How to Promote Your Internet Business Offline

If you are trying to promote your business, you can move in one of two directions:1. You can take the conventional route to promotion and mount an elaborate media campaign, spending a considerable amount of money.2. You can let your creative juices flow and mount a low-cost promotion effort, using a potpourri of attention-getting gimmicks to get your message out.Now, to be sure, conventional advertising is valuable. If your enterprise is large enough or if you're selling numerous product lines, you may find that a full-fledged media campaign is the most efficient and cost-effective way to promote your business.If money is tight, however, or you're not sure you can pay for the heavy cost of a media campaign over a period of time, there is an assortment of low cost techniques you can try. The following techniques should help you get started:1. GiveawaysPeople love to receive 'free' stuff. You can base an entire promotional campaign on this desire. 2. News CreationDo you want to get names and news from your business in the local newspaper? It may be easier than you think. If you don't have any news to report to the local media, create some. Maybe you've taken on a new associate. Or maybe you're selling an unusual product line. Or maybe you've received an award from a civic or professional group.3. Special EventsYou may be able to attract the attention of a crowd or the media by staging a special promotional event.4. Charity tie-insAre you launching a new product? Trying to increase visibility among a particular segment of your community? Offer your product to one or more local charities as a raffle prize or for use at a fund-raising event. You'll receive lots of exposure among people who buy tickets or attend the event.5. ContestsOffer a desirable or unique item - or even several items - as contest prizes. First, find a contest theme that ties into your business. Invite contest submissions and offer prizes to the winners. Do contests attract attention? You bet. All it takes is a few signs, a small press announcement or two, and the word will spread throughout the community.6. Community serviceAsk yourself how your enterprise can be a 'good neighbor' to your community. Volunteer for various community causes. If appropriate, you can step in during community emergency, offering products and services to help an organization or individuals in need.7. CouponsMost people are very cost conscious. At what level will coupons increase the volume of various product or service lines? When you get some tentative answers, start distributing coupons that offer a discount on your products. Distribute them to area newspapers, on store counters, in door-to-door mail packets, at the public library, at laundromats - at any location where people congregate.8. Badges and noveltiesYou can easily and inexpensively produce badges, bumper stickers, book covers, and other novelty items for distribution in your area. You can imprint your business name and the first names of the customers on many of these products at little cost and distribute them for free. You can tie your novelty program into a contest: once a month, you can offer a prize to any individual whose car happens to carry one of your bumper stickers or badges with peel off coupons, redeemable online if they make a purchase.9. Celebrate holidaysYou'll probably want to celebrate major public holidays with special sales. Almost every business has a few little-known holidays. Ever hear of National Pickle Day, for instance? Or Cat Lovers Month? Once you find the 'right' holiday, you can sponsor a special sale or special product, and arrange media coverage of a holiday event.10. Go where the people areYou can open sales information booths at community fairs and festivals. If you have the people and the time, can you handle regional fairs or even trade shows?11. Mailing listsOnce you begin establishing a committed clientele, gather their names on a mailing list. Save the names from your mail orders and telephone inquiries. Eventually, you'll be able to send product circulars or even catalogs to the folks on your list and you'll be able to promise your products by mail.12. Unbeatable dealsIf you want people to buy NOW, offer them an unbeatable deal.13. PartiesEveryone loves a party. Perhaps you can offer an open house or obtain a small banquet room in your community. Bring refreshments.14. Greeting cardsDo you send greeting cards to major customers or clients? Holidays, birthdays, and anniversaries make nice greeting card occasions. Greeting cards create enormous goodwill and keep your name in front of people.15. SeminarsIn this information-hungry age, people love to receive advice, especially about their personal needs and hobbies. Perhaps you can offer 'wellness' seminars during lunchtime to your area's business community. Maybe you can offer one-hour decorating workshops to any group of ten people who will gather in someone's home.