Marketing Tools For Small Business: 10 Free Tools We Actually Use
Running a small business means doing a lot with a little. The good news is that some of the best marketing tools for small business owners are free, or have a free plan that covers everything you need to get started.
These are the marketing tools we use every day at Business Mate to run our own marketing and our clients’ marketing. For each one you’ll find what it does, who it’s for and how to get the most out of it.
Some links in this article are partner links. If you sign up through them you may unlock an offer, such as a discount or a longer free trial, and we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend tools we use ourselves.
10 Best Marketing Tools For Small Business At A Glance
| Tool | Best for | Free option |
|---|---|---|
| Canva | Social posts, flyers and graphics | Free plan, Pro free trial |
| Google Business Profile | Getting found on Google Maps | Completely free |
| Mailchimp | Email marketing and newsletters | Free plan |
| Cal.com | Online bookings and calls | Free plan, 20% off paid plans |
| tl;dv | AI meeting notes | Free plan, 30% off Pro |
| Semrush | Keyword research and SEO | Free account and free trial |
| Google Search Console and Analytics | Tracking your website | Completely free |
| Ahrefs Webmaster Tools | Website health and backlinks | Free for your own site |
| Meta Business Suite | Scheduling Facebook and Instagram posts | Completely free |
| CookieYes | Cookie consent banner | Free plan, 10% off first paid plan |
1. Canva: Free Design Tool For Social Media And Print
Canva lets you create professional-looking social media posts, carousels, flyers, menus, presentations and more without any design experience. You start from a template, swap in your text, colours and photos, and download.
- Best for: social media graphics, flyers, posters and simple videos.
- Tip: set up your logo, brand colours and fonts once, so every design looks consistent.
- Free option: the free plan covers most small business needs. Canva Pro adds features like one-click resizing and background removal.
Try Canva Pro free through our link.
2. Google Business Profile: Free Local Marketing On Google
If customers can visit you, or you serve a local area, Google Business Profile is the most valuable free marketing tool you can have. It puts your business on Google Maps and in local search results, with your reviews, photos, opening hours and contact details.
- Best for: local businesses, shops, trades, restaurants and service businesses.
- Tip: add new photos and a Google post regularly, and reply to every review.
- Free option: completely free.
Follow our step-by-step guide on how to set up a Google Business Profile.
3. Mailchimp: Free Email Marketing Tool
Your email list is the one audience you own. Social media platforms can change what your followers see, but an email lands in the inbox. Mailchimp makes it easy to collect sign-ups on your website and send good-looking newsletters and offers.
- Best for: newsletters, offers and welcome emails for new subscribers.
- Tip: set up an automatic welcome email so every new subscriber hears from you straight away.
- Free option: a free plan to get started, with paid plans as your list grows.
Start with Mailchimp for free.
4. Cal.com: Free Online Booking Tool
Back-and-forth emails to find a meeting time cost you time and sometimes cost you the customer. Cal.com gives you a booking link that shows your availability, so clients can book a call or appointment in seconds. It connects to your calendar and video tools.
- Best for: consultants, coaches, service businesses and anyone who takes calls or appointments.
- Tip: put your booking link on your website, your email signature and your Instagram bio.
- Free option: a free plan for individuals. Our link gives you 20% off paid plans.
Get Cal.com with 20% off paid plans.
5. tl;dv: Free AI Meeting Recorder And Notes
tl;dv records your Zoom, Google Meet and Microsoft Teams calls and writes AI notes and summaries for you. Instead of scribbling notes during a client call, you can focus on the conversation and get the key points and actions afterwards.
- Best for: sales calls, client meetings and team catch-ups.
- Tip: always let people know a call is being recorded.
- Free option: a free plan. Our link gives you 30% off tl;dv Pro.
6. Semrush: Keyword Research And SEO Tool
Semrush shows you what your customers are searching for on Google, which keywords your competitors rank for and what to fix on your website. It now also helps you track how your business appears in AI search tools. It’s one of the main tools we use for our clients’ SEO.
- Best for: keyword research, competitor research, site audits and blog ideas.
- Tip: look up two or three local competitors and see which searches bring them visitors. That’s your list of content ideas.
- Free option: a free account with a limited number of searches, plus a free trial of the paid plans.
Start your Semrush free trial.
7. Google Search Console And Google Analytics: Free Website Tracking
Google Search Console shows which searches bring people to your website and flags problems Google finds. Google Analytics shows what visitors do once they arrive. Together they tell you what’s working, so you stop guessing.
- Best for: every business with a website.
- Tip: check Search Console once a month for pages that get lots of impressions but few clicks. Improving their titles is a quick win.
- Free option: both are completely free.
8. Ahrefs Webmaster Tools: Free SEO Health Check
Ahrefs Webmaster Tools lets you audit your own website for SEO issues and see which other websites link to you. Once you verify your site, it runs regular checks and tells you what to fix.
- Best for: finding broken links, missing page titles and other technical issues.
- Free option: free for websites you own.
9. Meta Business Suite: Free Social Media Scheduling
Meta Business Suite lets you plan and schedule posts and stories for your Facebook Page and Instagram account in one place. You can also see your messages, comments and basic results together.
- Best for: businesses focused on Facebook and Instagram.
- Tip: set aside one hour a week to schedule the following week’s posts in one go.
- Free option: completely free.
Running ads too? Read our Meta Ads Manager guide.
10. CookieYes: Free Cookie Consent Banner
If your website uses analytics or advertising cookies, UK rules mean visitors need to be able to accept or reject them. CookieYes adds a cookie banner to your site and scans which cookies you use, so you don’t have to work it out yourself.
- Best for: any website using Google Analytics, a Meta pixel or similar tools.
- Free option: a free plan for smaller sites. Our link gives you 10% off your first paid plan.
Two Paid Tools Worth Considering
Free tools take you a long way, but these two are worth paying for once you’re ready:
- Hostinger: fast, affordable website hosting and domains. Get up to 20% off your first order.
- Google Workspace: a professional email address with your domain name, plus Drive, Docs and Meet. Start a 14-day free trial.
How To Choose The Right Marketing Tools For Your Small Business
More tools don’t mean better marketing. Start with the basics and add tools only when you have a clear job for them:
- Get found: Google Business Profile and Google Search Console.
- Look professional: Canva for your graphics and a booking link with Cal.com.
- Stay in touch: Mailchimp for your email list and Meta Business Suite for social media.
- Grow: Semrush for SEO and content ideas once the basics are in place.
Tools save time, but they don’t create a strategy. If you would rather have someone plan and run your marketing for you, take a look at our small business SEO services or our list of marketing ideas for small businesses.
Want Help Setting Up Your Marketing Tools?
We set up and run these tools for small businesses every day, from Google Business Profiles to email campaigns and SEO. Book a free 20-minute call and we’ll tell you which tools you need and which you can skip, or get in touch.
Marketing Tools For Small Business: FAQs
What are the best free marketing tools for small business?
For most small businesses, the best free marketing tools are Google Business Profile for local search, Canva for design, Mailchimp for email, Cal.com for bookings, Google Search Console for website data and Meta Business Suite for scheduling social media posts.
Can a small business do marketing for free?
Yes, you can cover the basics for free: a Google Business Profile, regular social media posts, an email newsletter and a website that’s tracked in Google Search Console. The main cost is your time, which is why many businesses use paid tools or an agency as they grow.
What is the best free tool for social media marketing?
Canva is the best free tool for creating social media content, and Meta Business Suite is the best free tool for scheduling posts to Facebook and Instagram.
Is Semrush free?
Semrush has a free account with a limited number of searches each day, and a free trial of its paid plans. It’s a good way to try keyword and competitor research before committing.
Are there AI marketing tools for small business?
Yes. Several tools on this list now include AI features, such as tl;dv’s AI meeting notes and Canva’s AI design tools. Used well, they save hours every week on admin and content.
