How to use influencer marketing on a small budget
On a small budget, work with micro and nano creators whose audiences match your customers. Gift products, offer affiliate commission, or pay modest fees for content you can reuse. UK rules require clear ad labelling, so make sure posts are marked as ads when there's payment or free product.
By Abdullah Ashraf, Shopify expert · Last updated: October 2026
Quick summary
- Micro creators often give better value.
- Gifting and affiliate deals keep costs low.
- Posts must be clearly labelled as ads.
In this guide:
Find creators
Look for creators your customers already follow, with engaged audiences rather than huge followings.
Deals
- Gifted product for honest content
- Affiliate commission with a tracked code
- Paid content you can reuse in ads
Rules
The ASA and CMA require clear labelling, such as #ad, when creators are paid or gifted.
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