Let’s be real. Most marketing advice assumes you’ve got time, money, and a team.
You? You’re juggling 12 tabs, 3 projects, and maybe a leftover launch hangover.
You’ve got ideas, hustle, and maybe a half-built Notion page, but not a spare $2K for ads or a growth consultant on speed dial.
That’s where these tactics come in.
Each one is built for solopreneurs like you - folks doing it all on their own, without a pile of cash to throw at problems. They’re low-cost, high-leverage, and proven to work when done right.
Some you can launch in 20 minutes. Others build up over time.
None of them require a marketing degree or expensive software.
Let’s break it down, one tactic at a time. So you can stop guessing and start growing.
1. Add a QR Code to Anything You Print or Share IRL
You probably don’t walk around handing out business cards or shipping swag. But maybe you’re speaking at a local workshop. Hosting a coworking meetup. Sticking flyers up in your favorite coffee spot or coworking space.
Maybe you’re leaving a printout at a community bulletin board, sliding a one-pager into your digital product packaging, or setting up at a local creator fair.
These are all real-world moments where people are paying attention. A well-placed QR code makes it easy for them to act on that interest—on the spot.
Scan the code. Land on your lead magnet. Book a quick consult. Grab a freebie. That’s a conversion, not just a curious glance.
The smart move is using dynamic QR codes. Unlike static ones, you can change the destination later. Launch a new product? Update your newsletter opt-in? No need to reprint anything.
You can make these using any QR Code maker free. It only takes a few minutes and gives you tracking too.
Make it matter with a simple, direct call to action above the code:
- Scan to grab my free client intake template
- Scan to join the email challenge
- Scan for early access to my next launch
If someone’s already looking at your flyer, printout, or event table, give them a next step. The QR code handles the rest.
2. Turn Free Tools into Lead Magnets
Forget the overused “download my ebook” pitch. If you want people to sign up for your list, give them something they can use today.
Think: a Notion dashboard. A swipe file. A plug-and-play email template. A Google Sheet that calculates their pricing. Something useful, fast.
Solopreneurs are short on time and drowning in noise. When you give them a shortcut—a tool that saves them 30 minutes—they’ll trade an email for that in a heartbeat.
And here’s the best part: you don’t need fancy design or a landing page builder. You can host your freebie on Notion, Tally, Airtable, or Google Drive. Then share the link anywhere—your social bio, email footer, or inside your product.
Want to take it offline too? Pair it with a QR code (see tactic 1 above). Post it on a flyer or sticker at your coworking space. Drop it on your event handout. It works.
The goal is simple: solve a real problem in a small, helpful way. If your tool makes someone’s life easier, you won’t need to hard-sell them on your paid offer later.
Start with one. Keep it tight. Share it often.
3. Post Weekly “Build in Public” Updates
You don’t need a massive audience to build momentum. You just need to show up—consistently, honestly, and with something worth saying.
Build in public isn’t about oversharing or posting every little task. It’s about documenting your process, your progress, and the thinking behind what you’re building. That transparency builds trust faster than any polished sales page.
Share what you’re working on. What failed. What you learned. A decision you made and why. A behind-the-scenes look at your landing page draft. A short clip from your latest experiment.
The content doesn’t need to go viral. It just needs to show that you’re real. People follow progress. They root for momentum. When you invite them into the process, they’re far more likely to support the finished product.
You can do this on Twitter, LinkedIn, your newsletter, or even a casual blog. Start with once a week. You’ll be surprised how much interest builds when you simply show up with something thoughtful and real.
Not sure what to post? Try this structure:
- Here’s what I worked on this week
- Here’s something I learned or changed
- Here’s what’s next (and how you can follow or join in)
That’s it. You’re building trust while you build your product.
4. Drop a “Mini Launch” Every Month
Most solopreneurs wait too long to launch—polishing, tweaking, second-guessing—until their momentum dies and the thing never ships.
Instead of chasing one perfect launch, run smaller ones more often. Think of it like controlled exposure. You show your work, collect feedback, test ideas, and build awareness—all without betting everything on one big moment.
A mini launch could be:
- A new freebie or tool
- A fresh service offer
- An update to your product
- A bundle or discount
- A waitlist for something that doesn’t exist yet
Announce it like it matters. Share it across your channels for 2–3 days. Post about it on social, send a short email, and invite people to check it out.
No ad spend. No big funnel. Just putting your work in front of people consistently. And the beauty is, every mini launch gives you data. What clicked? What flopped? What do people actually want more of?
You learn by shipping. You grow by repeating.
A steady rhythm of small launches builds an audience that pays attention—and eventually, one that buys.
5. Create a One-Page Resource Library
People don’t always want to scroll your Twitter feed, dig through your blog, or hunt for links in your newsletter archive. But they do want quick access to value.
That’s where a one-page resource library comes in.
It’s a simple, public page—built in Notion, Carrd, Typedream, or whatever tool you’re already comfortable with—that pulls together your best stuff in one place.
Think of it as your personal “start here” page.
You can include:
- Your top freebies or tools
- Articles, podcasts, or interviews you’ve been featured in
- Your favorite no-code tools with affiliate links
- A quick pitch for your product or offer
- A CTA to join your list or book a call
Keep it light, helpful, and clean. Think curation, not clutter.
Once it’s live, use that one link everywhere—your bio, your email footer, your QR codes, your product thank-you pages.
If you’re building in public or trying to grow your reputation as a subject-matter expert, this one page helps people see everything you’ve done—and everything you offer—at a glance.
Don’t underestimate how much credibility a well-organized resource page can build.
6. Turn Testimonials into Social Posts
You don’t need hundreds of reviews to build credibility. You just need one good sentence that shows someone got real value from what you offer.
The next time someone sends you a thank-you message, compliments your freebie, or leaves a kind comment—save it. That’s social proof. And it’s more powerful than any ad copy you could write.
Turn it into a short post. Add context. Tell the story behind it.
Here’s a simple format:
- What the person was struggling with
- What you helped them with (free or paid)
- The result or takeaway they shared
You can screenshot it, write it out as a quote, or paraphrase the message with a short caption. Just make sure it feels real. That’s what people connect with.
This works for early builders too. Even if no one’s paid you yet, share feedback from your beta testers, newsletter replies, or free session results.
You’re not bragging. You’re documenting outcomes—and helping others see what’s possible when they work with you.
If you’re worried about being repetitive, don’t be. Social feeds move fast. Repetition builds trust.
7. Answer Questions Where Your People Hang Out
You don’t need to create content from scratch if you know how to show up where people are already asking for help.
Places like Reddit, Indie Hackers, X (Twitter), Slack communities, and niche Discords are full of solopreneurs trying to figure things out. They’re asking the exact questions you’ve already solved for yourself—or could help with in five sentences.
Find the threads. Join the conversation. Offer something clear, useful, and honest. No fluff. No pitch. Just help.
This does two things:
- It positions you as someone who knows what they’re doing.
- It drives the right kind of attention back to your product, service, or content—naturally.
You can drop a link if it actually helps. But you don’t even need to at first. Focus on being helpful. People will click on your profile, read your past answers, and check out your stuff without you needing to shout.
The compounding effect here is real. One good answer on Reddit can send you traffic for years. A thoughtful comment on someone’s launch post can lead to collaborations, clients, or interviews down the line.
It’s not fast, but it builds the kind of reputation that paid ads can’t buy.
8. Offer a Free “Quick Win” Session
Sometimes the fastest way to get traction is to stop hiding behind your landing page and actually talk to people.
You don’t need to open your calendar to the world. Just offer a few short, focused sessions—fifteen minutes max—with a clear goal: help someone solve one problem, fast.
It could be:
- Reviewing their landing page
- Giving feedback on their offer
- Helping them prioritize next steps
- Walking them through a tool or process you know well
This isn’t about giving away your whole service for free. It’s about building trust, learning what your ideal audience actually needs, and creating early advocates for your work.
Set up a simple booking link using Calendly, TidyCal, or SavvyCal. Limit the number of sessions. Promote it through your email list, Twitter, or even a QR code at a local event.
And treat every session like a mini case study. If someone walks away with clarity or value, ask if you can share a quote or result (see tactic 6).
You’ll gain insights, build connections, and often—unexpectedly—land paying clients.
Wrapping It Up
You don’t need ads. You don’t need a big team. You don’t need to “go viral.”
You just need a handful of scrappy, proven tactics that actually move the needle.
Every one of these ten plays well with limited time, tight budgets, and solo energy. Pick one. Run with it. Then stack another. And another.
You’ll start seeing results—not overnight, but steadily.
And if you’re doing anything in the real world—whether it’s a pop-up event, a local collab, or just printing a flyer—don’t forget to make it scannable.
Marketing doesn't have to feel like guesswork. It can feel like progress. One step at a time.
