Use Community Notice Boards to Promote Local Business

Why notice boards are still worth using

When people plan how to advertise a business, the community notice board is often forgotten. It does not have the reach of online advertising or the profile of a local newspaper, but it is seen by people who live, work and shop nearby. For many small businesses, those are exactly the customers that matter.

A board in a café, school or community venue may help you reach local regulars, including people who might recommend your business to others. Costs are usually low, so a well-placed notice is a modest way to find out whether local advertising suits you.

Finding the right boards

The simplest way to find notice boards in your area is to walk around and look. Common places include:

• newsagents and corner shops, which often use their windows for cards
• cafés, bakeries, chip shops and other independent businesses
• supermarkets, many of which have a community board near the entrance or exit
• public libraries, community centres and village halls
• leisure centres, sports clubs and places of worship
• boards run by parish or town councils

The people who run these places will often know where other boards are, so it is worth asking. Check the conditions before you print anything, because not every board accepts business adverts. Some are free, some charge a small weekly fee, and some only take notices from charities or community groups. Doctors' surgeries and schools, for example, may have strict rules about commercial notices. Ask about the permitted size, how long a notice can stay up, whether it needs approval, and who puts notices up and takes them down.

Look at what each board tends to carry. Some are mostly rooms to let or items for sale, while others focus on events, classes or local services. You do not need an exact match, but a board that already attracts people looking for services like yours will usually work better.

Many areas also have online equivalents, such as local Facebook groups or Nextdoor. These can sit alongside physical boards, but each has its own rules on business promotion and posting, so read them first.

Your situation may be slightly different. ask a question below ↓ and our editorial team will reply with our advice.

Making a notice people will read

A busy board may hold dozens of cards, so yours needs to be clear at a glance. Keep it simple:

• a short headline that says what you offer
• a few lines on what makes your service useful, such as the area you cover or your opening hours
• a clear next step, such as "Call for a quote" or "Book online"
• contact details, ideally a phone number and a website or email address
• a plain typeface, good contrast and text large enough to read from a step or two away

A QR code can be a useful extra, but it should sit alongside a phone number or web address rather than replace them. Tear-off strips let people take your number without needing a pen, although they will not work on a locked board. Outdoors, a plastic sleeve gives some protection from the weather, though it may not keep out all moisture. Think about what personal information you share: a business phone number is usually better than a home address.

Business adverts on notice boards must comply with relevant advertising and consumer protection law. They will generally also fall under the CAP Code, which is written by the Committee of Advertising Practice and administered by the Advertising Standards Authority. Keep claims accurate and not misleading, and hold evidence for objective claims before publishing them. Make any important prices, conditions or restrictions clear.

If people get in touch, explain how you will use their details and keep them secure. An enquiry does not automatically give you permission to send future marketing emails or texts, as separate direct-marketing rules may apply. The Information Commissioner's Office publishes guidance on both.

Keeping your notices working

Notices fade, get covered up or fall down, so check them regularly. Replace anything that looks tired, and remove offers or event details once they are out of date so people are not contacting you about things you no longer offer.

It helps to know which boards are bringing in customers. You can ask new customers how they heard about you, or use a different offer or reference on each notice. Not everyone remembers where they saw you, and some will have seen more than one notice, but over time this can help you decide which boards are worth using.

Use boards or display spaces where the owner or operator has agreed to your notice. Putting posters on lampposts, walls or other property without permission may count as fly-posting, and councils can take action. Permission from the owner is separate from planning rules. For outdoor displays, check whether advertisement consent or other permission is needed. Size is not the only consideration, as location, illumination and the type of advert can also matter. Ask your local council or consult the planning guidance for your UK nation.

Notice boards can be an inexpensive way to test local advertising, particularly where your offer suits the people using the venue.