It is time for all of us to use the successful marketing initiatives we started in 2006 and expand upon in 2007. Where do we start? With a budget of course. Every company needs to set a marketing budget and make a plan for spending that money during 2007. A marketing budget is not only a guide for allocating money, but it is incentive to sell more, an investment in gaining brand recognition and a commitment to building a client base. Traditional marketing schools will tell you the 5 to 10 percent of your gross income should be spent on marketing your company. The money you spend on marketing your company needs to be tracked and evaluated to see if the marketing avenues you have selected are effective. The money you choose to spend on marketing should generate additional revenue for your company. If you are spending more on marketing than you are making in return for your efforts, your marketing mix needs to be re-evaluated