Don't be discouraged if your budget pales in comparison to that of your competitors. Here's how to do more with less.

You have a great product, a great website and a great staff. The only thing that isn't "great" is the size of your marketing budget. Roughly $27 billion dollars will be spent in online advertising in 2008, according to eMarketer. With so many marketers occupying the same space, how can a company stay competitive while staying within its budget?

Don't resort to taking up offers from the snake-oil salesmen such as bogus SEO optimization services or overpriced and over-glorified affiliate marketing programs. Instead, use proven ways to compete toe-to-toe in today's online market without breaking your budget.

We have all seen companies get caught up in the losing game of keyword bidding wars over terms that are way too general, or against competitors with deep pockets that are willing and able to spend on loss leaders. A strong presence in today's online market is critical -- but contrary to popular belief, size isn't everything. What does it take for a marketer to compete effectively when money is tight? Here is a list of six key strategies marketers can use to get ahead while staying within their advertising budgets.