- Paid Search Marketing Strategy
- Organic Search Marketing Strategy
- Advertising marketplaces
- Local Listings in newspapers & magazines
- Website blogs targeting local destinations and keywords
- Referral Promotion (Paid & Organic)
- Flyers and Brochures hand delivered in the neighborhood
- Email Marketing using targeted database of high value customers
Best Small Business Advertising Platforms in 2024
Best Websites for Small Businesses to Advertise Online for FREE in 2024
One problem many new businesses, small businesses and startups face is how to acquire new customers online, on a small, minimal or non-existent budget.
We have compiled a list of the best websites small businesses can advertise online for free, or at a low cost.
These advertising platforms allow businesses to connect with new customers, to a large audience, either through classified ads targeting local areas. Or remote customers searching for keywords.
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What are the Top 5 Platforms for online advertising in 2024?
What are the 5 best rated Advertising Apps in 2024?
Google My Business
- Type: Online Advertising
Google My Business allows businesses to create a free listing on Googles search engine so that customers may find you via Google Search or Google Maps. It is free to set up and the only requirement is that you will need to have a Google account set up to access this service.
It allows business owners to update details and photos of your business, including your location, time, services or products. Information from your Google Business Profile Google is making is essential for any business trying to maximize visibility in their local market.
Yelp
- Type: Online Advertising
Yelp is another useful website for local businesses, with 142 million users every month. The platform lets users find and review businesses in their area. It’s ideal for businesses in the travel and tourism industry.
Yelp.com, is a crowd-sourced local business review and advertising site. The platform has pages devoted to individual locations, such as restaurants or hospitality, where Yelp users can submit a review of their products or services using a one to five star rating scale.
A Yelp Business Page is free to set up and is an effective way to raise awareness about your business.
gigexchange
- Type: Online Advertising Marketplace: Creative, Media, Technology, Marketing, Software, Security
- Pros: Secure pay, Push notifications, Live private chat, Free membership, Low commission, Identity verified freelancers only
- Cons: Still in growth phase
gigexchange is a Global Future of Work marketplace for freelancers to connect with businesses for work. Gigexchange allows freelancers to complete freelance gigs (specific work tasks and outcomes - with payment after the work is completed), freelance jobs (time based work - typically short term contracts which are arranged off platform). Freelancers may also volunteer their valuable services free of charge via the Volunteer service.
Registration is quick and simple, completing a skills and experience fields for its AI/ML function. Registering for Freelance Gigs via the Gig Worker section requires Identity verification prior. This is quick and simple, providing a few ID documents to become identity validated, building trust in the marketplace.
The commission rates for freelance gigs is the lowest of all freelance apps, at just 5%. For freelance jobs there is no commission for finding work.
There are no subscription fees or limits on the number of applications for jobs or gigs.
Gigexchange operates across 39 countries, allowing freelancers to connect with local businesses and remote, or work from home freelance work.
The platform works as a progressive web app (PWA) which means both buyers and sellers can use the standard website or mobile app to complete work services.
The platform supports VISA & Mastercard debit & credit cards. Payment withdrawal for freelancers is via Stripe and typically takes 5-14 days from gig completion.
Bing Places
- Type: Online Advertising
Bing Places is the main competitor to google my business. IBing Places for Business is a Bing portal for local business owners to list their businesses on the bing search engine, rather than google. If your company does not rank highly on Google, you should also try Bing, as consumers might use this service instead to find local businesses.
Use Bing places to advertise your local business on Bing Search and catch traffic that isn’t using Google. Manage your online presence and provide accurate information about your business
Yellowpages
- Type: Online Advertising
Yellow pages is an online app for small businesses to list their contact details, organized by category rather than alphabetically by business name. It was originally printed on yellow paper, as opposed to white pages for non-commercial listings, but with the advent of the internet has largely migrated online.
Yellow Pages is a website platform providing small business listings to local consumers. The website allows you to create a profile for your company with all the potential information customers need, such as contact details.
You can also upload photos and videos with this service, which helps companies build their brand image even further.
There are additional paid services for enhanced advertising.
Where can I advertise my business for free to gain new customers 2024?
Find new clients and customers in all the below countries
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best strategy to advertise for a small business?
What other apps are like Yelp?
Online marketplaces that offer free advertising like Yelp include Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Gumtree & gigexchange
What websites are similar to Yellowpages?
The best advertising platforms for classified advertising like Yellowpages are Craigslist & Gumtree
The Eight Best Places to Advertise Online for FREE in 2022
- Google Search Advertising. Adwords
- Facebook Adverts
- Amazon.com
- YouTube Video Ads
- Instagram Ads
- gigexchange.com
What is the cheapest way to advertise your business?
Below are a combination of online and offline techniques to raise awareness of your business
- Host offline and online classes and events
- Run informative and value add webinars
- Attend industry/networking events to network with potential customers and partners
- Host a social media contest or giveaway
- Do an in-store business card event
- Set up a customer referral program
- Become active in local events and contests
- Create some awesome business cards
- Build a company website and optimise for keyword searches
- Online Classified Ads on free advertising marketplaces
- Use search engine optimisation (SEO)
- Content marketing (SEO + images + video)
- Use social networks for organic growth
- Share video content online to visually sell
- Share photos online
- Use pay-per-click advertising
- Publish content on LinkedIn
How do I advertise my new business?
- Write a blog. Blogging is a free and effective marketing tool to drive traffic to your site
- Master social media marketing. Find out what engages your audience
- Use locally targeted ads to find your niche and local customers
- Sign up for a local directory so your customers can find you easily
- Grow your email list. Ensure your email list can unsubscribe, but monitor to read/receipt to understand and continuously improve
- Get involved in the community. Word of mouth recommendations are vital to a business growth
- Promote a loyalty program so early adopters are rewarded
- Partner with local influencers. Empower the win-win so both parties are happy
- Paid Search Marketing. Top of page 1 is critical to success
- Local Listings of classified ads drive awareness and help to build trust
- Ensure your Website is SEO optimised
- Flyers and Brochures. Old Skool, but effective when done well
How do I attract customers?
- Offer valuable propositions to new customers via discounts and promotions
- Ask for referrals from strategic partners
- Remarket old customers
- Network Network Network
- Update your website, regularly
- Partner with complementary businesses to empower the win win
- Promote your expertise so customer want to use your services
- Take advantage of online ratings and review sites
- Know your customers
- Use attractive packaging
- Let customers try samples
- Be willing to change
What is the least expensive form of advertising?
The cheapest yet still highly effective way to advertise online is via social media ads and classified ads.
Personalized promotion of your product/service to you target audience is the most effective and least expensive form of marketing communication.
How can I raise awareness of my business?
Strategies to Increase Brand Awareness
- Give your Brand a Personality. In order to achieve high brand awareness, you must have a strong brand that customers can relate and empathize with
- Use Influencer Marketing to capture specific customers
- Use Content Marketing for keyword growth
- Create Referral Programs to incentivize customers to signup
- Create more Video Content to visually engage your customer and enhance your sales
- Remember to also Focus on Offline Campaigns. The internet is taking over the world, but offline marketing is still effective
- Brand awareness is critical when launching new products or services, it drives consumers decisions when differentiating between competing companies. It encourages repeat purchases and leads to an increase in market share and incremental sales.
- Create a press release
What is the Best Classified Ads website online?
- Craigslist
- Locanto
- Oodle
- Hoobly
- Geebo
- eBay
- LetGo
- Backpage
- Gumtree
- gigexchange
- Adpost
- Yelp
How do I advertise my startup or small business on the internet?
To successfully advertise online, you need a combination of great marketing strategy and targetted advertising channels beginning with
- Begin with paid ads to build a community
- Explore social media to connect with target customers
- Crowdfunding marketing, which can generate good PR and press/media interest
- Host a virtual meetup
- Use user-generated and real content to tell your story
- Create SEO-optimized content to attract high-intent visitors
- Understand which Social Media channels work best for you and your customers
- Blogging. Value add content and keyword specific for SEO
- Guest Blogging. Partnerships with high value bloggers to extend your reach
- Question-and-Answer Websites and Internet Marketing Forums
- Post Ads on Free WebSites to increase awareness of your business and service
- Host High-Profile Interviews, Live Chats
- Free Offers, Discounts and Coupons
- Press Media Exposure
What sites are similar to Craigslist?
Craigslist is the original Online advertising marketplace. In recent years new players have taken the market share for online free advertising. New competitors include gumtree, gigexchange, yelp & yellowpages
<p>What are the 8 best free advertising sites for entrepreneurs and digital marketers in 2022:</p>
- Craigslist
- Google My Business
- Facebook Messenger
- Facebook Marketplace
- eBay Locanto
- Oodle
- OLX
What are the best marketing and advertising free marketplaces online?
- Facebook marketplace has the largest share of online advertising on the internet
- Instagram, a facebook/meta owned product is second only to facebook for online ads reach and awareness
- Tiktok, the video centric social media platform is fast become a favourite for online advertising
- Gigexchange classified ads promotion is popular with small business looking for free advertising for work and business services
- Snapchat
- Google Ads
- Google Display Ads
- Bing
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Additional Advertising Information
We have collated some additional useful Advertising information available online in 2024 so you can gain extra knowledge, resources and potential new customer acquisition opportunities, or understand how digital advertising can work for you.