I know I talk about “best-kept secrets” a lot, but that is just the way I see things. When the vast majority of people walk right past a dollar bill laying on the sidewalk, then I can only conclude that the fact that it is there is somehow a secret reserved for a select few.

Want to know the “secret” to investing money and earning 100%, 1,000% return or even more, within a few months? “Pssst…listen here…”

The Best Investment You Can Make
Let’s suppose you invest in stocks, bonds or mutual funds. What kind of return can you reasonably expect to make? 5%? 10%? 15%? Maybe. And if you’re really lucky… maybe 20 or 25%.

But along with those numbers, comes a certain amount of risk. We know this now more acutely than ever. You could very easily lose it all in the process.

But an effective marketing campaign could have the potential of generating up to 5,000% or more in profits.

If you spend, say, $100 on an ad or a campaign and it returns $1,000 in profits, you’ve just earned 10 times your ROI (Return On Investment). That’s a 1,000% return. And if it were to return $5,000 in profits… you’d have a 5,000% return.

But I can hear your questions now. “How realistic is it to invest $100 and get a $1,000 or a $5,000 return? I mean, does it ever happen? And if it does, is it the exception rather than the rule?”

Good questions. All of them. And the answer is… Yes, it is realistic. Yes it does happen. And yes, it is the exception, rather than the rule.

Now, don’t let my answer to that last question (the exception, rather than the rule) dissuade or discourage you. It doesn’t have to be that way. Follow a few simple rules, get sound advice, and treat your marketing spending like the INVESTMENT it really is to ensure maximum results.

Tips From An “Investment Advisor”
O.k., let’s have some fun with this “investment” analogy. I often refer to my relationship with my clients as “marketing advisor” — so let’s run with it. Some strategies to maximize the return of your marketing investments:

1. Allocate Your Assets: You’d never put all of your financial eggs in one basket — don’t do it with your marketing either. However simple, be sure to always have multiple ways that you can predictably generate new business.
2. Invest Incrementally: When experimenting with a new stock or other financial instrument, you are advised to “wade in” slowly. In the world of marketing, the saying is “test, test, test.” Don’t buy a list, send out 5,000 letters, then cross your fingers that you get some business. Test different offers to small groups first, and measure your results.
3. Protect Core Wealth: A good financial advisor will not only try to grow your assets, he or she will work to protect a core of your wealth from risk. What are your business’s core assets? your existing and former customers. The odd thing about your existing customers is that not only are they the “core” that you need to protect, they will also be the source of highest return on your marketing investment.
4. Systematically Monitor Results — Don’t Obsess: Lots of trading in financial markets is proven to diminish returns. On top of that, it is a waste of valuable time that could be spent being productive. Constantly tinkering with your web site can be a big drain. Put that energy into planning a closed-loop marketing tactic, execute on it (don’t keep changing the plan!) and measure results monthly.
5. Get Sound Advice: You can never be on top of the best practices of investing money as much as someone who does it for a living (at least you shouldn’t try). Hold them accountable to results and get them to articulate how and why their proposed actions will help you meet your goals. Need I articulate the marketing side of this point?