It seems like everyone is talking about digital marketing and having an online presence today. Does that mean that promoting your business offline has become entirely ineffective and obsolete? Not. There are still simple surefire ways to promote your business offline, generate some buzz, and get the results you want. This might be the perfect way to set yourself apart from the competition and exercise your creativity.
1. Make use of newspaper ads
While many newspapers today focus their efforts on digital print, physical newspapers are still very much a thing. Putting ads in newspapers is a well-known marketing tactic, and it can still pay off today. This is especially true if your target audience is older and not fond of new technology.
It’s almost a guarantee that these types of people buy the newspaper every day, so you can be sure that your ads will be seen by people who would find your business attractive. Try putting your ads in college and high school papers if you want to reach the younger generation through print.
2. Go to vendor trade shows
Going to trade shows is an excellent opportunity to meet influential people from the same industry, make connections across multiple industries, and attract small business executives ready to talk business. Your job is done for you at these events, as people visit them when they’re prepared to do business with someone new.
Of course, you still have to work on your booth and presentation to set yourself apart from other vendors and attract more potential customers. One way to do this is to offer a free business lunch to anyone thinking about using your services.
3. Find a local sponsor
Partnering with someone who has more resources and influence in your community is always a great idea. Your sponsor can help bring you closer to your community and allow you to display your company values more effectively. This is especially true if you plan on doing something worthwhile for your community with the help of your sponsor.
Having a local charity as your sponsor is perhaps the best move, as you can be sure the projects you work on together will indeed be for the good of your community. People love doing business with someone who cares, and there’s absolutely no reason that someone can’t be you.
4. Brand your merchandise
Not having merchandise is a massive waste of opportunity. Even if you design notebooks and pens, they can bring many new customers. Everyone loves free things, so hanging out small pieces of helpful merch can get people interested in your business. Hand these out at events or whenever you meet with a client.
This can make your business seem more caring towards existing clients and potentially generate more customers thanks to word of mouth. Make sure your merchandise includes your logo and company name. Anyone in possession of a piece of merch will want to know more about the business if the logo and name are attractive enough.
5. Make use of posters and banners
Banners, posters, and stickers can be highly effective if placed in the right areas across town. For this tactic to work, you need to know where your target audience spends their time when they’re not at home. For example, if your target audience is full of busy professionals, place your posters and banners in the district with the most offices.
That way, there’s a higher chance of the right people seeing your ads. To make this offline promotion tactic worthwhile, you can add basic info about your business and dedicate the most resources to the design. As well as that, it’s a good idea to leave some space for a QR code. That way, an interested person can scan the code that leads them to a page with the most information about your business and the services you offer.
6. Plan an event
Planning a corporate event is a great way to introduce new people to your company, boost team morale, and establish valuable connections. To make your event successful, you need to give it a purpose. Whether celebrating a milestone or giving your people a well-deserved break, answering the question “why are we doing this?” is bound to get people talking more about the event.
Don’t forget that the best event management companies can help you execute your vision flawlessly and keep things running smoothly. Handing the organizational part to experts can also give you more time to focus on other things and reduce your stress surrounding hosting something so big. All you’ll have to do is tell them what you want, lean back and enjoy the event as much as everyone else.
7. Improve your business card
Having a sound business card is still essential today, especially if you do a lot of networking. You never know when you’ll come across someone in need of your services, so having a few business cards with you at all times is a great idea.
A sound business card should be simple and have an exciting design. It should grab the person’s attention without overpowering their senses. As well as that, it should contain basic information about who you are and what you do. Don’t forget to include your full name, your company’s name, and contact information. It’s also a good idea to have more than one way of being reached. For example, you can include your email, social media handles, and phone number.
Conclusion
As you can see, you can do a lot today to promote your business offline. It might seem difficult to reach the right people with these tactics, but there will be no stopping once you get the ball rolling. People still love interacting with businesses outside digital spaces, and these tips will help you take advantage of any opportunity coming your way.
Neil White is a journalist from Sydney, Australia. He likes to write about a lot of stuff, but business articles are his favorite. Huge soccer fan!