Digital Advertising

Advertising 101

Even small budgets can benefit from advertising. Online platforms allow businesses to spend as little as $5 per day. Shoestring budgets are not the issue; poor implementation or marketing that does not resonate are. Leveraging advertising strategically and efficiently along with other marketing best practices can make a big impact, especially for small businesses.

1 - What are your goals?

Clear goals help guide your strategy and measure success. Are you looking to increase sales, generate leads, raise brand awareness, or promote a specific product or service?

2 - Who are you advertising to?

Identify your target audience. This can be developing personas or focusing on their demographics (age, gender, and  location), interests, and behaviors. Targeting improves with more specifics.

3 - What is being advertised?

Decide on the product, service, or offer you’re promoting. Ensure it matches the needs or interests of your target audience. Highlight what makes the offering unique or valuable.

4 - How are you advertising?

Choose the channels and formats best suited to reach your audience. Options include search ads, social media ads, video, or display ads. Read more below about prominent digital ad platforms.
Dashboard mockup
More Tools

Drill in Deeper on Advertising

Measure Results
Measure what matters with our easy-to-use calculators. Input your assumptions, let the calculator do its job, and get an insight you can work with to help make informed decisions about your advertising. Check out the calculators:
Marketing Budget Calculator (Coming Soon!)
Marketing Agency Cost (Coming Soon!)
Learn the Lingo
Still want to learn more? The world of marketing and advertising is vast. Check out glossary terms below to learn about other advertising concepts, mediums, tactics, and general marketing concepts.
Support

Advertising FAQs

Starting out on your advertising journey. Here are some questions we would ask and our take on recommendations.
Can I do advertising myself?
Yes, you can, but it may not be the best use of your time. While most ad platforms are designed to be user-friendly, advertising effectively involves mastering campaign setup, targeting, budget allocation, and performance tracking. Without the right expertise, your ads might not deliver the results you're hoping for, and you could end up spending more than necessary. This is why many business owners find it more efficient to hire professionals to manage their ad campaigns.
When should I hire help?
It’s time to hire help when your business is ready to grow beyond its current reach. If you've outgrown word-of-mouth and organic marketing, or if you're looking to scale quickly and efficiently, a professional can help maximize your advertising efforts. The growth stage is also when ad management becomes more complex—when you're juggling multiple campaigns across different platforms, need to optimize your strategy, or want to avoid costly mistakes.
Who should I hire for help?
There are three main options:

1 - Agencies: Agencies bring a wealth of experience and resources, making them ideal for businesses looking for comprehensive, hands-off management. However, they can be more expensive and less personalized.

2 - Freelancers: Freelancers tend to be more affordable than agencies, and you may get more flexibility and personalized service. However, results depend heavily on the freelancer’s skill and experience, and they may lack the breadth of services that an agency offers.

3 - In-House Team: If you're committed to long-term growth and have the budget, hiring in-house marketing experts provides you with direct control over your campaigns. This option is often more feasible for larger businesses.

Our team specializes in designing advertising services specifically for small businesses. We provide expert guidance tailored to your needs, ensuring that you don’t overspend or miss out on key opportunities. When hiring, look for experts who understand your industry, have a proven track record, and can show you case studies or references to back up their experience.
How much should I spend on advertising?
Your advertising budget depends on several factors, including your business goals, industry, and competition. A good starting point is to allocate 5-10% of your revenue toward advertising. You should also factor in the cost of acquiring a customer and how much a customer is worth to your business. As you get more data, you can adjust your budget based on which platforms are performing best and driving the most conversions.
How do I know if it's working?
Measuring your advertising’s success comes down to tracking conversions and key performance indicators (KPIs). Use tools like Google Analytics or platform-specific dashboards to track the following metrics:

- Conversion Rate: How many ad clicks result in a desired action, like a sale or lead.
- Cost per Acquisition (CPA): How much you're spending to acquire a customer.
- Return on Ad Spend (ROAS): The revenue generated for every dollar spent on ads.
- Click-through Rate (CTR): How often people click on your ad compared to how often they see it.Tracking these metrics will help you assess your campaign's effectiveness and make adjustments as needed.

Still have questions?

Can’t find the answer you’re looking for? Please chat to our friendly team.