Top 5 Ways to Market Your Small Business Online for Free
- Hookle
- 3 hours ago
- 4 min read
Table of Content
Bonus Tip: Manage Your Socials & Google in One App
Online marketing doesn’t need to be expensive to be effective. With the right strategies and tools, even small businesses with limited budgets can compete with larger players. In fact, many powerful marketing tactics are completely free - and just require a little time and consistency.
Many powerful marketing tactics are completely free
Our focus is entirely on small business owners and helping them with the simplest tips to kickstart their marketing efforts - for free. These tips form the foundation of your marketing strategy, helping you build trust, credibility, and visibility online.
Whether you're just getting started or looking to improve your existing strategy, this quick guide will walk you through practical, no-cost ways to boost your online visibility and attract more customers.
What is Online Marketing?
Online marketing refers to promoting your business using digital channels.
At a high level, it includes:
Websites: Your business’s home base online, where people can learn about your services and contact you.
Social Media Marketing: Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), LinkedIn, and TikTok, where you can build relationships and engage with your audience.
Google Business Profile: A free tool that helps your business appear in local search results and on Google Maps - whether you have a physical location or serve customers in a specific area.
By leveraging these digital tools, businesses can reach more people, improve credibility, and ultimately drive more sales.
What is the Benefit of Online Marketing?
Online marketing gives small businesses a powerful opportunity to compete with larger companies by making their products and services visible to the right people - without needing a huge budget or marketing team.
It allows small businesses to:
Reach more customers without needing a big budget
Build brand awareness and trust
Communicate directly with their audience
Get measurable results and improve over time
Get more personal with customers and build a sense of community
Best of all, many strategies require zero cost - just consistency and creativity.
5 Top Free Online Marketing Strategies
These tips are handpicked for your small business - but of course, their effectiveness can depend on your location, industry, and audience. That said, they offer a great starting point for most entrepreneurs. Let’s dive in!
1. Setup Google Business Profile
If you're a local business, this is non-negotiable. Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) is a free listing that helps your business show up in local Google searches and Google Maps.
How to do it:
Visit google.com/business
Claim your listing (or create one)
Add your business details, opening hours, services, and photos
Post updates regularly to keep your profile fresh
It’s one of the easiest ways to boost visibility and attract nearby customers.
2. Be Active on Social Media
Park Cities Music from Dallas shared a great example on Instagram above, showcasing their students and how they reached a local audience by strategically using local hashtags like #ParkCitiesDallas and #MusicSchoolDallas. It’s interesting, engaging, and effective.
Social platforms are free and give you direct access to your audience. Share updates, behind-the-scenes content, promotions, or helpful tips to stay visible and build connections.
Key tips:
Choose 1-2 platforms where your audience is most active
Post consistently (even 2-3 times a week is great)
Respond to comments and messages promptly
Check out our other blogs if you need help choosing the right platforms or setting them up for your business.
3. Set Up a Simple Website
A website builds credibility and helps people find and trust your business. It doesn’t need to be fancy - even a one-page site with your contact information, services, and location can make a big difference.
Here are a few free website builders to get started:
Google Sites: Great for basic sites
Yola: Simple, beginner-friendly
Wix: Versatile, easy to customize
HubSpot CMS: Ideal for growing businesses
Ueni: Not free, but very affordable and turnkey
There are many more out there. If you're unsure which one to pick, Forbes has evaluated some of the most popular options, complete with ratings and features to help you choose.
4. Ask for Reviews
Reviews build trust and help your local SEO. After a good experience, ask happy customers to leave a review - especially on Google and Facebook.
Easy tips to get more reviews:
Add your review link to your email signature or invoices
Send a quick follow-up message after a service or purchase thanking them and asking for feedback
Print a small review request card and hand it out with purchases or deliveries
Pin a social post or website banner asking customers to share their experience
If you're in a store or on-site, ask in person - a quick “Would you mind leaving us a review?” goes a long way
Display a QR code at checkout or near the entrance/exit so customers can scan and leave a review on the spot
5. Reuse and Repurpose Your Content
Reusing content saves time and helps you stay consistent without constantly creating something new from scratch. One piece of content - like a blog post, video, or customer testimonial - can be transformed into multiple formats across different platforms.
Easy ways to repurpose content:
Turn a blog post into 3-5 social media posts highlighting key points
Cut a longer video into short clips for Instagram Reels, TikToks, or Facebook Stories
Use quotes or stats from articles in visual posts or carousels
Convert a tutorial into an email series or downloadable guide
Share customer reviews as social media graphics
This approach not only maximizes your content’s value but also helps you reach more people by showing up in various formats and channels.
Manage Your Socials & Google in One App
With the tips above, you’re already well on your way. But juggling multiple marketing channels can still feel overwhelming - especially when time is tight. That’s where social media management apps like Hookle come in.
Hookle is made for small businesses to manage their online presence easily
With Hookle, you can manage all your social media accounts - and your Google Business Profile - in one easy-to-use app, right from your phone. It’s powered by smart AI tools to help you stay active, post consistently, and track your performance with minimal effort.
Don’t just take our word for it - try it yourself. Download Hookle for free today and take control of your marketing with one app.
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