When running a small business, cutting costs wherever possible seems like the most logistical avenue. Marketing is often one of those areas where many business owners think they’re better off just “doing it themselves”. Which is understandable since how hard could maintaining a website, executing proper branding and logos, managing an online presence and running ads on facebook or google be right?
The reality is that DIY marketing can actually end up costing you far more when you try and run it yourself, not just in terms of money, but also in wasted time, missed opportunities, and damaged reputation. In the long run, it’s better off leaving the marketing to the professionals who know what they’re doing and can get you the best bang for your buck.
We’ll explore further throughout this blog why DIY marketing often leads to poor results and how working with professionals can be a smarter investment.
DIY marketing may seem free or low-cost at first, but the hidden expenses add up quickly and one of the biggest costs can be time. Every hour you spend trying to learn and manage marketing tasks is an hour taken away from your business activities. Your expertise is most likely in running your business, not mastering Facebook Ads Manager or writing SEO-optimised blog posts so it can be a hassle for yourself.
Another hidden cost is inefficiency. Without the deep knowledge of marketing tools and strategies, you’ll most likely make errors that result in wasted ad spend, poorly targeted campaigns, or content that doesn’t resonate with your audience. In fact, a study from HubSpot found that businesses with an inconsistent marketing approach often struggle to see ROI.
So, when it comes to cutting costs in order to make running your business more ‘affordable’, when you factor in these hidden costs it’s not really ‘affordable’ to be doing it yourself.
Marketing isn’t just about posting on social media or running occasional ads. Successful marketing requires a thought out strategic approach: setting goals, understanding your audience, crafting tailored messages, and tracking performance. When you attempt DIY marketing, it’s easy to fall into the trap of posting random content or running ads without a clear plan. It’s also harder to stay consistent and stick to regular posting patterns without a proper strategy in place which will affect your online presence.
For example, when trying to run a Google Ads campaign with no experience, you might end up bidding on the wrong keywords, leading to high costs and low conversions. A professional marketer knows how to conduct keyword research, create compelling ad copy, and optimise campaigns for the best results. It’s the same for Meta Ads, by trying to ‘DIY’ run ads yourself, you could be targeting wrong audiences, using ineffective images, or setting up poor campaign objectives. Without the proper strategy and knowledge, your marketing efforts are likely to miss the mark and cost you a lot more money in the long run due to wasted budgets and low engagement.
Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) is another area where DIY efforts can’t meet the expected standards. Writing blog posts and website content that actually ranks on Google requires extensive knowledge of keywords, formatting, and SEO best practices. ‘DIY’ common mistakes like keyword stuffing, duplicate content, or poor internal linking can affect your search rankings negatively meaning your business won’t rank well on Google.
Professional content creators understand how to produce engaging, optimised content that meets both search engine requirements and audience needs. They know how to align content with search intent, helping drive relevant traffic to your website. When it comes to these areas, unfortunately ‘DIY’ efforts just won’t cut it and can really negatively impact your business rankings.
If you want to learn more about the value of professional content marketing, check out this guide from Content Marketing Institute.
Marketing platforms, tools, and best practices are constantly evolving. For example, social media algorithms change frequently, and Google continuously updates its search engine ranking criteria. Keeping up with these changes is a full-time job, trying to juggle evolving practices while running your own business is taking up a lot of time you could be putting elsewhere.
Professional marketers stay ahead of industry trends and platform updates. They have the access and knowledge to utilise premium tools and training that average business owners don’t. This ensures that your marketing efforts stay relevant and effective, rather than quickly becoming outdated and wasting a lot of time surrounding relearning updated methods frequently.
Your brand’s reputation is priceless, and marketing plays a key role in shaping that image. Poorly designed ads, inconsistent messaging, or low-quality content can damage how your business is perceived negatively impacting your success. A single marketing misstep can lose customers and erode trust which can be detrimental.
Professional marketers know how to position your brand correctly, ensuring that all communications are polished, consistent, and aligned with your business goals. Your brand deserves to stand out for the right reasons and professional marketers are the ones who can ensure this as it’s what they’re here for.
DIY marketing may seem like a cost-effective solution, but the risks far outweigh the benefits. Investing in professional marketing services ensures that your time, money, and resources are being used effectively to grow your business. Why spend your hard earned money trying to ‘DIY’ your way through marketing on your own, only to risk wasting it on trial and error? When you could invest that budget into a professional marketing team who knows exactly how to get the results you want! Working with professionals is only ensuring that your marketing dollars are spent wisely, driving real growth and proper results rather than costly mistakes.
Don’t let ‘DIY’ marketing mistakes hold your business back. Here at Marketing Together, if you leave your marketing up to us, we have a team of experts to help you grow your business the right way. If you’re ready to elevate your marketing, get in touch with us at Marketing Together today and start seeing the results your business deserves.
At Marketing Together, we understand the importance of this investment. That’s why we’re offering a new, custom-designed, conversion-optimised website for free when you sign up for six months of digital marketing services—a $5000 value at no extra cost.
Don’t let your website be the weak link in your marketing strategy. Contact us today to start building a site that not only looks great but also performs brilliantly.
