Surprisingly Effective Marketing Tactics (Even on a Small Budget) These Founders Swear By

Audience growth can feel like a numbers game, but meaningful traction doesn’t have to come from throwing more money at the problem.

In this article, 16 founders and leaders reveal the specific tactics they’re using to expand their reach in 2026, even without large budgets. Their plans highlight how creative thinking and getting back to basics can drive the growth all big dreamers crave, regardless of how much cash is available to generate new interest.

If you’re looking for practical ideas to grow your audience without breaking the bank, you’re in the right place.

Lauren Bercuson

✨A 2024 Entreprenista 100 Award Winner ✨

Trademark Attorney of Storylock Legal, a modern trademark and IP law firm focused on helping founders build, protect, and scale brand assets.

One of my most effective (and joyful) strategies for growing my audience is deepening my presence in founder communities, especially those led by and for women. Rather than relying on ads or algorithms, I’m focused on showing up with generosity, sharing useful insights, and nurturing authentic relationships. Community has always been the backbone of my business—the strategy that fueled my earliest growth—and it continues to sustain it today.

My budget-friendly advice: Tune out what everyone else is doing and tune in to what actually aligns with your strengths and values. 

Nicole Leon 

✨A 2024 Entreprenista 100 Award Winner ✨

Founder of L Leon Virtual Assistance LLC, providing high-level virtual and executive support that anticipates needs before they’re spoken, stands steady through high-stress seasons, and delivers unmatched assistance with genuine care.

I’m intentionally asking more questions, even the ones I could easily Google. Inviting people to share their expertise creates instant connection, makes them feel seen in their brilliance, and opens the door for deeper community. It’s been one of the easiest ways to build authentic visibility because people naturally lean in when they feel valued.

My budget-friendly advice: Lean into relationship-building over perfection. Genuine connection can do the work of a big budget if you want to build a magnetic brand.

Amanda Hofman

Chief Swag Officer & Founder of Go To Market, the anti-boring branded merch & swag experts changing the way the world handles swag by designing sustainable branded merchandise shops that reflect our clients’ brand values.

I’m going all in on LinkedIn—time, energy, creativity, community, everything. It’s the one place where showing up consistently has brought me both real business and real support, and the mix of visibility plus connection is unmatched. Every time I invest in that platform, it gives it right back.

My budget-friendly advice: Pick one platform you genuinely enjoy and show up with intention. Consistency beats budget every time.

Ciara Siegel

Brand and Marketing Strategist & Founder of CJC, bringing the strategy behind billion-dollar brands to small businesses.

I’m building momentum around a single, sharpened point of view: Be Different, Not Better. This framework has already resonated quickly by helping founders identify what truly sets their brand apart, opening doors to new audiences through workshops, email content, and entrepreneurial communities. It also gives people an immediate sense of how I think, what I value, and who I’m best positioned to support.

My budget-friendly advice: Rather than a massive budget, you need a clear point of view that sets you apart from the competition. When people instantly understand what you stand for, even small or borrowed platforms can move the needle.

Chedva (Vivi) Ludmir

CEO & Founder of Consider Labs, a strategy studio for founders and leaders ready to stop shrinking and start taking up space.

In 2025, I experimented with creating highly specific free content (workbooks, templates and custom GPTs) and promoting it through ads in niche newsletters. This has helped me triple my email list and bring more people into the Consider galaxy—more specifically, the funnel of the services I'm selling. I’m planning to keep that going in 2026.

My budget-friendly advice: When you don't have the budget or capacity to go broad, try going hyper-specific. 

Rashel Hariri

Fractional CMO of RH Consulting, creating go-to-market engines and strategies for technology startups.

I’m doubling down on a video series on LinkedIn where I break down real GTM and B2B sales scenarios in a simple, fast, practical way. Video has outperformed everything else I’ve posted, and creating a repeatable format gives people a clear reason to keep coming back. The early tests have already brought stronger engagement and more qualified inbound conversations, so I’m leaning in hard.

My budget-friendly advice: Consistency beats budget, and even simple insights delivered regularly can build meaningful momentum.

Kat Ruiz

Founder of Kat Ruiz Wellness, curating fitness and wellness experiences for businesses and individuals.

I’m growing by collaborating with industry experts and leaders. Don't be afraid to ask other leaders to collaborate. It elevates both of your brands and raises the vibe, community, and outreach for everyone involved.

My budget-friendly advice: Keep putting yourself out there! It may seem like too much or repetitive, but when you realize most people are not paying attention, it's easier to go for it.

Rita Ramakrishnan

Founder & CEO of Iksana Consulting, an executive coaching and consulting practice specializing in neurodivergent leadership.

I'm focusing on research-backed contrarian takes: social posts that challenge conventional workplace wisdom and misinformation about neurodivergence with actual studies to back them up. By treating my feed like a research publication rather than a highlight reel, I nearly doubled my LinkedIn following in 2025. People are hungry for substance more than platitudes.

My budget-friendly advice: Consistency beats polish. I post daily with ideas that challenge my industry's sacred cows without a design team or fancy graphics; just a specific point of view and the willingness to defend it.

Kristina Libby

Founder, Artist & Storyteller of LvL Studio.

I don't leave an event until I've made at least one more fan of my products or follower on social media or my newsletter. This gamifies social events and inspires me to attend a lot more because I think of them as access points to a growing audience.

My budget-friendly advice: Think of every meeting as a chance to convert a new customer or fan. The more places you go, the more people you meet, the more visibility you get.

Julie Zhu

Marketing Strategist of Julie Zhu LLC, an award-winning marketing strategist based in NYC.

I’m planning to do more live talks and workshops in a few new industries and to let the room tell me what’s landing. From there, I’ll tweak my message and offers based on the questions people ask. Nothing beats that kind of in-person trust. 

My budget-friendly advice: Conversations are the best marketing. Talk to the people you want to serve. Hop on a call, grab a coffee, and ask what they need right now. You’ll learn more from three real conversations than from a thousand impressions.

Lis Best

Founder of Girls Club Collective, an intentionally intimate community helping women sustainability leaders and impact-focused entrepreneurs navigate transition in a more personally sustainable way.

One budget-friendly tactic I'm using to grow our audience is spotlighting our individual members. People care about other people and want to see real-life examples of what membership in something like GCC can help them create in their lives and work. The impact space can be a small world, and I've heard from members who recently joined us that seeing the names and reflections from people they know made it a much easier “yes.”

My budget-friendly advice: ”Audience” is a fancy word for humans who care about you and what you're building. Telling stories—yours and your clients'—and shining a spotlight on other people is often free and a great way to reach new values-aligned people.

Catalina Parker

Co-Founder & CEO of Relatable Nonprofit, helping nonprofit leaders build profitable, sustainable consulting businesses aligned with their values.

In 2026, we’re building a personal brand on LinkedIn, focused on personal content that builds trust rather than polished “tips” that are flooding every platform thanks to AI. I started posting there in the spring of 2024 with zero experience on the platform beyond job hunting, and by showing up just twice a week, my audience has grown 426% and brought in over $100K in revenue—without spending a dollar on ads. 

My budget-friendly advice: If your audience is professionals, LinkedIn is still an underrated (and affordable) place to show up.

Catherine Valega

Wealth and Tax Advisor for High-Earners & Owner of Green Bee Advisory, helping driven leaders grow their wealth with intention and pay less in taxes.

I'm lucky in that I love to write, and I plan to do lots of it to help my audience continue growing. I try to write at least one blog a month, which I'll share to my email list and upload to various socials.

My budget-friendly advice: We all have expertise to share. If you're not a writer, then talk your articles out, record them, and use AI to refine your message. 

Jessica Etting

Founder & CEO of Jam Family Calendar, an AI-powered Chief of Staff for families that returns time and energy to busy parents.

One unexpected growth channel for us has been giving away genuinely useful guides. Our No-Burnout Back-to-School Blueprint, for example, reached thousands of parents and brought in a meaningful number of new Jam customers, so we’re doubling down on similarly practical resources that solve real problems before we ever ask for anything in return.

My budget-friendly advice: Cultivate your voice by paying attention to the problems your audience and customers are facing, then speak directly to those.

Emma Tessler

Founder & CEO of Ninety Five Media, specializing in creating high converting content that triples client growth.

In 2026, our most powerful growth strategy is actually the simplest one: building real relationships. We’re spending more intentional time engaging directly with our audience through thoughtful comments and DMs, which creates deeper trust than any ad campaign ever could. I’m also investing in growing and nurturing my personal network because connections off social media are just as essential for business growth and are often overlooked in our online focused world.

My budget-friendly advice: Treat every interaction like a relationship you’re building rather than a transaction you’re chasing. People follow people who make them feel seen. If you can do that, you’ll outperform a large ad budget every time!

Kelley Troia

Founder of Clandestine Events + Experiences, designing and executing critical gatherings for leaders who need things handled.

We’re growing our audience by telling real stories on LinkedIn: moments from high-stakes work that reveal judgment, tension, and what actually matters behind the scenes. We’re investing in this because narrative travels farther than advice, and it lets the right people recognize the work without us explaining it. These story-driven posts are consistently outperforming everything else we share in engagement and inbound conversations.

My budget-friendly advice: Choose the best channel(s) and be ruthlessly consistent. Try new things, but be consistent.

‍All individuals featured in this article are members of Dreamers & Doers, a highly curated community and PR Hype Machine​​™ amplifying extraordinary women entrepreneurs and leaders through authentic connections, credibility-boosting visibility, and opportunities that accelerate big dreams.

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