So often small and home-based business owners and work-at-home-moms (WAHMS) get so caught up in promoting our businesses online, we forget about the potential for marketing it offline. But begin now to focus some of your business promotion efforts offline and watch your business grow more quickly. Here are 20 marketing offline ideas to get you started:
1. Post flyers in grocery stores, post offices, libraries, banks and anywhere else that has a public bulletin board.
2. Leave brochures or catalogues with order forms in medical buildings or offices, (doctors, dentists, optometrists, chiropractors, etc.), and in hospital waiting rooms and patient rooms.
3. Ask if you can post a flyer in the window of local businesses.
4. If you have a favorite hairdresser’s, talk to the owner about setting up a table or leaving business cards there for his/her customers to take.
5. When you travel, leave behind a brochure or catalogue in your hotel room with order forms, or leave behind samples as a tip for the maids.
6. Create small care packages to give away at events and include a flyer, business card, catalogue, order form, or coupon.
7. Fill a small plastic bag with a few goodies like suckers, stickers or pencils and include a flyer and coupon. Staple your business card to the outside. Hand them out to people or leave them wherever you go.
8. Host an open house in your home to introduce people to your product. Offer free coffee and desserts. Give guests a discount coupon to use on their first order. Have a drawing for free products.
9. Cold call on people introducing your product. Offer a discount off their first order.
10. Talk to schools, day cares, nursery schools and other organizations about doing fundraisers. Offer them a percentage from each sale.
11. Make flyers with a tear-off discount coupon and have the Post Office put them in PO boxes and mailboxes.
12. Place an ad in local newspapers and newsletters.
13. Put an ad your local phone book under the appropriate category.
14. Set up a table at your county fair or other local event and show samples of your products. Provide brochures or catalogues. Hold a drawing for a free products or services. Hand out flyers with a discount coupon off the first order.
15. Run a local radio ad. Or take your local DJ a plate of brownies in appreciation. Let them know your business name. Often they’ll mention you on air – at no cost.
16. Place an ad in a local city magazine.
17. Hire someone to do cold calling and selling for you. Pay them hourly or by commission only.
18. Hire a student to deliver flyers, brochures or catalogues door-to-door.
19. Promote your product/services by giving away items such as caps, fridge magnets, mugs, coupons, samples, frequent user cards, etc.
20. Be prepared for the unexpected and compile a marketing kit so that you always have business materials on hand. A good place to keep these kits is in your car so that you can easily distribute them while you are out, and you can avoid missing out on a new customer because you didn’t have a catalogue or business card to give those who ask.
Include any or all of the following promotional materials:
• Flyers
• Brochures
• Catalogues
• Business Cards
• Magnets
• Stickers
• Lollipops with tags
• Balloons
• Buttons
• Pens/pencils
• Goodie packs.
• Bumper Stickers
• Window Clings
• Mugs
• Newsletter
• Press Release
• Coupons
• Fax Cover Pages
Using these and other offline marketing methods will help you kick start your business or bring added growth to an existing business. Pick the ones that will work for you and start promoting your business offline today!
Article © 2009 Darlene Bishop. All rights reserved worldwide.
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