Maybe you’re working with a friend who ‘does social media,’ a family member who builds websites. They’re cheap or even free, so why not? DIY marketing can be great…but what do you do when you hit a wall?
We get it. Sometimes you’ve got to be scrappy. We’ve been there too.
But just because you can’t afford a full-service agency right now doesn’t mean your brand has to look DIY. DIY marketing can be powerful when it’s done with intention — you just need the right foundation.
Here are a few free or low-cost ways to make your business look professional — and where to bring in the experts when it really matters.
1. Create a Brand Style Guide
If you do nothing else, do this.
A brand style guide keeps your visuals and voice consistent across every post, page, and ad. It’s basically the rulebook for your brand — covering your colors, fonts, logos, mission, vision, tone, and a few example photos or posts that capture your vibe.
Keep it all in one PDF or Canva document so you can easily share it with anyone who helps you with marketing.
👉 Free option: Use Canva’s built-in brand kit to store your colors, fonts, and logos.
👉 Ready-to-scale option: If you’re planning to advertise or grow your team soon, work with us to create a professional brand guide that includes your tone, voice, audience profiles, and mood board.
2. DIY the Basics — But Leave Strategy to the Pros
Yes, you can (and should) make simple posts or website updates yourself. That’s the beauty of DIY marketing — it gives you control and keeps costs low. Just make sure whoever’s helping you knows the basics.
On social media, that means:
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Using location tags and trending audio
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Posting at optimal times for your industry
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Celebrating industry holidays or community events
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Boosting posts that deserve extra visibility
✅ On your website, that means:
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Using relevant keywords your customers actually search
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Writing clear meta titles and descriptions (we can recommend several great plugins on WordPress, our favorite website builder)
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Keeping your site fast, readable, and mobile-friendly
These little things make a big difference.
But when it comes to deeper strategy — like paid ad targeting, keyword research, or building SEO that actually ranks — that’s when hiring a pro saves time and money. If your “friend who builds websites” has no clue what you mean by “metadata” or “Keyword Planner” is, it’s time to call in someone who does.
3. Stay Consistent — and Don’t Ghost Your Audience
You’ve built the foundation — now you have to show up.
Consistency matters more than perfection. Whether you’re posting three times a week or once a day, stick to a rhythm. In the world of DIY marketing, showing up consistently is what separates the businesses that grow from the ones that fade out. When your audience doesn’t hear from you for a month, they forget you exist. Then you post again, and the algorithm barely recognizes you.
Even if you’re busy, plan ahead. Schedule content, keep your tone steady, and show up regularly. That steady presence (also known as brand awareness) builds trust — and when you’re ready to invest in ads or bigger campaigns, your audience will already be warmed up and ready to buy.
TL;DR?
We love a scrappy business owner. But make sure your foundation is solid before working with various folks outside your business…and when you’re ready to scale, Blue Ridge Creative Marketing can help you do it with strategy, not guesswork.
Hit a wall? Book a free strategy chat with us on Calendly—we’re here to help you get unstuck
