Online media often overshadows conventional methods of advertising. New businesses rush into marketing strategies without taking into account offline ways to promote their business. It’s a huge missed opportunity, as these methods are just as effective, if not more so. If you are looking for ways to express your creativity through this type of marketing, here are four different ways for your business to expand.
1. Print personalized content
There are two ways to make sure that you continuously have a steady number of customers. One is to impress new ones and hope that they seek your business. The other one is keeping your current customers satisfied with your service.
The second option is a lot easier and more effective than most businesses realize. Giving customers reasons to return to your business is just as effective as obtaining new ones. Either way, products and services are being sold.
To keep your old customers coming back, you should aim your campaign towards creating content that is personalized and cater to these same customers. Stationery coupons and personalized e-mails that contain discounts are great incentives for brand loyalty.
2. Promotional merch
People like free stuff, there’s no doubt about it. It’s hard to say no to a practical item that you get for free. Promotional merchandise is an underrated marketing strategy that has proven itself to be very effective at gaining customers.
Even when people are completely aware of the intent of the giveaway, that won’t stop them from carrying or using an item that will constantly remind them of your business. Better yet, their family and friends will also take note of the brand they’re displaying.
The items should be practical and consistently visible in order to display your business. It helps if the items are cheap enough to buy in bulk and not spend too much money. Lighters, pens, and USB sticks come to mind.
3. Workshops
What better way to spread awareness of your business than by using education? If people aren’t familiar with your products or services, you can help them get acquainted with your business by using educational workshops.
These hold tremendous value for potential customers since they can come face to face with a product that they don’t even realize they need. It’s a great way to get up close and personal with customers while still keeping it cheap and unobtrusive.
Make the workshop focus on the problems people often face. If your product presents itself as an effective solution to these problems, it’s going to be very attractive for those who attend the workshop.
4. Direct mail
There is a lot of buzz surrounding emails as of late, considering that they’re still a very effective platform for advertising your business online. Surprisingly, there isn’t as much of a buzz when it comes to actual mail, even though it’s still one of the most popular ways to advertise to customers and potential new clients.
It’s a surprisingly cheap method considering how well it can cover your target demographic. With only a two percent response rate, you could pay for the entire mail campaign with ease, and still have funds left over.
Mail isn’t as annoying as it used to be. Fewer businesses are sending out direct mail because their campaigns aren’t very effective and they’re switching to emails to try and rectify the problem. This means that your well-crafted direct mail campaign will be well received by consumers, who don’t get a lot of mail as is. As long as you come up with an interesting and visually stimulating campaign, you can count on new clients to start pouring in as a result of this inexpensive and effective method.
5. Business cards
If you don’t mind going the old-fashioned route, you can give out business cards to clients and partners. Don’t be fooled by the fact that it’s an old method, it’s still a very effective way to get your business out there. A business card contains all of the relevant information someone would need to know about your business. This includes the name, address, logo, and email of your business, which means the receiving party will be able to contact you in a variety of ways.
The design of your business card is also pretty important. You want it to catch the eye of people you give it to. Remember to give the cards away at any chance you get. When you find yourself speaking to people at seminars or conventions, make a habit of giving your card to the people you think you can do further business with. If you’re lucky, they might give you a call later on.
6. Make some new friends
One of the most important skills you can have in business is networking. Making connections with relevant business partners and potential clients is something you can’t do without. How else will you expand your business if not through new partnerships? Building a productive business relationship is a lot easier when it’s done offline. People want to meet you face to face, and giving them this opportunity will improve your chances of a blooming partnership.
Take every opportunity to visit events that are relevant to your business. There you will find both competitors and potential partners alike. The only real difference between the two is how you approach them. There’s no reason you can’t cooperate with the same business in new ventures, as long as they are mutually beneficial.
7. Radio giveaways
It might seem a bit counterintuitive, but giveaways are a surefire way to turn a profit. The truth is, you’re not really giving away all that much in terms of products, but you’re getting a lot in return. Radio stations are always looking for something to give to their audiences, which might just be the perfect opportunity for your business.
A couple of items here and there are well-worth the shouts out you would get from a radio talk show host. Make a deal with the radio show to get some exposure to the audience in exchange for stuff to give away. It’s as good of a deal as you could hope for, and radio is still very much a popular form of media, so you can count on quite a bit of exposure to come from it.
8. Packaging and bags
If your company sells physical goods, then you probably sell your products in your own packaging. Obviously, you want your customers to leave while holding the product in a bag and not clutching it uncomfortably in their arms. Why not make use of both to advertise your business? It’s not like the customer will mind having a well-designed bag for free.
Get creative with the packaging and bags you use. A lot of businesses have seen great success with unique and eye-catching designs that emphasize the product and its usefulness. You might need a designer to come up with something clever that will grab attention, but you can be sure that it would be well worth the cost. Add your contact information next to the design so that those who were impressed by it can have the opportunity to contact you.
9. Go big with clothes
Clothes are an amazing way to get your brand name out there. There’s always a demand for comfortable and stylish clothing. If you print T-shirts with your own brand designs on them, you can be sure that they’ll stick out in a crowd.
Getting the design of the shirts right is crucial. You want something that looks good enough so that people can wear it with anything. If you aren’t completely sure that you can design it on your own, there are businesses out there that can do it for you. You can send your idea to places like All Star Graphics and have attractive and branded T-shirt designs ready in no time.
Cotton would be the preferred material, as it is comfortable and easy to wash. People like the feel and you can expect them to wear the shirts just about anywhere.
10. Press releases
Despite what you may think, newspapers and magazines are still very much popular forms of media. People read them on a daily basis and the ads displayed have quite an effect on consumers. Press releases are some of the best ways to show off your business in a subtle way to people who haven’t yet heard of it. SME Bulletin highlights the importance of press releases.
You can be direct or indirect with your approach. You can write a press release from the perspective of a third-party reviewer that is simply looking at similar businesses in the field, or you can be direct and play the role of your business.
Conclusion
Businesses can make use of offline methods to spread awareness of their business to new local clientele. It’s as much of an art as advertising online, but the effects are instantly noticeable. People like seeing local businesses and their advertisements, as they can directly benefit from finding them in their town. Make use of some of these methods and your business is sure to have a surge in popularity.