If you’re looking for a real way to promote your business for free, this list of ideas has you covered! Continue reading to find ways to promote your business without paying cash advances.
Starting and running a business is more than just having great ideas. Even if you are passionate about your business niche, have great planning and money to start, you still need to focus on advertising and marketing for your business to guide your customers.
If you have a small business, paid ads may seem like a luxury that doesn’t fit your budget. I personally experimented with using Facebook ads to promote online service-based businesses, but costs can increase rapidly. Additionally, ads require time and testing to see the results, and it is recommended that you adjust your plans along the way.
On the bright side, there are plenty of free advertising strategies you can use today.
Whether you’re a new entrepreneur or a veteran business owner looking to increase your online presence, here are some of the best ways to promote your business for free.
1. Bill and optimize my business profile on Google
The first thing you do if you have a local business (either online or physical location) is to set up a Google Business Profile and it will appear in Google Search and Google Maps local search results.
Optimize your business profile with specific keywords, photos, opening hours and positive reviews. When I was working at a web design company a few years ago, I won a small gift card every time I received positive reviews from the company. Reviews are free word of mouth marketing for your business, helping to increase search engine rankings on Google, allowing more people to find your business and be confident in purchasing your products and services.
2. Use social media strategically
Create social media accounts for your business on platforms like Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter (x), and even reddit to connect with your target audience for free. Instagram and Facebook are great for sharing reels and stories to showcase your products, answer questions about your service, and share reviews.
You can also post behind the scenes content to improve your engagement with your audience. Alternatively, if you have a service-based business, we recommend sharing helpful tips and advice. Tiktok is another popular social media platform where there may be a target audience.
Tiktok users seem very involved and tend to follow and buy from companies that can be involved. Forums like Reddit threads are great for answering questions and sharing value (not just advertising) and raising awareness about your business’s services.
3. Join our free online directory
I might be aging myself here, but I remember growing up and seeing my mother look at the yellow page books and finding a particular business, restaurant, etc. every time she needed something. Today, no one will send a yellow page book to a home in the area anymore. Instead, there is an online directory.
Luckily, many of them are free, so it’s worth signing up for them, especially if you have a business serving local customers. Consider adding your business to sites like Yelp, Bing, Foursquare, Nextdoor, The Mom Index, just list a few options. Don’t forget to write simple but engaging descriptions of your business (if possible) upload photos and videos and add keywords to the description.
4. Update your website SEO
SEO represents search engine optimization. Search engines are one of the best places for new customers to discover small businesses. That’s why it’s important to invest time and effort in SEO.
You don’t need to be a digital marketing expert to improve your site’s SEO. There are plenty of free resources and information online. Sites like Semrush, Hubspot, and even YouTube videos can help you get started.
You should use keywords that are relevant to your website and blog post as a whole. Also, because Google prefers faster websites, you can add keywords to the “Alt Text” in images to work with web developers to optimize website speed. Local SEO is just as important. Include city or region in your content to improve visibility into local search results.
If you’re not interested in all the technical aspects of updating your website’s SEO, you can also outsource this to an expert or hire someone who can provide you with a checklist of steps to take over time.
5. Use word-of-mouth marketing
Word of mouth marketing is powerful and free. Whenever possible, encourage your satisfied clients and clients to talk to friends and family about your business. You can also encourage them with small rewards, such as referral discounts.
Additionally, you can host local or online customer appreciation events to show existing customers how much you are grateful for your business. By providing excellent customer service, it helps you stand out and stay hearted, allowing people to take the time to recommend your business to others.
6. Use email marketing
One of the most effective and low-cost marketing tools is email marketing. Send a regular email newsletter with discounts, helpful tips and tutorials to nurture relationships with potential clients and bring back satisfied customers.
Ask people to join the mailing list every time you make a purchase and promote your newsletter on social media. To get more sign-ups, consider offering something special and valuable as a lead magnet.
Whether it’s once a week, twice a month, or something meaningful to your business, we promise to send you regular emails. Add your website and social links to your email signature to get additional exposure every time you send them.
7. Create and share blog posts and other content
Content is online everywhere and can be created and shared for free in most places. If you already have a business website, start publishing blog posts about various industry topics and important company news and updates. When I first started freelance online, my blog was one of the best free marketing tools I had. Because it served as a portfolio to showcase my work and expertise.
You can also create video content on your YouTube channel, become a guest on various podcasts, provide valuable advice and promote your business.
Using the content you create will stick to the topic your target audience is searching for.
- How-to Guide
- Product Tutorial
- Local Recommendations
- Watching your business behind the scenes
How to promote your business for free: Summary
There are plenty of free advertising options, so you don’t need a huge marketing budget to gain traction in your business and reach more potential customers. Focus on starting your marketing plan with what you have and where you are.
You need an ad plan and strategy, but we hope these tips will help you increase your visibility online, build your audience, and turn people into business with you without buying traditional ads.
We promise to select two or three strategies from this list and use them consistently over the next few months.
