Cut Your Marketing Costs: Hide Your Wallet!

The beginning of January is just too tempting isn’t it? All those special offers. All those marketing deals which will only last for the next 24 hours so you simply have to decide right now, on the spot, to buy them.

Buy. Buy. Buy.

We’re all being inundated with reasons not to miss out on the latest software, the latest membership sites, the latest courses.

Enough already!

I’m a huge advocate of education – especially marketing education. Don’t get me wrong. Understanding how to market, learning how to put theory into practice, and automating your business are key to your success.

But there’s a limit – both in terms of how much education you can absorb and put into action, and how much you should invest in your education.

If you’ve got endless time on your hands, or a fountain of cash reserves, go ahead and carry on with your buying spree.

But if you’re like most of us, you’re probably working as much in your business as you are on your business and you’re keeping a keen eye on your cash flow.

You need to find the right balance.

Here are some of the criteria I use when I’m thinking about buying anything for my business.

• Do I need it or just want  it?
• Will I have time to learn what I need to know about it?
• Will I use it now?
• Do I already own something similar?
• Can I afford it?
• Will it still be available later if I delay buying it?
• What might be the consequences of buying it?
• What might be the consequences of not  buying it?

I’m looking for products and services which will either save me time or make me money. It’s as simple at that. I need to see the benefit for my business.

I don’t need to have the latest bells and whistles either. In fact, I actively search for older models, older software versions and more basic products. The  slightly older versions are often up to 90% cheaper to buy. Worth it when you consider that most people, especially when it comes to software, don’t use all the advanced features anyway.

Would I like the latest, shiniest versions – absolutely. But I don’t need them as much as I need solid cash flow.

… nor do you. So put your wallet away and go back to work.

Let me know below about educational resources/products which won’t break the bank and which you think are definitely worth the investment for small businesses – and why, below.  It has to be something that you own and use regularly and that you wouldn’t be without. No affiliate links please.