Offline Marketing In An Online World
Back in the day, businesses relied heavily on newspaper and tv ads to advertise their businesses. Back in the day, though, most businesses required someone to have a physical location and readily-available inventory for customers to purchase in-store.
In today’s work climate, folks are finding more and more innovative ways to conduct their business from home. Sure, big-box stores and shopping plazas still exist, but what if your business is managed completely online? How do you use good old-fashioned offline marketing strategies to promote your fully online business?
Tools
● Vendor Fairs
Vendor fairs are a tried and true method for advertising your business. If your online business promotes physical products, have some of the best-selling items available for purchase. Vendor fairs include craft markets, farmer’s markets, but they also include indoor events and are often sponsored by a non-profit business. Schools are a great example of vendor fair hosts!
● Coupon Mailers
Everybody loves to save money. Sending a coupon mailer not only gets your business name in front of more faces but, if there’s a coupon attached, potential customers are more likely to visit your company website to see what you’re all about
● TV, Radio, or Newspaper ads
Don’t forget about good old-fashioned advertisements in the newspaper or your local tv and radio stations. The internet is heavily saturated with advertisements but folks still watch tv and listen to the radio.
● Send Free Samples
Who doesn’t love free things? Sending out free skincare, food, and beverage samples is a fantastic way to market your company’s product. There’s no better way to attract customers than to offer them a sample of your goodies.
● Host A Pop-up Event
Is there a big event coming to your town? Take this opportunity to host a pop-up shop to market your business or product. Do you sell clothing items? Set up shop at a street fair or farmer’s market on a weekly basis. Do you grow flowers? A corner stand can operate all summer long!
● Networking
According to The Huffington Post, “your network is your net worth”. Networking is a tried and true business marketing strategy. Getting together with other business professionals can help get your brand out there and increase profits by joining a solid group of like-minded individuals who are interested in helping everyone succeed.
● Offer Free Workshops
If feasible, offer a free workshop in your community. Are you an artist? Do a paint and sip night. Do you sell wood crafts? Teach a class at the local library. Are you a professional organizer? Offer to showcase some of your skills to a group of moms.
● Business Cards
Don’t forget about business cards. They’re easy to carry around and pass out wherever and whenever the opportunity arises. Make sure your business card is easy on the eyes. It should include your company name, contact information, and a little blurb about what your company offers. A bonus to using business cards is that you can also print a coupon on them!
● Promotional Products
Setting up a booth at a vendor or job fair? Have a stack of stickers, magnets, or pens available with your company’s name and website or phone number on them. Again, EVERYONE loves free stuff.
● Job Fairs
Speaking of booths, take advantage of community job fairs. You can find these opportunities at libraries or colleges, and they offer prime real estate to market your business as an entrepreneur. Job fairs also offer a platform to network.
● Cross-Promote
Cross-promoting is the art of joining forces to benefit two or more businesses. Know someone who has a business that offers a product that is aligned with yours? For example, if you are a personal trainer and have a friend who sells workout performance drinks or snacks, why not join forces and promote each other’s products?
● Word Of Mouth
If all else fails, nothing spreads faster than gossip. Talk your business up to anyone who will listen and eventually, someone will hear from their great Aunt Sally, whose best friend’s son-in-law said they heard about this great product for such and such. That someone is your next potential customer and such and such product is YOUR product and now, you’ve got yourself a fan base.
When promoting an online business, it’s often difficult to see the opportunities that exist outside the realm of the internet. Use these tried and true offline marketing strategies to your advantage and start growing your customer base today!