Online Business Marketing Offline
I’ve been researching possibilities for offline marketing of online business activities. When building and developing your online business, it’s too easy to get tunnel vision and, consequently, overlook key opportunities to promote your own products or services, and ones you’re marketing as an affiliate.
Some examples of the types of offline marketing to consider are:
• Web Ads
A small box ad in the national newspapers — OK, it costs a bit but, executed professionally, you can enjoy a substantial return on investment (ROI).
• Free A-List Advertising
Have you tried pursuing the ‘holy grail’ of free advertising? Write an article about your product or service, and submit it to a selection of hard print publications, for instance, Sunday newspaper supplements, niche-specific magazines, and the like.
Don’t be blatant — you need to write objectively, as though you’re reviewing the product or service. Of course, it’s the luck of the draw whether your article is printed, but if you’re one of the fortunate ones, the ROI on this method is nothing short of spectacular!
• Offline Affiliates
If you are marketing a unique product or service, say, something in the health and fitness market, you could negotiate with health shops and gyms, whereby they distribute flyers or literature (individually encoded for tracking affiliate sales) advertising your product or service and earn commission from each sale.
This is just a sample of offline marketing techniques that could leverage sales of your products and services. I’ll be presenting further ideas, and more in-depth details about using these strategies, so stay tuned!
Meanwhile, continue to work hard and smart, and enjoy your Internet Marketing adventure.
Reward Rebel
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Filed under Advertising, Internet Marketing, Offline marketing |
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Newspaper advertising works very well. I have used newspapers for a few years to promote my sites and my ROI has always been great. There are about 12 city papers I keep ad’s in and I am always testing new papers to advertise in.
WAHM Tara’s last blog post..Help Me Select The New Colors
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WAHM Tara
Thanks for the corroboration! It’s always great to hear about someone enjoying success, and newspaper web ads are definitely one of the simplest offline tactics.
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Yea Well news paper is probably the most oldest and also a more effective by to bring people to your site of desire. I didn’t really think of the idea honest but it seems like a great idea. Also other great ideas are to advertise in Magazines, logo on cars, Banner around town, also the big highway boards that only if your willing to spend some money
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Ali
Thanks for your ideas, although I think advertising on highway billboards is fine for huge multi-product conglomerates, but it isn’t targeted advertising. Flyers on car windscreens aren’t targeted either, and the tighter you target your advertising on your (niche) market, the higher the ROI you’ll enjoy.
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I use postcards to reach markets that I can’t reach online.
The response isn’t great, but I do get some adoptions of my textbook every time that I do a mailing.
Linda P. Morton’s last blog post..Dofollow Blogs, Search Engines and Directories For Dofollow Backlinking
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Linda P Morton
I like the idea of postcards, a brief message, especially with clean graphics, can impact instantly and leave a lasting impression.
How do you distribute them? Do you buy mailing lists or are they distributed by hand, or what? Of course, if it’s a trade secret, I understand!
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I have actually been researching as well. I was thinking of using Flickr services to print out small cards (smaller than business cards but more artistic) and handing them out.
When I will have the money
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Zhu
Great 2cu again, Zhu.
Hmmm… sounds to me like you’re cosying-up with marketing, eh?
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Postcard ad’s are amazing! I have used them for years. I normally use a mailing service or buy a mailing list that is specific to the group I want to target.
WAHM Tara’s last blog post..Approved 4 Print Review
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WAHM Tara
Another success story… that’s brilliant! Something I tend to overlook is that some people need to be signposted toward the Internet, not everyone automatically turns to it to look for what they want. Offline signposting!
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Great advice. I love how you compared offline to online
impNERD’s last blog post..StumbleUpon Removes 200 Limit
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impNERD
There’s some great information in the comments on this one, too, it’s really proliferating!
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I like postcard ads…if they feature a great design and a message that just sticks. I think it is important to look at different avenues of advertising and see what works best. What may work for one business does not work for another and it depends on location, niche, etc. You need to be aware of your target client/customer base and understand how the majority are most likely to be educated/informed about your product/service and than design a marketing campaign around that knowledge in order to increase your ROI. You just have to try and compare until you find the right mix. It is always good to keep an open mind in order to capitalize on the opportunities you are presented with on a daily base.
Apollo’s last blog post..A Mutual Fund Mismanager’s Insurance Policy
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Apollo
Wow, I intended to write more about offline marketing, but it’s all being done for me by wonderful comments like yours!
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Hi Layne,
Looks like you’re really going full swing with this, and it’s very helpful.
I am a believer in segmentation of both the product and the market it is best to sell it to. Once the segmentation is completed and the target market specifically identified, measuring how much it could generate in terms of sales follow. The revenues estimated will give you an idea of how big the actual margin would be in real terms from the cost of acquisition of the product.
Next, one will have to do a profiling of the target market segment like what they eat, read,and hobbies are; where they go, what they buy and where; how much time they spend on what activity; etc. This will give you an idea of what is the best medium to use to advertise in order to reach them. Also, how much these preferred media would cost in terms of size, location and frequency. This cost will then be deducted from the margin estimated after deducting the cost of acquisition.
Peripheral segments (i.e., those segments that are not your main target but could generate additional sales) sales could be assumed conservatively to increase revenues too. After deducting both costs stated above (acquisition and advertising)the costs of processing (documentation and recording)delivery and collection should be imputed. This will leave you with the net profit before tax. Then you call a good tax lawyer or accountant to help you keep more of it. LOL!
Remember to try all products. A bad product, no matter how well marketed and advertised will have a limited life cycle. A good product, regardless of its bountiful benefits, will also have a limited life cycle if it’s not marketed and advertised to address the wants and needs of the target market segment it is best suited for.
That’s my thinking. I hope it helps. Good luck.
–Durano, done!
durano lawayan’s last blog post..Mandate to Mend and to Marry
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Durano
Wow, where do you get your energy and vitality? You work in difficult circumstances, craft excellent posts for your own blog, and still manage to leave a quality comment like this! Thanks so much for contributing, DD.
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One often overlooked offline promotion tool is the business card. Even if you’re only promoting a blog, get business cards made and give them to everyone you meet. They’re cheap and easy.
Colin’s last blog post..Business opportunities are everywhere
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Colin
What do you mean, only promoting a blog? Only? ONLY?
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