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Marketing a small business can often feel like shouting into the void. With a tight budget, no spare time, and a never-ending to-do list, marketing is often the last thing you want to spend energy or money on. However, without it, growth can simply flatline.
A key to effective small business marketing is all about getting your name in the right places, building trust with your audience, and turning one-time customers into lifelong fans. Here are 19 marketing strategies you can start today, many of which cost little to nothing.
Marketing strategies for small businesses
Marketing doesn't need to be expensive or complex. We’ve compiled a list of small business marketing ideas designed to give you results without burning through your budget or your energy. We’ve included a mix of tried and true strategies, along with a few out-of-the-box ideas to help your brand stand out.
The trick is to mix and match the marketing strategies that work best for your small business.
1. Get seen for free with a Word of Mouth listing
Word of Mouth is Australia’s most trusted review site. It’s where locals go to find reliable, credible businesses.
You can list your business on the site for free in minutes. Adding your business helps you show up in search results, build trust, and start collecting positive reviews. It’s a quick, easy, and cost-effective way to get in front of your audience.
2. Use LinkedIn like a human (not a cold caller)
If your clients are other businesses, LinkedIn can quietly do a lot of heavy lifting for you. You’ll want to skip the spammy messages and generic posts. Instead, update your profile so it’s clear what you do and who you help, and spend 30 minutes twice a week being helpful to your audience. That’s one hour per week invested in showing your audience that you know what you're doing, staying relevant, and building trust.
You can comment on posts from potential clients, share quick tips or behind-the-scenes snaps of your work, and react to their updates like you would on Instagram. This is free visibility for your business.
3. Run a social giveaway with another brand
Giveaways are still a great way to boost visibility. The most effective ones are thoughtful and targeted. Rather than offering a random prize, partner with a local or similar business and create a giveaway that genuinely appeals to your shared audience.
You might ask people to follow both accounts and tag a friend to enter. This helps you reach new, relevant people and grow your following without paying for ads. Make sure the prize is something useful or exciting to your ideal customer.
4. Set up and maintain your Google Business Profile
Another free way to get your business in front of new people is by setting up your Google Business Profile and verifying your address. This will allow your business to show up at the top of the page for local searches or Google Maps.
Add up-to-date information, upload photos that reflect your brand, and reply to every review (yes, even the negative ones — respond to them with grace). You can also post updates, offers, or events.
5. Choose one or two social platforms, and be consistent
When it comes to social media, you don’t need to be everywhere. You just need to be where your customers are.
| Platform | Ideal For |
|---|---|
| Beauty, wellness, hospitality, and anything visual | |
| TikTok | Trend-driven content, behind-the-scenes, and short-form videos |
| B2B and professional services | |
| YouTube Shorts | Reaching younger audiences with quick, engaging content |
| Home and fashion, or places people save for later | |
| Local businesses and community-based updates or events |
Pick one or two platforms maximum, and focus on consistency. Share quick tips, before-and-afters, client shoutouts, or behind-the-scenes snaps. The goal isn’t to go viral — it’s to stay visible and build trust. Many customers will check your social media during the buying process to check that you are a legitimate, active business.
6. Claim Google’s ad credit
If you’ve never run Google Ads for your business before, as of May 2025, Google often offers $600 up to $1,800 in free ad credit when you create a new account. That’s at least $600 worth of targeted traffic, without committing a cent upfront to Google’s advertising costs.
Use it to promote a new offer, drive traffic to your website, or test what keywords your customers are searching for. Make sure your website has a clear call to action on the page they land on. This might be to book an appointment, browse your products, or fill out a quick contact form.
7. Team up with a business that shares your audience
Pick a local or similar audience business (that isn’t a competitor) and find a way to cross-promote. You might share some of their work in exchange for them sharing yours, or offer a bundled deal. It’s a smart, low-cost way to double your exposure.
For example, a dog groomer might team up with a pet store, or a hairdresser could partner with a nail salon.
8. Apply for a Word of Mouth Service Award
If your business has great reviews on Word of Mouth, you might be eligible for a Service Award. It’s free to all listings, and winning gives you a badge you can display on your website, social media, and even in-store. It shows potential customers that you’re trusted, experienced, and consistently delivering great service. (Check your eligibility or contact our support team to learn more.)
9. Set up a simple referral offer
Word of Mouth is one of the most powerful marketing tools you can use. It converts better than paid marketing. Give your happy customers a reason to spread the word by offering a discount, freebie, or commission for every new client they send your way.
Keep it easy for your customers to share with their network. Set up a page on your website, or a QR code if you have a physical store.
10. Start a blog or resource page
You don’t need to be a big brand or a professional writer to start creating content. A simple blog or resource page can help you show off your niche expertise, answer common questions, and build trust with local Aussies who are already looking for your services.
11. Gather and share video testimonials
Video is currently the best way to reach non-followers on Instagram or YouTube Shorts (a whole new audience). Ask your happy customers to record a 30-second clip about their experience with your business. Then, share these videos on your website, social media, and Google Business Profile. (You may also want to offer some free merchandise or services to sweeten the deal.)
12. Send email updates
Email is still one of the easiest ways to stay at the top of your customers' minds. According to a recent Salesforce survey, 93% of people surveyed said that email was their primary digital marketing channel for engaging with companies and potential customers.
Start by collecting email addresses from your website, checkout, or forms, and send a monthly update with helpful tips or offers. Use free tools like Mailchimp or MailerLite, and keep it short, personal, and useful.
Now, here’s a pro tip: Share something exclusive to your subscribers, like first dibs on bookings or seasonal promos, to encourage customers to open your emails.
13. Offer a ‘how-to’ workshop
Run a short class or event in your community. This could be in person or virtual. Teaching something useful builds your authority and brings in potential customers. For example, a florist could run a wreath-making workshop, a beauty brand could bring in a makeup artist, or a builder could offer basic DIY repair tips.
14. Build your reputation with Word of Mouth Growth+
If you’ve ever found it hard to consistently collect reviews, this one’s worth knowing about. We’ve just launched Growth+ — a new way to request reviews via SMS and share your best ones straight to social media.
It can also give your Google presence a nice little lift, especially on Google Maps, which is a handy bonus! It’s an easy way to build trust without adding more admin to your plate.
15. Turn the questions your customers ask into bite-sized content
You’re probably answering the same questions all the time, so turn them into quick tips for your social media, blog, FAQs or emails. Things like “How much notice do you need for a booking?” or “What areas do you service?” or How much does your service cost?” make great, helpful content. It shows potential customers that you know your stuff and saves you time in the long run.
16. Create a quick intro video
These days, you don’t need a full production team to make a video. In fact, a more casual video often comes across as more genuine. All you need is a 60-second clip introducing yourself/your team, what you do, and how people can work with you. Pin it to your social profiles or add it to your website.
17. Use Instagram Notes for promotions or updates
Instagram Notes pop up at the top of your DMs and are perfect for low-effort reminders like “We’ve got two bookings left this week” or “Free gift with all orders today only.” They feel casual, and people really notice them, especially your most engaged followers.
18. Add a CTA to your email signature
If you’re emailing people daily, make that space work harder for you. Add a simple line to your email signature — for example, “Leave us a review,” “Book a free consult,” or “Check out our new offer.” It’s easy, free, and it puts your call to action in front of people who already trust you.
19. Create an offer on Word of Mouth
If you’re running a promotion (like a discount, bonus gift, or limited-time service), don’t simply post it on social media and hope people see it. Add it to your Word of Mouth profile under the “Offers” tab. It’s completely free, and people browsing the site can filter by local businesses offering deals.
It’s a simple way to stand out and attract new customers who are actively looking to buy. Plus, it gives you something extra to promote on socials or via email.
Summing up
Marketing your small business doesn’t have to mean burning through your budget or spending every waking hour online. With a smart mix of local directories like Word of Mouth, software like Growth+, and creative, community-focused ideas, you can build visibility, credibility, and trust over time.
Get started by claiming your free Word of Mouth listing today, and explore Growth+ to take your reputation to the next level.
