Advertise Locally for Free on the Internet

Whether your business is brand new or you just want to increase sales, there are many ways to advertise for free. Many people use search engines instead of printed directories or newspapers to search for local services and products, so even local businesses can benefit from having an Internet presence and engaging in online social networking. Learning how to advertise locally for free on the Internet takes time and effort, but it is an important part of your marketing efforts. If you want to learn how to advertise locally for free on the Internet, see Step 1 to get started today.

Steps

  1. Get a listing on Google places. This is fast, free, and Google place listings almost always come up first in Google search results. Go to places.google.com/business. If you don't already have a Google account, set one up by clicking the "create account now" button. Follow the prompts to create an account. Then click "list your business." Enter the business phone number and follow the prompts to create your profile. Be sure to use keywords in the description--words that people looking for your business would enter into a search engine. Make sure the address and map information are correct.
  2. List your business on Yahoo! Local (local.yahoo.com.) Like Google, Yahoo! Local listings will come up first when users who have Yahoo! as their search engine do a search for local services.
  3. Create listings on local search sites. These include MerchantCircle.com, InsiderPages.com, UrbanSpoon.com, Mapquest.com and Local.com. Like Google places, enter your business phone number, and follow the prompts to set up your account. Search for other local businesses to find additional local directories and more opportunities to find out how to advertise locally for free on the Internet.
  4. Advertise for free on yellowpages.com. Go to the site and click "advertise with us."
  5. Set up accounts on Facebook, Myspace and Twitter. These should be independent listings exclusively for your business, not based on your personal account. Be sure to list your full address. Keep your pages up to date by listing news, new products and services, sales and other events in a conversational way. Avoid hard selling or spammy content.
  6. Take out an ad on Craigslist.org. It's completely free, and while it doesn't offer a lot of flash or graphics, Craigslist is increasingly becoming a source for people searching for services and products. If you offer a service, be sure to monitor the "gigs" section of Craigslist to find ads placed by people who are looking for services.
  7. Create a website and a blog. Even a simple website is a source for listing your business' name, location, and services that can be found by search engines. A blog can be updated regularly, giving you more chances for putting your name out on the Internet.
  8. Check out the websites for your local Chamber of Commerce, town or community. These sites often feature a directory of local businesses. If there is not a way to automatically list your business, contact them via email or phone and ask how to be included.

Tips

  • Be sure to monitor your accounts on all local directories and social networking sites. Most provide a way for people to leave comments and ratings. Use these to measure what people think of your business and what improvements need to be made, and be sure to respond to comments--positive and negative--in a polite and respectful way.
  • Most local directories offer advanced features that are available with paid subscriptions. Start with as much free advertising as possible, and then evaluate these advertising opportunities based on your budget and advertising objectives.

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