By Christina White
We live in a world where people are constantly connected to the Internet. Whether it’s checking social media profiles, responding to a work e-mail or simply looking for directions, the Internet has become an integral part of our everyday lives. And although we’ve seen a rapid increase in online marketing, it’s a bad business move to disregard the influence of traditional marketing campaigns. That said, here are five ways you can use traditional marketing tactics in order to boost the visibility of your business.
1. Creative Business Cards
You may think that business cards have gone out of fashion and became obsolete, but in reality, it’s quite the opposite. One of the cheapest and easiest option to get your brand out there is by using a well-thought-out business card. Set your business apart from the competition by using a unique design which accurately depicts and reflects your brand’s creativity and core values. Move away from the standard landscape-oriented white card with black lettering and don’t be afraid to experiment with shapes and colors. Just make sure that all of your employees have at least a couple of them to give out to prospective clients.
2. Flyers and Pamphlets
Giving away printed marketing material is another excellent way of conveying your brand’s message to the target audience. Just like business cards, they are very inexpensive to make yet they offer surprisingly good results. Moving away from the default template and experimenting with colors and fonts is recommended, as long as your flyers and pamphlets remain readable and don’t take up too much space. The best way to attract the attention of potential customers is to use helpful infographics or to incorporate coupons and discounts, preferably in the bottom part of the flyer.
3. Custom Banners and Signs
Maintaining a brand visibility online is important, but your brand also has to be visible in the real world. Custom signs and vinyl banners are ideal for physical business locations, as they remind potential customers that you have a store nearby. They also work as an invite for customers to come and pay a visit to your store and check for any new products and services you’re offering, special promotions, sales or local events. Whether you place them strategically around your store or bring them out for a special occasion, they are an excellent way to drive traffic to your business.
4. Billboards
The main advantage when it comes to using billboards is that they can be seen from a mile away. Although they can be quite expensive, especially in areas with high traffic, billboards offer an additional level of exposure. This is particularly useful for recently opened small business, where every bit of exposure to the brand matters. Just remember to make the content information clear and visible and don’t forget to include a call to action. Billboards don’t necessarily have to be static objects, if your business has any company vehicles, you can easily wrap them up and use them as mobile billboards.
5. Free Giveaways
Whenever there’s a tradeshow, you can be certain that there will be various items carrying brand names for promotional purposes. These giveaway items can’t really be measured for return-of-investment, but they are very useful as marketing tools used to raise brand awareness. You can use pens, lighters, t-shirts and notebooks. Those with a little bigger budget for marketing can go for high-quality giveaway items including Moleskine notebooks, high-quality water bottles, and similar unique items. Besides tradeshow events, these items can also be shipped to customers along with their purchase. This not only increases your brand’s visibility but also help build the relationship with your customers.
Granted, our daily lives revolve around the Internet. For marketers, it’s an ideal solution for reaching vast audiences fast. But the best marketing plan is the one that includes both online and offline efforts. Some traditional means of marketing may seem a little outdated, but they have proven time and time again to be efficient at keeping your brand visible and establishing credibility with the local audience. Incorporating the traditional methods with the new, internet-oriented ones is the only way to drive traffic and more importantly, stay above the competition.