Free Online Advertising Sites

By Brad Nakase, Attorney

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How Can People Promote Their Businesses Online for Free?

As we spend more and more time online, the advertising world changes. Whereas in the past, businesses focused on print media, flyers, and word of mouth, now smart companies focus their efforts online. However, for the uninitiated, online advertising can be costly. As a result, some small businesses create a website but fail to tap into other marketing opportunities because they assume they cannot afford them.

However, the vastness of the internet sometimes comes in handy, as online classified ads and free advertising sites can help increase company revenue free of cost. Many are intimidated by placing ads on social media or through search engines, but the truth is that it is easy to find alternatives to benefit one’s business.

Every business must have marketing goals, and sometimes reaching the right audience costs money. However, small business owners are usually cost-conscious, and if they pay to place an ad on social media, for example, and it does not pay off, then it is a net loss.

However, a solution to this problem is free online advertising websites. More and more businesses find that free websites offer key exposure that helps to maximize profits. Research shows that over 50% of small businesses now use at least one free classified ad website.

As the usage of these sites grows, however, so does the size of the market. As a result, there are hundreds upon hundreds of advertising websites across the internet, and many entrepreneurs aren’t sure which websites are effective and viable or whether particular websites are better for certain industries.

Why Are Online Advertising Sites Helpful?

Classified sites that do not cost business owners provide numerous benefits for small companies. For example, free ad websites enhance direct marketing but also help to drive traffic to the official company website and encourage people to visit the company’s physical address.

Additionally, no-charge advertising websites help owners increase visibility in a variety of ways, including:

Providing the ability to list special products and services

Allow companies to get noticed by prospective employees, independent contractors, and freelance workers.

Provide the ability to sell special products and equipment, be it outdated and discounted goods or brand-new products that can help create a stir

Our Los Angeles small business attorney cautions that the web is a vast, competitive resource, meaning that some free advertising websites are effective and some are not. Therefore, it can be difficult to differentiate between the different websites, especially for small business owners with limited experience placing online ads.

For business owners, identifying excellent advertising opportunities and filtering out the ones that are not worth the effort is crucial. Some websites help specific industries more than others by providing new customers. For example, an advertising site that predominantly features tech companies is probably not the place for a small, local hardware store to try to find new customers. Understanding the specific online categories and capabilities of these websites is also paramount. In short, knowledge is key for business owners seeking to advertise online for free.

This article will briefly detail seven of the top free advertising websites for small business owners. Business owners can gain exposure without spending a cent by using the right web-based advertising service.

Geebo

What is Geebo? Geebo has become increasingly popular in 2023 with an average of 240,000 users per month. While Craigslist is not known for its safety measures, Geebo is. Geebo’s users testify to the company’s secure listings, and Geebo takes key precautionary measures to help companies that advertise and users be safe. For business owners who worry about losing or sacrificing personal information or owners whom their customers trust with personal information, Geebo may be the right choice.

Before a classified ad can be considered “live” on Geebo, the company reviews the listing and ensures it is safe and appropriate. While this does make lead times longer as customers wait for their ads to pop up, one advantage is that Geebo’s reputation helps companies develop customer trust. In addition, as an approved seller on Geebo, small business owners enjoy a boost to their reputation and an entirely new audience, whatever they sell.

Geebo is also beneficial for finding contract workers, freelancers, and prospective full-time employees since many workers use the website to find new jobs. Geebo features local listings from multiple websites and organizes them conveniently for one’s perusal. Also, Geebo has its tool for posting resumes, creating a convenient place for workers to link up with employers.

Finally, Geebo’s social media channels are popular, and of their nearly 65,000 followers, some people will be interested in your brand. Whether selling unique services, cars, auto equipment, or something else, Geebo is a secure, helpful ad site that does not charge for its services.

Craigslist

Do People Still Use Craigslist? Yes! As of August 2023, 15.3 million users visit Craigslist every month.

Craigslist was established over 25 years ago, but many people still use the classified site for free advertising. Research tells us that Craigslist is one of the top most visited websites in the US.

One aspect of craigslist that entrepreneurs like is the variety of categories the website has. Craigslist’s categories are exceedingly diverse, drawing in everything from computer software to clothing to parking spots.

It can be daunting for sellers to determine the right category for their goods or services, but once they do, they can tap into craigslist’s selling power. The website allows sellers to post one ad every two days, per their geographical location. So, for example, a seller in Los Angeles can post an ad on Wednesday morning and then place a new ad by Friday morning if they wish. The website also suggests reposting the ad several times to keep it at the top of the listings in the category.

Craigslist is an excellent value because it allows users to post ads for free unless they are posting furniture or a vehicle. For these two categories, sellers pay a $5 fee. The only other time sellers pay a fee is when posting service-based ads. However, when an entrepreneur places an ad on Craigslist, the website guarantees that the ad will stay posted for 30 days.

Plus, Craigslist allows users to create ads dedicated to seeking other items. For example, a new business can place an ad that creates awareness for the brand but also seeks out equipment for the office, such as computers or desks. In this case, Craiglist offers publicity and also a chance to build a new, growing company through advertising.

One disadvantage of Craigslist is that since the website is so extensive and has existed for so long, there have been reports of illicit activities being conducted there. However, for all of the benefits that Craigslist offers a new business, we think dealing with a little uncertainty is acceptable as long as users exercise caution.

Overall, Craiglist remains one of the top options for new and old businesses that want a free boost in engagement with the masses and possibly sales. In addition, Craigslist is a great way to network with local companies, some of whom may become your peers.

Hoobly

Is Hoobly Legitimate? Yes. As of 2023, an estimated 198,000 users visit Hoobly every month. Hoobly is known for its emphasis on the animal and pet market. Still, entrepreneurs use free advertising sites to sell many other products, including art, real estate, clothing, vehicles, jewelry, and more. Hoobly is featured in over 30 countries and has established itself as a no-frills global powerhouse, though most users remain in the US.

Many Hoobly enthusiasts report that the website works well for re-selling old equipment and supplies, such as workstations from an old office or pens, pencils, and pads. The “Industrial and Business” category is popular for users upgrading their businesses and getting rid of old stuff or looking for cost-effective ways to outfit a new business. Hoobly is a helpful site for both buyers and sellers.

Hoobly, similar to Gooby, emphasizes safety and security. For example, posting an ad on Hoobly requires creating an account and verifying the user’s email, adding a welcome level of security to all interactions. Small businesses particularly like Hoobly’s safety features, and all users enjoy Hoobly’s uncluttered, easy-to-use platform.

From purchasing the perfect pet to buying affordable office furniture for the new business to selling an old car, Hoobly truly offers something for everyone. Millions of prospective buyers and sellers check out Hoobly monthly, and we suggest that new small businesses do the same.

Locanto

Is Locanto Legitimate? Yes. An estimated 524,000 users visit Locanto.com every month. Locanto offers another option for free advertising. This German website is available in more than 50 countries, and it helps individuals find physical goods, such as cars or apartments, and job opportunities.

Locanto’s main categories focus on tickets for events, academic classes, and ideas for fun activities, making the website specifically well-suited to large companies that emphasize communities.

Locanto does not charge fees to most users. However, buyers and sellers in specific towns and cities may be subject to a small fee. For example, some cities ask users to pay for a Locanto premium account before logging on.

Locanto is a well-structured free advertising site with distinct categories that make browsing for deals and placing ads easy. The websites’ specific categories are separated by purpose, and there are services and tickets for popular events, classes, and other events. Entrepreneurs working on growing their small companies stand to profit from Locanto, but already established businesses can also take advantage of Locanto’s convenient categories.

Locanto also features unique perks, such as the ability to customize ads and built-in social media buttons that help companies add to their exposure.

With its excellent analytics and well-thought-out categories, Locanto offers a free way to grow one’s business or help establish a new brand. In addition, its global reach makes it a popular choice in the US and worldwide.

Facebook / Facebook Messenger

An estimated 59 million users are on Facebook every month. Between the popular Facebook Marketplace option and the ability for businesses to set up shops, the social media giant can add free online advertising to its list of many talents.

If individuals haven’t heard of Facebook Marketplace, they will soon since over 700 million people use the platform each month. People sell everything from snowmobiles to surfboards to cars on Marketplace, and it offers an easy way for buyers and sellers to chat with each other.

There are two options when using Facebook to promote a business or new product.

Selling for the business: Entrepreneurs can use the Facebook business page to create a new shop with physical products ready to sell. When users set up their shop, their goods will also show up in the “Stores” section of Facebook Marketplace. The Facebook Business option also helps sellers gather reviews, and good reviews lead to more sales.

Selling as an individual: Users can also place listings directly in Facebook Marketplace, making used and new products available to buyers in the local area. Responsive sellers earn top reviews and badges, too.

Facebook business shops and Marketplace are not as helpful for new business owners who want to list services. However, all companies can use these websites to network and, ideally, find new workers.

Therefore, entrepreneurs can use Facebook as a helpful selling tool by creating a business page, networking, joining groups, and collecting positive reviews. They may also be able to create an individual page that links to their business, and they can sell as individuals through Marketplace.

Can Businesses Advertise on Facebook Messenger?

Many businesses are unaware that Facebook’s chat option, Facebook Messenger, can be used to run ads for the business.

Billions of people worldwide engage with Facebook Messenger monthly, yet less than 1% of companies use the platform to reach clients.

At many companies, chatting is the main source of customer support, and the use of platforms like Facebook Messenger to make sales is growing rapidly. Running ads on Facebook Messenger lets businesses interact with their target audience and engage in direct dialogue with prospective customers. The ability to reach people through their preferred platform makes sales that much more likely. Plus, the days of calling a company on the phone to find out about their products have ended, and many businesses find that chatting with customers is the future, whether it is free or not.

There are a few different types of ads to choose from destination ads, sponsored messages, and home section ads. Wherever the ads run, the goal is to start conversations with Messenger users and kick sales and interactions into high gear. Sponsored ads appear in the person’s inbox, and home section ads appear in the home dashboard of the application. Destination ads show up in the newsfeed with a picture of the item or service, and interested customers can use the “chat now” option to find out more.

We have included Facebook Messenger in this list as a separate category because chatting can help businesses grow and even sell their goods and services.

However, while creating an account and connecting with customers is free, businesses do have to pay to create comprehensive ads on Facebook Messenger.

Oodle

Is Oodle Legitimate? Yes, an estimated 18,000 visitors go to Oodle.com every month. Oodle is much more than a unique name. Oodle spans an entire network of free ad websites and connects individuals to various listings from ForRent.com, eBay, and more.

Oodle has over 12 million monthly users and spans seven countries, so there is no doubt the website has the potential to expand a business’s reach.

Oodle requires users to sync their Facebook account with their Oodle account, which helps increase security. Oodle’s categories include vehicles, rentals, and more, but they are more general than some of the other platforms on this list.

As a free advertising option, Oodle offers multiple sales options along with its size and security. Users also enjoy perks like linking to social media accounts and listings from eBay, local newspapers, and more.

Oodle works best for business owners who want to make social media a part of their brand. When using Oodle, many sellers are simultaneously using Facebook, for example, since updates and ads post simultaneously. As a result, small businesses that use Oodle will profit from the increased exposure social media provides.

Individuals who find the most success with Oodle typically focus on the following:

Pet sitting services
Storage
Grooming services for pets
Maintenance Work
Landscaping
Moving Services

Businesses can place ads on Oodle for free. They can also pay for a subscription, which provides longer ad times and Oodle website links.

OLX

What is OLX? The trading platform OLX may have started as recently as 2006, but the website is frequented in over 30 countries and includes over 20 different brands. In terms of exposure, OLX has over 200 million visitors per month.

OLX includes a variety of listings, from cars and houses to computers and video games. Many individuals also use OLX to find employment.

Users say OLX helps sell things people no longer need or find a special deal on. A particular item. The ability to create free ads and tap into a new market makes OLX an excellent choice for many entrepreneurs looking to grow their ventures. OLX is also mobile-accessible and has a user-friendly interface. However, some users suggest that the platform’s customer service is inconsistent. Therefore, use OLX to increase exposure to new audiences, but be cautious.

Classifiedads.Com

Is Classifiedads.Com A Legitimate Advertising Site? Yes. An estimated 120,000 users visit the site monthly. One of the top aspects of ClassifiedAds.com is that the platform allows users to contact sellers, browse, and post listings without spending a dime. As a result, thousands of people list and sell items and services on ClassifiedAds.com daily, and the website boosts small businesses that are just getting established. Over 3 million people visit ClassifedAds.com per month.

Many entrepreneurs seek to sell their items on ClassifiedAds.com, which over 3 million people visit annually. However, sellers are wary of spam and an overflow of site traffic.

ClassifiedAds filters and monitors its site content carefully and is known for its commitment to security. ClassifiedAds gives companies with HTML help, contact forms, and backlinks. ClassifiedAds can help both small companies and individual sellers with sales.

Overall, ClassifiedAds offers a free, secure option for free online advertising. A smaller company than many others listed here, they also offer a good amount of exposure, and many users say that their size makes their customers’ service and attention to detail top-notch.

Adpost.com

Is Adpost an Option for Free Advertising? Yes. An estimated 33,500 users visit adpost.com every month. People often compare Adpost to Craigslist, and the platform exists in over 1000 cities, with over 3 million registered users and over 2 billion views arriving per month. As a result, when users post an ad on Adpost, they can be sure that many prospective customers will see it.

Adpost’s pricing categories can be confusing, but they include a free plan to place a straightforward listing for free for 30 days. Then, the entrepreneur or business can renew the ad for up to 90 days. The seller also can display up to 100 pictures of the items. Adpost also offers paid ads for those who do not mind paying for a longer ad time and a page view counter.

Adpost is still growing, and it offers its clients fun interactive events to participate in, such as art and photo contests that can help a brand grow. Adpost also is very integrated with social media, so entrepreneurs and businesses who want their businesses linked to Instagram and Twitter may be interested in the platform.

However, unlike many other platforms on this list, Adpost’s features are mostly geared toward placing and browsing ads. The website is dedicated to creating an easy system for ad posting and provides an excellent way to begin placing ads for your business and learning about the process. There have been a few notes of security concerns with Adpost, so as always, be careful.

Gumtree

What is Gumtree? Gumtree, located in the United Kingdom, records over 12 million monthly visitors. For businesses looking to expand into Great Britain, Gumtree is a viable option.

Some of Gumtree’s opportunities require payment, but the website also has free options. Creating a listing on Gumtree, for example, is free, but some options, such as adding a certain amount of pictures, may require payment. In addition, Gumtree does not offer sellers shipping; they must ship their items independently. However, sellers can update listings easily and customize their sales descriptions.

Gumtree also allows businesses to work with an account manager, and entrepreneurs can track the performance of their ads.

While not every business owner seeks to break into the international market, Gumtree offers a unique way to test out selling outside the US.

Sales Spider

Is Sales Spider an Effective Choice for Free Advertising? Maybe. As of 2023, Sales Spider has an estimated 7300 visitors to their website monthly. Sales Spider is a unique option on this list because it is, in many ways, a social network. Founded in 2006, Sales Spider has over one million members and still reports constant growth.

Sales Spider provides a great choice for smaller businesses, providing them with the tools they need to place ads, connect with peers, view sales leads, host talks, and network. However, since Sales Spider focuses on small to medium-sized businesses, it may not be the best choice for larger companies.

However, Sales Spider offers the leaders of smaller companies many intriguing options, including business forums and free lists of prospects, and company directories.

Lastly, Sales Spider has begun collaborating with influential retailers such as Walmart, Amazon, and Macy’s. Sales Spider rewards sellers with free advertising, the chance to target specific businesses and industries to work with, and the chance to manage their campaigns.

Sales Spider may provide a leg up on the competition for small to mid-sized emerging companies.

Why Are Free Online Marketing Opportunities Helpful for Businesses?

Placing a classified ad in the newspaper may seem like a thing of the past, but free online advertising sites are an excellent way to get your products into local and national markets. Millions of people access websites like Gumtree and Craigslist every day, and the right website boosts any business at zero cost.

However, choosing the right online classified website for your business can be difficult, and sometimes entrepreneurs need to test out a few before finding the right fit. However, new businesses should look into free advertising before paying for an online ad that may or may not help grow their prospects.

Our new technological world calls for creative business strategies, and new businesses should use every angle they can to find new markets and customers. Posting to social media, writing a blog, gathering customer reviews, and sending mass emails are all effective strategies if used properly.

Additionally, creating free ads online is an intelligent way to create business and increase exposure. Choose 2-3 of the best options from this list and begin advertising your new business safely and effectively.

Contact Nakase Wade

Starting a new business? At Nakase Wade, we know the process is as creative and stimulating as it is challenging.

Entrepreneurs and small business owners reap the benefits when they tap into national and global online markets. One of the ways to tap into new and existing markets and target new customers is through free online advertising websites.

We hope this list helps your business select the right website for you and that your business continues to thrive. Whether selling homemade creations from the comfort of your home or seeking office furniture to create the perfect environment for a new venture, the right free advertising site will help you. All businesses are different, yet they can gain new customers and make new sales thanks to strong marketing and advertising.

Contact Nakase Wade today if you have questions about the legal issues that arise when starting a new venture. Our experienced attorneys and skilled business lawyers can help answer any questions you have and offer advice, and the first consultation with us is free.

See all articles: Business | Corporate | Employment

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