Being active in the digital world is essential to maintaining relationships as well as customer acquisition.
Nearly 90 percent of American adults say they use the internet, and close to 80 percent say they have a smartphone, according to Pew Research Center. As such, online marketing is crucial to the health of your business.
But these efforts shouldn’t be in lieu of your offline marketing strategies. These figures from Pew show that about 10 percent of the population still live their lives outside the digital world, and more than 20 percent don’t have access to online content when they’re on the go.
But just because these consumers are offline doesn’t mean they’re unreachable. Try out these non-digital marketing solutions to reach a wider audience:
1. Get involved with your community
Somewhere in your community, there is a fundraiser coming up. Whether it’s the local high school’s football team or a fundraising event for a nonprofit, there will always be a way for your business to get involved.
Don’t let these opportunities pass you by. Donating shows your community that your business is charitable and gets your name into the homes of many people at once. Giving to community events can get your name onto banners, t-shirts, advertisements and press releases. And, if you donate gift certificates, discounted services or products from your inventory, you’re putting your product or service directly into the hands of participants.
You don’t have to wait until someone else plans a charitable event to get involved, either. If it’s in the budget and you have the time, sponsor your own community event, Bizness Apps suggested.
2. Always have a card
There are countless ways a business card can come in handy. Always have a stack with you, and leave them everywhere you go, Duct Tape Marketing suggested. At the library? Slip a few into books related to your business. Out to eat? Leave a business card with the tip. At the grocery store? Stick it to the public bulletin board. Paint your town with your business card. You never know who’ll pick one up.
3. Speak up
There are few, if any, downsides to speaking engagements. According to Hinge Marketing, speaking engagements are the second-most effective way to get new leads. When you’re brought in to speak to an organization or association, you have the undivided attention of a room full of people who regard you as an expert.
If you’re not quite ready to speak publicly, or if you haven’t built a strong enough reputation to speak to a group, go to events, Duct Tape Marketing advised. Attend meetings, network with other professionals and learn about new ways to reach out to potential customers.
4. Go to trade shows
Where can you go to analyze all of your competitors’ strategies and learn how to boost your marketing approach all in one place? An industry trade show.
Here, you’ll be able to set up your booth right alongside your competitors. You’ll learn about where you’re already excelling, what you can do to improve and how to reach more people. You’ll also have the opportunity to learn about the ways your industry is changing.
5. Print it out
No matter how much online content you have, you’ll still need to have printed marketing materials to hand out at speaking engagements, trade shows and other events. But the uses of print materials doesn’t stop there.
You can send customers newsletters, updates or holiday cards in the mail, put brochures at local businesses, hang posters around town and more.
Online marketing efforts are important in today’s increasingly more connected world. But make no mistake – offline marketing efforts are timeless. For the best marketing results, you need to have a good mix of online and offline communications.
