Christmas on a shoestring. How to create a campaign with zero budget
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It’s December, and your marketing budget is looking a little flimsy, or worse still, bare! Your boss says he still wants you to promote your brand, but how do you create something that will turn the dial and heads, with zero to little budget??
Ah, readers, don’t you worry, I’ve got you. This blog offers great ideas and advice on creating a memorable marketing campaign with very little. It’s not about a big fanfare, fluff or even dodgy eighties tinsel; it’s about clarity, consistency and a plan.
Let’s begin with goal setting.
Start with one goal, not ten. Do you want enquiries, footfall, January bookings, email sign-ups, or repeat purchases? Pick the one that matters and build everything around it. Then choose one primary channel (email or LinkedIn) and one support channel (Instagram or Facebook). When your message is tight and repeated clearly, people get it, hear it frequently and act on your command.
Don’t overcomplicate things; keep it simple.
Create one simple festive offer. Not ten variations. Just one.
It could be a bundle, a free upgrade, or a January priority booking. Make it time-bound and crystal clear. If you can’t explain the offer in one sentence, it’s not ready. Add a specific deadline. People move when there’s a reason to move.
Repurpose your best content from 2025
There’s no need to reinvent the wheel here. Take a look at some of your best-performing content and repurpose it. Take your top three guides, FAQs or case studies and give them a seasonal spin. “Year-end checklist,” “Last-minute fixes,” “Readiness for 2026 in 30 minutes.” Record 30–45-second talking-head videos on your phone, add captions, and post (CapCut is a free, relatively easy-to-use video editing tool).
Try out a micro-campaign
Run a tiny “micro-campaign” over 10 days. Day one, send a plain-text email from a member of your team (not a faceless address like “info@”) explaining the offer, why it helps now, and the deadline. Add one call-to-action button.
On social, post 3–5 times with the same core message told from different angles: teaser, benefit, a real example, reminder, last call. Update your website with a simple banner or a short section pointing to a single call to action. You could even add a pop-up to capture new visitors’ attention.
When your social posts are published and you start to receive engagement, don’t just post and ghost. Make sure you reply to every comment and DM within a few hours of receiving them. Conversations convert interested into sold. And don’t forget the lurkers. They’re the ones following your posts and seeing how you engage with customers. Lurkers can become customers with a bit of persuasion.
Ask customers for feedback.
Ask three happy customers for 20-second selfie videos on “why your product or service has helped them this year.” Pin them. That’s credibility without the agency invoice. Prompt user-generated content with something simple like “Tell us why you love us”. Repost the best and tag generously.
Create scarcity.
Make sure your content creates urgency without discounts. With Black Friday a distant memory but a weight on our credit card statements, many people are exhausted by 30% off offers. Instead, create one offer that is so good, but is only valid for a short period of time. That way, you will incentivise customers to act now and buy to avoid missing out.
Like what you’ve read?
Jo Buchanan, the author of this blog, is the Founder and Director of TwitTwooYou Limited, a business growth strategic consultancy centred on getting brands noticed. TwitTwooYou offers smart services to help businesses grow and achieve their aspirations and goals. Want to get your brand noticed? Get in touch for a free, no-obligation chat.
