Localize Offline to Build Trust
Some invest in signs and door hangers and try to blanket the town with them. If you want to stay top of mind with your core clients, you have to market to them offline as well. Not only will this drive them to your online campaign and reinforce what they see online, but it can also create direct leads by localizing your brand, thereby creating trust.
Networking in Person
Don’t budget much for most traditional marketing, but always be willing to pay to attend an event or a conference. In-person networking always pays out a major return on my investment.
Local Events Pay Off
Events in real life are beneficial for the customer to jump-start a relationship with the company and to get hands-on with the product. This will encourage the customer to spread word of mouth, which is the most influential and valuable part of marketing because it means more if someone else has something to say from their personal experience and familiarity with the product.
Conferences Still Drive Revenue
Attending conferences is an important part of marketing strategy. Also host dinners and events in different cities to provide an opportunity to meet with clients or partners and get to know them better. No matter how effective your advertising and email marketing are, or how skilled you are on the phones, an in-person meeting is always more memorable.
Guerrilla Marketing Through Trade Shows
While trade shows (and their relative, conferences) may seem old-school, they are still tried-and-true ways to create strategic partnerships, find initial customers, and meet insiders. While online marketing can have a hard-to-resist ROI, it is no substitution for the face-to-face interaction afforded by trade shows.
On-Site Activities
When it comes to traditional marketing, You can still invest in on-site marketing activities such as events and sponsorships. On-site marketing is not only a great way to make a lasting connection with your target market, but it also provides the opportunity to capture great content such as photos and videos, which are perfect to release via your social media channels.
Printed Pieces in the Physical World
Although your cost per impression is typically a lot higher, putting a physical piece of marketing in someone’s hand can still have an impact. Reaching someone in the real world with a flier, poster, pin or billboard can help reinforce what you are doing online and legitimize your business in the real world, instead of being just another website.
Consider Your Audience!
Some companies invest in billboards, sponsorships, direct mail, and print ads. AS you might offer a service where a lot of your customers aren’t online, so it makes sense for us. Traditional forms are still valid. Digital tends to be the cheapest form, but remember how you want to set yourself apart from the competition.
Are They Trackable?
Some use ads and classifieds in printed materials. Highly recommend you use a custom link in these ads that allows you to track traffic and conversions. Don’t use a bit.ly link, or a long extension to your site that the reader will never remember—spend the extra eight bucks for a new domain name specifically for the ad.
Extra Product and Surprise Shipping
Some choose to spend our “offline” marketing budget on increasing a customer’s experience. Instead of creating a TV or newspaper advertisement, we use that money for various treats for our customers. Sometimes that means we include free product, and sometimes, like Zappos, we upgrade to express shipping. We believe there is incredible value from a customer sharing an exceptional experience.
Handwritten Cards
For special occasions like birthdays, graduations or other major life events, Some often send a handwritten card. It makes clients feel special and adds a personal touch.
Hit the Pavement Swagged Out
You are your brand. No online strategy should sell your product better than you do. Another element of this is wearing your brand, whether through T-shirts, hoodies, backpacks, etc. I cannot count the number of interactions I have had just for the mere fact that I was wearing my company’s T-shirt. Get swagged out!
Put an Effort Into Press
We invest in press. People still read the news, and a story is still the most powerful way to connect with potential users. We invest in writing good content, pitching good stories, and doing things that are newsworthy. While it’s a big time commitment, it’s the best way to get more customers.