In the 21st century, marketing online, such as with Facebook, Twitter, and other social media, is the go-to for businesses. However, that doesn’t mean that traditional, as well as innovative offline marketing campaigns, should be ignored. Many people may be wondering why people still use business cards in this day and age? But it is the best way to introduce yourself to others in your industry as they are putting name to face straight away and this will make it easier to connect. Promoting your business offline is still an efficient way to get the word out about your product or service. Here are some ways to market your business off the Internet.
Pass Out Quality Business Cards
Business cards are a primary marketing tool, and they remain something that people ask for and expect you to have on hand. A well-crafted business card with an attractive design contains all of the essential information that a person needs to know, such as your company’s website, social media information, telephone number and address. Business cards should not only be given to business associates and potential customers; they should be left anywhere you can expect to attract new clients interested in your product or service, such as at restaurants, coffee shops, grocery stores, public notice boards, trade shows, community events, conferences, etc.
Invest In Eye-Catching Signs
Another powerful way to promote your business offline is with an eye-catching logo or sign. According to a FedEx Office survey, “more than half of small business owners find in-store signs and graphics effective in attracting customers to their business.” Depending on the location of your business, potential customers could pass your sign on a daily basis. Therefore, the size, colour, and readability contrast are crucial to drawing attention to our brand. One of the most useful choices for logos and signs in today’s world is the laser cutting technology. It produces high precision and quality results making everything stand out and giving you a leg-up on your competition.
Invest In Free Branded Merchandise
After you’ve crafted your brand, your job is to get your brand out as widely as possible. One of the offline marketing strategies that is effective is passing out branded merchandise. These can come in many forms, such as magnets, pens, water bottles, coffee mugs, keyrings, calendars and more. The goal is not to charge for these items, but to pass them out for free at trade shows, conferences, and community events. People appreciate getting something for free and with your brand displayed on the items, you’re advertising.
Pay Attention To Your Packaging
The visual plays a vital role in offline marketing, and one of the most useful tools is unique packaging. If yours is a company that sells physical goods, paying close attention to the way you’re presenting your product builds popularity and brand awareness. An attractively packaged product draws customer attention and stands out on shelves. Study the packaging of products by top companies for inspiration on how to do it right and then use that inspiration to improve your method.
Attend Trade Shows And Community Events
A trade show or a community event is an excellent opportunity to promote your brand. So be sure to attend those that relate to your product or service. For example, if you are a business that sells sailboats, it’s essential for you to attend boat shows or public events that are associated with boating. Not only will you be advertising your business, but you’ll be promoting to a targeted market of boaters and boating enthusiasts. Alternatively, if you operate an IT outsourcing business, then identifying the best conferences for managed service providers and arranging to attend would be an effective course of action. Many trade shows and community events happen yearly, and if you make it a point to attend every year, you build up a reputation, a local presence, and familiarity. People are comfortable with supporting a business that they have come to know. These events are not only useful for promoting; they’re great for networking. Getting to know your competition is good for educational opportunities for your brand as well as building business relationships and the potential for new customers.
Offer Free Help And Seminars
One of the primary rules of attracting customers is to solve a problem or an issue they may have. Offering free help and seminars is an effective way to do that. For example, if you are a business that sells a household cleaning product, you could give free demonstrations and information seminars at grocery stores on how your product can make household cleaning easier. Chances are after seeing your product at work, some people may be interested in buying your product. It’s also highly useful to offer discount coupons and other incentives while you are demonstrating your product.
You may feel that offline marketing campaigns will only work for established brands, but the truth is, promoting your business offline, as well as online, is an excellent combination for your company’s success. You have a website, and you have a presence on social media, but be sure also to incorporate some of the offline marketing strategies listed above such as attractive business cards, an eye-catching logo or sign, and a presence at trade shows and community events.
