses can actually use this tool as well. It can let you know who visits your business the most and what people think about your business. They could start using this as a way to advertise.

I can see Foursquare developing into something huge in the near future. It is something exciting for social media.

James Hickey

Master Business Consultant

http://www.SDCCPRO.com

http://www.sd-entrepreneur.com

James Hickey is a top leader in the Internet Marketing industry.  He provides his clients and students with a proven Internet Marketing system for retail, self-employed individuals and home-based businesses.  He is skilled in all aspects of Internet Marketing including Video/Article Marketing, Blogging, Google PPC, E-mail Campaigns, Lead Generation and Social Media Marketing, dominating Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and much more.