Stretching your budget is one of the toughest aspects of founding a startup and bringing products and services to market. How do marketing and branding fit into a limited budget? In this article, we take a deep dive into bootstrapped branding to give you the ideas and tools you need to build and enhance your brand presence, establish credibility and connect with your target audience — all while keeping costs low.

Branding may seem like something for big companies, but nothing could be further from the truth. Startups compete with thousands of others for the attention of potential investors and early-stage clients. Skillful branding allows you to differentiate yourself from competitors from the moment your business launches.

Consistent, clear branding gives you a competitive advantage by raising your startup's credibility and inspiring customer trust. Plus, branding, no matter how limited, is a long-term investment in your company's future.

Related: 5 Low-Budget Marketing Ideas for Bootstrapped Startups

Defining your brand core doesn't need to be costly, but you will need to invest time.

Schedule a brainstorming session or a workshop with your core team to outline what your startup stands for and define your mission, vision and values. Next, clarify your unique selling proposition (USP). What does your company do better than its competitors? Remember to tell your story rather than simply list facts.

Condense those differentiators into key messages to tell your brand's and your founder's story. Get to know your audience better through........

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