How to Publicise Your Business in the UK: Real-World Tips That Work

You’ve set up your business, sorted the logo, maybe even printed some flyers — but now you’re faced with the big question: how do you actually get people to notice you? Publicising your business isn’t just about shouting into the void and hoping someone hears. It’s about getting the right kind of attention from the right people in a way that actually leads to customers. Here’s how it works.

What Does “Publicising a Business” Actually Mean?

To publicise your business is to actively promote it — making people aware it exists, what it offers, and why they should care. It’s not the same as marketing in the deep, strategic sense. Publicity is about visibility. It’s what gets your name out there — online, offline, locally or globally — so you’re no longer a well-kept secret.

This could mean everything from social media posts and Google listings to press coverage, word of mouth, or being the face people keep seeing at local networking events. The goal is simple: be known.

How Does Publicity Work?

Publicity works by planting your business in the minds of people who might want what you offer. That can happen in many ways — maybe someone hears about you from a friend, spots you in the local paper, stumbles across your website, or sees your TikTok on their lunch break. Each touchpoint adds to your visibility, and ideally, builds enough familiarity and trust for someone to actually give you their money.

Good publicity often blends paid, earned, and organic efforts. Paid means ads — social, Google, print — anything you fork out for. Earned is when others talk about you — press, bloggers, influencers. Organic is what you do yourself for free — social posts, networking, community involvement. All three help, but the trick is picking the ones that fit your audience and budget.

Understanding Your Audience First

Before you start waving your business around like a sparkler on Bonfire Night, stop and ask: who am I actually trying to reach? Publicising your dog-walking service in a Facebook group for cat lovers probably won’t get you far.

Knowing your audience — where they hang out, what they read, what social platforms they use — makes your efforts sharper and more cost-effective. If your customers are 60+, a TikTok campaign might miss. If they’re 25 and glued to Instagram, the Yellow Pages won’t cut it.

Possible Ways to Publicise Your Business

Start with the basics. Make sure your business has a presence where people expect to find it: a website (even a simple one), a Google Business Profile, and social media accounts that reflect your brand. These aren’t optional anymore — they’re the bare minimum.

From there, think local. Join community Facebook groups, post in local forums, put up posters in cafés and noticeboards (still surprisingly effective), and get involved in local events or markets. People love supporting local businesses, but they need to know you exist first.

Press can help, too. A decent press release to local papers, radio stations, or industry blogs can get you free exposure — especially if there’s a story behind your launch. Journalists are always looking for interesting angles, not just ads in disguise.

Don’t underestimate partnerships. Team up with other small businesses for mutual promotion. A café and a florist. A gym and a nutritionist. A dog groomer and a dog walker. Shared audiences mean shared exposure — with no extra spend.

Possible Advantages

Publicising your business properly gives you visibility — and visibility leads to credibility. If people keep seeing your name in the right places, they start to trust it. It also creates momentum. The more people know you, the more they talk about you, and the easier it becomes to attract customers, clients, or press attention.

Done right, it can generate leads without constant paid advertising. A strong online presence or community reputation can bring in business on autopilot, while you focus on doing the work.

Possible Disadvantages

Bad publicity — or worse, wasted effort — can drain your energy and budget. If you’re shouting in the wrong places, it’s not just unproductive, it’s demoralising. Not every platform suits every business, and not every audience responds the same way.

It also takes time. Building visibility doesn’t happen overnight. If you stop too early or bounce between tactics too fast, you risk doing lots of things badly instead of a few things well.

And while publicity is important, it’s not everything. If your product or service isn’t up to scratch, all the attention in the world won’t keep customers coming back.

In Summary

Publicising your business is about more than just posting a few tweets and hoping for the best. It’s about getting seen, heard, and remembered by the right people in the right places. Start with the basics, stay consistent, and tailor your efforts to your audience — and you’ll go from unknown to unavoidable in no time.