55 Proven Free Marketing Strategies You Need to Try in 2025

Marketing budget = 0. We’ve all been there.

The good news is – You don’t have to spend money to market your business!

The not-so-good news is – When you don’t have a budget, you can’t be picky about what strategies to use. You better take advantage of every free option available out there.

I collected 55 proven free marketing actions that can help you grow your business without spending a cent. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to step things up, these tips will help you reach more people and get noticed. From social media to content creation, SEO, and more, there’s something for every business.

So, as you go through this list, make sure you’re using every single one of them—they all work, and they all count. Let’s get your business out there!

Free Marketing Strategy: People Are Literally Asking for Your Product – Are You Answering?

What do you do when you’re thinking about buying something but aren’t sure what to choose? Do you scroll through Instagram to see random reels? Or do you head over to Reddit or Quora to ask real people for their opinions? Or maybe you Google it and read some blogs with expert knowledge?

If you’ve chosen the latter option, then why the heck are you putting all your marketing effort into Instagram? Seriously, if you know that people are out there looking for answers elsewhere, why not meet them where they’re already asking?

Find the people who are already looking for what you’re offering

So your next free marketing strategy is – find the people who are actually looking for what you’re offering. Don’t just wait for them to stumble across your business.

There are so many places where people are asking questions or talking about problems your product can solve. It could be on forums, Facebook groups, Reddit, or even in comment sections on blogs. Get in there, join the conversations, and let people know you have the solution. It’s like going where the crowd already is instead of waiting for them to find you!

Here’s your checklist for marketing presence:

1. Engage on Reddit – search for subreddits related to your product or industry. Look for threads where people are asking for recommendations or advice. Jump in with helpful answers, and subtly mention how your product can solve their problem. Be fair and disclaim that it’s your product. People appreciate honesty.
2. Answer questions on Quora – find questions on Quora that are related to your niche. Answer them in a detailed, helpful way. Include links to your website or product if it’s relevant, but don’t just spam – focus on providing value.
3. Join Facebook Groups – search for Facebook groups where your target audience hangs out. Become an active member by commenting and answering questions. Share useful content or insights, and occasionally, share your product if it fits the discussion.
4. Leverage YouTube comments – find YouTube videos related to your product or industry. Read through the comments and engage with people who are asking for advice or recommending similar products. It’s a goldmine for discovering people who are actively searching for answers.
5. Look for Niche Forums – find niche forums where your target customers are asking questions. Participate by answering questions and adding value. People trust forum recommendations more because they’re often from real users, not ads.
6. Answer questions under other blog posts – look for blog posts in your niche or industry where readers are asking questions or engaging in discussions. Provide thoughtful, helpful comments that add value to the conversation. If your product or service can provide a solution, subtly mention it, but don’t just drop a link or make it all about your business. Instead, focus on contributing to the conversation by offering insight, resources, or suggestions that help the person asking the question. Never spam! Focus on being genuine and helpful. If your comment feels forced or too promotional, it can easily get flagged as spam, and you’ll miss out on the opportunity to build trust with potential customers.

Free Marketing Strategy: Join Forces for Free Marketing Wins (You Are Not Alone)

Imagine this: f another small business reached out to you with a collaboration idea that could help both of you, would you say no? I don’t think so. So, girl, why aren’t you the one reaching out?

Remember, you’re not alone in this. There’s so much power in partnering up.

Free marketing ideas based on collaboration with other businesses:

1. Guest Blogging
   What to Do: Offer to write a guest post for a business blog or have them write for yours. Why would anyone say no to a free content for their website? Just make sure it’s good quality!
   How to Reach Out: “Hey [Name], I love what you’re doing with your blog! I was wondering if you’d be interested in a guest post from me on [topic]. I think it’d really resonate with your audience. Let me know what you think!”
2. Exchange Testimonials
   What to Do: Offer a testimonial for their business, and ask if they’d be willing to return the favor. Again, you are offering a free link to their website. Why would they say no?
   How to Reach Out: “Hi [Name], I’ve been loving your [product/service], and I’d be happy to provide a testimonial for you. Would you be interested in exchanging one for my business as well?”
3. Collaborate on a Social Media Post or Giveaway
   What to Do: Team up for a joint social media post or a giveaway to cross-promote. Works great for products or services that are not a direct competition, but have a similar target group.
   How to Reach Out: “Hey [Name], I think our brands align really well! How about we collaborate on a giveaway or a post to offer our audiences something exciting? Let me know if you’re interested!”
4. Send Coupon Codes for Each Other’s Products
   What to Do: After a purchase, send your customers a coupon for a partner business and vice versa.
   How to Reach Out: “Hi [Name], I had an idea—what do you think about sending each other’s customers a coupon after a purchase? It could be a great way to drive traffic to both of our businesses!”
5. Share a Resource or Tool
   What to Do: If you have a valuable resource (like an e-book or checklist), offer to share it with their audience in exchange for them sharing yours. It’s great for related topics, like fitness and nutrition.
   How to Reach Out: “Hi [Name], I’ve created this resource [e-book, checklist, etc.] that I think your audience would love. Would you be open to sharing it with them, and I’d be happy to share something valuable from your end as well?”
6. Collaborate with Micro-Influencers
   What to Do: Reach out to micro-influencers who may be willing to promote your product in exchange for your product or service (or in exchange for re-posting on your social media, if you don’t have a physical product). Micro-influencers are happy about every opportunity to reach wider audience.
   How to Reach Out: “Hey [Name], I love the content you share and think your audience would really enjoy my product/service. Would you be interested in a collaboration where I send you [product] in exchange for a shoutout or review?”
7. Create an Affiliate Program (needs some technical knowledge for setup)
   What to Do: Set up an affiliate program where other businesses or influencers can earn a commission for promoting your product or service.
   How to Reach Out: “Hey [Name], I’m setting up an affiliate program for my business and thought it might be something you’d be interested in. You’d get a commission for every sale generated through your unique link. Let me know if you’d like more details!”

Free Marketing Strategy: Get Your A** on Social Media (and I mean, Every Social Media)

Seriously, if you’re not on social media, you’re missing out. It’s one of the easiest, free ways to get your business in front of people. And I’m not just talking about one platform—I mean every single one that is out there. Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest—you name it.

Don’t be shy to reuse your content

Don’t feel like you have to create something new every time you post. Reuse your content! If you spent time making a killer Instagram post, make sure to also adapt it for Facebook, X, Pinterest, you name it. The goal is to get as much mileage as you can out of every piece of content. Why reinvent the wheel when you can just roll it across different platforms?

Don’t assume all your customers are on the same platforms as you are

Here’s the thing—just because you spend all your time on Instagram doesn’t mean your customers do. Maybe 10% of your potential customers are on Facebook, and another 5% are scrolling Pinterest. If you’ve got no marketing budget, you can’t afford to skip any of them.

Each platform has its own audience, and you never know where your next customer could be hanging out. So, get your content out there across different platforms. The more you show up, the more chances you have to connect.

Here’s your ultimate social media list:

Make sure to use them all:

1. Facebook
2. Instagram
3. TikTok
4. A big one that maybe you should skip for political reasons. Ugh.
5. LinkedIn – if your product is not aimed at business people, you could still share content about how you run your business, behind the scene events, your biggest entrepreneurial learnings, etc.
6. Threads – an Instagram spin-off focused more on text and conversations
7. Pinterest
8. Snapchat – yes, you can post public content there too
9. YouTube – try both long content and YouTube shorts
10. WhatsApp Groups
11. Discord – you can create a public server where people can join discussions about your niche
12. Telegram – create a public channel to post content that people can find without an invite
13. Triller – video content platform similar to TikTok
14. Nextdoor – social media focused on local markets, allowing you to connect with your neighborhood
15. Mastodon – a bit more advanced, decentralized social media, which is not based on algorithms as known on Instagram
16. Vero – similar to Mastodon, might be paid in the future
17. If you are in a non-English speaking market – check for local alternatives (yes, they still exist!)

Are a lot of people using these platforms?

Okay, so some of these platforms might not have as many users as the big ones like Instagram or Facebook, and you might be thinking, “Is it really worth the effort?” Well, yes!

The smaller audience means less competition, so it’s easier to stand out. Plus, you can reuse your content across different platforms, so you’re not starting from scratch every time. It’s about making the most of what’s out there and reaching people who might not be on the bigger sites.

Sometimes, the less crowded places are the goldmine!

Free Marketing Strategy: If You’re Not Creating Long Content, What Are You Even Doing?

Creating long, useful, and free content is like giving away a little piece of your expertise—and guess what? People love it. When you provide value without asking for anything in return, you build trust and credibility with your audience. They’ll see you as someone who knows their stuff, and over time, they’ll turn to you when they need a solution.

Plus, the longer and more helpful your content is, the more likely it is to rank in search engines, bringing in traffic you didn’t even have to pay for.

A whole new universe of platforms

What is more, long content opens up a whole new world of platforms where you can share and sell your work. For example, publishing your content on platforms like Medium, Amazon, Kobo, or LinkedIn can help you reach people you might never have encountered otherwise. These platforms already have built-in audiences looking for fresh, helpful content, and by repurposing your content in different formats—like ebooks, articles, or guides—you get to tap into all those opportunities.

It’s like multiplying your impact without putting in extra effort. So, not only do you build trust with your current audience, but you get to expand your reach to even more people across the web.

Blog posts aren’t limited to your own website

Blog posts are not a groundbreaking marketing strategy, but they really are a must. They help you with SEO, which means more traffic, and they potentially keep your visitors longer on your page. But did you know that there are other platforms where you can publish your blog posts and articles, reaching yet another audience?

The ultimate checklist of where to publish your blog posts:

1. Your own blog (obviously)
2. Medium – A great place to publish long-form content. It’s easy to use, has a built-in audience, and allows you to reach readers interested in various topics. Plus you can even get paid for publishing there. One of my favorite platforms for consuming content.
3. HubPages – similar to Medium, also offers the possibility to get paid.
4. LinkedIn Articles – LinkedIn lets you publish full-length articles directly on your profile, making it a fantastic platform for sharing professional insights and expertise with your network.

Selling e-books as a free marketing strategy

E-books are one of the easiest and most underrated marketing strategies out there. Seriously, all you need is a well-written Word doc and a cover, which you can design yourself for free on Canva.

Plus, publishing is free on most platforms, and you can start selling your e-book to a global audience without spending anything. Long gone are the days when you had to rely on big publishers to get your work out there. You’ve got everything you need right at your fingertips, so why not use it to get your brand in front of more people?

If writing an entire e-book feels a bit too daunting right now, don’t worry—start with blog posts instead.

Write about topics you’re passionate about or that your audience is interested in, and post them regularly. Later on, you can take those blog posts, organize them into a logical order, and voilà—you’ve got yourself an e-book! It’s a super easy way to break down a big project into manageable chunks, and you’re still building valuable content along the way.

Here’s the ultimate list of where to publish your e-book for free:

1. Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) – The most popular platform for publishing and selling e-books. You can upload your e-book for free and reach a huge audience through the Kindle store.
2. Kobo Writing Life – A major e-book retailer from Canada with an extremely easy interface.
3. Google Play Books – Great way to reach people reading books on their Android phones.
4. Apple Books (Apple Author) – As above, but for iPhone users.
5. Storytel – subscription-based e-book platform.
6. Scribd (publish through a PublishDrive account) – also subscription based.
7. Barnes and Noble Press
8. Smashwords – platform distributing e-books to many retailers.
9. Draft2Digital – similar to Smashwords.
10. If you are on a non-English speaking market, check for local alternatives

Podcasts are like blog posts, but with more potential readers

Podcasts are huge right now, and honestly, they’re kind of a big deal for businesses! More and more people are listening while they’re on the go, whether it’s during a workout or just chilling at home.

If you’re not hopping on this trend yet, you’re missing out on a major chance to connect with your audience. Podcasts let you get super personal—like you’re chatting with a friend—and share your thoughts, ideas, and expertise in a way that’s way more relatable than a blog post.

It’s the perfect way to build trust and keep people coming back for more. So, if you’re not already thinking about starting a podcast, it’s time to change that!

How to publish a podcast?

Starting a podcast is easier than you might think! All you really need is a good microphone (you can get a decent one for around $30-50), and a free audio program like Audacity to record and edit your episodes.

Once you’ve got your content ready, it’s super simple to publish. Just sign up for a platform like Spotify for Podcasters, upload your audio, add an image for your podcast cover, write a quick description, and boom—you’re live! It’s seriously that easy.

You don’t need to be a tech expert, just hit record, share your voice, and let the world hear what you have to say!

Where to publish your podcast:

1. Spotify
2. Apple Podcasts – you can publish your podcast through Spotify
3. Stitcher – popular especially in the US
4. Podbean
5. Castbox – good for niche topics

Don’t Let Them Walk Away Without Leaving Something Behind

Okay, so someone finally landed on your website—whoop whoop! Whether it was because of your e-book, podcast, blog post, or that Instagram story, they’re here. Now, here comes the magic moment. This is where your marketing game changes and the most powerful marketing strategy comes into play.

Behold, the holy grail of marketing: the email.

Don’t underestimate the power of email marketing

Email is such a game-changer because it lets you connect with people personally. You’re not relying on social media algorithms to get your message out.

Plus, if they’ve already visited your website, that’s a big deal—they’re already interested in what you’ve got. Now it’s all about sealing the deal and turning that interest into a customer. You’ve got their attention, so don’t let it slip away!

Here’s some must-do for your website to collect visitors’ e-mails:

1. Pop-Up Forms: Use exit-intent (when someone is about to leave a page) or time-triggered pop-ups (that show up after a certain delay) that ask visitors for their email in exchange for a discount, freebie, or exclusive content.
2. Landing Pages with Lead Magnets: Create dedicated landing pages offering a free resource like an e-book, checklist, or a template in exchange for their email. You can promote these pages through social media.
3. Content Upgrades: Add content upgrades to your blog posts—extra downloadable resources like PDFs, worksheets, or checklists related to the content they’re reading. The only way to get them is by entering an email.
4. Discounts for First-Time Visitors: Offer a special discount on a visitor’s first purchase in exchange for their email. Display this offer across your website, especially on key pages like the homepage or checkout page.
5. Embedded Sign-Up Forms on Blog Pages: Place email sign-up forms directly within your blog posts. This could be at the top, bottom, or within the content itself.

I Could Go On, But This Isn’t a Novel

There are so many more awesome ideas for free marketing, we’ve only scratched the surface here. We still haven’t even gotten into SEO (that’s a topic for another giant post), offline stuff like leaflets, posters, and partnering up with local businesses, or even the classic (though hated) cold calling. Oh, and webinars—don’t even get me started!

But you know what, girl? I think you’ve got enough to work with now. I’ve handed you so many ideas, and you can start implementing each of them right this minute without spending anything.

And let’s be real, my hands and eyes are done too—I’ve been typing away like crazy! 😫

This post is getting pretty long, so congrats for sticking it out till the very end! Let me know in the comment if you need anything else.

Love,

Your Business B.