15 Ways to Advertise Your Business in 2024 – Forbes Advisor
Customers are inundated with shopping options, from small businesses to massive online corporations. It’s important to remember that even in this saturated market, buyers still value a human connection, excellent service and high-quality products and services. Taking the time to advertise your business both thoughtfully and strategically can help you stand out from the competition. Here are 15 of the best ways to advertise your business:
Establish a Website
Potential customers love to have a business website to visit, even if it’s a simple one. A website serves as a central location for sharing your brand story, product and service information, updates, special events and so on. All of this serves as a way to promote your business 24/7.
Claim Your Google Business Profile
Once you have a website, claim your Google Business Profile, a free tool small businesses can use to manage how they appear in search results. Verifying your profile and listing means you show up on Google Maps and makes your business more credible, which in turn sends more customers your way.
Create Local Listings
Third-party websites, such as Yelp, Bing and the Better Business Bureau, serve as directories for business listings, so you’ll want to make sure you are added to them. Add as much information as possible to your listing, including address, phone number, website and hours of operation, and update them regularly as needed.
Prioritize Social Media
While social media may feel overwhelming, it is a huge part of successful advertising for businesses today. Connecting with your target audience via Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or X (formerly Twitter) allows you to share content, answer questions and attract new customers.
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Utilize Influencers
Many businesses choose to utilize social media influencers to help with their advertising efforts. Local accounts who have large followings are often receptive to partnering with businesses for promotions or giveaways, which helps boost their reach as well as yours.
Optimize Your SEO
Search engine optimization (SEO) is a completely free way to improve your website’s ranking in search engine results. Using relevant keywords, headings, images and links helps Google and other engines find your site more quickly, which in turn pushes it closer to the top of the results pages.
Start a Blog
Another part of SEO is publishing high-quality content, and one of the easiest ways to do that is by blogging. Sharing content that provides value to your readers is an excellent form of passive advertising that can be done in many different ways. Think about creating posts that offer information, entertainment, testimonials and resources.
Run Paid Ads
Running ads is a more expensive form of advertising, but they also offer a high return on investment. Paid advertising can be seen everywhere, from Google search results pages to social media to appearing in the sidebars of websites you are browsing.
Share Interactive Content
Enhancing the consumer experience through interactive content is another way to subtly advertise. Customers who are able to engage through e-books, quizzes or infographics enjoy these experiences and remember the brand that is providing them with the content.
Host a Webinar or Workshop
Another way to advertise your business is by sharing knowledge yourself, through a webinar or workshop. Hosting an online or in-person event where attendees can ask questions, gather information or learn a new skill is a highly effective way to make your advertising more personal.
Gather Reviews
Having positive reviews from real people helps to build momentum and legitimacy around your business. Potential buyers rely on the reviews published on Google and Yelp before deciding to make a purchase, so take the time to ask for feedback from happy customers.
Get Back to Basics
Advertising has changed a great deal over the years, but there is still value in many old-school methods. While business cards, magazine or newspaper ads and paper mailings may seem out of date, for some brands they are still a worthwhile investment for reaching certain target audiences.
Launch an Email Campaign
Email advertising campaigns are a low-cost way to reach both new and existing customers. The key is to send emails strategically and make sure they provide value, such as business or product updates, special events and seasonal discounts.
Reward Loyalty
Customers love being rewarded for their brand loyalty, making it another effective avenue for advertising. Offering tokens of thanks, such as discount codes and freebies to customers who make purchases or refer others to your business is a way to see big results for a small price tag.
Support Local
If you are a small business, getting involved with the local community as much as possible is another great form of advertising. Attending events, offering a sponsorship, giving in-kind donations or volunteering with an organization or on a board all provide the opportunity to share about your business.
