03/15/2023
"Your money or your life."
If I offered you a deal where you pay me $200 and I give you $2000 in return, would you take it?
Not a bad deal, right?
That’s exactly how paid ads work. Just like with any investment, there is an upfront cost - But there is also a RETURN on that investment (assuming you know what you're doing!).
“But I don’t pay for leads and clients: I use organic social media and relationship marketing, which are FREE!”
Let me ask you a question...
How much time do you spend on your “free” marketing efforts? Think of all the planning, writing, filming, editing, designing, and distributing content.
Think of all the interacting in free Facebook groups, commenting on posts, sending DMs and emails, attending online and in person networking events, having coffee chats with potential and past referral partners, trying to keep up relationships so you’re top of mind.
Also keep in mind that, if you’re an introvert, all the “peopling” can be exhausting and can even take energy away from client work or your personal life, particularly when you’ve overdone it.
The reality is that “free” marketing methods DO have a cost: Not only are you spending your time, you’re also spending your energy, which is just as valuable and, for introverts especially, just as limited in quantity.
In the end, the decision you need to make is whether you would rather spend your time and energy OR your money on lead generation.
And there isn’t a right answer to this question. It’s going to be determined largely by which you have more of at the moment.
For most early stage business owners, spending time and energy is preferable to spending money, because they have more time and energy than money.
But, for business owners who are at the point in their business where they’re ready to grow and scale - particularly introverted business owners - the opposite is often true.
They are short on time and energy, and can afford to spend some money in exchange for the growth opportunities that an influx of new leads and clients would bring.
Here's another important thing to know as a business owner before you spend ANYTHING (time, energy, or money) on marketing...
HOW MUCH IS A NEW CLIENT WORTH TO YOU?
In other words, how much profit will you earn from a typical client over the course of your relationship?
And then, ask yourself, given this potential profit, how much would you be willing to spend to acquire that new client?
Just remember, regardless of HOW you get clients - From those so-called "free" marketing methods, or from paid ads - You WILL pay for them, one way or another.
It's your choice: Your money, or your life.
