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With technology making its rounds in business, it can often feel like old school ways of marketing are no longer a viable option for promoting your business.
That could not be further from the truth. Ways of marketing that are not rooted in new technology are effective in getting the word out about your business. Here are eight old school ways that are proven to bring new customers to your business.
Networking Events
These in-person events are still a viable way to create leads for your business. What makes them so effective is that people get to experience the people who run your business face-to-face.
With technology creating a certain type of barrier of personalization, networking events allow you to talk to potential customers and business partners in a live setting. The key is to have an outline for yourself of what you would like to accomplish at a networking event. This way you walk away with leads that will be good for your business and not just a bunch of business cards.
Direct Mailers
Sending mail directly to your potential customers is one of the best ways to reach them and get your business on their radar.
Comparing them to only doing online paid search ads, they have a, higher return on investment. The ideal direct mail campaign will include paid search ads as well as online ads and use direct mail as a boost to remind your potential customers about what your business does and that you are available to them.
Community Bulletin Boards
Posting a flyer on boards found throughout your community is a viable way to promote your business. Bulletin boards would include placemats at diners and inserts in napkin holders at restaurants.
Yes, people still look at their local bulletin boards and even national restaurant chains have community bulletin boards near their restrooms where larger promotional pieces like full page flyers can be tacked to the board for people to read.
The good thing about using a community bulletin board is that, if you’re promoting a specific special, the location will make sure that your information is taken down once your special as ended. That way you won’t end up with customers being sent to you with outdated information.
Trade Shows
While trade shows are often industry-specific, there are many businesses that can utilize them to promote their services or products as a compliment within the trade show they’re attending. So, don’t be afraid to register. As long as you’re within the trade show’s guidelines, you’re good to go.
The key to trade shows is knowing how to work the floor and be visible beyond your area of immediate sight. Since trade shows promote their events by using local and regional press outlets, especially television stations, your business can also benefit from that type promotion.
One way to do this is, if the trade show that you’re involved in needs business people to do interviews or voice-overs, volunteer to be one of them so that way your business can get some extra promotion.
Printed Promotions
Using printed items for your business is not something that will ever go out of style. Even with technology, people are still drawn to being able to hold a promotional piece in their hand. At live events, using banners helps people navigate to the space that you’re in is one of the most effective ways that they can find out more about your business.
Printed promotions, especially banners, are a wise investment because they are good for more than one use. If you’ve been thinking about getting banners printed, check out this company to see which options will be best for your business.
Radio Ads
A well-crafted radio spot can bring in a significant number of qualified, targeted leads to your business.
This is one of the most effective ways to promote your business offline because it allows you to reach a very specific demographic. Since radio stations have already done the research for you, then you don’t have to worry if you’re reaching the right market. Plus, these stations can tell you how effective their ad reach has been for businesses similar to yours.
Radio ads are one of the easiest ways to promote your business with the least amount of guesswork.
Cold Calling
Because of the rise of automated calls and unsolicited telemarketing calls, some businesses are very apprehensive about using cold calling to promote their business.
Using cold calling to promote your business offline is still an effective way to generate leads and new customers. What you have to do is create a plan that works for your business’ style of selling, while also keeping in mind that it takes building the like, know, and trust factor with potential clients to get them to listen to what you have to say.
Before you pick up the phone to dial, make a plan. Use cold calling techniques that are working right now that include things like having a targeted list based off of research from your industry and targeted demographic and a follow-up email strategy with a welcome sequence and a perk to thank them for speaking with you. Create a full plan, evaluate that plan, then dial.
Television Commercials
Yes, television ads still work. Very similar to radio ads, television commercials allow you to target a demographic even down to the time of day and specific television shows that your potential customers prefer to watch. The good thing about television commercials is that they don’t just provide data for you to use so that you can target your most ideal customer.
The companies that sell space for commercials on television can help you compare things like the best time for your specific commercial type. This helps you look beyond your core demographic and can give you an idea of how to best broaden your reach for your business to gain new customers.
Conclusion
These eight strategies for promoting your business offline have been tested and tried, even in the age of technology, and are still working just as effectively as they have in the past.
If you’re looking for a good ROI, consider using one or two of these strategies combined together and watch your business grow.
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