“We Don’t Have Budget for Marketing Support” (And Other Fairy Tales We Tell Ourselves)

Let’s have a heart-to-heart about that marketing budget of yours. You know, the one that’s tighter than your jeans after Thanksgiving dinner? Trust me, I’ve been there – staring at spreadsheets, trying to make numbers do mathematical gymnastics they were never meant to do.

The Real Talk About Marketing Budgets

Here’s the thing: saying you can’t afford marketing is like saying you can’t afford to put gas in your car but still expecting to drive cross-country. (Spoiler alert: You’re not going to make it to Grandma’s house.)

Did you know that companies typically spend 7-15% of their revenue on marketing? Yet here you are, trying to make magic happen with whatever loose change you found in the couch cushions. Let’s fix that, shall we?

Why DIY Marketing Is Like Building Your Own House (Hint: Don’t)

Picture this: You’re trying to manage your own:

• Social media (posting at 3 AM because that’s when you “have time”)
• Content creation (using that one Canva template… again)
• Email marketing (BCC is not a strategy, friend)
• SEO (googling “how to Google better”)
• Analytics (squinting at Excel sheets until your eyes cross)

Meanwhile, your competition is out there with a full marketing team, making it rain ROI while you’re doing rain dances hoping for organic traffic.

The Cost of “Saving Money” (It’s More Than You Think)

Let’s crunch some numbers that’ll make your accountant cry:

• The average marketing manager salary: $65,000+ (and that’s just one person)
• Marketing automation software: $12,000-$24,000 annually
• Content creation tools: $1,200-$3,600 per year
• Time spent learning instead of earning: Priceless (and not in a good way)

The Red Branch Media Solution (Because We’re Not Here to Judge, We’re Here to Help)

Here’s where we come in like your marketing fairy godmother (but with better ROI tracking). At Red Branch Media, we:

1. Work Within Your Reality: We get it – budgets are real, and so are your goals. We’ll help you match them up without requiring a small business loan.
2. Maximize Every Dollar: Our team has the tools, templates, and talent already in place. You’re not paying for our learning curve; you’re benefiting from our experience.
3. Scale With You: Start with what you need most, then grow as you see results. No massive upfront investments required.

The “But How Though?” Breakdown

When you work with us, you get:

• A full marketing team for less than one in-house hire
• Professional-grade tools without subscription commitments
• Strategy AND execution (because plans without action are just expensive wishes)
• Data-driven decisions (no more throwing spaghetti at the wall)
• Results you can actually measure (and brag about in board meetings)

The Bottom Line (Literally)

Remember that 7-15% of revenue we talked about earlier? With Red Branch Media, you can often achieve better results while investing less. How? Because we’ve already:

• Made the rookie mistakes (so you don’t have to)
• Invested in the expensive tools (that you get to use)
• Built the processes (that you get to benefit from)
• Trained the experts (who are ready to work for you)

Your Next Move

Still thinking you can’t afford marketing support? Let’s flip that script: Can you afford NOT to have professional marketing support in today’s digital landscape?

Book a call with us. Let’s talk about your goals, your budget (yes, even the tiny ones), and how we can help you stop telling yourself the “no budget” fairy tale and start writing your success story instead.

Because here’s the real truth: The most expensive marketing is the kind that doesn’t work. And DIY marketing? Well, let’s just say there’s a reason professional chefs don’t recommend cooking your wedding cake the morning of the ceremony.

Ready to make your marketing budget work harder than a caffeinated squirrel? Let’s talk.

Maren Hogan

Maren Hogan is CEO of Red Branch and general Bad@$$

Maren Hogan is a seasoned marketer and community builder in the HR and Recruiting industry. Maren started Red Branch Media and, before she hired all the smiling faces you see below, she ran it on her own. In marketing for over 15 years, she has deep experience in strategic campaigns and a long-term, results-based operational approach.