Small marketing budget Here’s how to grow your business at low cost

Are you an entrepreneur on a tight marketing budget? You’re not alone. From free digital tools to targeted social campaigns, there are countless low-cost marketing strategies for startups that help build brand awareness, grow your customer base, and compete with bigger players in your market.

Ready to grow your business? The UK’s leading company formation agent, Quality Company Formations, shares seven tips below to help you get more from a small marketing budget.

1. Create a free Google Business Profile

Effective marketing starts with ensuring people can find you easily online. Fortunately, there are plenty of free and low-cost advertising tools to help you do this.

Start by creating a free Google Business Profile. Your presence on Google Business is crucial for local visibility, giving potential customers a snapshot of who you are and where you are. Your profile should be complete with:

• Opening hours
• A website link
• Images
• Customer reviews
• Contact details

If you already have an account, it’s worth checking the above information regularly to ensure it’s up to date. An accurate and complete Google Business Profile boosts local search engine optimisation (SEO), helping your business appear in Google Maps and search results.

2. Optimise your online presence with free SEO tools

The next step is to understand how people find you online. Do your research for free with SEO tools like Google Search Console and Ubersuggest – ideal for small teams with small marketing budgets.

Google Search Console helps you track your site’s performance in search results. You can see which keywords bring in visitors, how often your site appears for relevant queries, and whether any technical issues affect your visibility.

Ubersuggest, on the other hand, offers beginner-friendly SEO insights, including keyword suggestions, traffic estimates, and competitor analysis. Review this data regularly to identify patterns in user behaviour, optimise your content, and grow your online presence for free.

3. List your business in local directories

Registering your business in local online directories is one of the most underrated yet effective low-cost marketing strategies for startups. These listings improve your visibility across search engines, especially for location-based queries. When someone in your area looks for a service you offer, you’ll have a higher chance of appearing in the results.

Sign up with trusted directories such as Yelp, Bing Places, Apple Maps, Hotfrog, and Yell. Most platforms are free and take just a few minutes to set up.

Ensure your business name, address, contact details, and website are consistent across all listings – consistency informs search engines that your brand is trustworthy and improves local SEO performance.

4. Build brand awareness organically on social media

Social media is vital to small business growth. Combining the right platforms with the right strategies can help you connect with your audience and build awareness organically – in other words, without spending a penny.

Identify the social channels that are most relevant to your brand style and marketing goal. For example:

• Visual businesses (e.g. fashion) – Instagram, Pinterest
• Professional services – LinkedIn
• Creative and design – Instagram, TikTok
• Trade services – Facebook
• E-commerce – TikTok, Instagram, Facebook
• If you’re unsure, Facebook is a versatile option.

Use free scheduling tools like Buffer or Later to plan your content calendar and reduce manual tasks. Engage your audience with interactive content; run polls, answer comments, host live sessions and share behind-the-scenes posts.

Tapping into local or niche communities can also be a game-changer. Join community groups, use hyperlocal or industry-specific hashtags, and collaborate with other small businesses in your area.

5. Collaborate with influencers

Influencers sound expensive, but there are ways to collaborate with them effectively on a low marketing budget.

Nano and micro influencers (with under 10,000 followers) are ideal for small businesses. They have a small but focused audience, which makes it easier for you to reach the right people and see genuine engagement.

Many small influencers charge a low per-post fee, and some accept free products instead of payment, making this a powerful and low-cost marketing strategy for startups.

6. Market your content with blogging and email

Blogs and email campaigns are powerful ways for small brands to establish authority and build relationships at a low cost.

The key to blogging is to answer the questions your audience is searching for and write about topics relevant to your niche. For example, a dog grooming business might blog about seasonal grooming tips or how to find the right pet shampoo. Use the free SEO tools we highlighted to identify common queries and optimise your content appropriately.

Pair your blog with a simple email strategy. Use tools like Mailchimp (free for up to 500 contacts) to build and automate your campaigns. Offer helpful incentives like discounts or a competition entry in exchange for email signups.

Once they’re on your list, nurture subscribers with valuable content, exclusive deals, and updates. It’s a low-cost advertising method that builds customer loyalty over time.

7. Run paid campaigns

Paid ads can help accelerate growth alongside organic strategies. Even small marketing budgets can see strong results when you focus on the right channels and use smart budgeting techniques.

Start small with Google Ads using tightly focused local keywords. Ensure you’ve optimised your website for conversions before launching campaigns. Track key metrics like cost-per-click (CPC) and cost-per-acquisition (CPA) to ensure your spend is worthwhile.

When running paid social media ads, take advantage of granular audience targeting. You can reach users based on location, behaviours, and interests.

Here are some top tips for staying on track:

• A/B test different versions of your ads
• Set a clear daily spending limit (e.g. £10)
• Pause underperforming ads
• Focus on campaigns with measurable actions, such as email signups or product purchases
• These practical tips will help you control your paid advertising efforts while maximising return on investment.

Unlock growth no matter your marketing budget

Low-cost digital marketing is more than possible, often leading to more authentic strategies and effective results. Make the most of the resources you already have available and pair them with free tools and platforms, as well as smart budgeting to make every penny count.

Take action today by setting up a Google Business Profile. It’s one of the best – and free – ways to boost your online visibility and attract new customers.

Ready to start a successful business? Look no further than Quality Company Formations, a top-rated UK company formation agent with over 10 years of experience. Choose your ideal registration package and access their expert-led resource hub for guidance on marketing your startup.