In the startup world, people can become very set in their ways. When you’re not careful, your whole life and work can become about how important it is to be disruptive, come up with new ideas, and do everything current. And while this can be useful in some situations, it can also be very restrictive and keep you from doing some great things because they seem old-fashioned and not cool. For instance, you might think that offline marketing is old-fashioned and doesn’t work, but it can really help your company.
1. Business Events
Startups can get their name out there in a big way at industry events, especially if they are business-to-business (B2B) and will only work with other businesses. Several things make this true. One reason is that it lets you know what other people are up to. Additionally, it puts you in touch with possible customers and helps you understand what they want. You will also be able to make the relationships you need through networking. But more than anything else, you can make sure that people see you and learn about your product or service at events for your business.
2. Advertising stuff
Historically, merchandise has been an important part of the startup environment. Funny T-shirts have become very popular in the field. Promo stuff is a great idea for new businesses. The main reason is that it lasts longer than ads, which people see once and then forget about. You should be extra careful with this if you make your products useful, like giving away USB drives. If you are clever and come up with new ways to promote your business, it will get more attention.
3. Helping out
One of the oldest ways to sell something is through sponsorship. For example, businesses used to support athletes in the Olympics in the past. Roman chariot drivers were also paid by smart business people who knew that getting this much attention would be good for their brand. As a new business, you will probably need to focus on smaller, more local events and groups. However, if you make a few smart choices, this can still be a great way to get the word out about your new business. This is especially true now that on-line events of all sizes get a lot of attention. We can say that this is where your local marketing and online marketing will meet.
4. Local News
Because local news outlets usually don’t have a lot of money, they can’t always get in touch with experts in different areas when they need to. Right now is your chance. When important news about your field comes out, call the local papers and TV or radio stations and ask if they could use your opinion. You are putting your foot in the door, but more often than you might think, they will be all for it. It’s possible that after some time, you’ll become their go-to expert, and it will only be a matter of time before they cover you even more.
5. Set up events
Hosting events is one of the more fun ways to get the word out about your company in real life. Say you want to launch a new product or service. You could have a launch party and invite writers, people from the media, and your customers. Don’t worry, it doesn’t have to be anything fancy. If you’d rather do something different, you can plan an event for your neighborhood. For instance, you could throw a barbecue for your neighbors to raise money for a good cause. People will talk about this in the news, and it will also go viral online. Of course, you are combining offline marketing and internet once more.
It’s still possible to use offline marketing. Not at all. As time goes on, it becomes more and more clear that some of the older marketing ideas are still great and have stood the test of time.
Don’t forget about offline ads, at least.
