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How do you distribute the marketing budget according to priorities?
- Aug 17
- 4 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
Introduction
Allocating a budget for marketing is not a luxury, but rather a strategic step for any business seeking growth. But the most important question is not just "How much did you spend?" but rather:
With multiple channels, opportunities and financial pressures, it becomes necessary to manage your marketing budget Wisely and planning.
In this article, we will guide you step by step How to distribute the marketing budget according to priorities Whether your project is small or medium, whether you work locally or online.
First: Why do you need to distribute the budget instead of random spending?
✅ 1. To avoid spending in useless channels
Without a clear plan, you may spend in a place that does not bring you returns, while neglecting what generates real sales.
✅ 2. To achieve a balance between the short and long term
Some activities like advertising give immediate results, while others like content or SEO take time. Balance is important.
✅ 3. To measure success and compare channels
If you know how much you spent on each channel, you will know where you are succeeding and where you need improvement.
Second: How do you determine the general marketing budget?
There is no fixed rule, but there are universal recommendations:
Start-ups or small companies: Studies recommend allocating 5% - 10% of annual revenues For marketing.
Companies seeking rapid growth: The budget can be increased to 15% – 20% Of revenue.
📌 Example: If your monthly revenue = 50,000 riyals, marketing budget = between 2,500 to 7,500 riyals per month
Third: Practical steps for distributing the budget
Step 1: Clearly define your marketing goals
Is your goal this month to:
Attract new customers?
Increase sales from existing customers?
Enhance brand presence?
Launch a new product?
Search engine optimization?
Each goal leads to a different budget distribution.
Step 2: Identify the right channels for your business
Marketing channels vary in nature and cost:
Channel
Type
Yield (High/Medium/Low)
Speed (instant/medium/slow)
Paid Ads (Facebook/Google)
direct
High
immediate
Content marketing
Long lasting
High (after a while)
slow
Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
Long lasting
High
slow
Social media
Interactive/introductory
middle
middle
Influencers
A mix between the two
Medium to high
Immediate to medium
Email marketing
Retention and transfer
High
middle
Field campaigns
direct
Variable according to activity
immediate
Step 3: Set priorities according to the phases of your project
Project stage
Marketing priority
The beginning of the project
Awareness + attracting first customers
Initial growth
Advertising + building digital channels
stability
Build customer base + repeat marketing
Expansion
Big campaigns + partnerships + market expansion
Fourth: A practical model for distributing a monthly marketing budget (5,000 riyals as an example)
Situation: A local coffee shop wants to attract new customers + build loyalty
item
Percentage of budget
Value (SAR)
the goal
Instagram + Snapchat ads
40%
2000
Attract new customers
Design videos and photos
15%
750
Improve the appearance of the content
A gift or special offer for customers
10%
500
Stimulate repetition and loyalty
Local influencer marketing
20%
1000
Quick access to new category
Analysis and reporting tools
5%
250
Track performance and see results
Weekly content of accounts
10%
500
Enhance communication and build trust
📌 This model can be modified according to the goals, stage, and results.
Fifth: Tips for distributing the budget intelligently
✅ 1. Do not put all your budget in one channel
Even if your ads are successful, try other channels to ensure balance and sustainable growth.
✅ 2. Review the results monthly and adjust the distribution
The distribution is not constant. You may find that influencers don't produce results, while email is great!
✅ 3. Invest in building long-term assets
Such as website, SEO, content... so that you do not remain dependent only on paid ads.
✅ 4. Allocate an item for testing and experimentation
Reserve 10% of the budget to try something new: channel - idea - audience segment - ad type.
✅ 5. Focus on “revenue” not “number of followers”
The goal is profit, not just appearance. A few effective channels are better than a wide spread without results.
Sixth: What are the channels that are most worth spending on?
Channel
When do you spend it?
Google Ads
If you offer a service or product that people are searching for directly
Facebook/Instagram Ads
If your product is based on image and quick persuasion
Snapchat Ads
Very suitable for sentimental products or for the Gulf community
Influencers
If you choose a character that fits your audience precisely
Do you have a customer database? This is a treasure that you should not neglect
Content
Want to build trust? Make content your ongoing investment
Search engine optimization
For your website? Work on SEO, even gradually
Seventh: Common mistakes in distributing the marketing budget
Error
Negative result
Relying on “forecasts” not data
Wasting budget on ineffective channels
Ignore performance analysis
Continuation of unprofitable exchange
Distribute the budget equally between all channels
Poor results, and not knowing the best channel
Leave content without a budget
The audience loses interest despite the ads
Ignore loyalty and repeat purchases
Always start from scratch
Eighth: Tools that help you track the budget and its results
Tool
Use
Google Sheets/Excel
Manually recording proportions, distribution and analysis
Google Analytics
Track visitors, sources and cost per conversion
Facebook Ads Manager
Analyze advertising performance and cost
Hubspot / Zoho CRM
Track customers and their dealing history
Heatmap tools (such as Hotjar)
Knowing visitors’ interaction with your site
Ninth: Is there a unified strategy for all projects? no
The ideal distribution varies from one project to another depending on:
Type of product or service
Target audience website
Project size
Goals for the month or quarter
Channels that actually work
🎯 Therefore, do not copy someone else’s budget. Base your budget on your data.
Conclusion
Marketing is not just “where do you spend money?”, it is... “How to distribute it wisely to achieve the greatest possible return”.
Start planning, set goals, divide the budget, track results, and adjust constantly.
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