Free Advertising | Free Business Advertising

Free advertising / free business advertising

Advertise today, help your business grow and win customers in your local area. Use the free tactics below to reach new customers and promote your business online in the UK.

What free advertising can I get?

In this article we’re going to cover various tips and options to get free advertising online. Alongside our free advertising tips we’re also offering:

• Free setup on any of our advertising/SEO services (worth £300) 
• Every month, one of our paying customers are selected at random to have a free ad posted about their business on our social media channels.

What’s included with free advertising?

Our free advertising tips focus on practical steps you can do today. Add a prominent website link wherever you appear online, from your Google Business Profile to your social channels. Use a clear business description and consistent brand assets such as your logo to build recognition and trust.

Grow your social following with links to your preferred social networks such as Facebook and Instagram. Tell customers about your business with plain English copy that highlights services, locations and how to contact you.

How will free advertising benefit my business?

1. Drive visitors to your website
2. Grow your social following
3. Tell customers about your business
4. Increase brand awareness

What will my free advertising look like?

Follow the steps in this guide to get started today. Focus on clear information, strong calls to action and consistent branding wherever your business appears online.

Business advertising

Advertise locally, generate leads and start winning new customers with business advertising.

Business advertising – £399 per month – free setup worth £300

Why business advertising?

Win more customers – Whether you want more website visitors, to add to your social following or grow online sales, we are here to help.

Advertise locally – Target counties, regions and cities, be seen by local customers and keep them coming back time and time again.

Be visible online – Stand out from your competition and be seen when people search for the things you offer.

Spread the cost – Make the most of your advertising budget, stay in control of your finances and spread the cost with our pay monthly plan.

We are helping you succeed – Be confident knowing our team are on hand for technical guidance, advice and support.

What is included in my business advertising?

Our business advertising is a brilliant way to be found online and help you win new customers, either through our SEO service to bring in more organic visitors or through paid advertising on platforms such as Google Ads or Facebook and Instagram Ads.

How will business advertising benefit my business?

1. Boost your search rankings
2. Generate more leads
3. Win new customers

Unlimited support | Unlimited account updates | Free setup worth £300

What will my business advertising look like?

Below is an example of our business advertising.

Why use free advertising and how will it help my business?

There are many ways people can find a local business. Search engines, online platforms, printed directories, display advertising, social media and recommendations are all effective ways to promote your business.

Whilst word of mouth, print advertising and traditional display advertising remain popular, many business owners are switching to digital marketing methods due to changes in consumer habits.

Search engines such as Google, Bing and Yahoo receive millions of requests from customers looking for information, products and services. More recently, social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter are also used by marketers to reach specific audiences.

Why are people using search engines and online platforms?

Search engines and online platforms make it quick and easy to find information, read customer reviews and discover local businesses. A strong presence across your website, Google Business Profile and social channels will increase visits to your website, grow your social following and make it easier for local customers to find you online.

Advantages of digital marketing vs traditional marketing

Digital marketing helps the little guy take on the big guy. Previously, small businesses would have struggled to compete against the financial might and size of larger corporations. Nowadays, with a good online presence and well thought out website, small businesses can compete on a level playing field.

In comparison to expensive advertising methods such as the Yellow Pages, magazine ads and leaflet drops, digital marketing is relatively low cost. This helps you make the most from your marketing budget.

Analytical tools provide real time responses which makes it easy to collect data and measure your campaign’s success. You can also tweak your offer in real time to improve results.

I don’t have a website, why should my business advertise online?

If your small business is not online you could be missing out on customers on your doorstep. Use our free steps to get online today, starting with Google Business Profile and a simple website. If you want help and to push your website with SEO or paid-advertising on Google or Facebook, start with our free setup worth £300.

Start with free setup

Low cost advertising and cheap advertising tips

Create a Facebook page

Creating a Facebook page is simple. Click the “Create a Page” button, fill out the forms and you are good to go. You can add your contact information, business hours, photos and your logo. Once your page is up and running you can post updates, invite people to like your page and develop an online following. Facebook pages are free of charge however you can purchase upgrades and boost posts for additional coverage and features.

Blogging

A blog is a great way to tell your story, express yourself and keep customers updated. It is also another way to get free publicity for your small business. Many websites such as Godaddy, 1&1 and Wix.com come with a blog as part of their website hosting package. If you have not got a website yet you can create a free blog with WordPress to get started.

Classified ads and advertising in magazines and newspapers

Whilst it is difficult to track the effectiveness of classified advertising in local magazines and newspapers they remain a popular form of low budget advertising. Distribution is often across your local area so your ad will usually target people in close proximity to your business or shop.

Classified ads encourage readers to respond by telephone so can be effective at finding customers who would not traditionally use the internet to find local tradesmen or businesses.

Finally, classified advertising is relatively low cost depending on the publication, distribution, geographical area and size of the ad space, so you can typically expect to spend between £5 – £100 per line.

Display advertising

Display advertising or media advertising is more expensive than classified ads. Pricing depends on the publication, readership, geographical area and size of the ad.

Ad spaces are split into ¼ page, ½ page and full page segments and you will pay considerably more for a back page advertisement. Expect to spend approximately £250 – £300 for ¼ page ads, £500 – £700 for ½ page ads and £1,000 upwards for a full page advert. Before you buy always consider the circulation of the publication, ask for a discount and remember you will pay less for each individual ad if you run your ad multiple times.

Business cards and branded stationery

It is standard practice to exchange business cards at meetings, conferences and exhibitions. That way people can remember your name and quickly find your contact details when they need them. Additionally, if you give away branded stationery such as pens, coffee mugs and carrier bags the recipient will advertise your business for you.

Business cards are reasonably low cost at approximately £14.00 for 50 cards, £27.00 for 100 cards, £48.00 for 200 cards and £82.00 for 400 cards. Branded stationery varies depending on the item required.

Guest blogging

Guest blogging is writing a post on someone else’s blog. This gives your business additional exposure to other bloggers and readerships. If they like what you have said they may link to the article, share the post via social media or tell someone else about it. You may even get another guest blog opportunity out of it. You should be able to write a reasonable blog post within a couple of hours, so it is not too time consuming and contributes to growing your online presence. Again, it is free of charge.

Networking and events

There could be a small entry fee depending on the type of event however the majority of seminars, workshops and exhibitions are free of charge. Networking with other business owners is a great way to develop business relationships, make new contacts and discover opportunities, so make sure you go with a pocket full of business cards.

Free advertising and small business marketing essentials

Here are the individual essentials of effective small business marketing and a brief description of how each will benefit your business.

• Logo and brand – Increases exposure and improves recognition.
• Contact information – Allows customers to contact you directly by telephone, email or website.
• Location details – Helps customers see where you are based and quickly find your business.
• Social media – Shows your activity and helps you grow an online following.
• Customer testimonials – Builds trust with new customers and shows the quality of service you provide.
• Links – More visitors to your company website from profiles and partner sites.
• Text links – Help increase your position on search engines such as Google, Bing and Yahoo.
• Image links – Improve the chance of customers clicking through which increases visitors to your website.
• Business description – Lets you tell your story and describe the products and services you offer.
• Bullet points – Clearly explain the things you offer.
• Use clear categories and services on your site – Helps you be seen by people searching for the things you offer.
• Locations – Targets customers in counties, regions or cities which helps you win new customers in your area.