Making the free thing work is something my wife and I talk about a lot. We've got four growing children and things can be expensive, so we spend lots of time living with the limitations of the free thing.

Yes, private school would be better, but public school is free, so maybe we can supplement what they are getting. Sure, hiring a tutor would be nice, but maybe we could tutor them at home based on what we know.

I have a 28-year-old TV in my office. Why? Because it still works. When it conks out, then I'll find out what high definition is all about. Until then, I don't miss what I don't have.

I bike a lot in the summer, but my bike cost $10 at a garage sale. And I like that because I can park it anywhere without stressing about it getting stolen. Geez, the lock cost more than the bike.

You get the idea. There are lots of areas in life when you can make do with the free (or at least the cheap) thing. But sometimes you have to put in a little effort to make it work.

It takes time, effort, and patience to tutor your own kids. (Did I mention patience?) That TV has a problem with the volume control, so I've had to futz with it a lot to make it work. (Now, no one is allowed to adjust the volume except through the remote for the cable box.) That bike is a steel 1970 Schwinn that is a lot heavier than any bike made today, so it takes more effort to ride. (I tell myself I get a better workout.)

What's this have to do with marketing? Plenty.

Check out my Skinflint Guide to Internet Marketing for a bevy of ways to make the free thing work. Free tools and free techniques are exactly what small businesses need to do. Yes, they are more work. Yes, they can be frustrating. But small businesses must decide to put in the time and deal with the frustration to make the free thing work. If they try a few things for a while, they'll eventually land on a couple that work, which will give them an edge over all those that lament about how Internet marketing is too hard or costs too much.

What about your company? Do you try what's out there for free? Or do you just complain about what a pain it is and how you can't afford it? That's not what successful small businesses do with the Internet.