Marketing Offline Can Substantially Increase Your Online Business
The Internet can be a scary place for those looking for a
home-based business opportunity. The fear of not connecting
personally with others is one concern and many people have been
"taken" by online scams in their search for a legitimate
business and are fearful to take any more risks. One way to
overcome fears such as these is to market your online business
locally. By simply offering the person a contact that they can
speak to and possibly even meet face to face you will making the
statement that your business is legitimate and trustworthy.
It is effective to market your online business locally primarily
because potential customers and business recruits prefer to have
the option of speaking with the business owner face to face. By
attracting customers locally, you can maximize the opportunities
to meet with them. You will no longer be that "someone they
found online," but someone that they will be able to relate to
and feel confident doing business with.
But how do you market locally? Here are some excellent tips:
Besides the common local advertising routes, such as Newspaper
Ads, Yellow Pages, Etc., another effective (and inexpensive) way
to advertise locally is to post business related flyers around
your community. Many grocery stores, libraries, bookstores, and
office supply stores offer bulletin boards for this purpose.
Make yours stand out and be recognized, yet professional enough
to warrant someone trusting you with their business. Also, if
possibly have a tear-off section on your flyer so they can take
your number and leave your flyer.
Look for events geared toward work-at-home businesses. There are
organizations, such as the National Work at Home Mom
Association, that hold events across the nation to help promote
the work-at-home business owner. At events such as these, you
can purchase a booth and make hundreds of local contacts, as
well as sales, all in one day.
Reach out to your community. Join your local Chamber of
Commerce, get involved in community events and become known to
those around you. Pass out flyers and hand out business cards to
everyone you meet. Door Flyers also work well for marketing -
pick one neighborhood a week and go door to door. Be consistent
with your marketing with door flyers, too. If a potential
customer sees your ad repeatedly, they will feel more inclined
to use your services in the future. Magnets can be great
promotional items as well. You can have magnets printed with
your business information and hand them out to people that you
speak to about your products. Potential clients can keep these
on their refrigerator or filing cabinet. You can also leave
flyers, magnets or even catalogs around town in places like
doctor's offices, hair salons, etc.
Volunteer in your community for marketing success. Diana Ennen
of Virtual Word Publishing, Inc. suggests, "Volunteer at school
events such as PTA meetings or community functions. When your
child's school needs a flyer, volunteer to do it and attach your
card to it. Look to see where you can also inexpensively
advertise. Often ads in the kid's yearbook or community events
newsletter will get your more exposure than the expensive ads in
the daily newspapers."
Direct mail is another great tool for gaining local clients. Get
the Yellow Pages out and write a professional letter or send
your brochures or postcards to those that would be interested in
your products or services. Send a mailing to local businesses
that my be interested in offering your products to their
customers. For example, if you sell home décor products, send a
professional letter to real estate agents in your local area. In
the letter, describe how your products would be valuable for
them to use as thank you gifts when they sell a home.
It's important to talk to everyone you possibly can about your
business. You can find prospective customers in line at the
grocery store, while waiting at a doctor's office, or even while
playing at the park with your children. Let others know that you
are excited about it and believe in it. If the people around you
hear the excitement in your voice, they may become excited about
your business, too! You'll be rewarded with more sales and a
business that prospers from year to year.
About the author:
Jill Hart is the founder and editor of Christian Work at Home
Moms, CWAHM.com, and the author of the e-book, The Two Week
Devotional Journey for Christian Work at Home Moms. The
CWAHM.com website is dedicated to providing moms with free
resources to aid them in their work at home search. E-mail Jill
at jill@cwahm.com for additional information or stop by her site
at www.cwahm.com
Written By: Jill Hart