In this article, you’ll discover 10 ways you can market your online business for free. Some of these methods can be used to help grow your audience, while others can be used to make money online. Which one is used for you depends on your unique goals. Keep reading and find out.

1. Build a community.

You can start by making online forums and communities where your target audience congregates. For example, let’s say you’re an affiliate marketer for a company like HubSpot. You can use their affiliate program to generate sales and then discuss the best way to utilize their product with your audience. You can do this through free platforms like WordPress or Discord.

These are great places for you to engage with your audience. You can use these platforms to create chat rooms, where you and your audience can discuss tips and tricks, or you can use them to create online communities where like-minded people come together to share information and ideas.

This is a free and easy way to promote your business. All you need is a webcam and a microphone—and maybe a little bit of courage.

2. Post frequently.

Posting frequently and consistently is another great way to build credibility and engagement with your audience. The key is to find the right kind of content for your audience—something that will encourage them to engage with you and your brand. If you’re trying to grow your email list, consider using content that is valuable to your target audience, while also being engaging and interesting to those on your email list. You can also use platforms like Hootsuite to schedule and post content throughout the week.

You should only be posting once or twice a week. Too much posting can also backfire and turn away potential customers. Find the perfect amount of content to provide value to your audience without being so frequent that they become bored.

3. Use popular social media platforms.

This one is pretty self-explanatory. If you’re trying to market your business online, chances are you’re already on some kind of social media platform. Popular SM platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram can all be used to promote your business. Keep in mind that these are free platforms, and you’re not really doing them any favors by using them to market your business.

If you’re on Twitter, consider making it a two-way street by responding to questions and engaging with other users. If you use Instagram, consider using the platform to show off your product or service in the most stunning way possible. If you use Facebook, consider creating and engaging with content that is valuable to your target audience. Remember, these are free platforms, and your main purpose here is to provide value to your audience and establish yourself as an expert in your industry.

4. Create compelling graphics.

If you’re looking to attract potential customers to your website, consider creating compelling visual appeal. This could be through the use of attractive and innovative infographics, diagrams, or even videos.

You don’t need to be a creative genius to come up with something eye-catching —all it takes is a little bit of imagination and some time to research your topic. Think of how much time and effort designers put into creating a captivating graphic for a newspaper or magazine article, and you’ll have an idea of what to expect. The trick is to find a way to make your creative genius fit into a concise and easy-to-follow format that will engage your audience.

For example, let’s say you’re a pet store owner who’s looking to attract potential customers to your website. You can use infographics to break down the differences between various breeds of dogs, while using photos to help sell your furry friends. You need to follow the guidelines set out by your chosen platform, but as far as the actual content goes, you’re free to be as creative as possible.

5. Build your email list.

An email list is a powerful thing. You can use email marketing to engage with your audience and provide them with valuable information that will help them make smarter purchasing decisions or complete some kind of action, like subscribing to a newsletter or following a link to a product or service page. You can also use these platforms to cross-promote with other brands’ products and services.

You don’t need a massive list to make this approach effective. A few hundred emails is usually enough for most businesses to have a decent size list, and even those below this threshold can use email marketing to grow their audiences and establish themselves as authorities in their industry.

To get started, simply log into your chosen email marketing platform and click on the ‘people’ tab at the top of the page. From here, you can either create a new list or you can opt to use an existing one. If you’re worried about spam, you can choose to have the emails you receive from your chosen platform marked as ‘personal’ in order to avoid being swallowed up by spam.

Email marketing is all about providing value to your audience, being interesting,and getting in front of as many people as possible. With that in mind, you don’t need to break the bank to get started.

6. Use paid ads.

Paid ads can also be a great way to attract potential customers to your site. However, keep in mind that ads can be a little intrusive and create a lot of clutter. When used judiciously, they can generate some decent results. If you’re willing to put in the time and effort to learn how to use them correctly, they can be a powerful tool.

When you create an ad, you’ll want to put in the time to learn how to reach your target audience. If you’re not sure who your ideal buyer is, consider creating ads for different groups of people and testing which ones perform best.

To get started, simply search for the terms ‘paid ads’ in your chosen search engine and you’ll pop up with a ton of options. There are a few different paid ad platforms out there, but the two most popular ones are Google Adsense and Facebook Ads. If you decided to use Google Adsense, you’ll want to make sure you set your targeting criteria appropriately—making sure you’re reaching the right audience and that your ads are appearing in the right place. You can find more information about Google Adsense here. For those looking to monetize their Facebook page, you can find a ton of information on how to do this here. Keep in mind that you’ll need to reach a certain threshold of engaged followers before you can start making money from your Facebook page.

7. Use influencers & trendsetters.

Influencers and trendsetters can help raise your profile and gain credibility with your target audience. They might also just do it for the love of your industry and the fame that comes with it.

To attract potential customers, you can reach out to influencers and make them an offer to feature your product or service on their channel. For example, if you’re an owner of a pet store, consider contacting pet influencers and asking them to create videos discussing different types of dogs and their care. Or if you’re into real estate, contact a celebrity real estate agent and make them an offer to have their name associated with a property you’re marketing.

You can also look to trendsetters and make a case for why their followers should associate your product or service with their brand. For example, let’s say you’re a skin care product and you notice a popular makeup artist is using a new product that’s helping her makeup look more realistic. You can get in touch with her and offer to have her share her secret with your products. With this kind of strategy, you can attract potential customers who might not even realize they need your product.

8. Use celebrities.

If you’re looking to raise your profile and attract potential customers, consider using celebrities. With their immense popularity and fame, they can help get your product or service in front of the right audience. There are a few different ways you can go about using celebrities to market your product. First, you can simply use their name and fame to help get the word out about your product. For example, if you’re an apparel brand and you notice that a famous YouTube creator is wearing your shirt, you can try to get in touch with her to see if she’ll wear your shirt on her channel. Next, consider creating content with the help of a celebrity in your industry—something that will generate interest and credibility among your target audience. If you can pull off creating an interesting and content-packed video with the help of a celebrity, you’ll be able to stand out from the crowd and make a case for why your product is better than those created by people without your celebrity’s help.