Why Marketing is an Investment, Not a Cost: Insights from Joanna Sharma
Marketing is often misunderstood as just another expense on the balance sheet. In reality, it’s one of the most powerful investments you can make for your business. In a recent episode of Elevate Your Wealth, Joanna (“Joe”) Sharma, a seasoned marketing expert, shared actionable insights on how businesses can unlock growth by treating marketing as an investment rather than a cost.
Here’s what we learned from Joanna’s expertise and experience.
Marketing: An Essential Growth Investment
Joanna highlighted the importance of viewing marketing as a long-term investment that drives business growth. Businesses that approach marketing strategically can see measurable returns, from increased brand awareness to higher revenue.
“Marketing isn’t just about spending; it’s about generating value and achieving results that align with your goals,” Joanna explained.
Quick Wins vs. Long-Term Strategies
One of the most valuable insights Joanna shared was the need to balance immediate results with sustainable growth. She introduced the “Drum and Hum” content strategy:
- 🥁 Drum: Short-term campaigns that create immediate impact, such as paid ads or promotional events.
- 🎶 Hum: Consistent, ongoing content that builds brand authority over time, like blogs, SEO, and organic social media.
This approach ensures businesses stay visible while steadily building their reputation and authority in the market.
SEO: The Foundation of Long-Term Success
Joanna shared a success story about a law firm struggling to generate leads despite having a visually appealing website. Her team optimised the site for SEO, making it discoverable by search engines.
The result? A 100% increase in website traffic and consistent lead generation without paid ads.
“SEO isn’t just about looking good; it’s about being found. A beautiful website is useless if it doesn’t drive results,” Joanna emphasised.
The Power of Outsourcing
Joanna also stressed the importance of outsourcing to experts. By delegating specialised tasks like SEO, content creation, or paid ad campaigns, business owners can focus on their strengths.
“Outsourcing frees up your time and ensures the work is done right. It’s a win-win for efficiency and results,” she noted.
Starting Small and Scaling Smart
For businesses hesitant to invest in marketing, Joanna suggested starting small with free or low-cost tools like social media and basic SEO. Once the initial efforts yield results, reinvesting in more advanced strategies can compound growth over time.
Actionable Takeaways
Here’s how you can start treating marketing as an investment today:
- Set Clear Goals: Understand what you want to achieve—brand awareness, lead generation, or revenue growth.
- Optimise for SEO: Ensure your website is discoverable and answers the questions your audience is searching for.
- Balance Short and Long-Term Efforts: Invest in both quick wins and strategies that build sustainable growth.
- Leverage Data: Use analytics to measure what’s working and adjust your strategy accordingly.
- Outsource Wisely: Partner with experts to ensure your efforts are efficient and impactful.
Tune In to the Full Episode
Ready to transform how you think about marketing? Listen to Joanna Sharma on the Elevate Your Wealth podcast, where she dives deeper into these insights and shares inspiring client success stories.
Click here to listen now.
FAQs About Marketing as an Investment
Q: What’s the difference between marketing as a cost and as an investment?
A: Treating marketing as a cost focuses on immediate expenses, while seeing it as an investment considers the long-term growth and ROI it generates for your business.
Q: How does SEO help businesses grow?
A: SEO makes your website discoverable, increases organic traffic, and generates leads without requiring ongoing ad spend.
Q: How can I get started with small marketing efforts?
A: Use free tools like Google Analytics to track performance, create social media profiles, and optimise your website for search engines.
Final Thoughts
Marketing is more than just a budget line item; it’s a strategic tool for achieving sustainable business growth. By adopting Joanna Sharma’s insights, you can turn your marketing efforts into a powerhouse for success.
For more tips and stories, subscribe to Elevate Your Wealth today!
