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How to Win Your Next Budget Request

Ghost figurines and pumpkin on ground with blurred background.

As the leaves change and pumpkin spice is EVERYWHERE, it’s time to face a different kind of scare: budget season. But don’t worry, I’m here to take the fright out of your marketing budget requests. Rule #1: Include a “why” and “how” along with your budget request… and here’s more.

7 Spellbinding Strategies for Your Budget Request (No Tricks, All Treats)

  1. Prioritize Must-Haves vs. Nice-to-Haves—Clearly differentiate between essential items and wishlist items. Start big, then be prepared to scale back. Have an alternative proposal ready that’s about 30% less than your initial ask. Counter with your top 2-3 priorities if needed.
  2. Show Compelling ROI Projections—Provide concrete examples of how your budget requests will benefit the firm. Numbers are your friend here!
  3. Leverage Industry Benchmarks—Show how your requests align with what other successful firms are doing.
  4. Present a Risk Assessment—Explain the potential downsides of not investing in these areas.
  5. Offer a Phased Approach—Present a stepped implementation plan to make larger requests more palatable.
  6. Build in Professional Development—Include conference fees and training in your budget. Make a strong case for how your professional growth directly benefits the firm.
  7. Think Long-Term and Build Influence—For big-ticket items like a new website, start planting the seeds now. It might take 2-3 years of convincing. (“Oh, not this year, you say? Let’s build it into our 2025 budget.”) Here is some proof you can use: if your site is sluggish due to videos or gated content, you might need a CDN (Content Delivery Network) or dedicated server. Faster load times mean better prospecting and better SEO!

Emphasize working collaboratively with the executive team. If you’re new or haven’t had much say before, start small. Build influence by consistently delivering value throughout the year… and tracking it to align with your budget request.

Don’t let budget season haunt you. If you need any further advice or want to discuss specific challenges, don’t hesitate to reach out. Happy budgeting, and may your ROI be ever in your favor.