How I Get Attention Without a Marketing Budget

My Tiny Marketing Experiments: How I Generate Attention Without a Marketing Budget (or a Marketing Degree)

When I first started building products, the word "marketing" felt like this giant, scary monster. It conjured images of slick ad campaigns, expensive software, and people who actually understood things like "funnels" and "SEO." As a solo dev, staring down that monster with zero budget and even less experience felt… impossible.

My initial attempts were pretty awkward, to say the least. I’d try to post on forums, but it felt like I was just shouting into the void.

I’d share my product on social media, but it rarely got any traction. It felt unnatural, forced, and honestly, a bit embarrassing.

I was so focused on building the perfect product that I completely neglected how to let anyone know it existed.

The problem was, I was waiting for users to magically find me. I had no strategy, no repeatable process, just sporadic, uninspired attempts. I needed a way to get my product in front of the right people without breaking the bank or feeling like a used car salesman.

So, I started experimenting with what I now call my "Micro-Marketing Loop." It’s not fancy, and it’s definitely not revolutionary, but it’s been surprisingly effective for getting those first few eyeballs. It’s built on three simple, repeatable steps:

1. Identify a Niche Audience: Instead of trying to reach everyone, I focus on a very specific group of people who would genuinely benefit from my product.

Where do they hang out online? What are their pain points?

For my recent project, a tool to help indie makers manage their social media scheduling, I knew I needed to find other indie makers.

2. Gentle, Value-Driven Outreach: This is where the "awkward" part comes in, but I learned to embrace it.

Instead of just dropping a link, I try to provide value first. This could be:

• Commenting thoughtfully on relevant posts: I’d find discussions about social media challenges for makers and offer a helpful tip or insight.
• Sharing useful content: I’d create short threads or posts with tips related to social media for indie devs, subtly mentioning my tool as a solution if it fit naturally.
• Direct (but not pushy) messages: If I saw someone struggling with a specific problem my tool solves, I’d send a quick DM, like: "Hey, saw you were having trouble with X. I built a small tool that helps with that, if you're interested in checking it out, here's the link. No pressure though!"

3. Gather Feedback and Iterate: This is crucial.

After someone checks out the product, I actively ask for their thoughts. What did they like?

What was confusing? This feedback isn't just for product improvement; it also tells me if my messaging is resonating.

If people consistently say, "I didn't understand what it did," I tweak my descriptions.

It’s a slow process, and it definitely doesn’t generate thousands of users overnight. But it’s real.

It’s about building genuine connections and offering solutions, not just broadcasting. I remember sending a DM to someone on Twitter who was complaining about spending too much time scheduling posts.

They replied, tried my tool, and became one of my first paying users. That felt way better than any ad click.

This kind of micro-marketing has been a game-changer for me. It’s low-effort, low-cost, and most importantly, it feels authentic. It’s about showing up where your audience is and offering something helpful.

Here are a few practical, low-effort tactics you can start with:

• Find 1-2 communities where your target audience hangs out (Reddit, Indie Hackers, specific Discord servers, niche forums).
• Commit to engaging genuinely a few times a week. Answer questions, share your learnings, and be helpful.
• Craft a short, clear message about your product that highlights the core benefit.
• Don't be afraid to be a little awkward. Most people appreciate genuine effort more than polished perfection.

The biggest takeaway is that you don't need a marketing degree or a huge budget to start attracting attention. You just need to be willing to put yourself out there in small, consistent, and helpful ways.

Start small, be patient, and focus on building connections. Your first users are out there, and they’re often found through these tiny, human interactions.