Creative Offline Website Marketing Techniques

Creative Offline Website Marketing Techniques
By Adam
Senour

Although the vast majority of website traffic is the direct
result of search engines, there are many offline marketing
techniques that can be used to draw customers to your website.
The examples listed below are but a few ways in which you can
market your online presence to an offline audience in an
inexpensive manner. Some of the examples listed below even can
be implemented at no extra cost!

Some of these ideas are fairly common, but some are rather
unique and I personally have only ever seen them employed
once, twice, or at most 3 times.

But why would I want to do this? I already deal with these
people offline.

Most businesses are not open 24 hours per day, 7 days per week,
365 days per year. Most websites, however, are available on a
24/7/365 basis.

Many people, especially those with busy lifestyles, tend to use
the Internet during non-business hours. To give a few
examples: business owners will often check their emails and
visit suppliers` websites later in the evening; and consumers
looking to make a high-value purchase, such as a car or house,
will often research their purchases online in advance well
into the wee hours of the night.

Some of these techniques will also generate new clients as
well; the possibility exists that you will attract a client
whom you have had no prior dealings with.

If you employ some of the offline marketing techniques listed
below, it could very well be your site and company that they
deal with first!

Include your website and email address on your business cards
and other print marketing material. While this may seem rather
obvious, most businesses do not elect to do so, and it usually
ends up costing them potential revenue and profits as a result.
Let people know you have a method where you can be reached
and information on your company`s products and services can be
found at any time.

Use your company vehicle as a "billboard". Automotive decals
are a relatively inexpensive way to advertise your company`s
services. Depending on what you want, decals can cost anywhere
from approx. $20-$200 CDN, and will last until you choose to
remove them from your car or truck. The best part is that
every time you want to reach a new target market for your
advertisement, all you have to do is drive!

Note: there are more expensive decals available, but these are
usually combinations of text and artwork. The text portions of
the decals tend to be minimal in cost, as they are the simpler
elements.

Ask potential offline advertising suppliers for an "ad study".
Some advertising suppliers have a method whereby they will
offer the advertiser a sample advertisement or placement as a
form of an "effectiveness" study. In exchange, the advertiser
agrees to reveal the full results of his/her marketing
campaign to the supplier. This isn`t something that very many
companies do, but the few that do are generally suppliers
worth dealing with.

Incorporate your website into face-to-face conversations and
telephone calls. Your customer may be looking for a specific
product or service which may be outlined on your website.
Guide your customer to that page and let them read the
information over, being prepared to answer and ask any
questions that may arise from said information.

More Ideas

Press releases. If you have a new product or service, create a
"media" section for your website that outlines its details and
promote the hyperlink via press release to various mass media.

PR Web is an great resource for mass-broadcasting a press
release to thousands of newspaper, magazine, radio, TV, and
similar media managers---and it`s free!

Promotional clothing. If your business has "uniforms" or "staff
shirts", then including your website hyperlink on these items
is a great way to promote your business at no extra charge.

Microsoft takes this concept one step further; every time a
user successfully completes their OEM System Builder exam,
they ship the user a free Microsoft t-shirt via UPS with
nothing except for the Microsoft OEM website URL on the back.

Another creative use of this concept is provided by ADAM Web
Design client Regional Shows, who used their online logo on
the jersey of a kids` baseball team as a form of sponsorship.

Other promotional items. Pens, mouse pads, coffee mugs,
baseball caps, and other such promotional items are great
places to include a company website hyperlink.

Outdoor signage/signboards. Catch the attention of people who
are driving by your place of business with your website URL
along with your company name, phone, fax, and common email (if
any). They may be driving by and not have time to stop in and
visit your business, but they may visit your website when they
have the time to do so to gather more information.

Note: be sure to check with your local municipality to ensure
that outdoor signage is in compliance with its by-laws. Some
cities and towns do not allow exterior property signage.

A Tattoo. A tattoo? As strange as this may seem, this is
something that can be very effective. Body modifications have
the unique property of being able to attract the human eye to
them, and a website URL tends to stick in one`s mind as being
a rather unique idea for a tattoo. A friend of mine, when she
ran a small personal site, used to promote it in exactly this
manner.

These ideas should give you a starting point for future offline
advertising creativity, as well as give you some ways to see a
return on your website investment with very little time,
effort or money. Good luck!

Paul White is a 42 year old former teacher. He now helps people
all around the world to become wealthy online. Whatever you
are selling, visit the popular site: http://www.profitmountain.
com (http://www.profitmountain.com) and if you subscribe to
Profit Mountain`s FREE wealth building newsletter, you will
also receive FREE advertising for the next 12 months! (Worth
$200!) as well as loads of other things!