Where did businesses used to spend their online marketing budgets?
James Richardson
Co-Founder & Partnerships
Posted: 25 Mar 2020
I am constantly hearing stories from business owners about under performing advertising. Print, traditional, and ESPECIALLY Yellow Pages are big culprits!
Today we hear from two business owners who are now big spenders on online marketing, on what they used to spend their marketing dollars on.
In 2005 I took out a $15k ad with the Yellow Pages. My ad ran for three years, after which it wasn't paying for itself anymore, so I was offered a bottom dollar ad ($4k). Finally, after this ad failed to recoup its costs, I decided to stop completely. With the same $15k annual budget, I have diversified our marketing strategy, with 2-3 networking events, a paid directory ad in the Desktop Design Directory Annual, two printed documents (including postage), and a focus on online with eDMs and social media.
The difference in value is astounding. There are so many advantages to online marketing: it is liquid and flexible, instant and personal. It's easy for others to spread through social media, results are measurable, and it is sustainable.
Stella Gianotto - Stella Designs
"In the days before online marketing was a must, we spent our marketing budgets on flyers, mail shots, magazines and national newspaper advertisements. We also relied on word of mouth and cold calling to increase our client base. Most of the time we were working blind. Now we spend our money on marketing with results.
Everything we use to advertise our business we can track to see what effect is has on our ROI. We use Google AdWords, SEO, SMM, SEM, Email Newsletters, affiliates and a whole lot more which can be tracked at any time of the day. Online clearly works better for us, as we can reach our target market instantly AND be able to see the response to it. Whether they click on an advert or visit us through social media we can see what's working most effectively allowing us to optimise our time and money."
Amy McGinty - Online Media Marketing
James Richardson
Co-Founder & Partnerships
Working in the SEO industry for many years alongside some of Australia’s biggest brands, James started his online career running online Sports Fan sites, as well as cutting his teeth on several successful eCommerce brands and content sites.
Previously holding various senior roles across the Sales and Marketing teams for ASX listed companies, he went on to found Optimising with Daniel and is proud he has helped mould it into one of Australia's leading SEO agencies.
When he’s not in the office he’s at home having pretend tea parties, or building a cubby house in the lounge room with his three young girls.
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