Since 2005, I’ve been wrapped up in my internet marketing world. Every client I’ve gotten and every website I’ve created has been promoted exclusively online. I jumped on the twitter and facebook bandwagon back when they first started. I’ve also emailed potential clients, run ads on the likes of Craigslist, and performed search engine optimization for my websites to the best of my ability. The internet ruled, I thought.
Recently, I had a big wake up call. For extra money, I became a promotional model for the wine and spirits industry. My job consisted of adhering to a dress code, making sure I looked nice and put together, and memorizing speaking points for whichever brand I was promoting. And, though I was promoting the product, I was also brightening people’s lives by helping them take a break from their shopping as they enjoyed a few sips of whatever it was I was tasting. People would buy the product, too. I’d often sell out of the wine I was promoting that day.
After that experience, I thought about how my personal experiences affect my decision making. To this day, I still by Sterling wines because I had such a good time in their tasting room in Napa Valley. In fact, the majority of the wines I buy are ones that I remember I liked while attending a tasting. In the skin care realm, I’m always buying Blissproducts because I remember a great chat I had with a representative of the company while I shopped. Also, Clarins is a long time favorite brand of mine. Could it be because they give me a facial whenever I go to their cosmetic counter?
Frankly, it made me realize that, as an internet marketing professional, I may be missing out on potential customers by keeping 100% of my marketing efforts online. In fact, any business could benefit from both online and offline strategies. Here are some offline marketing strategies that anyone can use.
Attend or Host Offline Events
Just because most of your marketing happens online doesn’t mean you can’t meet people offline. Attending events can help you get traffic to your site, find customers or potential clients, and help you meet other business owners. For example, most major areas have plenty of networking events for you to attend. You can also attend lectures, workshops, etc in situations that will attract potential clients and customers. You can also host the events yourself, which will expand your reach even further.
Hand-Written Notes
Taking the time to write a thank you note by hand speaks volumes for your integrity as a business owner. It shows people that you really care about them. As an example, my sister bought a house a few years ago. The realtor that she and her husband used hasn’t been in touch. But every year, the seller’s realtor sends them a hand-written Christmas card. When they thought they were selling their house a few months ago, they contacted the realtor who has sent them a card every year, not the real estate agent they actually used.
Public Speaking and Teaching Workshops
Public speaking and teaching workshops and classes all build your credibility. If you have an online business in the alternative medicine niche, for example, you can gain customers by giving talks and workshops on subjects pertaining to your niche. People who enjoy your teaching style or who like you as a person will visit your site, sign up for your list, and become customers. This is a strategy that works for everyone, no matter what the business is.
No matter what your business is, you can benefit from in-person marketing. Aside from hiring talent agencies to help spread the word about your business via their promotional models, you can also use tactics such as attending events, teaching workshops, speaking, and even writing thank you notes or sending holiday cards to help put your brand in front of your customer’s noses. This can help complement your internet marketing plan.