How to Promote Your Website Offline
By Scott Lindsay
Serious entrepreneurs know that there is no such thing as enough promotion. To achieve success each business needs to use all possible marketing channels. We live in a world dominated by technology and the Internet is the perfect proof to sustain this statement. Doing business online goes beyond mere transactions: there are no borders. Once you start an e-business: you are a global player. By using the right promotion channels you’ll be able to sell your products and services in different countries around the world.
Although the Internet offers so many possibilities, there are still people who don’t know how to use it effectively. There are also potential clients that simply don’t like to search. Others don’t have time to. That’s why it is very important for the success of your e-business that you promote your website both online and offline: the more exposure your URL receives, the more traffic to your website.
Start by inserting your URL in all your business stationery: business cards, business letters, envelopes, company leaflets and brochures, promotional cards and so on. Every time a client, business partner or potential customer gets hold of one of these documents he or she should be able to see clearly where to find more information.
Then brand your company cars. A branded automobile could expose your company name, phone numbers and URL, therefore your brand, to thousands of people every day. While many people usually ignore stickers on cars, if your message is clear, stylish and distinctive, there will certainly be some interested in what your business has to offer.
You should also promote your business URL through giveaways: pens, calendars, mouse pads, coffee cups, t-shirts, cap, and so on. As online every visitor has potential, offline anyone who sees one of your branded freebies could decide to visit your site. You never know who will see your brand and how the word of mouth could be of benefit for your online business.
And speaking about word of mouth: it has an amazing power. As long as you provide impeccable services and high quality products you can be sure the power of the word of mouth will work for and not against you. People do have a tendency to complain about a service provider more than to express their satisfaction. So perform your business respecting your clients and you will see it flourish.
Never ignore the power of conventional media. The morning newspaper is still a tradition in many homes. Sure, newspaper ads are quite expensive, but if you start small, with some ads in the local papers, you’ll soon know whether this offline advertising option is right for your business or not. You could make some savings though by posting ads in a paper or magazine related to your line of work. This is not only an economic savings, but it also helps you to attract targeted traffic to your website.
Radio and television are very expensive as well, but they are very effective. As a mater of fact, the effectiveness of the ad will depend upon the time the advertisement runs and the frequency that it is shown. Usually, this type of advertising is for big companies with considerable budgets, but even small firms have a chance, thanks to local channels.
So plan your promotional campaigns carefully and remember that by ignoring one advertising channel you could be missing out on many possible customers.
About the author: Scott Lindsay is a web developer and entrepreneur. He is the founder of HighPowerSites and many other web projects. HighPowerSites is the easiest do-it-yourself website builder on the web. No programming or design skill required. Get your own website online in just 5 minutes with HighPowerSites.com at: http://www.highpowersites.com
