I am on the mailing list for HubSpot which tends to have some helpful information.  The title of the latest e-mail they sent was “Marketing in a Recession” and it brought to light that most often in difficult times people cut their marketing budgets.  Unfortunately cutting of your marketing budget invariably leads to disaster.  We have always been big believers in marketing, but we believe in sticking to a budget as well :). 

So, why do people cut their marketing budgets?  Here are a few reasons I have heard:

  • I don’t have the money to advertise
  • Online marketing doesn’t work
  • I don’t have time to figure out online marketing

Now these reasons may sound shocking (hopefully they do), but here are some ways you can attack your marketing and get some serious results.

Money to Advertise

The nice thing about advertising online is that you can do it on the super cheap.  If you currently get a cup of coffee at Starbucks even a few times a week it means you have the money to advertise online!  Yes, you can bring people to your website for literally a dime or sometimes even less.  The cup of cofee may taste good, but closing a sale by spending .50 will sure feel alot better.  Start with a small budget (we started with $50/mo) and go from there.  As you start to see some results, which will happen quickly, you can gradually increase your budget.

Online marketing doesn’t work

This one kills me, but I have heard it from small business owners to real estate professionals.  What always amazes me is that they usually have 1 story about how it didn’t work for them after they gave it like a whole week or even a month of effort.  Online marketing through SEO, PPC, etc. certainly works, but it usually takes more than a few days to see what’s going on and what ads are working.  There are companies that make millions of dollars annually off of pay per click alone, so it certainly works, as long as you use it effectively.  Starting with the attitude that it can (and will) work is really the first step to making sure you experience success.

I don’t have time to figure out online marketing

This has to be one of my all-time favorites.  It’s the very same agent that cries this statement that spends 6+ hours holding an open house where maybe 1-2 people stop by.  So you have time to sit and do nothing at an empty house, but not time to learn a few tidbits about effective marketing online?  Crazy talk I say!  If you don’t have the time, sign up for our FREE pay per click for real estate course so you don’t make the mistakes that will cost you money.

Don’t accept the easy answer

The easy answer for many people (including your competition) is just to cut the marketing and spend more time.  To really succeed in a tough economy takes more than just time, it takes investing in marketing that will bring you quick results so you get MORE time to invest in your business.  So, cut back on a cup of coffee, take a free course, and watch your results soar in this market while everyone else moans and just cuts their budget.

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