Two big mistakes most business owners make in marketing is paying too much for a marketing firm and not investing enough for a marketing expert.
Here are some creative ways to get marketing advice for next to nothing:

Blogs.  you can get useful information from blogs.
Marketing Groups.  Yahoo or Google email groups and discussion forums provide great [...]

Nothing sells your product or service like your customers.  Keeping them happy and notified is key in creating a good buzz about your product or service.  Communication with customers is probably the most effective way of keeping them smiling.  Marketing through effective communication comes in many forms.
Pick up the phone and give them a call.  [...]