Article by: Ed Ruth
Some Web site owners get so
caught up with Internet marketing strategies that they
forget some of the more tried and true aspects of
traditional marketing. Search Engine and Directory
listings are important and site optimization strategies
such as meta-tag keywords are fundamental to
e-marketing. But what about promoting your site
"off-line"?
There are a variety of
resources available to assist you in your off-line Web
marketing efforts. I've listed a few of below:
1. Business cards. Leave a few in the local
library or with other local businesses where prospects
gather (with permission, of course); include a card in
your postal mail; tack up a card on the bulletin board
at your grocery store, etc. One place that offers
quality, professional business cards at reasonable
prices is
ExtraValue.com. On a tight budget? Go to
VistaPrint for free trial cards.
2. Direct mail. Flyers, brochures, catalogs,
coupons.... there are all sorts of things you can send
through the mail. Need help? Freelancers can create
pretty much any type of direct mail promotional items
for you at competitive rates. Try
BuildYourHomebiz.com.
3. Use your car! How much time do you spend
driving (or, unfortunately, sitting stuck in traffic)?
Take advantage of this opportunity by placing your URL
on your car for everyone to see.
Web Decals offers custom-printed decals that quickly
and easily attach to your car's windshield.
It's also a good idea to keep a few business cards,
brochures, flyers, or other information in your car that
you can give out to people who stop to inquire about
your business.
4. Newspaper advertising. Keep in mind that
classified ads are usually extremely short; you'll need
a punchy, compelling ad that fits into just a few lines.
Nationwide Newspapers offers classified advertising
in over 8000 newspapers across the United States.
U.S. Media Inc. specializes in many types of
'offline' advertising, including newspapers, radio, TV,
magazines, and more.
5. Get to the 'heart' of your audience by
advertising in a quality magazine with loyal readers.
U.S. Media Inc. lists a wide variety of trade and
consumer magazines and publications. Contact their reps
for more information.
6. Participate in trade shows. Get exposure by
networking with others in your industry. While you're
there, you can even make a pen and paper available to
collect the email addresses and/or postal addresses of
people interested in receiving your newsletter or
additional information about your product or service.
Visit the
Trade Show News Network to search for trade shows of
all types in industries worldwide.
7. Visit your local Chamber of Commerce. They
may be able to offer you suggestions on where you can
promote your business locally.
8. Send out postcards. Postcards are short,
attractive, and readers can easily see your information
'at-a-glance.' Don't forget to display your URL!
Extravalue.com is a great place to get professional,
quality cards at very reasonable rates.
9. Put your URL on every piece of printed material
that leaves your office. This includes brochures,
business cards, flyers, faxes, labels, letterhead,
invoices, checks, envelopes, and anything else you can
think of.
10. Consider using promotional items such as
notepads, pens, mugs, etc. Imprint these items with your
URL. Give some away as gifts to your best clients. You
can even sell them online!
iPrint
is one place you can find 'do-it-yourself' promotional
items, including t-shirts, golf balls, pens, mugs,
clocks, tote bags, and much more. And at
CafePress you can upload your artwork, set your
prices, and you're ready to sell.
11. State your URL on your voice mail message.
Say your standard spiel, then add something like, 'For
more information on [your product], visit our website at
www.MyDomain.com.'
12. Seek potential partnerships with
complementary businesses. For example, let's say you
sell a dog training video. You could approach local
groomers or dog agility centers and offer to share the
cost of their next direct mail campaign: when they mail
a postcard or letter inviting their clients to return,
you also offer their clients a discount on your dog
training video. This way you both reduce your costs...
you reach a targeted audience quickly, easily, and
through a trusted party (the other business)... and your
business 'partner' can make a valuable product available
at a discount to their customers.