In today’s digital age, where 70% of small businesses have their own websites, savvy entrepreneurs are discovering that blending online and offline marketing strategies can unlock unprecedented growth opportunities for their e-commerce ventures.
Key Takeaways
- Blend online and offline marketing strategies to maximize growth opportunities for e-commerce businesses.
- Partner with complementary local businesses to expand your reach and tap into new customer bases.
- Attend and exhibit at trade shows to gain exposure, network, and connect with potential customers.
- Utilize print advertising in relevant publications and local newspapers to target specific audiences.
- Implement direct mail campaigns with QR codes to drive traffic to your website and boost engagement.
- Host workshops or educational events to showcase your expertise and provide value to potential customers.
- Leverage offline data to enhance online marketing efforts and create more accurate customer personas.
- Ensure consistency across all marketing channels to provide a seamless omnichannel experience.
The vast majority of marketing blogs talk about how to market your business digitally. However, while that area of marketing might take up the bulk of your time, it’s not the only space you can focus on. Remember that it wasn’t all that long ago that the majority of marketing took place not online, but in the real world, and while there’s little doubt that the digital world has grown in importance, it’s not as if the real world should be discounted entirely. Done correctly, it can be an effective way to galvanize your marketing efforts.
Since most people are out of practice with real-world marketing, we thought it’d be a good idea to provide something of a refresher course. Take the tips below, and you’ll be reaching both the digital and non-digital market.
Head to a Market/Trade Show
Taking your business on the road is a great way to interact with customers, make sales, and see what other businesses in your industry are doing. The type of road trip you go on will depend on the type of business that you run. For instance, you might head to a market relevant to the type of products you sell. If you’re more of a B2B operation, then exhibiting at a trade show will be the way to go.
Everyday Advertising
You’ll be out and about in the real world anyway, so why not use it as an opportunity to promote your brand? There are multiple ways to do this. For instance, you could print up some business cards and leave them at locations relevant to your work. Another option is to advertise your business via your vehicles. By working with a fleet graphics company, you can ensure that your business vehicles communicate your brand’s message. This is especially recommended if you and your team are always driving around town — just think about how many potential customers might see your brand’s message every single day.
Give Talks
You might know a lot about your industry, but if the public doesn’t know that you’re an expert, then you’ll be missing an opportunity. One way to share your knowledge and establish your credentials as a thought leader is to give in-person talks, which will allow you to communicate your story in the real world. You can find conferences that may be suitable for you to deliver talks by staying generally up to date with what’s happening in your industry, such as by reading trade magazines.
Pop-Up Street Events
Do you have a product or service that makes sense for a pop-up street event? Then consider organizing one. This approach is similar in scope to exhibiting at a trade show or market, but it’ll allow you to interact with more people. You can sell products at a pop-up stall, or you can just use it as a way to raise awareness — handing out freebies can be good for this. One important thing to remember: try to find locations that are frequented by your target audience to get the most effect.
