30 + Ad Ideas for Small Businesses

Small businesses face a unique set of challenges when it comes to advertising. Budget tight, resources limited?  Yet, there are still many effective ways to get your brand noticed and drive sales. Here are 30+ ad ideas that you can use to promote your small business.

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Where to place the ad ideas for small businesses?

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Basic traditional ad ideas for a small business

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Forget fancy – sometimes, old-fashioned methods bring big results! Think flyers buzzing around busy areas, brochures tucked into local shops, or eye-catching posters that stop people in their tracks.

Local events are goldmines – sponsor a community barbecue, or set up a booth at a street fair. Want to stand out from the digital crowd? People use digital so much, which makes PO boxes empty. Use the leverage!

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Print Materials

Print materials might seem old-fashioned in our digital world, but they still hold a lot of power! They're a great way to get your brand noticed, especially for a local audience. Leave brochures at stores frequented by your target customers, or tuck them into takeout bags for a little surprise. They can be a great way to share more information than you can fit on a flyer.

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Local Events

Imagine setting up a booth at a bustling street fair, or sponsoring a local charity barbecue. People are already in a positive and celebratory mood, making them more receptive to new businesses.

Plus, you get the chance to chat with potential customers face-to-face, answer questions, and build relationships.

Local events are a great way to generate positive word-of-mouth marketing.  People who have met you in-person are more likely to recommend your business to others.

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Direct Mail:

Direct mail might feel like a blast from the past, but for small businesses, it can be a surprisingly effective ad idea!

We are so swamped with digital messages! A physical piece of mail landing in someone's mailbox can spark real curiosity. It really stands out from the endless stream of emails. Direct mail is one of the ad ideas for small businesses we do too! It helped us connect with so many potential customers.

Here's the beauty of direct mail for small businesses. You can target your mailings to a specific audience, ensuring your message reaches people who are most likely to be interested in your products or services.

Think postcards with eye-catching visuals or brochures packed with valuable information. Direct mail can be a great way to generate leads and  promote special offers.

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Car Wraps:

Car wraps are a fantastic way to turn your company vehicle into a mobile billboard!

Imagine your car cruising down the street, plastered with your logo, website, and a catchy slogan. It's a guaranteed attention-grabber, constantly promoting your business wherever you go.  

This is a perfect ad idea for small businesses on the go, with the added benefit of protecting your car's paint job.

Ilir Sela, the founder of Slice, started with car wrapps advertising in front of the businesses he wanted to work with. And he did it! Slice now takes over the pizzerias in US.

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Signage:

Signage encompasses a wide range of visual communication tools that utilize signs and symbols to convey information.

It's essentially a silent language that directs, informs, and influences our behavior in various environments.

• Functions:
  • Informative: Traffic signs, building directories, product labels – all these provide essential details.
  • Directional: Wayfinding signs in airports, malls, or hospitals guide us to our destinations.
  • Safety: Warning signs caution about potential hazards, while safety signs illustrate proper procedures.
  • Branding & Advertising: Business signs, billboards, and product displays create brand recognition and promote products or services.
• Types of Signage:
  • Static Signs: These are permanent fixtures, like building signs or wall murals.
  • Digital Signage: Electronic displays that can show dynamic content like presentations, menus, or advertisements.
• Design Considerations:
  • Clarity: The message should be easily understood, using clear visuals and concise text.
  • Visibility: Signage needs to be positioned and designed to be readily seen by the target audience.
  • Aesthetics: Signage should complement its surroundings and contribute to the overall visual environment.

Signage is a crucial element in our daily lives. From navigating a busy city to understanding safety instructions, these visual cues play an important role in keeping us informed and safe.

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Trade Shows:

Attend trade shows and conferences related to your industry. This is a great opportunity to network with other business owners and promote your products and services.

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Print Ads:

If you are targeting the older generations, you can still popup with an interesting ad in the newspapers.

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Radio Ads:

Radio advertising is a cost-effective way to reach a large audience. Consider placing ads on local radio stations that your target customers listen to. Most of the people traveling with a car listen to the radio. So use that chance to advertise it in a cool way.

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In-Store Events:

Host in-store events like product demonstrations, workshops, and open houses to attract new customers and build relationships with existing ones.

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Social Media:

Billions of people wake up and go to bed while looking at their phones. Social media with so many users increasing every day is a great place to start advertising on. Use platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Tiktok to promote your products and services, share updates, and engage with your audience. But because this takes a lot of time, make sure you choose the networks that your audience uses. If you are going for the older generations, Facebook is still all-in, but if you want to target the young ones, Tiktok or Instagram is a way to go.

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‍Local Directories:

List your business in local directories like Google My Business and Yelp. This will help you appear in local search results and give customers more information about your business. And if you are doing some construction, moving or any other physical task, you can also check Taskrabbit.

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Email Marketing:

Email is still one of the most effective forms of marketing. Build an email list of your customers and send them regular updates, promotions, and news. And this sounds easy. However, to get emails you have to provide a lot of value. For example, try making some free guides or e-book in the area your are selling. Or make a FREE informative event. You have to give something to get something back.

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Referral Programs:

Encourage your existing customers to refer their friends and family to your business. Offer incentives like discounts or free products to people who refer new customers to you. If you are not in the place to give free products or discounts at first hand, you can offer it for the second purchase.

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Pop-Up Shops:

Host pop-up shops in high-traffic areas to promote your products and services and reach new customers.

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QR Codes:

Use QR codes on your business cards, flyers, and signage to drive people to your website or a specific landing page.

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Employee Advocacy:

Encourage your employees to promote your business on their personal social media accounts. This can help you reach a wider audience and increase brand awareness.

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Public Relations:

Get your business in the news by creating press releases and pitching stories to local media outlets.

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Involving digital advertising for your small business

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Video Marketing:

Create videos to promote your products and services on platforms like YouTube and Vimeo.

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Influencer Marketing:

Partner with influencers in your industry to promote your products and services to their audience. There are huge influencers as Jefree Star or Mikayla Nogueira that reviewed a lot of makeup that made the boom since Tiktok exists. However, micro-influencers can do it even better because it will be easier for people to relate to them.

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Content Marketing:

Create and share valuable content like blog posts, infographics, and eBooks to attract and engage with potential customers. And why is this important? Both for Google and your website visitors. Google will have even more information on you and will rank you higher. And at the same time, your potential customers will be informed on your procedure or services you have.

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Google Ads:

Place ads on Google search results pages to reach people who are actively searching for products and services like yours. There’s something new from Google, Performance Max ads that you will love to try.

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Remarketing:

Target people who have visited your website or engaged with your business in some other way with targeted ads.

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Promotions:

Offer special promotions and discounts to attract new customers and incentivize existing customers to buy more. You can make it work even better, if you ask a “favor” from your audience to receive something for FREE. We all know the Facebook’s “share this with 3 people” and we know it works. Why not using it in a campaign?

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Branded Merchandise:

Offer branded merchandise like t-shirts, hats, and mugs to your customers. This can serve as a walking advertisement for your business.

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Community Involvement:

Get involved in your local community by supporting charities and events. This will help you build a positive reputation and reach new customers.

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Sponsorships:

Sponsorship can be a great way to reach a specific audience. Consider sponsoring local sports teams, events, or organizations that your target customers are likely to be a part of.

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Product Samples:

Offer product samples to your customers to get them to try your products. This can be a great way to generate buzz and drive sales.

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Interactive Ads:

Use interactive ads like quizzes, surveys, and games to engage with your audience and promote your products and services.

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Mobile Apps:

Develop a mobile app to promote your products and services and provide a convenient way for customers to interact with your business.

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User-Generated Content:

Encourage your customers to share photos and testimonials about your products and services on social media.

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More creative Ad Ideas

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1. Holiday’s themed photography: For Valentine’s you can make Love Story Contest – host a love story contest where customers can share their romantic tales and win prizes. Or offer a subscription service where customers can receive a monthly love-filled gift box filled with romantic treats and gifts.
2. Animated explainer videos: Create fun, animated explainer videos that break down complex concepts and make your product more accessible and appealing.
3. Virtual try-ons: Use augmented reality or virtual reality technology to allow customers to try on your product from the comfort of their own homes, without having to physically visit a store.
4. Ambient advertising: Create eye-catching ads that blend in with their surroundings, such as sidewalk chalk art or graffiti-style murals, to catch people’s attention.
5. Use memes & current music or video trends: People want to relate to things, and with memes and video trends you can make it very relatable. Also! If you use the trending music on Instagram and Tiktok, the algorithm pushes you to the audience that loves that music.

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Hope these will help you understand how many cool things you can do to attract your target base. By using a combination of these ad ideas, you can effectively promote your small business and reach new customers. And if you still worry that you can’t do all by yourself, we are always there to help. Just popup in our mailbox at hello@uixlabs.com with the title “I need digital makeover”.

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