Free Advertising Methods That Actually Work for Small Businesses

There are many ways to advertise your small business that won’t cost you anything. The key aspect to keep in mind is that consistency matters. These free advertising methods work best when choosing only two or three to really work on and keep doing consistently.

This is what builds a real audience which can be converted into custom. Remember not to take on too much, focus on a few methods and do them well. Consistency = Results.

Google Business Profile

Surprisingly, a lot of small businesses don’t use this but you really should. Google Business Profile is that profile you see come up on Google when a business comes up in a search result. That panel you see on the right hand side of Google which displays the business name, often a logo and the basic details (phone number, location). 

This is a free advertising tool that all small businesses should utilise straight away. Get that set up and running for greater visibility on Google. 

Social Media Channels

An easy to access, free advertising method if you can learn how to optimize your company’s social media accounts. Some social media platforms are better for building overall visibility whereas some will be better at drawing in real customers. This can depend on the type of small business you are running.

If you’re selling online products, this could be a great distribution channel as the scope of the audience is very broad (meaning you don’t need customers who live nearby). Instagram and TikTok can be a great free advertising choice for online businesses, especially niche products. 

Focus on consistently posting and reusing content between the different platforms to build a following and strong engagement. Get your small business seen by a very wide audience.  On the other hand, if you run a small bookshop, then even if you gain many views from all over the world, this is unlikely to convert into customers. However, you could use Facebook to get better location targeting or focus on location keywords on Instagram to reach people in your area. 

Email Marketing

An often overlooked free advertising method but an easy one to set up. This could be a great way to build a community with your customers and encourage repeat customers. You could create some sort of newsletter that comes through to people’s email. Give them a reason to sign up, specify your niche and use this to market your services products to people that you know are already interested. This free advertising method can be great once you have an email list. Consider getting the word of your business out with email marketing. 

Something to keep in mind is not coming across as spam. Potential customers don’t want to be bombarded with many emails because they are more likely to think of it as spam. 

Content Marketing/Blogging

Content marketing is a great avenue for free advertising given that it is direct on your website and can be used to encourage users to your website who are already searching for what your small business is offering. 

Write blogs that are SEO-friendly to gain traction to your website. Utilise keywords so that your content comes on that first page on Google when users search for that keyword. Write content specific to your niche. For example, if you’re a company offering a graphic design service, then write content such as calligraphy, lettering, the colour wheel or composition. 

Review Sites

Reviews on your own website are great when somebody has already come across your small business. Review sites can be a good way to encourage people to choose your business over another or to allow yours to stand out. 

Join some directories and review sites (such as TrustPilot and TripAdvisor) to get seen by more people. 

This is a great free advertising method for a few different reasons. It gives more channels for your business to be seen, gains trust from consumers and allows people to see your business in comparison to others. Another reason to keep bumping up them reviews so your small business stands out. 

Word Of Mouth

One of the oldest methods of free advertising yet still very powerful, even with ever growing technology. Make the most of all the digital marketing methods but don’t let this traditional, free advertising channel slide. 

Encourage your existing customers to refer you to a friend, many currently utilise this by offering a discount to both parties when referring someone. This uses that word of mouth advertisement, draws in more customers, and keeps existing customers loyal. 

Reviews On Your Own Website

Use the customers you already have for free advertising of your business. Every time you sell a product or complete a service for somebody, kindly ask them to leave a review on your website. This is a great way to build a stronger rapport with existing customers but also gain further trust from consumers who may be looking at your small business already. Make sure to turn your customer reviews into a marketing tool, use the positive things people already say about your business. 

This could also be the deciding factor for someone choosing between your company and another. Think about if you were choosing between two plumbers, you would likely opt for the one that has 100 reviews rather than 3. Even if they are both rated highly. 

These free advertisement methods are perfect for small businesses given their easy access and simplicity to use. Some of these methods may require a little research (such as the SEO content writing in order to make this effective) but they are all possible. Remember not to do these all at once, start with a few and do them well and consistently. 

Grow your small business without breaking the bank.