Wringing your hands and waiting for customers is pointless, but your budget may not allow you to pay much, or anything, for advertising.
Here is some good news:
You can still advertise your business even if you don’t have advertising space in your spending budget. I am about to show you 50 ways to advertise your business for free on the Internet. These platforms are a vital resource for small business owners or people just starting their businesses, as money can be tight when they are just starting and small businesses have a limited budget to spend on marketing.
Keep in mind that some of the listings we suggest are more effective for some types of businesses than others, but with 50 ways to choose from, you’re sure to find several that will help give your business a healthy ad boost. To help you grow your business in mind, let’s get started.
50 Free Ways to Advertise Your Business… FREE on the Internet (Did I Say It Was Free?)
1. Google My Business
It would be a bit ridiculous not to list Google My Business as the first place you should list your business for free. After all, you just spent a ton of time, effort, and money to make sure your website is optimized for Google search engines. With Google Business, you have the potential to be found within the nearly 8 billion searches that occur every day. With Google My Business, your physical location and phone number can be linked to smartphone app users so they can easily navigate to your door. Link your other social media channels as well.
2.MapQuest/Yext
You may remember MapQuest. Well, MapQuest has partnered with Yext to make it easy to find your business location, business address, and phone number. It’s also worth noting that the MapQuest mobile app still comes up with Google Maps, so it’s still a great way to help people find you.
3. Citysearch
Restaurants, bars, hotels, spas, and various other types of businesses can benefit from Citysearch. Citysearch partners with platforms like Urbanspoon, Expedia, and MerchantCircle. Listings are accessed through the Citysearch mobile app. User-preferred companies are listed in “best of” lists that are divided into 20 categories.
4. Blanket
Dedicated to the interests of small businesses, you could hardly find a better directory than Manta to get your name out there. This site receives millions of unique visitors every month and this listing platform has one of the most comprehensive databases with geographic-specific listings of individual businesses and industry segments.
5.YellowBot
You get a basic listing similar to the archaic yellow pages with YellowBot, but it also includes customer reviews and a few extra options for those upgrading to a premium package. YellowBot has a quick registration and login connected to Google, Facebook, Windows Live, Twitter, and Yahoo, making it easy and convenient
6. Yellowbook
With Yellowbook, you can easily search for business listings that include your business information, a website link, product descriptions, map features, as well as display options, and video ads. In addition to being included in your business listing, you are linked to partner sites from Google, Bing, and Yahoo, and there is also an affiliate program to take advantage of.
7. Superpages
One of the easiest business listings for users to navigate, Superpages also makes it easy to list and manage your business listing. Along with business listings, this service also includes weather and lottery listings. It also includes a quick login option through Facebook.
8. Yellow Pages
The same old yellow pages your parents and grandparents flipped through to find what they needed are still available and have a nicely organized online version. In addition to your typical free listing, there are also a wide variety of premium options available when you’re ready to expand. This listing attracts over 70 million visitors annually on its associated listings.
9. White Pages
This Yellow Pages plugin lists over 30 million companies nationwide and offers additional options for premium services whenever you’re ready to upgrade. Those services include a text messaging service for customers and a larger ad list with expanded information.
10.MerchantCircle
MerchantCircle is another free network geared toward small businesses looking to connect with local customers and other local small businesses. Grow your listings, post business blogs, and use a host of free marketing tools designed to help you build your business.
11. Yelp
The most popular online source for honest consumer reviews is Yelp. Being listed on Yelp can make or break you, but those who provide great service and solid good reviews will see tremendous growth using this list. Yelp’s user demographics make it too valuable to pass up.
12. Bing Places to do business
After Google, this free business advertising platform from Microsoft allows you to add multiple business locations, videos, photos, and much more. It has a quick and easy signup process and you can even optimize your listings for various display platforms through Bing Places for Business.
13. Yahoo Local
Still hanging there at the top of the business listings is Yahoo Local. Third behind Google and Bing, you can still get a free basic listing and are allowed some very affordable premium listing options when you’re ready to expand your reach or have the budget to handle it. Although not a search engine giant like it used to be, Yahoo Local is still a sold listings directory.
14. Enroll in Business
This directory gives you a free business listing profile to get you started and then helps your business get found by the most popular search engines. There are also many free and premium services to help expand your presence and better market your products and services once your budget can handle additional advertising spending.
15 Kudzu
Kudzu is a free database that claims to help over 20 million homeowners with renewal options each year. Profiles can include marketing descriptions, photos or videos of work in progress or completed, coupons, professional affiliations, and accreditations, as well as user-generated reviews and ratings to help your business get an edge.
16 Hotfrog
Hotfrog is an online directory designed to help boost your business in Google search results. In addition to having a pretty significant list of over 1.6 million active users, there are plenty of options like coupons and promotions to help drive customers to your unique listing as well.
17. Angie’s List
Angie’s List is known to almost everyone. It is one of the most respected review sites with completely unbiased reviews on the web. It has over 3 million members who research, hire, rate and review local service providers. This is an important list that you cannot afford to overlook if you are serious about growing your business.
18. Business magazines
Available in most major US cities, this listing generates 8 million monthly searches. There are four levels of listings starting with a free profile to get you started and many affordable options and resources to enable your business to grow and expand.
19.DexKnows
DexKnows is another online listing that monitors your ratings and reviews, as well as provides data on how customers interact with your profile. This site also helps provide you with additional information on potential online and offline advertising opportunities, as well as gives you a boost when it comes to getting your brand out there. DexKnows is a one-touch search mobile app available for Apple and Android peripherals. Your customers can bookmark, write reviews and find your location based on GPS coordinates no matter where you are.
20. Foursquare
Social media and business directories collide on Foursquare. Allow users to check in using your map and provide feedback and reviews about your business, whether on the mobile app or any desktop, laptop, or tablet. Foursquare has 60 million registered users and 50 million monthly active users.
21.Local.com
Searchers receive detailed information on local events, deals, and businesses relevant to each city searched on Local.com. This database includes over 16 million business listings by zip code throughout the United States to a given city. Premium options for later expansion are also available to give your business a further boost.
22. Directory Critic
Directory Critic provides SEO-friendly web content and article directories to help as a link-building resource to promote your products and/or services. A general directory, as well as article and niche directory listings, are included in your free service designed to help you develop a stronger search engine presence on the web.
23. Best of the Web
Millions of websites are included in a collection of web directories at Best of the Web (BOTW). BOTW focuses on making relevant and unique listings so that they attract the most demanding users. More than twenty-five million people use local search opportunities with BOTW annually.
24 Instagram
We dove into the realm of social media with the free photo and video-sharing app, Instagram. This app is available on Apple iOS, Android, and Windows Phone, making it extremely versatile to use. It attracts over a billion active users each month and is a great place to give people an introduction to what you do and what you have to offer. It doesn’t work for every business, but it’s worth having a presence as this will be one of the top social media channels for years to come.
25. Answering Quora Questions
Being an expert/opinion leader on Quora can draw attention to you and your business as well. Quora is a forum-style platform with continuously generated user questions that are begging to be answered by experts like you. Take advantage of this very wide and versatile audience to build your name and brand recognition. Becoming a thought leader in your field is a sure way to attract new customers and clients.
Quora also allows you to create quality content related to your niche, outside of your website. This is great because it allows a wider audience to read what you have to say.
26. Targeted Email
Targeted emails are not only free, they statistically provide the highest rate of return on the time and effort spent creating and distributing them. You must have an email list for this to be an effective marketing technique, but there is a myriad of ways, 80 of them, to build your email list and turn it into your best free publicity.
27. Facebook Cover Photo and Background
Everyone sees your Facebook cover photo and background photos, so you can also use them to advertise your business. Adding promotional offers, new items, or new services to these image spaces will allow you to showcase your products and services to a wide variety of people.
28. Post content on LinkedIn
The changes to LinkedIn over the past few years allow you to essentially host a blog on LinkedIn. This helps optimize your blog on your B2B-focused LinkedIn presence. You can establish yourself as an expert and also promote what you do and what you have to offer through these posts.
29. Participate in LinkedIn groups
In addition to regularly posting content on LinkedIn, you can join LinkedIn groups to help network and market your business. Prove yourself as an expert by participating in LinkedIn group discussions respectfully and knowledgeably, and people will start seeking out your services.
30. Guest blogger
Guest blogging on a blog that is closely related to what you offer in goods and/or services in your business can be a great way to reach potential buyers who are already interested in what you have to offer. You may have to work out some kind of trade-off between you and the blog owner, but a mutually beneficial deal is almost always a good deal.
31. Business Podcasts
You can accomplish this by either hosting your podcast for your business or offering to do an interview on well-known business podcasts that are related to what you do and what you offer. Depending on your level of expertise in this area, you can grow an audience that can turn into leads quickly.
32. Use YouTube
Although YouTube is just over 13 years old, it has already had a phenomenal impact in helping advertise and market businesses around the world. It is estimated that 1.3 billion people use YouTube daily and close to 5 billion videos are watched every day on this platform. You can hardly afford to ignore this free business-building tool.
33. Show your expertise in forums
As we mentioned earlier with Quora and LinkedIn groups, showcasing your expertise in various forums can help you build a following of potential customers. To achieve this, you will need to select the right forums, and the right kind of questions, avoid spam and engage in any kind of arguments, and create an attractive profile that will attract potential customers to your website.
34. Participate in Facebook groups
Facebook groups, like LinkedIn groups, allow you to network with people who could benefit from your special skills, experience, and services provided. Avoid being advantageous in these groups and let your knowledge be what entices group members to visit you. Be respectful and present yourself as an exemplary member of the group to achieve the greatest success.
35. Pinterest
They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so this could be a great way to get those words across to your potential customers. Pinterest is kind of like an online corkboard. Your main goal is to collect visual pieces of multimedia; usually photos and images. You can create various boards to pin your photos and promote your business and area of expertise on a very large and widely used social media platform.
36. StumbleUpon (now Mix.com)
A lesser-known social bookmarking site that is turning a profit is StumbleUpon. Essentially, this site allows users to “like” certain websites, add them to their profile, and pass them on to their friends and acquaintances. For a lesser-known social networking site, StumbleUpon still has a pretty healthy 30 million regular users ready to StumbleUpon your business and promote it to others.
37. Reddit
Reddit is a social news aggregation site that is a bit different from typical social networking sites. Essentially, the links, posts, or images are submitted by users and then rated by other users on the site. The content that gets the most upvotes moves to the top of Reddit’s list in the various categories, giving them a higher level of exposure. This has become number 3 in the most visited websites in the world with more than 500 million monthly visitors.
38. Starter Story
Starter Story is a platform that introduces entrepreneurs and shares the stories behind their businesses. In each interview, the founders talk about how they started, how they grew, and how they run their businesses today. The stories are inspiring and also provide specific tips and ideas for starting a business. Starter Story has over 100k monthly readers, and sharing your story is a great way to spread the word about your business.
39. Twitter
These extremely popular short-form social networks have tons of appeal and a huge number of users to access. Twitter has exploded in recent years and it is becoming impossible to ignore this platform when it comes to marketing your business. Statistics show that there are almost 350 million monthly active users on Twitter to target your brand.
40. SlideShare
If you’re a master at creating PowerPoints or your business is well suited to that type of presentation, then Slideshare is a free social website to consider when it comes to marketing. SlideShare presentations are public, searchable, and shareable by anyone. SlideShare makes your presentations compatible with all viewing formats. This site has about 60 million monthly users quite respectable.
41. Better Business Bureau
Most people think of the Better Business Bureau (BBB) as a place where complaints about poor service, scams, or dishonest business practices are recorded, but there is a silver lining to this organization. The BBB also helps promote accredited businesses and even offers a searchable directory by business type and location for your registered and accredited businesses.
42. Chamber of Commerce
If you are a member of your local Chamber of Commerce, you will be able to take advantage of another directory listing sponsored by them. The Chamber of Commerce lists all of its businesses by industry and location on its website and is a powerful resource to have at your fingertips.
43. Cylex
Cylex is an international business directory that manages 35 directories on 5 continents, allowing you to market anywhere. Statistics show that Cylex directories are viewed by more than 25 million users every month.
44. Find It Now Directory
The Find It Now Directory also provides listings according to industry and business categories. This site covers a wide spectrum of businesses and a large number of regions as well.
45. Find Us Here
Find Us Here is a global directory of businesses and community organizations. It includes over 13 million listings in the US alone and over 18 million global listings, making it a pretty solid directory to help market your business.
46 Hubbiz
Another free directory that lists businesses by category, state, and city is Hubbiz. In addition to including a large number of listings, Hubbiz promotes the most popular businesses to a higher level of visibility to help those who are doing well to grow even more.
47. Jasmine Directory
Jasmine Directory, you don’t choose them, they choose you. This is a selective directory that can take up to 24 hours to decide whether to list your business. Although this may seem daunting at first, you should keep in mind that being selected also helps bring your brand to a higher level of legitimacy.
48. Thumbtack
Local professionals of all kinds can promote their brands in the Thumbtack directory. The initial list of these services is free, but some additional features and services will cost a little more to implement.
49. EZ Local
EZ Local offers business listings for its registered users, but it also helps boost businesses in search engines. This service is focused on helping local users find exactly what they need locally first.
50. HARO
HARO is the acronym for Help A Reporter Out. By signing up as a source for reporters to become an expert resource, you can draw attention to yourself and your company. You will receive source requests to which you may respond along with biographical information by using this site.
conclusion
If you are looking to grow your physical or online business, increase your presence, or maybe just make some money online, you will need to use some form of advertising to achieve your goal. Even if you don’t have a large advertising budget, or cash available for advertising, you can still make your web presence felt by making use of free ads and listings.
While you may not be able to benefit from all of the 50 Ways to Advertise Your Business for Free Online, you should be able to use a lot of the suggestions we’ve included in our list. So, dive in and start building your business presence.
