14 best ways to advertise your business with no money 

Launching your business is an exciting time filled with possibilities. But now comes the important part: attracting customers and generating revenue with an effective advertising strategy.  

Without an impactful advertising strategy, your business might struggle to gain traction, suffer financial losses, or face closure. While traditional advertising can promote your business, it can be expensive for new and small businesses. 

So, how can you compete with the big guys with massive marketing budgets?  

The good news is that you don’t need an expensive advertising plan to get your business noticed. There are plenty of low-cost and free ways to advertise your business online. In this blog, we’ll guide you through these strategies that won’t break the bank.

1. Create a website

With 5.56 billion people using the internet, it would benefit your business to have a website. Think of your website as your online storefront. It’s often the first thing your customers see, and you should create a great first impression if you want them to stick around and buy your products. Additionally, having a professional website can help you stay competitive. 

Here’s how to get started: 

1. Choose a platform. There are free options from various platforms like WordPress and Weebly. These sites allow you to create a basic website for free, although you’ll have to use their subdomain. For example, your website will be annasboutique.wordpress.com instead of the usual .com domain. 
2. Select a theme or template. Most platforms offer a variety of free templates. You can choose one that reflects your brand’s aesthetic. Remember to check if it’s responsive and mobile-friendly.  
3. Customize your web design. The template laid the foundation for your website’s appearance; now it’s time to personalize it. Use your brand colors and logos to make your website unique. 
4. Add a clear brand story. This should include your business’s mission, values, and unique selling points. A compelling brand story engages your potential customers and makes them feel invested.  
5. Use visual content. Humans are naturally drawn to images, so use high-quality images and text. Also, choose a design aesthetic that reflects your brand personality. When selecting website images, remember to use your pictures as much as possible to avoid copyright issues. Stock images are okay, but they don’t perform as well as the original images. 
6. Include basic information. Remember to include contact details, product/service descriptions, location, hours of operation, and any other relevant information customers might need.  
7. Publish your website. Once everything is in place and you’ve double-checked everything, you can publish your website. 

As your business grows and earns more, consider investing in an affordable hosting plan to secure a unique domain name. 

2. Create valuable website content 

If you already have a website, the next move is to create blog posts and other content. This process is called content marketing, and it’s a powerful way to attract organic traffic to your website.  

When you write articles, make sure they’re valuable and informative. This will establish you as an authority in your industry and help attract potential customers.  

Keep in mind that content is not one-size-fits-all. There are various types and formats that you can use depending on your objectives: 

• How-to guides and tutorials. This is one of the most common blog types businesses use on their websites. As the name suggests, these are pieces of content that provide instructions and new knowledge to readers.  
• Listicles. This content type usually includes a specific number of items related to a particular topic. You can immediately tell if the content is a listicle if it has a number in the title (e.g., “7 best pet-friendly cafes in Florida”). Listicles are popular because they are easier to skim through than other blog types. 
• Thought leadership articles. This content type includes unique perspectives on your industry’s trends and challenges that can inspire or guide readers. It helps set authority and demonstrate your expertise in a particular topic or field. 
• Comparison. This content compares and discusses the similarities and differences between two or more subjects. Usually, it covers the pros and cons of each to help readers decide which is the best choice for their situation. You can use this style to highlight the unique selling points of your products/services compared to your competitors. 
• Case studies. If you have solved customer problems before, you can write articles that explain the steps and procedures you used to help them.  
• Interviews. This content type lets you feature insights from industry professionals or include customer testimonials, which can build trust with potential customers. 

3. Use search engine optimization 

Of course, writing content is just the beginning. To reach your audience, you should make your website and content visible in search results. That’s where you use and incorporate search engine optimization (SEO) into your website.  

SEO can help your business by improving its visibility, increasing organic website traffic, and building trust and credibility. Here are some basic SEO tips to help you get started: 

• Create high-quality, valuable content. As mentioned in the previous section, it’s important to provide informative and engaging content that meets the needs of your target audience. 
• Use relevant keywords. Research and use keywords or phrases that your target audience is searching for. You can find various free keyword research tools like Google Keyword Planner (through Google Ads) and Ahrefs’ Free Keyword Generator.  
• Optimize titles and meta descriptions. Meta descriptions are content summaries or snippets that appear in Google search results. Crafting meta descriptions and titles reflects your content and encourages clicks. 
• Optimize content format and readability. Double-check if you use proper header tags to improve your content structure. Also, use bulleted points and numbered lists to break up text blocks to make them more readable.  

Free Google SEO tools 

If you’re new to SEO, Google provides free SEO tools you can use to optimize your website’s performance and understand your audience. Here are a few examples: 

• Google Lighthouse. This free, open-source tool helps you improve your website’s quality. It audits your website’s accessibility, performance, best practices, and SEO. You can access this through Google DevTools in your Chrome browser.  
• Google Analytics. This tool tracks website traffic, user behavior, demographics, engagement, pageviews, landing pages, and audience locations. 

4. Sign up for Google Business Profile 

If you want to reach more customers, Google is the first place where you should promote your business. With 89.79% of the global search engine market share, Google is currently the most popular and powerful platform for businesses to reach their target audience.  

Aside from its expansive user base, another major benefit of promoting your business on Google is its suite of free tools and platforms. One of the most important platforms you can use to promote your business is Google Business Profile (GBP). Here’s how you can sign up for a GBP: 

1. Create a Google Business Profile. If you already have a business Google Account, you can use it directly to sign up. You can also sign up using your business email domain.  
2. Type in your business name. Sometimes, the search bar will auto-suggest your business. If your business isn’t suggested, type it in and select Create a business with this name. 
3. Select industry. Type in the Business category box and wait for its suggestions based on your input. Then click Next. 
4. Indicate if you have a physical location. Click Yes if you have a storefront and include your location.  
5. Fill out your business details. Provide your business name, address, phone number, website link, and operating hours. 
6. Enter your service area. This can be through postal codes, cities, and other places you serve. GBP allows businesses to add up to 20 service areas. They also do not recommend extending the coverage farther than 2 hours of driving time from your business’s location.  
7. Complete your profile. Put your website URL and phone number and select a verification option. You can opt to verify now or later. 

And you’re set. Ensure your business name, address, and phone number are consistent across all online platforms. Google uses this information to determine your business’s legitimacy. 

Here’s an example of a fully completed profile appearing on Google Maps:

5. Show off your business on Facebook 

Social media marketing is a fantastic way for small businesses to increase brand awareness, engage with potential customers, and drive website traffic. The best part of it is that it’s mostly free. Facebook, in particular, is a great platform to show off your business and reach a wide audience. With a well-made Facebook business page, you can share what your business offers, connect with customers, and boost your sales. 
 
Before we jump into the ways you can promote your business on Facebook, create a business page first. Here are the steps in creating a Facebook business page: 

1. Click the profile icon in the top right corner of the page and select Pages. It’s the one with the orange flag icon. Click the Create button. 
2. Select profile type. Choose Public Page. 
3. Provide your page name and category, then click Create.  
4. Choose whether you want to promote your products/services or create content and connect with fans. Since you’re a business owner, choose the first option. Click Continue. 
5. Finish setting up your business page. Include your contact information, website, hours of operation, and a compelling description. 

A complete Facebook business page would look like this: 

Ways to promote your business on Facebook 

• Engage with your customers. Engage consistently with your audience to build a solid community. Schedule content (updates, photos, and videos) about your products/services, along with a few behind-the-scenes posts. 
• Respond to comments and messages. Responding quickly to comments and messages shows customers you care. This establishes trust and demonstrates your commitment to customer service. 
• Participate in Facebook groups. Join local communities or industry-specific groups where you can share knowledge with customers and network with other small businesses.  
• Run contests and giveaways. You can hold contests to grow your follower base. Just make sure to define the rules and requirements clearly. 
• Share customer reviews and testimonials. Highlight positive customer experiences (with their permission) to create user-generated content. You can share their feedback on your profile to build trust and credibility. 

6. Attract more customers using Instagram 

If you already have an Instagram account, you can switch it to a business account. Otherwise, you need to create a new one. Here’s how you can create an Instagram business account: 

1. Click on your profile.  
2. Select Edit Profile and click Switch to a professional account.  
3. Choose Business and click Next. 
4. Add your contact details. If you want to skip this, click Don’t use my contact info.  
5. Complete setting up your account by completing important details.  

Here’s an example of a complete Instagram business profile: 

Ways to promote your business on Instagram 

• Use relevant hashtags. Instagram thrives on hashtags, so make use of them. Research and use hashtags that are popular in your industry and relevant to your content. You can look into hashtags that popular or established businesses use in their posts. You can also use a similar hashtag variant with lower usage to increase your online visibility.  
• Run giveaways. Instagram is also a perfect venue for hosting giveaways because of its highly visual nature. Just like Facebook giveaways, these are a fun way to attract potential customers through brand awareness. 
• Create visually appealing content. Instagram is a predominantly visual platform, so focus on creating high-quality images and videos. Remember to add in a compelling story along with the visuals while promoting your products and services. 
• Maintain a consistent aesthetic. Having a cohesive visual style and Instagram feeds makes your profile look more professional and attractive. You can stick to a specific brand color palette or filter to strengthen your brand identity. 
• Utilize Reels. Instagram isn’t only for pictures. It’s also prioritizing short-form video content called Reels. You can use Reels to do product showcases or even trendjack.  

7. Use YouTube to promote your business 

Although the platform doesn’t offer a professional mode, it still helps create a channel to promote your business. Here’s how you can create a channel: 

1. If you have an existing and active Google Account, you can sign up directly using it. 
2. After logging in, go to your YouTube settings and select Create a channel displayed under your profile name.  
3. Fill in important details such as your channel name, handle, and channel picture.  
4. Click Create channel. 

Ways to promote your business on YouTube 

• Create long-form content. If you have the time and resources, you can produce long and informative videos to promote your business and connect with target customers. You can share product demos, tutorials, industry insights, or behind-the-scenes looks. 
• Explore YouTube Shorts. Just like Instagram, YouTube is also recently pushing short-form content. So, if you’re not ready for long-form videos, try creating short, attention-grabbing Shorts. You can also repurpose segments of your long-form content into Shorts snippets then link the long-form content in the Shorts. 
• Use SEO on your titles and descriptions. Do you know that YouTube is regarded as the world’s second-largest search engine? It’s all because of its huge userbase and search function. So, if you use SEO on your website to rank for Google, you should also use keywords to boost your videos’ visibility on YouTube searches.  

8. Promote your business on X (formerly Twitter) 

Like Facebook and Instagram, X offers a professional account businesses use to promote on the platform. Here’s how you can create one: 

1. Sign up on X or log in to your existing profile.  
2. Check your account eligibility requirements: 
   • You should not have any history of repeat violations. 
   • You should not use another person’s or business’ identity 
3. Convert your profile to a Professional Account by clicking X for Professionals on the left-side menu for desktop views. You can swipe right if you’re using your phone. 
4. Upload a profile image and a header image. 
5. Write a 160-character bio that summarizes what your business is about. 
6. Set up a professional profile with your business logo and relevant keywords. 

Ways to promote your business on X 

• Use hashtags strategically. Just like Instagram, X also uses hashtags to categorize content. You can research and use trending relevant hashtags to increase your reach and discoverability. You can also create and start your own business’s hashtag to track conversations and customer feedback. 
• Post consistently. Set and maintain a consistent posting schedule to help you stay top of mind. Remember to share valuable content (e.g., industry news, product launches, and restocks) conversations with your followers. 
• Join relevant conversations. X recently rolled out its community function, which lets users join groups related to their interests or industry. You can interact and participate in conversations to form connections and turn a few users into customers. 
• Share customer feedback. Although X has a character limit per post, it’s still possible to showcase positive reviews and testimonials. You can upload graphics or images with positive reviews and testimonials. 

9.  Grow your audience using TikTok 

TikTok started as a content creator-focused platform, but it later adds on features that can help businesses promote their products. One of these is creating a business account. Here’s how you can sign up: 

1. Download the TikTok app on your phone. 
2. Sign up using your business email. 
3. Once logged in, click on your profile icon and click Menu. 
4. Go to Settings and Privacy then choose Manage Account. 
5. Click the Switch to Business Account option. 
6. Choose a category and click Next. 
7. Complete your profile’s information (e.g., photos, bio, or website URL in bio). 

Here’s an example of a TikTok business account: 

Ways to promote your business on TikTok 

• Create short-form videos. Short videos are TikTok’s bread and butter, so make the most of it. Jump on trends and create entertaining and informative short videos that showcase your products and services. 
• Use trending sounds and hashtags. Using popular audio clips and hashtags increases your visibility and encourages more people to engage with your videos. 
• Participate in viral TikTok challenges. Challenges are fun ways to get noticed and encourage engagement. 
• Sign up for TikTok shop. Aside from creating content on the platform, you can also use its built-in eCommerce platform to promote your business. Signing up is free but keep in mind that there are commission fees on each transaction (8% on total sale price as of July 2024).  

10. Reach new audiences with Pinterest 

Pinterest is a great place for people to find creative ideas and inspiration, which is also beneficial for businesses to showcase their offerings. Start by creating a business account: 

1. Log in or sign up to Pinterest using your business email. 
2. Click on your profile icon on the right side. 
3. Click Convert to business. 
4. Click Upgrade and select the best description of your business. 
5. Add in your business name, country, and website URL. 
6. Add in business goals and brand focus. It will also ask if you’re interested in running ads. 
7. It will also ask you if you want to share ideas (creating a pin) or showcase your brand (building your profile). Click the latter since you’ll focus on showcasing your brand for business purposes. 
8. Complete your profile and click Save. 

Here’s an example of a Pinterest business account: 

Ways to promote your business on Pinterest 

• Showcase your products or services with high-quality images and videos. Pinterest is a full-on image-only platform, so make sure your pins stand out. Share captivating product images that align with your brand style. 
• Create themed boards. Just like Instagram, Pinterest also thrives on creating a visually appealing profile. Aside from the visual impact, organize your content into boards to make it easier for users to navigate. 
• Use Rich Pins. If applicable, enable Rich Pins, which provide additional information directly on the pin, such as product availability, pricing, or article headlines. This feature can enhance the value of your pins and improve user engagement. 

11. Engage with potential customers on online forums  

Platforms like Reddit, LinkedIn, Quora, Medium, and Google Answers provide opportunities to share your expertise, answer questions, and connect with potential customers.  

Unlike social media (which focuses on brand visibility and networking), online forums are useful for deep discussions and direct engagement with customers seeking solutions or information. 

Here are a few ways you can use forums to promote your business online: 

• Join industry or niche-specific groups. LinkedIn Groups and subreddits are great places to connect with industry professionals or your target market.  
• Answer niche-specific questions. Online communities are great platforms to establish your business’s authority. Actively participate in discussions and provide valuable answers without overselling your products and services. 
• Host “Ask Me Anything” (AMAs). You can use Reddit to encourage your audience to ask industry-specific questions directly to you. This way you get to engage with potential customers while also showing your expertise. 

12. Collaborate with micro-influencers 

Beyond traditional social marketing, consider tapping into influencer marketing. You can ask industry-related micro-influencers to promote your business in exchange for free products or services instead of monetary payment.  

Micro-influencers often have highly engaged, niche audiences, which makes their endorsements more impactful and relatable for potential customers. 

Here are a few ways you can collab with micro-influencers to promote your business for free: 

• Create a unique hashtag. You can ask micro-influencers to use a unique branded hashtag to help you track campaign performance. 
• Offer sponsored content. You can request micro-influencers to post sponsored posts (e.g., honest reviews) in exchange for free products. 
• Create content with storytelling. Connect with influencers who have compelling personal stories that align with your brand and ask them to use storytelling in crafting content.  

13. Use email marketing 

Building an email list is one of the most valuable assets for any business. Email marketing allows you to nurture relationships with potential customers and promote your products or services directly to their inboxes. Here’s how you can leverage it: 

• Use free email marketing tools. There are various platforms like Mailchimp that offer free plans for small businesses. Although free plans have much smaller daily email limit, it’s still a great starting point for new and small businesses that are just starting to build a solid customer base. 
• Offer incentives. Offer downloadable resources, exclusive discounts, early product access, and other valuable perks to encourage website visitors to subscribe to your email list. 
• Automate your emails. Set up automated emails or newsletters to welcome new subscribers, promote your latest products, and provide valuable content. Automation saves you time and it ensures that your audience receives your emails on a specific target schedule. 

14. Focus on building partnerships and word-of-mouth marketing 

One of the most powerful marketing engines is often your existing customer base. Once you’ve gained their trust, they can turn into your most effective brand advocates. Here’s how you can do it: 

• tart a referral program. Offering rewards such as discounts, free products, or special perks can motivate customers to refer friends and family to your business. 
• Ask for reviews and testimonials. Not all customers automatically leave reviews, but you can actively encourage them to share their positive experiences with your business. You ask them to leave page ratings or reviews directly on your social media account or you can create a graphic with their statements. 

Attract customers without spending a dime 

Advertising your business effectively doesn’t require a large budget. You can use free resources and strategies to attract new customers and drive sales without spending a penny. 

Remember that consistency is key, and building a strong online presence requires a lot of time and effort. While these free methods are effective, consider investing in paid advertising as your business grows to amplify your reach further and accelerate your results. You can start with a small budget or explore affordable options. 

If you’re looking for cost-effective website solutions, check out Domain.com. We offer affordable hosting plans starting at $3.75 per month.  

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