The phrase "small foothold" means having a limited or weak position to start with in a situation or endeavor. It suggests that there is not much control or influence, and further effort is needed to build a stronger position. Full definition
They shook their heads and smiled when Fictionwise and Smashwords started giving authors a very small foothold into the market. (madgeniusclub.com)
The deal comes days after Twitter announced an agreement with CBS to carry out Amplify ad campaigns during 42 of the network's fall shows, a deal that analysts said effectively gave Twitter a small foothold in the $ 70 billion TV advertising market. (cnbc.com)
He did less in the second half as Genoa found a small foothold and as Allegri's system morphed as the game progressed. (blackwhitereadallover.com)