It is often quite easy for the Web business owner to overlook
the importance of offline promotion. In reality, all your
potential customers live offline. They work in the community,
shop at the neighborhood supermarkets, attend various places of
worship, read newspapers, watch television, visit the doctor and
are members of various organizations.
Each of these facts is an opportunity to promote your Web site
in the real world, and by routinely combining offline methods
with your online promotions, you will effectively extend your
reach in the virtual marketplace.
Here are 11 simple ways you can do that:
1. Word of Mouth - This is obviously the most cost
effective and powerful way to let people know about your Web
business. It may also be the most under-utilized, which is
ironic since the majority of your site's content is made up of
words anyway. Use every opportunity to talk about your Web site
to friends and family. Make it a point everyday to tell six
strangers about your business. The impact of this publicity will
astound you.
2. Stationery - Include your Web address on all your
business stationery, especially business cards and
letterhead.
3. Fliers - A simple flier announcing a special offer and
displaying your URL can be put together for next to nothing. You
can give these out at community events, distribute door to door
or ask permission to place them in businesses in your
neighborhood.
4. Brochures - A well-prepared brochure is a convenient
tool for presenting an overview of your business and
highlighting your product or service benefits. They can be
handed out or mailed in response to requests for more
information.
5. Community Boards - Many supermarkets, diners,
restaurants, laundromats, bookstores, and local businesses have
a section on their premises where you may place your business
cards, fliers, brochures and announcements.
6. Promotional Items - The familiar and ubiquitous
promotional coffee mug, key chain, pen, magnet, calendar, tee
shirt and baseball cap, are excellent items to display your
company logo or Web address. You can sponsor an event for a
community organization or little league club and give these
items away. Your business will always be associated with the
event.
7. Card Exchanges - Very often, local business
organizations and Chambers of Commerce will sponsor events where
business owners can display their products and network with each
other. These are great opportunities to establish contacts and
develop sound professional relationships.
8. Press Releases - Put together a one- or two-page
document with news about your company's new product or service,
and send it off to the editor of your local newspaper, radio and
television station. Editors are always looking for something
news worthy to feature. This could result in a newspaper
article, a radio interview or a television appearance. The
exposure is good for business.
9. Newsletters - If you offer an online newsletter,
consider printing copies of it and getting permission to leave a
few in your doctor's or dentist's waiting rooms. You could place
some on community boards in your town and try a few of the
methods mentioned above to distribute it.
10. Bulletins - Many places of worship circulate a
bulletin at their services that includes inexpensive
advertising. Consider placing a classified or small display ad
for an extended period in such a publication.
11. Answering Machine - Program your answering machine
message to mention a new product or special discount and invite
the caller to visit your Web site for more information.
This is by no means an exhaustive list of offline promotion
choices. The opportunities are only limited by your
imagination.
Many of the above strategies require little or no money, and can
be executed as you go about your daily routine. The exposure you
gain could be worth the time and effort many times over.
If you want to expose your business to the widest possible
audience, you must vigorously and consistently promote it online
as well as offline. Effective promotion is to your business,
what the wind is to a sailboat. You wouldn't make much progress
without it.
About the author:
Hermas Haynes is an Internet marketer and Webmaster of http://SixFigureProfits.net
>. He offers a blueprint on how to create and manage your own
profitable online business. Visit his site today and get your
free preview.
|
