Advertising ideas for your small business

Like so many small businesses emerging today, it can be challenging to stand out from the competition and attract consumers’ attention. As a small business owner, you understand the importance of promoting your business, but you may not know where to start or how you should be investing your advertising dollars. The advertising strategies below can help you launch cost-effective and successful advertising campaigns.

Advertise on social media

Advertising can be tricky, especially when running a small business on a tight budget. Fortunately, there are many routes you can take that don’t cost a fortune, and social media ads are one of them. With approximately 4.95 billion people worldwide now using social media, there’s no better place to advertise your small business. Each platform attracts a slightly different demographic, which means you can reach a broad audience without spending too much money.

Companies can also run sponsored ads on social media to appear in targeted audience’s newsfeeds, even if they don’t follow your page. Research shows that in 2020, 93% of marketers used social media advertising and ranked it as the second most successful advertising method (with search engine marketing coming in first). This strategy is so effective because you can target specific demographics, such as by location and interests, to make sure you are getting the most value from your advertising dollars.

Invest in online paid search engine advertising

Investing in paid search engine advertising allows you to reach potential customers who are searching for a product or service similar to yours. With a small budget, you can target a specific audience based on location, browser, and other relevant information.

Create an affiliate program

Affiliate programs are an excellent way to market your small business, and they are considered a low-budget, high-impact marketing tactic.You can partner with other businesses, bloggers, or YouTube channels, and they will promote your products and services in exchange for a percentage of the profits. This is a great way to generate leads for your small business through social proof and build your brand's reputation.

Partner with brands and influencers

61% of consumers trust influencer recommendations – meaning they are more likely to buy a product recommended by an influencer than one simply endorsed by the company selling it. Influencers can help build your brand’s reputation and generate leads at a lower cost than traditional advertising.

Additionally, sponsored content is a great way to get your brand noticed. You can create original content, such as blog posts or videos, and then partner with brands or influencers that are willing to share your content in exchange for compensation.

 Connected TV advertising

A Connected TV (CTV) is a device that connects to or is embedded, in a television to support video content streaming. CTV ad spending is increasing as more consumers invest in streaming services than traditional over-the-top (OTT) video. In fact, CTV ad spend is expected to grow 22.4% in 2024, making it a popular advertising format among small businesses. That’s because CTV ads are relatively inexpensive, yet they can reach a large audience.

Ask your local chamber of commerce

The Chamber of Commerce is a great place to advertise your small business. It allows you to reach new people in your community on a limited budget, and it’s also an excellent way to build relationships with other local business owners. Many locals frequent the Chamber’s website, making it an effective way to get in front of new customers.

Make the most of online listings

The internet is a powerful tool for small businesses, and one of the best ways for users to find you is through online listings such as Bing, Yelp, and Yellowbook, where you can post your address, contact details, and services offered. 

Get BBB accredited

The Better Business Bureau is an excellent resource for small businesses. Becoming Accredited with BBB allows you to list your business on BBB’s website, which is a great way to build your brand’s reputation and attract new customers. It also allows you to take advantage of the BBB’s valuable resources and tools to help you run your business in a competitive market.

For additional tips and resources, visit BBB.org to help keep your small business thriving. Contact your Better Business Bureau by calling 216-241-7678 or emailing info@cleveland.bbb.org. Interested in becoming BBB Accredited? Find out how you can apply for BBB Accreditation.

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