5 Digital Advertsing Services Every SMB Should Use

Running a small or medium-sized business (SMB) comes with its fair share of challenges — especially when it comes to marketing.

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You need to get your brand not just in front of an audience but in front of the right audience at the right time. But it’s easier said than done, we know. With factors like time, limited budget, and thinly-stretched resources getting in the way, putting your brand in front of the right set of eyes can be difficult.

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But it doesn’t have to be completely overwhelming! That’s where digital advertising comes in!

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Unlike traditional advertising methods, which usually come with hefty price tags and only offer broad, scattershot targeting, digital advertising allows SMBs to reach specific audiences, keep costs under control, and track performance in real time!

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The trick is … how do you know which kind of digital advertising services are the right ones for your SMB?

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If that’s the question on your mind, friend, then today’s blog is for you. In this guide, we’ll break down the best digital advertising services for SMBs to give you a clear roadmap for launching the kind of digital ad campaigns that drive results and boost your bottom line!

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Let’s dive in!

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Why is Digital Advertising So Important for SMBs?

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Making your every marketing dollar count is important for any business, but especially for SMBs 

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Unlike larger enterprises and corporations that have huge ad budgets and extensive resources, SMBs need to be strategic with their budgets and making sure their investments generate good results is an excellent place to start.

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That’s exactly why digital advertising has become a game-changer.

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Here are a few more reasons why digital advertising is essential for SMBs in any industry:

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• Cost-Effective Marketing – Digital ads let you set your budget and only pay for actual results, whether that’s clicks, impressions, or conversions. This avoids spending big money on traditional ads and just hoping for a good ROI.
• Targeted Reach – Instead of casting a wide net, digital advertising allows you to target your ideal customers based on things like demographics, interests, behaviors, and location.
• Measurable Performance – Unlike traditional advertising, digital campaigns provide real-time data and analytics, which helps you fine-tune your ads for better performance.
• Scalability – Whether you’re a local shop or an eCommerce brand, digital ads can grow with your business. You can start small and scale up as you see results.
• Competitive Edge – Digital advertising helps level the playing field, even against much bigger brands, allowing you to reach and engage your audience.

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The Best Digital Advertising Services for SMBs

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If your brand is a SMB looking to increase your visibility, generate more leads, and drive sales, digital advertising isn’t an option — it's a must! 

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But not all digital advertising platforms are created equally. The right ad service can make all the difference in reaching your ideal customers, maximizing your budget, and getting the results you’re after.

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With that said, let’s explore the best digital advertising services to help your SMB succeed.

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1. Google Ads

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These days, when people need anything — information, a product, a service, or even to settle a bet — they Google it.

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They’re a reason the search engine giant’s name has become synonymous with searching for anything online! And it overwhelming popularity is why Google Ads is a must-have for SMBs.

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With multiple ad formats available, Google Ads is an indispensable tool to help your business boost its visibility, drive more traffic to your website, and increase your sales and revenue. 

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Let’s explore some Google Ad options now:

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• Search Ads — Search ads are the ads that appear at the top of Google search results when potential customers are actively searching for your product or service. Perfect for capturing high-intent leads!
• Display Ads — Display ads or banner ads that show up across the top and sides of millions of websites, YouTube videos, and mobile apps. Great for brand awareness and retargeting.
• Shopping Ads — These ads showcase your product images, prices, and descriptions directly in search results, making them ideal for eCommerce businesses looking to attract customers who are ready to spend.
• YouTube Ads — YouTube ads let you reach a massive audience with skippable and non-skippable video ads that let you tell your story through the power of video (more on this in a bit!).
• Local Service Ads — Designed for service-based businesses, these ads appear at the top of search results and only charge you for leads, not just clicks.

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2. Meta Ads

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When your audience isn’t busy Googling, odds are pretty good that they’re busy scrolling through social media.

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And if your target audience spends their time on Facebook and Instagram, then Meta Ads are a powerhouse. With billions of active users, Meta’s advertising platform is a highly effective way to connect with targeted audiences and drive real engagement. 

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Whether the goal is to boost brand awareness, increase your web traffic, or generate sales, Meta Ads gives you the tools you need to reach the right people at the right time.

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Here are some features of Meta Ads you might like:

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• Image Ads — Simple but effective, Image Ads let you showcase your product or service with a single high-quality visual, perfect for grabbing attention in users’ feeds.
• Video Ads — A great way to tell a compelling story, Video Ads allow brands to engage audiences with motion, sound, and eye-catching visuals.
• Carousel Ads — Feature multiple images or videos within a single ad, letting you showcase different products, highlight key features, or tell a step-by-step brand story.
• Stories Ads — Full-screen, immersive ads that appear between Stories on Facebook and Instagram. Perfect for mobile-first engagement and quick, attention-grabbing content.
• Collection Ads — Ideal for eCommerce brands, Collection Ads feature a primary image or video with a selection of product images, making it easy for users to browse and shop directly.
• Lead Ads — Designed to capture user information without them ever leaving the platform, Lead Ads are perfect for newsletters, sign-ups, and gated content.
• Reels Ads — Short-form video ads that appear in Instagram Reels, allowing brands to tap into trending content and reach younger audiences.

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3. LinkedIn Ads

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If your audience is made up of professionals, key decision-makers, and B2B buyers, then LinkedIn is the advertising platform where you want to be.

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It’s got a huge network and target options to let you reach industry leaders, executives, and key stakeholders based on factors like job title, company size, industry, and more. The perfect place to be to increase brand awareness, generate leads, and nurture business relationships with high-value prospects in a professional setting. 

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Here are some types of LinkedIn Ad formats you might find useful:

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• Sponsored Content — Native ads that appear in users' feeds just like regular LinkedIn posts. Great for promoting blogs, videos, industry insights, or product updates while keeping engagement high.
• Message Ads (InMail) — Delivered directly to a user's inbox, Message Ads allow for personalized outreach and direct engagement. Perfect for webinar invites, event promotions, and exclusive offers.
• Text Ads — Simple, cost-effective ads that appear in the sidebar or at the top of LinkedIn pages. These are great for brand awareness, lead generation, and driving website traffic.
• Dynamic Ads — Personalized ads that automatically pull in a user’s profile data, such as their name, job title, or company, for a more tailored experience. Ideal for recruiting, event sign-ups, and B2B lead nurturing.
• Spotlight Ads — Spotlight Ads are a type of dynamic ad that drives traffic to a landing page to showcase a product, event, or service in a more personalized way. Great for highlighting specific offers or generating interest in a featured product.
• Video Ads — A powerful way to tell your brand’s story through professional, storytelling-driven video campaigns. Perfect for showcasing company culture, product demos, or customer testimonials.

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4. TikTok & YouTube Ads

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Short-form video content isn’t just a popular trend, it’s absolutely dominating digital marketing.

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Quick entertainment, product tutorials, reviews, brand storytelling — you name it, your audience is consuming it on short-form video platforms like TikTok and YouTube.

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So, if your SMB is looking to grab attention and drive conversions from a younger crowd, then advertising on these platforms is a must. TikTok’s viral potential plus YouTube’s massive reach make them huge tools for both brand awareness and direct response campaigns.

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Here are some types of ads you might be interested in trying:

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• In-Feed Ads (TikTok) — These ads pop up right in the middle of a user’s For You Page (FYP), blending in with organic content. If your video is engaging enough, users might not even realize it's an ad before they’re hooked!
• TopView Ads (TikTok) — Want to own the spotlight? TopView Ads are the first thing users see when they open TikTok, giving your brand instant, full-screen visibility.
• Branded Hashtag Challenges (TikTok) — Get users to create content for you! These challenges encourage audiences to engage, interact, and spread your brand’s message organically—because nothing beats word-of-mouth marketing with a viral twist.
• Skippable In-Stream Ads (YouTube) — These are the ads that play before, during, or after a YouTube video — but users can skip after five seconds. If your hook is strong enough, they'll stick around!
• Non-Skippable In-Stream Ads (YouTube) — You’ve got 15 seconds to make an impact—and viewers have to watch the whole thing. Perfect for brands with quick, compelling messages that demand attention.
• Bumper Ads (YouTube) — Short, 6-second non-skippable ads designed to leave a lasting impression. These are fast, punchy, and great for reinforcing brand awareness.
• YouTube Shorts Ads — Ads placed within YouTube Shorts, letting you tap into the viral energy of short-form content just like TikTok.

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5. Programmatic Advertising Services

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If you want your ads to get seen by the right audience at the right time and without having to do a whole bunch of guesswork to make it happen, then what you need is programmatic advertising.

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Programmatic advertising uses AI to place your ads across a network of websites, apps, and platforms where your ideal customers are already browsing. Instead of manually selecting where and when your ads appear, the AI will use machine learning and real-time bidding to analyze user behavior, demographics, device type, browsing history, interest, location, and even contextual relevance to determine where, when, and to whom your ads should be shown. This means better targeting, automated optimization, and improved ROI for your efforts.

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Here are some types of programmatic ads you might like:

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• Display Ads — Classic banner-style ads that show up on websites and apps, keeping your brand front and center while users browse.
• Video Ads — Programmatic video ads autoplay on websites, apps, and streaming platforms, grabbing attention with engaging, dynamic content.
• Native Ads — These blend seamlessly into the content users are already reading or watching, making them less intrusive and more engaging.
• Connected TV (CTV) Ads — Ads that appear on streaming platforms like Hulu, Roku, and smart TVs, letting you reach cord-cutters where they’re already watching content.
• Audio Ads — Programmatic ads that play on podcasts, Spotify, and digital radio, getting your brand in listeners’ ears without competing for visual attention.
• Geotargeted Ads — Uses location-based targeting to serve ads to people in specific areas, making them great for local businesses and event promotions.

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Common Mistakes SMBs Make with Digital Advertising (And How to Fix Them)

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Of course, digital advertising only helps you reach your full potential if correctly executed.

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If not … well, there are many SMBs that, despite their best efforts, fall into traps that end up draining their budget, limiting their reach, or just not getting them the meaningful results they’re looking for.

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But the good news is that these mistakes are entirely avoidable if you know what they are.

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Here are some of the biggest digital advertising mistakes SMBs make and how to fix them before they become an issue:

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1. Not Defining Clear Goals

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Many SMBs jump into digital advertising without a clear objective to start off with. 

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That’s kind of like starting a road trip without a map or a set destination. Either way, you end up lost, wasting time, and wasting money.

How to Fix It: Define specific and measurable goals before you get started. Whether it’s increasing website traffic, generating leads, or boosting sales, having a goal in place will help shape your strategy and focus your ad spend.

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2. Targeting Too Broad or Too Narrow of an Audience

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Casting a wide net might be an okay way to increase your brand’s reach, but too wide of a net can result in wasting ad spend on unqualified leads. On the other hand, targeting overly niche targeting to avoid waste can leave you with a limited reach and wasted opportunities.

How to Fix It: Use audience segmentation tools to find the right balance. Refine your targeting based on demographics, interests, and online behavior so that you’re reaching the people who actually want what you’re offering.

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3. Not Optimizing for Mobile

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Most people consume content through their smartphones. So, if your ads and landing pages aren’t mobile-friendly, you risk losing a huge chunk of potential customers.

How to Fix It: Make sure your website, landing pages, and ad creatives are optimized for mobile with fast-loading speeds, responsive design, and easy-to-click CTAs.

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4. Neglecting A/B Testing

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Running the same ad over and over without testing different variations of it is a big missed opportunity. If you don’t experiment, you’ll never know what’s actually vibing with your audience, and you won’t be able to improve future ads.

How to Fix It:  Regularly test different headlines, images, and CTAs to see what gets the best response and implement that into future ads. Even small tweaks in wording or colors can make a big difference in performance!

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5. Overlooking Analytics and Performance Metrics

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Some SMBs launch campaigns but then fail to accurately track performance. This makes it impossible to know which elements of your efforts are working and which aren’t.

How to Fix It: Use analytics tools like Google Ads, Meta Business Suite, and LinkedIn Insights to monitor key metrics like CTA, conversions, and cost-per-click so you can adjust your strategy and boost your ROI!

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6. Not Retargeting Potential Customers

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Many SMBs don’t take advantage of retargeting, which means that they lose out on warm leads who visited their website or showed interest in their product or service but didn’t convert. 

How to Fix It: Set up retargeting campaigns to re-engage the folks who clicked your ads, visited your website, or left an abandoned cart. Sometimes, all it takes is a little nudge to turn yesterday’s interest into today’s action!

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How to Choose the Best Digital Advertising Service for Your Business

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Now that you’ve seen the best digital advertising services for small and medium-sized businesses, which one (or two or three) is the right choice for you?

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Well, the key is to match your goals, budget, and target audience with the platform that will give you the best results.

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Here are some ways to narrow it down:

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• Define Your Goals — Different advertising platforms excel at different things. If you need brand awareness, Google Display Ads, Meta Ads, and YouTube Ads are great for visibility. If your goal is to generate leads and sales, Google Search Ads and LinkedIn Ads help capture high-intent buyers. For local businesses, geotargeted ads and Facebook Local Ads can put you in front of nearby customers.
• Know Your Audience — Where does your ideal customer spend their time online? If you’re targeting professionals and B2B buyers, LinkedIn Ads is your best bet. If you want to engage Gen Z and millennials, TikTok and Instagram Ads offer high engagement. If you need to reach users actively searching for solutions, Google Search Ads help you appear when they’re ready to buy.
• Consider Your Budget — If you’re working with a tight budget, start with Google Search Ads or Facebook Ads, both of which allow for small budgets with highly targeted reach. If you have more flexibility, YouTube and programmatic advertising offer broader reach and high-impact visuals but may require a larger investment to see strong returns.
• Test and Optimize — Even the best strategy needs fine-tuning. Start small and A/B test different platforms to see what resonates with your audience. Track key metrics like click-through rates (CTR), conversions, and cost-per-click (CPC) to adjust your approach and improve performance.
• Think About Scalability — If you’re looking for consistent long-term growth, Google Ads and Meta Ads allow for easy scaling as your business grows. If you prefer a hands-off approach, programmatic advertising can automate bidding, placements, and optimization for you.

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Let Designity Help You Get the Most Out of Your Digital Advertising Efforts

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Digital advertising takes quite a bit of work and expertise but, when done right, can pay off for your brand in big ways!

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But what if your brand is ready and willing to implement any of the digital advertising services we explored above, only you lack the digital marketing expertise, the creative team, and the time to get it all done?

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If that’s the case, then trust us when we say that you’re not alone.

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Brands of all sizes are turning to third-party service providers to help them manage their digital advertising efforts efficiently and effectively. And if your brand could use such a provider to do everything from creating high-quality digital ads and videos to helping you strategize and execute high-performing campaigns, then we have one more suggestion before you go:

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Why not partner with Designity?

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Designity is an innovative Creative as a Service platform that instantly connects you to top-tier graphic designers, digital marketers, social media experts, copywriters, animators, illustrators, and more, all led by a seasoned Creative Director — everyone you need to get the digital ads to help you succeed without the hassle of having to manage everything in-house.

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Check out our digital ads and social media service page and portfolio to see how Designity’s experts were just the right answer for small and medium-sized brands just like yours.

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If you like what you see, go ahead and book your demo call. We’ll get you started with a two-week, no-obligation trial so you can test-drive our services and see firsthand why Designity is the digital advertising services partner you’ve been waiting for.

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Are you ready to shake up your digital advertising strategy and get real results?