13 free advertising ideas to boost your small business

Published Monday 13 October 2025

Table of contents

• Why advertising is important for small businesses
• 13 free advertising ideas for small businesses
• Maintain a healthy cash-flow for more marketing budget
• FAQs on free business advertising

Key takeaways

• Optimise your Google My Business profile with complete contact details, high-quality photos, and accurate opening hours to increase visibility in local search results and attract more customers to your business.

• Focus your social media efforts on 1-2 platforms where your target customers spend time rather than spreading yourself thin across all platforms, and consistently share behind-the-scenes content, customer stories, and helpful industry tips.

• Build strategic partnerships with complementary local businesses to create joint promotions that help you reach new audiences without spending money on advertising.

• Claim and actively manage your business listings on review sites like Google Reviews, Yelp, and Trustpilot, then encourage satisfied customers to leave positive reviews through direct requests and follow-up emails.

Why advertising is important for small businesses

Advertising helps small businesses attract new customers, build brand recognition, and compete in crowded markets. Even without a large budget, effective marketing can raise awareness, drive foot traffic or website visits, and generate long-term customer loyalty.

For many small businesses, free advertising isn’t just a way to save money — it’s a strategy to grow sustainably while managing cash flow.

13 free advertising ideas for small businesses

If you don’t have a big marketing budget, you can still promote your business effectively. From optimising your online presence to building community connections, there are plenty of free advertising strategies that work.

Explore these ideas and choose the ones that best fit your business goals and audience.

1. Optimise your Google My Business account

Google My Business is a free digital listing that displays your business information in Google search results and Maps. It’s often the first thing potential customers see when searching for your business online.

An optimised Google My Business profile can boost your website and foot traffic. Here’s how you can get the most from it:

Essential profile elements:

• Complete contact details including phone, address, and website
• High-quality photos of your storefront, products, or services
• Accurate opening hours and holiday schedules
• Business description with relevant keywords

Active engagement tactics:

• Respond to customer questions quickly and helpfully
• Encourage positive reviews from satisfied customers
• Share regular updates about offers, events, or news

Consumers are 75% more likely to buy from businesses with positive reviews, so manage your reviews carefully.

2. Use SEO on your website

Search engine optimisation (SEO) helps your website show up in search results, so customers can find you when they look for your products or services online.

Free SEO strategies that work:

Content creation:

• Publish regular blog posts about topics your customers care about
• Include relevant keywords naturally throughout your content
• Answer common customer questions in your articles

Technical optimisation:

• Use descriptive page titles and headings
• Optimise images with descriptive file names
• Ensure fast loading speeds on mobile devices

Free SEO tools to get started

• Google Search Console for performance tracking
• Google Keyword Planner for keyword research
• Ubersuggest for competitor analysis

You can create a free website using Google Sites or WordPress.com. Both platforms have templates for small businesses and you don’t need any technical skills.

3. Create valuable content that attracts customers

Create useful content to attract potential customers. Write blog posts, guides or articles that answer common questions in your industry. This helps you show your expertise and build trust with your audience.

When you share your knowledge, you attract people who are genuinely interested in what you do. This can lead to more website traffic and a loyal following. Over time, you can turn readers into customers without a hard sell.

4. Promote your business on social media for free

Social media advertising is free and can help you reach millions of potential customers. With 84% of UK adults using social media, these platforms give you direct access to your audience.

Strategic approach to free social media marketing:

Platform selection:

• Choose 1-2 platforms where your customers spend time
• Focus your efforts rather than spreading thin across all platforms
• Research competitor activity to identify opportunities

Content that drives engagement:

• Behind-the-scenes glimpses of your business operations
• Customer success stories and testimonials
• Helpful tips and advice related to your industry
• Local community involvement and partnerships

Engagement tactics:

• Respond to comments within 24 hours
• Share user-generated content with permission
• Join relevant conversations using industry hashtags
• Post consistently using free scheduling tools

Focus your efforts on one platform and do it well, rather than spreading yourself too thin.

5. Use LinkedIn to expand your professional network

LinkedIn isn’t just for job hunting. It’s a great way to build your business’s credibility. Join groups in your industry, share your expertise and connect with other business owners.

Post insightful updates and join discussions to show your expertise. This helps you build a strong professional network, which can lead to partnerships, referrals and new customers.

6. Partner with other local businesses or sole traders for joint promotions

Form local partnerships to reach new audiences. Find businesses or sole traders with products or services that complement yours. Work together to offer joint promotions.

For example, if you run a hairdressing salon, you could partner with a local makeup artist to provide package treatments. If you sell homeware, you could provide crockery for a local coffee shop or cafe to use and sell to customers.

7. Host or participate in local events

Get out and about to promote your business. Find local events where you can book a booth or stall, or just go along and meet potential customers. Keep some flyers or business cards handy.

If there aren’t any events in your area, create your own. Use your space to host events that connect to your business. For example, start a book club in your coffee shop or run dressmaking workshops in your haberdashery.

For online businesses, hosting virtual events, classes, and webinars can also boost your profile – particularly if you post the videos to your social media.

8. Connect with a local journalist or content creator

Journalists and content creators already have a strong audience. By connecting with them, you can reach more people and grow your business.

Pick up your local paper and find journalists who are creating content about your industry, or carry out an internet search to find reporters and content creators related to your business. Once you’ve found their email addresses or social media details, reach out and introduce your business.

For journalists, suggest a compelling angle for an article and show them why your business is worth covering. For example, you might run a zero-waste cafe that shows the value of sustainability, or you might help ex-convicts learn repair skills at your hardware shop.

For content creators, send them samples or offer a free trial of your product in exchange for a review or social media post. Engage with their content to help boost their profile too.

9. Leverage your shop window

In your hunt for low-cost marketing ideas, don’t neglect your shop window – whether it’s bricks and mortar or digital.

If you run a physical store, make your window display eye-catching. Invite local art students to design or help decorate. Use the space to show your offers and specials, and give customers a reason to come in.

For online businesses, your shop window is your website home page or Instagram profile. Use high-quality photos, banners and visual elements to capture attention. People like to see the faces behind the business, so share a snapshot of your team too.

10. Join awards in your town for small businesses

Many towns and cities run small business awards that you can enter. If you don’t have a local award, organisations like the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) run national small business awards with a variety of categories.

You might need to pay a small entry fee, but when nominees and winners are announced, you get free business advertising.

11. Use employees and frequent customers as brand ambassadors

Offer a brand ambassador opportunity to employees and frequent customers – a free product or service in exchange for a customer referral or social media post about your business.

If your employees and returning customers love your products or services, others in their network probably will too. This is a low-cost marketing idea, but make sure your cash flow is stable so you can profit from these offers.

12. Claim your listings on review sites

Claim and optimise your business profiles on review sites where customers leave feedback. This free strategy builds trust and helps people choose your business.

Key review platforms to claim

• for local services and restaurants
• for online businesses and services
• for hospitality and tourism
• Google Reviews through your Google My Business profile

Review management strategy

• Claim your listings on all relevant platforms
• Complete your profile with photos, contact details, and descriptions
• Monitor notifications for new reviews

Encouraging positive reviews

• Ask satisfied customers directly after successful transactions
• Include review requests in follow-up emails
• Add QR codes linking to review platforms on receipts or packaging
• Provide printed cards with simple review instructions

Responding professionally

• Thank customers for positive reviews
• Address concerns in negative reviews constructively
• Respond within 48 hours to show you care about customer feedback

Positive reviews act as social proof, and 91% of consumers read reviews before they decide to buy.

13. Create a contact list and build a community

Email marketing means sending targeted messages to customers who want to hear from you. It delivers an average £42 return for every £1 spent, making it one of the most cost-effective marketing methods.

Building your email list

In-person collection

• Ask customers directly during checkout or service completion
• Offer immediate value like a discount code for signing up
• Use tablet or smartphone for easy email capture

Online collection methods

• Website pop-ups offering valuable content or discounts
• Newsletter signup forms on your website footer and contact page
• Social media campaigns promoting exclusive subscriber benefits

Effective email content

• Weekly or monthly newsletters with business updates and tips
• Exclusive promotions for subscribers only
• Product launches and behind-the-scenes content
• Customer success stories and testimonials

Free email marketing tools

• Mailchimp (free for up to 2,000 contacts)
• ConvertKit (free starter plan available)
• Sendinblue (free for up to 300 emails per day)

Start with one email per month and increase frequency as your engagement grows.

Maintain a healthy cash-flow for more marketing budget

Free advertising strategies give you immediate marketing opportunities as you build your business. As your revenue grows, these methods help you build stable cash flow so you can invest in paid advertising.

Measuring your free advertising success

• Track website traffic from different sources
• Monitor social media engagement and follower growth
• Count new customer inquiries from each method
• Calculate customer lifetime value from free channels

The most successful businesses use free advertising to generate initial revenue, then reinvest profits into paid strategies like Google Ads or Facebook advertising. This way, you can grow sustainably without risking your cash flow.

When you manage your cash flow well, you can move from free to paid advertising at the right time. If you can predict your monthly revenue and expenses, you’ll know exactly how much to invest in marketing each month.

Try Xero for free to track your marketing return on investment and manage the cash flow that funds your business growth. With clear financial insights, you can decide when and how much to invest in advertising.

FAQs on free business advertising

Here are answers to some common questions about advertising your business for free.

How long does free advertising take to show results?

The time it takes to see results from free advertising can vary. Methods like SEO and content creation are long-term strategies that can take a few months to build momentum. Social media or local events might give you a quicker, more immediate boost. Consistency is key to seeing lasting results.

Can I advertise my business for free on Google?

Yes, you can. The best way to do this is by creating and optimising a Google Business Profile. This allows your business to appear in local search results and on Google Maps for free. While Google Ads are paid, a strong Business Profile is a powerful free tool.

What’s the most effective free advertising method for new businesses?

For a new business, the most effective method often depends on your industry. A combination of a strong Google Business Profile for local visibility and active social media accounts to engage with customers is a great starting point. These methods help you build an online presence quickly and connect directly with your target audience.

How do I track the success of my free advertising efforts?

You can track success in several ways. For your website, use tools like Google Analytics to monitor traffic. On social media, look at engagement metrics like likes, shares, and comments. For local efforts, you can simply ask new customers how they heard about you. Keeping an eye on these indicators will help you see what’s working.