Promote Your Business Online for Free through 7 Ways

Small businesses only had a few ways to market their products cheaply before the internet, through methods like printing out filers or sponsoring little local events. Now there are all kinds of opportunities on the web. Below are seven ways to help you promote your business online for free.

1.       Use the three big local listing services

Registering your business with Google Places allows it to be found more easily on Google searches and it shows up on Google Maps, which can be done either with a phone call or snail mail. So do Yahoo! Local and Microsoft’ Bing.

2.       Embrace social media

Social media isn’t just a tool to gain exposure, but also a necessary time investment for every business to make, like Facebook and Twitter. Networking on Linkdln can be another way to help your startup.

3.       Start a blog

A blog is a good way to connect with your consumers more directly. And one of the major keys of blogging is to keep your stream updated as frequently as you can. But a dormant, abandoned blog is worth nothing.

4.       Put up multimedia on YouTube and Flickr

Putting up content that people want to view and are relevant to your business on YouTube is a good free way to distribute creative promotional videos. And a Flickr profile is also a good way, which allows you to compile all the photos for your business and link back to your website.

5.       Search engine optimization your company website

Search engine optimization’s importance can’t be underestimated in the world of search engines. Pick up a book or find a good SEO agency to make sure your site is primed for performance on search engines.

6.       Press releases

They can help you generate publicity. And dozens of websites online can be used for your press releases.

7.       Join a relevant online community and contribute

You can get involved in some relevant communities. Passively promote your business through putting a link in your signature or mentioning it only when the context is appropriate. Actively contribute and build a rapport with the community, while keeping your business out of it.

Besides the above ways, you can also use other efficient search engine marketing ways like PPC advertising to help promote your site.

That’s all! Hope the article of promoting your business online for free helps!