If you have a tight budget, you probably feel like you can't afford to launch a marketing campaign, but you totally can! There are many low cost or no cost ways to market your business without breaking the bank. Let's check them out and stretch that marketing dollar like Gumby in yoga class!

Before we get into all the amazing stuff you can do, it would be irresponsible for us not to have you think about who you're going after exactly. All of your effort could be wasted if you don't ask yourself questions like:

• Who are my customers?
• What do my customers want/what are their pain points?
• Where do they hang out?

Once you have the answers to these questions (and if you have to do some research to get them, that's great! Do that!) we can explore some cool ideas.

1) Have a clear message

As we've learned from the recent drama surrounding our new state tagline and logo, a message that needs to be explained in detail is a missed opportunity. Before you decide on any messaging, put it in front of friends and family first. Do they get it immediately? If not, it's back to the drawing board with you!

2) Join local organizations

The best way to meet people, spread the word about who you are and what you do and maybe even get a little press is to volunteer to help your community. Consider things like going to networking events, joining clubs, and getting on the board of a local charity. You could even donate goods or services to an organization in need. Giving back always comes back to you, so be sure to make this a part of your strategy.

3) Join forces

If there's a way to form a joint partnership and share resources, awesome! If another business compliments yours, but is not a direct competitor, it would be beneficial to reach out and see if you can team up to do a special event, webinar, giveaway—whatever you can cook up to create a win-win. It gives you both exposure to new audiences related to your niche.

4) Outsource

If you're not the world's best photographer/writer/graphic designer, don't hesitate to put some of your budget toward outsourcing. It may sound expensive, but remember that everything you put out there represents your brand and you want it to be tip top, always. Hiring a pro to help with the things you're not experienced with will ensure that you have your best foot forward.

5) Find a creative agency you trust and stick with it

Many businesses hire different agencies to help them with individual projects. This isn't in your best interest because when you jump around, agencies don't get a chance to fully understand you, your audience and your needs. If you shop around carefully and choose one agency wisely, you'll have a valuable partner who knows you and who is looking out for you. 

Combine these things with what you're already doing that works, and you'll find that your efforts will pay off in a big way. Don't be afraid to be creative with how you get your name out there. Just make sure you measure your success and fine-tune your strategy.