How to Advertise Your Business (Complete 2026 Guide)
You started a business to serve customers, not to become a professional marketer.
But here you are — trying to figure out how to advertise your business while running the actual business. Juggling social media accounts, wondering if Google Ads is worth it, and getting DMs from “marketing gurus” who promise the moon but deliver nothing.
Sound familiar?
Here’s the uncomfortable truth about advertisement on business: most advice you’ll find online is written by people who’ve never actually grown a business. They’re regurgitating the same tired tips — “post on social media,” “try email marketing,” “network at events” — without telling you what actually works in 2025.
We’re going to fix that.
At Fuel Results, we’ve generated over $57 million in trackable revenue for service businesses. We’ve maintained 100% client retention since 2022. And we’ve learned exactly what separates advertising that makes the phone ring from advertising that just burns cash.
This guide will show you how to advertise a new business — or an established one — using strategies that actually generate leads, customers, and revenue. No fluff. No theory. Just what works.
Before You Spend a Dollar on Advertising
The biggest mistake new business owners make? They start running ads before they’re ready to handle the leads.
Imagine this: You spend $2,000 on Google Ads. The phone starts ringing. But your website looks like it was built in 2008, you don’t have a system to track leads, and by the time you call people back, they’ve already hired your competitor.
That’s not an advertising problem. That’s a foundation problem.
Before you advertise your business, make sure you have these three things in place:
1. A Website That Actually Converts
The average website converts at 2-5% of visitors. Our clients’ websites convert at 54%.
That’s not a typo. When your website is built for conversion — not just aesthetics — it turns 10x more visitors into leads.
Your website needs:
- Clear messaging that speaks to your customer’s problem
- Trust signals (reviews, certifications, case studies)
- Multiple ways to contact you (phone, form, chat)
- Mobile optimization (60%+ of traffic is mobile)
- Fast load times (every second of delay costs you 7% in conversions)
2. A System to Capture and Follow Up With Leads
Here’s a stat that should terrify you: 78% of customers buy from the company that responds first.
Not the best company. Not the cheapest company. The fastest company.
If a lead fills out your form at 9 PM and you don’t respond until the next morning, they’ve probably already talked to three competitors.
You need:
- A CRM to track every lead (even a simple one)
- Automated text/email follow-up within 5 minutes
- A process to call leads back the same day
3. A Clear Understanding of Your Ideal Customer
“Everyone” is not your customer. And if you try to advertise to everyone, you’ll connect with no one.
Before running any ads, answer these questions:
- Who is your most profitable customer?
- What problem are they trying to solve?
- Where do they hang out online?
- What words do they use to describe their problem?
- What objections do they have before buying?
The more specific you can be, the more effective your advertising will be.
The 7 Most Effective Ways to Advertise Your Business in 2025
Now that your foundation is solid, let’s talk about the actual advertising strategies that work. We’re ranking these by ROI potential for service businesses.
Strategy #1: Google Ads (Search)
Best for: Businesses with customers actively searching for solutions
ROI Potential: High (our clients average 312% ROI in 90 days)
Google Ads puts you in front of people who are actively searching for what you sell.Someone types “plumber near me” or “personal injury lawyer” — and your ad appears.
That’s the power of intent-based advertising. You’re not interrupting people; you’re answering their question.
What it costs: $1-$50+ per click depending on your industry. Competitive industries like law, insurance, and home services are expensive — but the leads are worth more too.
The catch: Google Ads is easy to waste money on. Without proper keyword targeting, negative keywords, and conversion tracking, you can blow through $5,000 with nothing to show for it.
Our recommendation: Start with a small budget ($1,000-2,000/month) targeting your highest-intent keywords. Track everything. Scale what works.
Strategy #2: Local SEO & Google Business Profile
Best for: Any business serving a local area
ROI Potential: Very High (free organic traffic)
When someone searches “HVAC repair [your city]” or “best dentist near me,” Google shows a map with three local businesses. This is the Local Pack — and it’s prime real estate. — and it’s prime real estate.
Getting into those top 3 spots means free, high-intent leads every single day.
How to dominate local search:
- Claim and fully optimize your Google Business Profile
- Get consistent reviews (quantity AND quality matter)
- Build local citations (directories, chamber of commerce, etc.)
- Post regular updates to your GBP
- Ensure your NAP (Name, Address, Phone) is consistent everywhere
We’ve helped clients book 10-20 high-value calls per week just from Local Pack visibility.
Strategy #3: Facebook & Instagram Ads
Best for: Building awareness and reaching people before they’re actively searching
ROI Potential: High (when done right)
Facebook and Instagram ads work differently than Google.. Instead of catching people searching, you’re interrupting their scroll with something compelling.
The magic is in the targeting. You can reach people based on demographics, interests, behaviors, and even life events. Recently engaged? Facebook knows. Just moved to a new house? Instagram knows.
What makes Facebook/Instagram ads work:
- Scroll-stopping creative (video performs best)
- An offer that gives people a reason to act NOW
- A landing page that matches the ad’s promise
- Retargeting to bring back people who didn’t convert the first time
One of our clients generated $630,000 in revenue from just $4,127 in ad spend using Facebook ads. That’s a 152:1 return. (Results not typical, but possible with the right strategy.)
Strategy #4: SEO & Content Marketing
Best for: Long-term, sustainable traffic growth
ROI Potential: Very High (compounds over time)
SEO is the art and science of getting your website to rank in Google’s organic (non-paid) results. Unlike ads, you don’t pay per click — the traffic is “free” once you rank.
The investment is in creating content that Google (and your customers) find valuable.
In 2025, SEO has changed significantly. Google’s AI Overviews now appear in up to 84% of certain searches. That means ranking on page one isn’t enough anymore — you need to be cited in Google’s AI summaries too.
What this means for your business: Focus on creating genuinely helpful content that demonstrates expertise. Write for humans first, search engines second. And make sure your technical SEO (site speed, mobile optimization, schema markup) is solid.
Strategy #5: Email Marketing
Best for: Nurturing leads and getting repeat business
ROI Potential: Very High ($36-42 returned for every $1 spent)
Email is the most underrated advertising channel for service businesses.
Why? Because you own your email list. Unlike social media followers (which can disappear if the platform changes its algorithm), your email list is yours.
How to use email effectively:
- Build a list by offering something valuable (guide, checklist, discount)
- Send regular value-first emails (not just promotions)
- Segment your list based on interests and behaviors
- Automate follow-up sequences for new leads
Strategy #6: Referral Marketing
Best for: Businesses with happy customers
ROI Potential: Extremely High (lowest cost per acquisition)
Word-of-mouth referrals are the holy grail of advertising. A referred customer already trusts you (because their friend recommended you), converts faster, and typically has higher lifetime value.
The problem? Most businesses leave referrals to chance.
How to systematize referrals:
- Ask at the right moment (right after delivering a great result)
- Make it easy (provide exact language they can use)
- Offer an incentive (discount, gift card, or donation to charity)
- Follow up and thank them when they refer
Strategy #7: Social Media (Organic)
Best for: Building brand awareness and trust over time
ROI Potential: Medium-High (takes time but builds lasting relationships)
Let’s be honest: organic social media reach has tanked. The days of posting something and having it reach thousands of people for free are mostly over.
But social media still matters — just not in the way most businesses use it.
The right approach: Use social media to build trust and credibility, not to generate direct leads. Share behind-the-scenes content, customer success stories, and educational tips that position you as an expert.
The platforms that matter most in 2025:
- TikTok/Instagram Reels — Short-form video dominates
- YouTube — Long-form content for building deep trust
- LinkedIn — B2B and professional services
- Facebook Groups — Community building and local businesses
How to Choose the Right Advertising Strategy for Your Business
You don’t need to do all seven strategies. In fact, trying to do everything is the fastest way to fail at everything.
Here’s how to prioritize:
If you need leads NOW: Start with Google Ads. You’ll pay per click, but you’ll get in front of people actively searching for your service.
If you’re a local business: Prioritize Local SEO and Google Business Profile. It’s free and puts you in front of ready-to-buy customers.
If you have a strong offer: Test Facebook/Instagram ads. The targeting is powerful and costs are still reasonable.
If you’re playing the long game: Invest in SEO and content marketing. It takes 6-12 months to see results, but those results compound.
If you have happy customers: Build a referral system immediately. It’s the highest-ROI advertising you can do.
The Advertising Mistakes That Cost Business Owners Thousands
We’ve seen business owners waste a lot of money on advertising. Here are the most common mistakes:
Mistake #1: No Tracking
If you don’t know which ads are generating leads and which are wasting money, you’re flying blind. Every advertising campaign should have conversion tracking set up from day one.
Mistake #2: Giving Up Too Soon
Most advertising channels need 60-90 days to optimize. We’ve seen business owners quit after 2 weeks because they didn’t see immediate results. That’s like planting a seed and digging it up after 3 days to see if it’s growing.
Mistake #3: Targeting Everyone
Broad targeting feels safe, but it’s expensive. The more specific you can be about who you’re trying to reach, the lower your cost per lead will be.
Mistake #4: Ignoring the Follow-Up
Generating leads is only half the battle. If you don’t have a system to follow up quickly and consistently, you’re wasting your ad spend. The businesses that win are the ones that respond fastest and follow up longest.
Mistake #5: Doing It All Yourself
You started a business because you’re great at your craft — not because you’re a marketing expert. Trying to master Google Ads, Facebook ads, SEO, and email marketing while running your business is a recipe for burnout (and mediocre results).
Sometimes the best investment is getting help. (Not sure if your current agency is delivering? Read 5 warning signs your marketing agency isn’t working.)
How Much Should You Spend on Advertising?
The honest answer: it depends.
But here are some general guidelines:
- New businesses should allocate 12-20% of revenue to marketing
- Established businesses typically spend 6-12%
- High-growth businesses often invest 15-25%
More important than the percentage is tracking your return. If you’re spending $5,000/month on advertising and generating $50,000 in new revenue, that’s a 10:1 return — and you should probably spend more.
If you’re spending $5,000 and generating $5,000… something’s broken.
Ready to Advertise Your Business the Right Way?
Advertising can feel overwhelming. There are dozens of channels, constantly changing algorithms, and endless “gurus” promising quick fixes.
But here’s what we know after generating $57M+ in client revenue: the fundamentals work.
A website that converts. A system that follows up fast. Advertising that reaches the right people with the right message at the right time.
Get those three things right, and you’ll outperform 90% of your competitors.
If you’d like help putting it all together, we offer a free 30-minute strategy session where we’ll analyze your current marketing, identify gaps, and map out a plan to get more leads.
No contracts. No pressure. Just a real conversation about how to grow your business.
→ Apply for Your Free Strategy Session
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the best way to advertise a new business with a small budget?
Start with Google Business Profile (free) and Local SEO. Then invest whatever budget you have into Google Ads targeting your highest-intent keywords. Focus on generating a positive ROI before scaling.
How long does it take to see results from advertising?
Paid ads (Google, Facebook) can generate leads within days. SEO typically takes 3-6 months for noticeable results. The key is committing to a strategy for at least 90 days before judging its effectiveness.
Should I hire a marketing agency or do it myself?
It depends on your time, expertise, and budget. DIY can work for simple strategies, but complex campaigns (Google Ads, comprehensive SEO) often benefit from professional help. The key is finding an agency that guarantees results and doesn’t lock you into long contracts.
What’s the difference between advertising and marketing?
Marketing is the overall strategy of attracting and retaining customers. Advertising is one tactic within marketing — specifically, paid promotion of your business. Effective advertising should be part of a larger marketing strategy.
How do I know if my advertising is working?
Track three things: leads generated, cost per lead, and revenue attributed to advertising. If you’re generating quality leads at a cost that makes sense for your business, and those leads are turning into paying customers — your advertising is working.
