To maximize your marketing budget in 2015, focus on engaging your audience across multiple social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Google+. While Facebook's organic reach is dropping, you need to pay to promote content. Don't forget to cross-promote on other platforms and interact regularly. Traditional methods like email marketing and direct mail can also be effective if done personalized and at optimal times. Networking, sharing knowledge, collaborating with others, community involvement, and positive messaging can help promote your business with a limited budget.

1. 10 ways to maximize your
marketing budget in 2015

2. It’s all about the
Benjamin's
baby

3. And no matter how many you have to spend

4. or don’t
have

5. you want to maximize your exposure

6. using the most impactful methods.

9. Facebook’s organic reach of
self-promoting posts is dropping. average Facebook
user spends 40
minutes a day on
the platform

10. What this
means to
you…

11. you need to pay to play
for promotional content

12. So create posts
with sharing in mind.

13. Use this opportunity to educate

14. and engage
your audience.
What if it was silent
while this pic was taken?

15. Don’t forget to cross-promote
on other social platforms.

17. Interact on each major platform

18. Strengths: Widely-adopted by large
segments of the population.
Weaknesses: Will the younger generation stay on
Facebook once Grandma has “friended” them?
47% say
Facebook has the
greatest impact
on purchase
behavior

19. Strengths: Used by large segments of the population.
Weaknesses: Can be a distraction
79% of Twitter
users are more
likely to recommend
brands they follow

20. Instagram
Strengths: A fun, easy-to-use app.
Weaknesses: Other apps provide a similar experience.
Instagram is used
by 200 million
people each
month

21. Pinterest
Strengths: A visually-appealing way to
share information with followers.
Weaknesses: Competition from a wide
variety of other social media platforms.
57% of users
discuss food-
related content

22. LinkedIn
2 new LinkedIn
users are added
every second
Strengths: Everybody’s on LinkedIn.
Weaknesses: Most people have trouble
knowing what to do with LinkedIn after
they upload their business information.

23. Google+
Strengths: Ease-of-use and uncluttered environment.
Weaknesses: Competition from other
well-established social media platforms.
Google+ actually
averages more
visits per month
than Facebook.

25. Market to customers as frequently as you would like
(but not too frequently).

26. Reach customers
at specific times.
$44.25 is the
average return for
every $1 spent on
email marketing

27. 91% open rate
for direct mail
sent to
prospects

28. People feel special when they
receive a personalized piece of mail

29. which means they’ll be more
likely to read it and respond.

31. Network with the BIG BOYS and get your name out there.

33. Share your knowledge at professional
industry association events

34. while subtly
promoting
your business

35. which could
potentially
lead to
partnerships.

37. Invite people to
learn something
they can do on
their own.

39. Two is always better than one.

40. Collaborating on a specific effort,
or an ongoing series of initiatives

41. provides the opportunity for you to access
additional audiences and potential customers
that you might not ordinarily reach.

43. Give back to the community that
helped your business prosper.
Hecky Powell (middle)
Owner of Hecky’s Barbecue
Evanston IL

45. Disseminate a positive message
about your company

46. which makes people more receptive
to doing business with you.

47. So in the end, it’s not the size of
your budget, but how you use it.