“I want to market my product / service online, but I don’t know how to budget for that. Can you please help?” It’s a frequent request, and we are happy to share the same tips that we share with our customers.

Here is How to Get the Most Out of Your Web Marketing Budget

1. Invest in your core website – You may end up with multiple web properties which include your core site, social media pages on Facebook, Twitter, etc. and landing pages, but your core website will always be the crown jewel. A custom brochure-type website with rich narrative and images will cost $8K+ , depending on how much content and interaction the site contains, while an e-commerce website will run significantly more. Anything less will probably get you a cookie-cutter template site.
2. Maximize SEO (Search Engine Optimization) – Most website traffic is directed through search engines, so SEO for your site is critical. Here are prices pulled from an SEO guide, courtesy of SEOMoz. While prices have increased since its publication 2 years ago, it still has value in describing the high end of pricing.
   

   Service	Low End	Mid Range	High End
   Site Review + Consulting	$500	$2,500	$10,000
   Hands-On Editing of Pages/Code	$2,000	$10,000	$50,000
   Manual Link Building Campaign	$500	$5,000	$20,000
   Keyword Research Package	$100	$500	$2,000
   Monthly Retainer for Ongoing SEO	$2,500	$7,500	$20,000+

3. Include PPC and Other Search Advertising – PPC (pay per click) Search Engine Advertising such as Google AdWords can help you target your most sought-after prospects and help drive them to your web properties. Efficient use of PPC can deliver immediate results, but PPC campaigns require professional management to continually finetune your ad targeting and conduct cost-effective bidding for keywords against other highly motivated bidders. A serious PPC campaign that will bring in results will require a budget of at least $1000 per month to maintain.

There is no single bullet that will meet all of your marketing needs. Instead, successful online marketing requires the careful implementation of many strategies. But with careful planning, you can stretch your marketing budget and make your marketing campaigns successful.