5,116,528
If I believed there was a real ROI by going over budget, I certainly would.
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John Juarez
Fremont, CA
-
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
-
Pete Xavier
Pacific Palisades, CA
-
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Carpinteria, CA
-
Roy Kelley
Gaithersburg, MD
-
Richard Bazinet /MBA, ...
Scottsdale, AZ
-
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
-
Steve Higgins
Kelowna, BC
-
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
-
Barbara Todaro
Franklin, MA
3,416,038
I exceed when needed. There are times when listings slow down and you need to pick it up. There is times things are red hot and sell so fast you need more to sell. I like to review monthly and adjust as needed. What works, what isnt and change accordingly
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John Juarez
Fremont, CA
-
Scott Godzyk
Manchester, NH
-
Roy Kelley
Gaithersburg, MD
-
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
-
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
-
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
-
Barbara Todaro
Franklin, MA
-
Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
4,584,146
Budgets are guidelines for me. Life happens.
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Gita Bantwal
Warwick, PA
-
Roy Kelley
Gaithersburg, MD
-
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Fred Griffin Florida R...
Tallahassee, FL
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Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
-
Barbara Todaro
Franklin, MA
-
Steve Higgins
Kelowna, BC
3,350,559
Absolutely will exceed the marketing budget to increase business. In fact, I am doing that now. Will it work? We shall see.
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John Juarez
Fremont, CA
-
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
-
Roy Kelley
Gaithersburg, MD
-
Richard Bazinet /MBA, ...
Scottsdale, AZ
-
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
-
Barbara Todaro
Franklin, MA
2,785,456
If I get a high end product I will spend more
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Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Carpinteria, CA
-
Roy Kelley
Gaithersburg, MD
-
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
-
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
-
Barbara Todaro
Franklin, MA
-
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
1,847,721
You might have to fudge a bit depending on the circumstances. Maybe sell a few more in an area & do an extra mailing, etc.
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Roy Kelley
Gaithersburg, MD
-
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
-
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
-
Barbara Todaro
Franklin, MA
-
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
-
Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
716,649
Yes... often there are marketing opportunities beyond the planned budget. In fact, I would say it's a common and frequent occurrence. Got to keep flexible.
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John Juarez
Fremont, CA
-
Barbara Todaro
Franklin, MA
-
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Roy Kelley
Gaithersburg, MD
2,684,769
Is there a good chance of seeing a return? Then go over. If it's a crap shoot, pass on it.
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John Juarez
Fremont, CA
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Barbara Todaro
Franklin, MA
-
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
-
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
-
Roy Kelley
Gaithersburg, MD
2,402,637
I don't budget in the sense of I have a certain amount set aside for advertising/marketing Barbara Todaro but I don't let it deplete my reserves either. If I think something is a pretty sure bet I go for it if the only way it effects my work load is to write up offers.
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Pete Xavier
Pacific Palisades, CA
-
Steve Higgins
Kelowna, BC
-
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
-
Barbara Todaro
Franklin, MA
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Roy Kelley
Gaithersburg, MD
1,389,205
We establish a budget but adjust as needed due to market fluctuations or to take advantage of additional opportunities.
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John Juarez
Fremont, CA
-
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
-
Barbara Todaro
Franklin, MA
-
Roy Kelley
Gaithersburg, MD
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
1,554,928
I stick with my budget, given it's pretty mathematically predictable based on projected growth using last year as a baseline. It prevents "shiny object syndrome bankruptcy".
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Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
-
Roy Kelley
Gaithersburg, MD
-
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
-
Barbara Todaro
Franklin, MA
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
5,258,239
I actually now budget for overage in marketing! Yes, I budget my 'normal' and then add some cushion because for years, I found myself going over each and every year!
Now, when I hit the limit, which is rare, I'm done until January 1!
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Steve Higgins
Kelowna, BC
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Carol Williams
Wenatchee, WA
-
Roy Kelley
Gaithersburg, MD
-
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
-
Barbara Todaro
Franklin, MA
1,153,794
2007,2008 & 2009 took my comfort level far beyond the normal parameters. It's like they say: "When business is good you should advertise. When times are bad you must advertise"
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John Juarez
Fremont, CA
-
Roy Kelley
Gaithersburg, MD
-
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
-
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
-
Barbara Todaro
Franklin, MA
5,245,334
I have been pretty good over the years staying within budget. Have exceeded budget a couple of years when I could justify the return.
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Roy Kelley
Gaithersburg, MD
-
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
-
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
-
Barbara Todaro
Franklin, MA
-
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
519,324
If what I was doing was working, and more would work better, yes. If it's just another cold call, latest widget, got to have system, no.
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Roy Kelley
Gaithersburg, MD
-
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
-
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
-
Barbara Todaro
Franklin, MA
-
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
4,434,177
Budget varies.
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Roy Kelley
Gaithersburg, MD
-
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
-
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
-
Barbara Todaro
Franklin, MA
-
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
7,870,810
I have never been good with marketing budgets.
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
-
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
-
Barbara Todaro
Franklin, MA
-
Steve Higgins
Kelowna, BC
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
1,057,554
Yes unless no and no unless yes.
Unless yes or no.
Sometimes it costs more to get the results that you want.
You can only project a budget for each project.
Hopefully you come in under.
LOL, it's a lot like life!
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Barbara Todaro
Franklin, MA
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Carol Williams
Wenatchee, WA
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Candice A. Donofrio
Fort Mohave, AZ
808,679
I stay within my budget. I am happy with the business I have and I don't believe it will increase my business. I am in the RBC bank, hockey arena and news papers. I use to do postcard/flyers every couple of weeks I have cut those out and my business has not changed. I find most of my business comes from referrals.
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Roy Kelley
Gaithersburg, MD
-
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
-
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
-
Barbara Todaro
Franklin, MA
3,986,308
I set a budget that does not go down but usually goes up as needed!
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Roy Kelley
Gaithersburg, MD
-
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
-
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
-
Barbara Todaro
Franklin, MA
1,506,923
Depends on the opportunity presenting itself.
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John Juarez
Fremont, CA
-
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
-
Barbara Todaro
Franklin, MA
3,071,589
Our marketing department has a budget of about $75K a month...
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John Juarez
Fremont, CA
-
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
-
Pete Xavier
Pacific Palisades, CA
1,625,153
Yes, if I believe it is necessary.
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John Juarez
Fremont, CA
-
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
-
Barbara Todaro
Franklin, MA
6,424,502
I spend very little on mktg, mostly my time on the net, which I often exceed the budget on.
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Bob Crane
Stevens Point, WI
-
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Barbara Todaro
Franklin, MA
5,773,228
Barbara,
It depends, and we are always looking for opportunities. A
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John Juarez
Fremont, CA
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Barbara Todaro
Franklin, MA
3,988,013
I stick to my budget but if something comes along I am willing to shift categories.
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Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
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Barbara Todaro
Franklin, MA
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
65,378
if something works... increase it!
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Barbara Todaro
Franklin, MA
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
32,026
I would suggest considering this: Marketing is a marathon, not a sprint. It is going to take time for you to establish yourself in your marketplace. Based on that, it is critically important that before you increase your budget, you take an honest look at what that may do to your overall ability to continue marketing yourself in the future.
For instance, if you just started a brand new campaign in a neighborhood, I'd suggest that it will take minimum 6-8 months to establish yourself in the minds of homeowners. Based on that, let's say it's now month 2. If you take a hard, honest look at your budget and you can see that without a big result from the extra cash outlay, you are going to be really lean, trying to cover your marketing in months, 5-8, then I'd say don't.
The most important thing in starting any new marketing campaign is making sure you have some sort of measurment/analytical capabilities in place, so you can make educated decisions. When you have a firmm grasp on the outcomes of your marketing efforts, rather than spending more to try something new, you can divert funds from a flailing marketing initiative, to the one you want to beef up. The net change in expense to you will be zero that way :)
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Barbara Todaro
Franklin, MA
3,864,641
Like you Barbara Todaro we have an unlimited budget and we sometimes exceed it.
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Barbara Todaro
Franklin, MA
1,712,876
In my business model I get sponsors to take care of overage.
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Barbara Todaro
Franklin, MA
4,351,115
We have on many occasions exceeded our budget. We do what we need to do to keep our business successful.
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Margaret Rome Baltimor...
Pikesville, MD
4,800,132
I rarely exceed my budget.
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Barbara Todaro
Franklin, MA
2,195,349
I just sponsored a Next Door.com Zip Code that wasn't in the budget
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Barbara Todaro
Franklin, MA
637,484
It's tempting to spend more, but I set a budget and stay within it. I do try different things to see what works, so my commitment is not so lengthy that I can't change courses somewhere within the year.
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Barbara Todaro
Franklin, MA
4,272,934
It all depends on how my year is going but for the most part I stick to my budget...
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Barbara Todaro
Franklin, MA
4,319,773
Barbara Todaro - If some of the marketing works, I do spend more money there!
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Barbara Todaro
Franklin, MA
809,258
We have remained within budget for years. We even reduced expenses two years ago and exceeded income. -K
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Barbara Todaro
Franklin, MA
1,242,204
Mailing is expensive. W/o marketing one always wonder if he missed out something. The die hard agents brings 35,000 cards every 2 weeks.
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Barbara Todaro
Franklin, MA
957,092
Though I'm in a different industry, my marketing expenses has been gradually increasing, and it has been paying off!
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Barbara Todaro
Franklin, MA
3,168,134
I make adjustments generally every 60 days based on return. I don't expect a return immediately though, I give everything a 12 month test period before I cancel unless I'm not getting the service I expect. But I have used things for years before and tracked them going right in the toilet and after a period of decline I will generally re allocate those funds to something different. I do keep track.
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
1,325,924
If I think that is going to be a benefit for spending more that I planned, I am willing to do it.
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
1,045,440
My budget goes up as my income does I try to stay within a percentage based expenditury Barbara Todaro how do you do yours?
5,879,125
As you have said often --- you have to invest financially in your business. I send out mailings when needed.