Online Marketing Without a Website: Finding Customers & Growing Your Business

Are you eager to expand your business online but don’t have the time or resources to invest in building a website? Fear not! It’s possible to start digital marketing without a website.

In this article, we’ll explore effective strategies to attract customers to your local business without the need for a website. Whether you’re a locksmith, plumber, shop owner, or service provider, these methods are tailored to your needs.

Online Marketing Without a Website

Recently, while browsing through a digital marketing group on Facebook, I came across a compelling question: “One of my clients doesn’t have a website but wants to promote their business through social media. What can we do?”

Although I typically recommend having a website from the get-go, this question prompted me to delve into the broader topic of “How to use online marketing for business growth without a website?”

Even without a website, you can successfully drive business growth through online marketing and digital strategies. For digital marketing and business promotions without a website, we will rely on social media platforms, email marketing and Google My Business (Maps). Using these free tools, we will be able to reach customers and drive our business without a website.

1. Google My Business
2. Facebook
3. Instagram
4. Online Directories & Classifieds
5. Email Marketing

Method #1: Google My Business

Google My Business, or Google Maps as customers see it, is one of the top sources for driving online customers for FREE.

If you’ve ever searched for a local business or local keywords, like “restaurant in New York” or “Cafe in Delhi,” you’ve likely noticed the map listings that appear alongside search results. Local businesses and relevant map listings appear in the map pack.

Surprisingly, one of the simplest ways to attract customers is to secure a spot in the Google Maps pack for your desired keywords.

Here’s how to get your business listed on Google Maps / My Business:

1. Go to Google My Business (GMB)
2. Create a new Google account (or use existing) and then you will be taken to the new Google My Business listing creation page (or go back to Google My Business and login)
3. Enter your business name and address. For the exact map location, position a marker on the location of your business. If your business doesn’t have a physical location but works in a service area, you can list the area instead. Then, click Next. You could choose if you want your business location to appear on Google Maps.
4. If your business has a real shop or office address where people can visit, enter the correct business address. Click Next. List your service areas, then click Next.
5. Search for and select a primary business category. You can also select any specific category as appropriate for the listing. Click Next.
6. Enter a phone number and/or website URL for your business, and click Finish.
7. Select a verification option. Almost everyone has the option to receive a postcard at the listed address for verification. For some listings or accounts, phone verification is also accepted. The listing does not become active without verification. So, only use a real address where you can receive letters.
8. Within a week or so, you will receive the verification code from Google My Business through an envelope. Log in to Google My Business, go to the specific listing and verify the location by entering the code received. Your listing is verified and ready to appear in search & map results.
9. Now, let’s create a short name for it. This will give us a short URL link such as https://g.page/MyAwesomeBusiness. Open the location in Google My Business. From the menu, click Info and then Add short name. Enter your desired custom name. You can enter up to 32 characters. Try to use the right name for your business or brand. Click Apply. Your short name will show as pending, and when it’s ready, it’ll show on your Business Profile.
10. Create your business website using Google My Business. When you log in to GMB and go to the verified location,  you will find a “Website” menu in the sidebar. Click on this menu to start the process. Add the details, posts, etc and publish your free business website.

To benefit from GMB, you need to promote and share it. Simply adding a listing is never enough. You must have a regular post schedule, keep responding to comments and reviews and engage with your customers.

1. Publish Posts: To keep your GMB fresh, keep adding new posts. For this go to the location page in GMB, and click Posts from the menu. Add photos or videos to the posts. Create any offers or deals that you might have for the business. As each post expires after 7 days, you must publish at least one post each week, or 4 posts each month.
2. Get Reviews: Once your GMB location is verified and active, boost it with real reviews and ratings. Ask your customers, friends and family members to review your new listing. If you have created a short URL, it is more easy to share your business location with others for review. It must be an ongoing process.
3. Respond & Engage: When anyone leaves a review, don’t forget to respond. Leave your response to all reviews received.

If you do it right, your business should start getting new customers and queries from Google Maps within a few weeks. Keep your GMB activity on your priority list for best results.

Method #2: Facebook Page

For businesses like restaurants, cafes, and similar establishments, Facebook can be a powerful tool for local promotion.

Simply, create a page for your business on Facebook. Promote and share as much as you can.

Here’s how to create a page for your business on Facebook.

1. Log in to your Facebook account
2. Go to https://www.facebook.com/pages/
3. Click on the Create Page link
4. Fill in the correct details, add a professional logo and header image
5. Set up your page by selecting the right page template (service, store, etc) and add your products or services with catchy title, description and images
6. Once your page is ready, add an introductory post
7. Share your new business page with friends for likes
8. Get as many people to like your page and ask them to leave reviews / recommendations
9. Set up the messaging options for your page. Go to the Settings menu of your page, and click on the “Messaging” option in the menu. Set up the available options such as automatically sending a response to all messages received, etc.
10. Keep your Facebook audience engaged with latest photos, videos, albums, products and other stuff. Promote your Facebook page as much as you can.

Once you have your Facebook page ready, you can start with free promotions by sharing it within your network of people. You can also ask your customers to like and review your business on Facebook.

You can also use Facebook Ads to reach a local target audience if you have a budget. Ensure your ads are well-optimized for the best results.

Method #3: Instagram for Business

Instagram is an excellent platform for businesses targeting a younger demographic. It’s primarily a visual medium and can help in reaching customers for local businesses such as restaurants, cafes, pubs, local developers, etc.

1. Install Instagram on your smart phone and sign up with your phone number. Try to use the cellular or home network for Internet to avoid automatic deactivation of your account. If it happens, log in to your account, and click on the help / information option when you get the deactivation popup message. You will reach a page showing the reason and there you will find a link to request a review of the deactivation. When you file for a review, choose the “Personal account” option if you do not have any legal incorporation, utility bill or proof of business ownership to avoid problem. You will be required to send a verification photo and within a few days the account should get activated. You can also ask for Instagram deactivated account help here: https://help.instagram.com/contact/606967319425038
2. Once you have your account active, publish one visual image post with a short description. Start by following a few friends. Don’t go on any mass activity for a few days.
3. Convert your personal account into a business account. For this, go to your profile page (user icon on the bar) and tap in the upper right corner. Tap Settings. Locate the Account menu and tap on it. You will find an option saying “Switch to Professional Account”. Tap on it and Tap Business. If you have a Facebook page for your business, you can link the Facebook Page associated with your business. This step is optional, but recommended. Add your business details, such as your business category, phone and email. Tap Done.

Once you have your Instagram profile ready, start by publishing “unique” images and videos. Do not spam by posting same content repeatedly. It’s against Instagram guidelines.

Optimize your Instagram posts with attractive images, banners and videos. Follow relevant accounts and influencers who matter to your business. Follow a post schedule based on the activity time of your potential customers. Use locations with posts for better reach.

Method #4: Online Directories & Classifieds

Online directories and classifieds websites such as Yelp and Angi can be effective in reaching customers. Apart from Facebook and Instagram, social platforms such as LinkedIn, Medium, and Quora are particularly useful for professional services like consulting.

Consider using free business directories such as Yelp (in the US) and JustDial (in India) to expand your reach without a website.

Method # 5: Email Marketing

Email marketing is another potent tool. You can start by sending mass emails using paid online tools or personalized cold emails through Gmail. Just be cautious not to overstep Gmail’s limitations to avoid landing in the spam folder.

With these strategies, you can kickstart your digital marketing journey without the need for a website, reaching and engaging potential customers effectively.

Get Your Business Website

Even though this article is about online marketing without a website, I strongly recommend that you invest in a business website. You don’t have to spend a lot of money.

Get your business web address or domain name. It’s indispensable. You can delay building a website but don’t launch your business without registering a domain name. The domain name of your business will be its online identity and address. Ownership of a domain name is with you as long as you pay its annual charges. Always renew before time and keep your domain name active. Losing your business website domain name is a disaster you want to avoid. It’s like letting someone takeover your storefront.

What’s a domain name? When you visit a website, the web address that you type in the web browser is the domain name. For this website, that’s speckygeek.com.