Big marketing goals but only a modest budget to work with? After more than ten years of marketing for bootstrapped brands, I've learned you don't need to pour money into expensive digital marketing platforms to get real results. What matters is building a smart toolkit that delivers more than it costs — one that helps you work efficiently and drive outcomes without draining your budget.That's the purpose of this in-depth roundup: 28 digital marketing tools that help growing brands thrive. Many of these options include free tiers or affordable plans, so you can start lean and upgrade as your needs and resources grow.Think of this as your roadmap to assembling a powerful, budget-friendly marketing tech stack. Jump to a section: Social media marketing tools Partnership marketing tools Email and SMS marketing tools SEO (search engine optimization) tools Content and design tools for marketers Conversion optimization tools Paid advertising tools Marketing analytics tools Social media marketing toolsThese social media tools make it easier to show up consistently on social and measure how your content performs.Buffer: Social media management for creators and small businessesA social media management platform is at the heart of any social strategy. It lets you oversee your online presence so you can publish regularly and on a schedule that suits you — which can boost engagement.I've been a Buffer customer and supporter for nine years, long before I began writing for the blog. And when I doubled down on building my personal brand a year ago, Buffer was the obvious choice.Since this is…