How I’d Stretch £1,000 a Month Marketing Budget for a Small Business

You don’t have the luxury of trial-and-error at scale, but you do have the advantage of agility and focus.

We’ve been chatting with a lot of small businesses in the last few years — people with big ideas and small budgets, trying to build something real with limited resources.

And one of the most common questions we hear is:

“If I only have £1,000/month for marketing… where should I spend it?”

It’s a great question — because in the early stages, every pound has to work hard. You don’t have the luxury of trial-and-error at scale, but you do have the advantage of agility and focus.

So here’s how I’d stretch that £1,000/month to get the maximum impact 👇

✅ Step 1: Clarify Your Foundation (Free, but priceless)

Before spending a penny, ask:

• Who exactly are you targeting?

• What’s your core offer?

• What makes you different?

Without this clarity, even the best ads or campaigns won’t convert. You don’t need a full brand book — just clear answers that guide every decision.

People with big ideas and small budgets, trying to build something real with limited resources.

💡 Cost: £0 — Just your time (and maybe some honest customer conversations)

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📣 Step 2: Organic Content & LinkedIn Presence (£150–£200/month)

• You’re a startup — so be visible, not silent.

• Post consistently on LinkedIn (founder-led content works wonders)

• Share insights, behind-the-scenes, progress, pain points — be human

• 👉 Use a tool like Canva Pro to polish your visuals beautifully and fast.

• 👉 Consider a scheduling tool like Buffer or Publer to plan posts ahead of time.

Consider using a social scheduling tool (like Buffer or Publer) to plan posts in advance and stay consistent.

💡 Budget:

• Canva Pro or similar: ~£10/month

• Occasional freelancer help: ~£150/month

• ROI: Thought leadership, trust, and organic lead gen

  
  Your site doesn’t need to be fancy — it needs to convert

💻 Step 3: Build or Optimise a High-Converting Landing Page (£250–£300)

Your site doesn’t need to be fancy — it needs to convert.

• Focus on one page with a clear CTA

• Explain your value in plain English

• Include social proof, a strong headline, and a lead form or booking link

Use platforms like Webflow, Framer, or Carrd to create fast, clean landing pages.

👉 Or hire a freelance web designer from marketplaces like Fiverr or Upwork.

💡 Budget:

• DIY: ~£15/month for platform

• Or hire a designer for a simple, clean landing page build: ~£250–£300

Step 4: Test Paid Ads — But Be Strategic (£400–£500)

With a lean budget, don’t try to do everything. Focus on one high-intent channel.

• If B2B: Start with LinkedIn Ads or Google Ads targeting bottom-of-funnel keywords.

• If B2C/DTC: Try Meta Ads (Facebook + Instagram).

Use a small test budget to learn what resonates. Watch for early signals — clicks, cost per lead, landing page performance.

💡Budget:

Paid ad spend: £400–£500

Creative: Use your own team or reuse organic content

🛠️ Bonus: Set Up Light Automation (£50–£100)

If people show interest — capture it automatically:

• Use a free or cheap email tool like MailerLite or Brevo for quick drip campaigns.

• Add a booking system like Calendly to streamline meetings.

• Automate follow-ups via Zapier or Make.com if you want to save time.

💡 Budget:

• MailerLite/Calendly: Free–£20/month

• Automation setup (DIY or small freelance cost): ~£50 one-off🚀 Final Thought

When you’re early-stage, your advantage is focus. You don’t need to do everything — you just need to do one or two things well, repeatedly.

A £1,000/month budget won’t let you scale like a unicorn, but it can absolutely help you:

• Build credibility

• Attract early adopters

• Gather feedback

• And start selling 🚀

if you're not sure where to start — or want someone to help stretch your £1,000 even further — let’s talk. We’ve done this before, and we’d love to help.