Spending Money is the Secret to Making Money -

Blog

Spending Money is the Secret to Making Money

If your brand is struggling to increase profits, here’s the hard truth: you need to spend money to make money.

That was the central theme in a recent episode of our Rev & Reach podcast, where hosts Lori Jo Vest and Kiley Metcalfe broke down what it really takes to drive ROI through social media. As experienced marketers with nearly two decades in the industry between them, they made one thing clear—organic reach isn’t enough anymore.

Why You Need a Social Media Ad Budget

Whether you’re a local restaurant, a global engineering firm, or a boutique resort, investing in targeted ads on platforms like Meta (Facebook and Instagram), Google, and LinkedIn is essential. Even a modest budget can go a long way.

Our team has even seen a $300 LinkedIn ad reach over 60,000 highly relevant professionals and drive significant traffic to a client’s technical blog.

Small budgets, like $60 per week or even $75 per month, have helped niche schools and small non-profits maintain full enrollment and strong community engagement. The key? Reaching the right people with the right message.

Social Discounts & Giveaways Work

Another effective strategy for spending money to make money is through promotions—social media-specific discounts, contests, and giveaways. These create a clear way to measure ROI, especially when direct product sales aren’t your primary goal. Kiley noted that even non-profits and fundraising campaigns have seen donations spike by using strategic email and social promotions.

One standout example included a Valentine’s-themed giveaway that brought in over 500 new email subscribers for a small resort. The prize—donated by local businesses—cost nothing out of pocket but drove lasting marketing value.

Build Real Audiences, Not Fake Followers

One mistake businesses make when trying to “look big” is buying followers. Lori and Kiley strongly cautioned against this. A large but disengaged audience doesn’t help you. It may even hurt your brand credibility. Instead, aim to build a genuine following through targeted ads, user engagement, and incentives like $5 coupons for customers who tag your business in social posts.

User-generated content (UGC) not only builds trust with future customers, but it’s essentially free marketing. And it only happens when you actively encourage and reward your audience for interacting with your brand, not when you buy followers who don’t actually care.

Making Money Isn’t Magic—It’s Strategy

Effective digital marketing doesn’t require massive budgets, but it does require some budget. Think of it as an investment, not an expense. Whether you’re growing a brand, increasing website traffic, or generating leads, putting even a small amount into social media advertising and promotions can yield a big return.

The bottom line? If you’re serious about making money, it’s time to treat your marketing like a business investment—and that starts by spending smart. We can help.