How to Promote Your Business Online for Free

You pour your heart into your product or service, but reaching customers feels impossible. Here’s the secret: you don’t need a ton of cash to win! At Ezechax, we started 7 years ago and know how to win with free marketing.

Skip the expensive ads. The internet is packed with free ways to get your name out there. In the next few steps, we’ll show you 5 free marketing tricks you can use right now.

These will help you get noticed, build a fan base, and watch your small business grow!

1. Strengthen your SEO

Don’t worry, expensive ads aren’t the only way to get noticed online. Here at EzeChax, we believe in the power of organic search –– and the best part? It’s completely free!

SEO, or Search Engine Optimization, is the magic behind appearing at the top of Google searches. The higher you rank, the more likely potential customers are to discover your amazing business. While SEO is a vast field, let’s dive into impactful tactics you can implement right now:

The first step to conquering search engines is understanding what people are typing in to find businesses like yours. This is where keyword research comes in. Imagine keywords as the questions your ideal customers are asking online. By strategically incorporating these keywords throughout your website content, you’re essentially telling search engines exactly what you offer.

Local SEO

An easy way to be more visible in local search results is to improve your local SEO strategy. You can do this by claiming and listing your business on platforms like Google My Business, Bing Places for business, and Apple Maps Connect. These are free tools that are intended to help organisations manage their online presence across their respective search engines and maps.

Now, if you wonder what’s the big deal in appearing in local search results, we’d like to highlight two key findings from a 2014 Google report here:

• 4 out of 5 customers use search engines to find local information.
• People are more likely to purchase after a local search than compared to those who conduct non-local searches.

You can’t take this information lightly when it comes from the organisation that controls 92% of the search engine market. If you have a physical storefront and want to increase your local sales, this is a great opportunity. When you register on these platforms and add your organisation’s details, potential customers can easily find your working hours, contact information, website, location, and more. By searching your service with the phrase ‘near me,’ your business will be more likely to show up in the results.

Traditional SEO 

While local SEO targets a specific geographical area, traditional SEO is for any business looking to expand its digital reach and rank higher in organic search results. This is becoming more important as ecommerce picks up steam in multiple industries across the world. This type of SEO is all about optimising your website, product listings, and general content to improve their discoverability. Using effective title tags and meta descriptions, conducting keyword research, writing ALT text for images, and including a clickable phone number on your contact page are some examples of SEO best practices that can help boost your content marketing efforts.

2. Take advantage of social media

With nearly 80% of people glued to social media, it’s a goldmine for connecting with potential customers – and the best part? You don’t need a budget to get started. Here at EzeChax, we know the power of social media to organically build brand awareness and cultivate a loyal following.

Forget expensive ad campaigns or chasing influencer deals. By creating engaging content and interacting with your audience, you can turn social media into a powerful marketing tool. Here’s how to unlock its potential:

Claim Your Social Space:

Identify the platforms where your target audience hangs out. Are they young and trendy on Instagram, or professionals on LinkedIn? Set up free business profiles on those platforms to establish your brand presence.

Content is King (and Queen):

Don’t just bombard followers with sales pitches. Share valuable, interesting content that resonates with your niche. Think industry insights, helpful tips, behind-the-scenes glimpses, or even humorous content related to your brand. Remember, visuals are key! Eye-catching photos, infographics, or short videos can grab attention and keep people engaged.

Become a Social Butterfly:

Respond to comments and messages promptly. Show appreciation for your followers and their engagement. Run contests or giveaways to generate excitement. The more you interact with your audience, the stronger your connection will be.

3. Start email marketing

In terms of ROI, email marketing outperforms almost all other marketing techniques. From sending newsletters, seasonal offers, and promotions to providing customer support, email is a versatile tool that every small business should use. The best part is that it’s highly customizable and exceptionally affordable. You can target and deliver relevant emails that bring value to specific customers for a fraction of what other marketing channels cost.

4. Build a business blog

While blogs might take a bit longer to see results compared to other tactics, they’re a treasure trove for long-term growth. Here’s why: By consistently creating informative and engaging blog content related to your industry, you establish yourself as a thought leader and build brand authority. Search engines love fresh, relevant content, so you’ll naturally climb search engine rankings, attracting a wider audience. Imagine this: you run a bakery and publish a blog post with mouthwatering recipes and cake decorating tips. Someone searching for “easy dessert recipes” stumbles upon your blog, loves your content, and decides to order a custom cake for their next celebration – that’s the magic of content creation! The more valuable content you provide, the more likely you are to convert website visitors into loyal customers.

5. Join online forums and communities

The internet buzzes with online forums and communities where people connect and share knowledge around specific interests. Here’s your chance to tap into a goldmine of potential customers! Find forums relevant to your industry and actively participate in discussions. Share your expertise, answer questions, and offer valuable insights. But remember, avoid blatant self-promotion – focus on providing genuine help.

Think of it as networking with a twist. As you build relationships and establish yourself as a helpful resource, people will naturally gravitate towards your brand. When someone has a need related to your services, guess who they’ll remember? The friendly expert who consistently provided valuable advice in the online community. Platforms like Quora, Reddit, LinkedIn Groups, and Facebook Groups often have industry-specific communities waiting to be explored. So, join the conversation, showcase your knowledge, and watch your network grow organically!

Final thoughts

Remember the power of word-of-mouth recommendations? In today’s digital age, these strategies translate to online conversations, social media buzz, and organic website traffic. The beauty? You don’t need a hefty marketing budget to make it happen.

While some tactics may take time to blossom, the rewards are well worth the effort. You’ll cultivate a loyal following of genuine leads interested in your brand, not just fleeting clicks. So, unleash your creativity, leverage the power of the internet, and watch your small business thrive online – completely free!

We’d love to hear your thoughts too! Share your favorite low-cost marketing strategies for small businesses in the comments below. Let’s build a community of resourceful entrepreneurs who empower each other’s success!