When creating your marketing budget, start by defining clear business goals using the SMART framework—Specific, Measurable, Actionable, Relevant, and Time-bound. For example, if your goal is to increase organic website traffic by 20% within a year, allocate budget towards hiring SEO specialists or agencies to create optimised content that supports this target. This approach allows you to calculate costs precisely, such as customer acquisition expenses or campaign management fees, ensuring your budget is directly tied to outcomes rather than arbitrary percentages. By aligning spend with goals, you improve ROI tracking and avoid unfocused expenditure. [Semrush]