Marketing can be a big expense for small business owners, but it doesn’t have to be. There are a number of free marketing tools that can be just as effective as their paid counterparts. Here are five of the best.

Google Business Profile

 A business profile on Google is essentially a free listing in the world’s largest directory. It’s an easy way to make sure your business is visible to potential customers who are searching for what you offer. Plus, it includes some basic information about your business, like your hours and location. You can and should also post regularly to your business profile like you would on Facebook or any other social media platform.  Setting up a business profile is quick and easy, and it’s something every small business owner should do.

Google Search Console

Google Search Console is a free web-based tool that allows you to monitor and improve your website’s performance in Google search results. It’s especially useful for tracking keywords and identifying areas where your website could be improved to rank higher in search results. Best of all, it’s free to use.

Google Analytics

Google Analytics is a powerful, yet free, website analytics tool. It provides detailed insights into your website traffic, including where your visitors come from and what they do on your site. This data can be incredibly valuable in fine-tuning your marketing efforts and making sure you’re getting the most bang for your buck. And, like the other Google tools on this list, it’s free to use.

Mailchimp

Mailchimp is a widely used email marketing service that offers a free plan for small businesses. With Mailchimp, you can send newsletters, special offers, and other marketing emails to stay in touch with your customers and grow your business. The free plan includes up to 500 subscribers and 2500 email sends per month.

Hootsuite

Hootsuite is a social media management platform that offers a limited free plan. With the free plan, you can connect up to three social media accounts (Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn), schedule up to 30 messages per month, and receive basic analytics reports. While the free plan is rather limited, it’s still a valuable tool for small businesses looking to get started with social media marketing.

There’s no need to break the bank when it comes to marketing your small business. There are plenty of effective marketing tools available for free. From setting up a listing in Google’s directory to using Mailchimp for email marketing, these five tools will help you get the most out of your marketing budget without spending a dime.