The Best Small Business Advertising Ideas to Help You Get Started

There are so many small business advertising ideas to choose from! Many of them are tried and true strategies that have been used by businesses big and small. If you’re considering starting your own business, this list of 100 small business advertising ideas will help you with everything from getting your name out there to making sales to finding new customers. Get inspired by these clever and creative small business ideas, and see how many can help you run your own successful company!

1. Have your own Instagram account

Instagram is quickly becoming one of the hottest tools for small businesses and entrepreneurs. No longer just a place to post photos of your baby or food, there are thousands of brands using Instagram as a primary outlet for their business. However, when it comes to advertising on Instagram, there's much more that needs to be done than just having an account. When you sign up on Instagram (which you can do here), make sure you take some time to customize your profile with information about your business so that those who follow you know who they're following. Then, plan out how you'll use Instagram by creating goals for yourself.

2. Offer freelancing services

One of your best options for small business advertising ideas is freelancing. If you have a special set of skills that you can monetize—like graphic design, coding, or marketing—then freelancing can provide a great foundation for launching your own business. Sites like Elance and Freelancer let you set up profiles and start bidding on projects that other people need help with.

3. Sell your photos as stock images

If you’re an avid photographer, consider selling your photos as stock images. Sites like Shutterstock allow photographers to upload their best shots and sell them for a fee. While you won’t make millions from these sales, it’s a great way to get your work viewed by a large group of people (depending on how popular your photos are). After all, once you’ve taken the effort to capture stunning footage, it makes sense that companies would pay for permission to use it. Most of these websites take between 20 and 50 percent of what you earn.

4. Turn your hobby into a business

If you have a hobby, there are opportunities to monetize it—even if that hobby is just playing cards. There are businesses in New York City that will play a regular game of poker for money and need an additional player for their table. If your cooking is up to par, you could make an extra $50 or so a night serving dinner at someone’s house. And if you really love animals, it doesn’t take much effort to walk dogs or pet-sit on weekends . . . depending on where you live, that is!

5. Create an online store

Before you launch your business, you must have a place to sell your product. One of the best ways to do that is online. That means that you need a website where potential customers can find you and learn more about what you’re selling. This can be as simple as using a free service like Weebly or Squarespace, or something more customized and robust if you have money to spend (e.g., Shopify). Either way, creating an online store before starting a business will help ensure you have a place for people to buy whatever it is that your company sells.

6. Rent out your skills on Fiverr

Fiverr is a great way to get started with a business that doesn't require major investments. The site allows users to sign up and create an account where they can list their services to other users. Since everything on Fiverr is pay-per-service, getting started with your business is as easy as listing what you can do and then sitting back while people purchase your services. If you're looking for a way to run a small business without breaking the bank, Fiverr might be just what you need.

7. Give presentations at local colleges and universities

Connecting with your local community is a great way to get your foot indoors you wouldn’t normally be able to, and if you choose presentations at local colleges and universities, it’s one of those things that looks professional and impressive. Make sure you talk about why they should invest in your product or service during your pitch as well; after all, that’s what will convince them to use their resources (which includes time) on you. If no one in school seems interested at first, don’t lose hope—it just might take some time for it all to catch on. Good luck!

8. Resell products on Amazon

Most Amazon sellers simply start out by listing their products on Amazon, but that doesn’t mean you have to sell at retail price. Some of your items will likely sell for less than you paid for them. For example, if you buy an item wholesale for $10 and it’s listed on Amazon for $25, there’s no reason why you can’t list it at a discount—even just a few dollars off is reasonable. The more things sell, the more money you make. Think about all of your expenses with each product—insurance, shipping costs, storage fees—and be sure to factor those into your resale price as well.

9. Design greeting cards on Canva

To set yourself apart from your competition, you’ll need to be marketing-savvy. One way you can do that is through online advertising campaigns and social media presence. Another easy way: design a series of greeting cards on Canva with offers and coupons for anyone who wants to shop at your store—and then promote it on social media. It doesn’t matter if you have a physical storefront or not—greeting cards are another inexpensive way for small businesses (especially those who sell products) to reach their customers in an innovative, effective way. Remember: The best marketing ideas for small businesses aren’t always expensive; they just require some creativity!

10. Create a blog and drive traffic to it

It may seem counterintuitive, but you need a website before you can market your business. A website serves as a central location for all of your marketing efforts and provides you with another channel through which to build relationships with customers. Social media is great for generating buzz and attracting customers, but if they have nowhere to go once they find your brand, you're leaving potential revenue on the table. For most businesses today (especially small ones), a website is pretty much a necessity. If you don't have one yet—get started building one now! It doesn't matter if it's not much more than a landing page with basic information (your name and what you do), just get something live so that people can visit and learn more about your brand.