Marketing your small business doesn’t have to be expensive. When you take the initiative to invest your time, there is a plentitude of ways to market your business on a nearly nonexistent budget. From utilizing social media to taking advantage of local opportunities, there are plenty of ways to get the word out.

Here are five tips for marketing your small business on a tight budget.

1. Get Social

Social media is a powerful tool that can be used to reach a large audience for very little money. Whether you’re using Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, make sure you’re active and engaged with your audience. Post interesting content, run social media giveaways, and take advantage of social media tools like Hootsuite to help you save time and stay organized. When you post consistently and regularly, with time and lots of energy you’ll see your social media following (and business) grow.

2. Make the Most of Local Opportunities

One great way to market your small business on a budget is to take advantage of local opportunities. Attend local networking events, sponsor a youth sports team, or partner with another local business for a joint marketing campaign. When you focus your marketing efforts locally, you’ll be surprised at how much exposure you can get for very little money.

3. Utilize Free Tools and Resources

There are tons of free tools and resources available to small businesses when it comes to marketing. They are the ideal place to start when your budget is tight. Tools like Canva for social media graphic creation and Google Analytics for tracking your website’s performance may be worth taking advantage of. Plus, when it comes to learning and how to, you can gain large amounts of (often) useful knowledge from Youtube. (just watch out for any get-rich-quick schemes or anything thing that seems… too easy)

4. Get Creative with Contests and Giveaways

People love free stuff! Hosting a contest or giveaway is a great way to generate excitement and interest in your business. Just be sure to set some guidelines and rules to ensure that everyone who participates is eligible and has an equal chance of winning.

5. Think Outside the Box

When it comes to marketing your small business on a budget, get creative! There are endless possibilities when it comes to marketing, so don’t be afraid to get outside of your comfort zone and try something new. Brainstorm with your team, ask other businesses for advice and don’t be afraid to think outside the box. Chalk on the sidewalk. Referral Programs. Sit down and think about ways you could add recognition to your business.

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Marketing your small business doesn’t have to be high dollar when you invest the time in developing and maintaining ongoing marketing initiatives. With a little creativity and effort, there are plenty of ways to get the word out about your business without spending a lot of money.