Most brands’ marketing strategies these days focus more on online activities. In fact, some companies don’t engage in offline marketing anymore. Does this mean that offline marketing strategies are no longer effective? Well, you will answer this question yourself in the next paragraph.
According to 2019 statistics by the International Telecommunication Unions, 53.6% of the world population uses the Internet. Also, 77.2% of Americans are using the Internet.
From the above statistics, you can see that 46.4% of the world population isn’t using the Internet. And 22.8% of the US popular aren’t using the Internet. You see, you are losing out earning opportunities by not promoting your products offline.
You can potentially reach more people, create better awareness for your brand, and possibly increase sales if you promote your products offline.
There are several people out there who don’t have access to the Internet. And you can reach them easily if you have an exceptional offline marketing strategy.
Offline marketing refers to any marketing strategy that involves non-internet media to create awareness for your products. Even though every company these days has an online presence, you can still create passive awareness for your brand using an offline medium.
However, one of the cases against offline marketing is the fact that you can’t easily track conversion. And you can’t tell the number of people who visited your website after seeing your offline promotional activities.
In a nutshell, it’s difficult to measure the performance of offline marketing strategies. But they are very effective and can increase your bottom line exponentially.
How Does Offline Marketing Strategies Benefit Your Business?
If you are still wondering how offline marketing will benefit your business, here are some benefits;
#1. Authenticity
There’s something you should know about online audiences. They tend to be very fickle regarding the ads they want to see. It’s 100% easier to convince someone to take action offline than online.
If you are implementing your offline marketing strategies correctly, it will give your audience a feeling of authenticity that will help you reinforce your brand and easily sell your products/services.
For instance, people are more naturally inclined to check your business if you give them a business card than if you were to send an email. That’s authenticity. It looks more real when you deal with people offline.
#2. Better Awareness for Your Brand
Brand awareness is an essential asset to businesses in the 21st century. And focusing on online ads alone won’t help you achieve that.
For instance, if you create an advertising campaign on Facebook, it’s only Facebook book users that will see it. But if you launch a similar campaign offline using billboards, fences, giving out flyers, etc. More people within your local environment will be aware of your brand. And that’s the whole essence of advertising.
#3. Cost-efficiency
Offline marketing strategies are more cost-efficient than online campaigns in the long run. Most online ads are one-off, and it doesn’t last long. Sometimes, only a few people will get to see the ad.
However, if you get a billboard for your business, it gives your brand several competitive advantages. The ad may be up for days, weeks, and sometimes months. Several people will see it while passing by, and this will expose your brand to the target audience within your local environment.
It’s relatively cheaper to use offline ads, and it gets you more results.
#4. More Results
Irrespective of your advertising budget and strategy, it has one primary objective - to grab potential customers’ attention.
You can use a billboard to advertise your product within a town. Ensure that the billboard reflects the people within the town. The content of the ad should reflect the people living in the town.
#5. Quicker Feedback
One of the challenges of online advertising is that interaction is not there. If you want to measure your ads performance, you use software to get data and analyze them.
However, the feedback is direct in offline marketing. When you approach a potential customer about your products or services, you can get immediate feedback from the person’s body language and reaction.
#6. Gives Your Customers Something Tangible
Offline marketing gives your audience something tangible they can hold, feel, and associate with your brand. The beauty of this is that it helps to easily switch your marketing efforts from being passive to being active. It gives a great experience that both current and potential customers will always remember.
#7. Builds Relationship When Networking
If you are consistent with your offline marketing strategies, it allows you to know your customers. Unlike online ads, Face to face interaction with your audience enables you to communicate directly with them and build relationships over time.
#8. Various Distribution Method
There are different methods of reaching your target audience when using offline marketing. You can directly send your promotion to letterboxes, display your leaflets inside other businesses, or have an attention-catching business card you can easily distribute to your audience.
#9. Make an Impact in a Crowded Space
One of the challenges of online ads is the fact that they are widespread everywhere across the Internet. So, it has become even more difficult to get people to notice your activities online, let alone getting them to take action.
But if you are smart with distributing printed leaflets, you can creatively put your message in front of your audience directly. And it’s easier to inspire your target audience to take action using this approach.
#10. Sticks with Your Audience Longer
There are so many online ads these days. Some people even delete emails without reading its content.
But a creatively designed leaflet could spend a longer time with a prospect and continuously remind them of your brand.
Certainly, offline marketing can create more awareness about your brand and increase your sales. But you have to be strategic about it.
Don’t forget that other brands also incorporate offline marketing into their business strategies. But try to be creative in your approach.
Marketing Strategies to Promote Your Product
#1. Stationery Documents
Your brand offline marketing strategies start with stationery documents. Ensure that all stationery documents sent out have your company’s website in them. It’s an effective way to get people to visit your website.
Examples of stationery you should include your company’s URL are;
- Business cards
- Letters/Envelope
- Invoices
- Receipts
- Faxes
- Address labels etc.
So, your stationery documents are an excellent place to start promoting your business’ website.
#2. Printed Personalized Materials
Marketing sometimes isn’t all about winning new customers. But retaining those who are already buying your products. Therefore, always give reasons for your existing customers to keep returning. It could be sending brochures/product sheets to provide them with awareness about your products.
#3. Press Release or Magazine
Writing a press release or publishing article in any popular magazine in your niche works like magic. When people come across your content in a popular magazine, they tend to connect with you better. You hire some of the best content marketing companies online to help you handle your press release and magazine articles.
#4. Promotional Items
Giving your customers promotional items with your company logos is another effective offline marketing strategy. It’s an easy way to remind your audience about your products and services regularly. A good example of promotional giveaways is a pen…
If you don’t have a creative designer on your team, here are some of the best graphic designers who can help you design your promotional items.
#5. Advertising
Advertising is all about creating massive awareness about your company using traditional media. There are several advertising options available offline. Some of them are; Classic ad, billboard ad, object ad, offline-guerilla marketing, phonebook, flyers, etc.
#6. Sponsoring/Events
Sponsorship is another great offline strategy that works like a miracle. Your brand can support local football clubs, youth clubs, and other societies looking for sponsorships. When you do this correctly, it will expand your business reach and create more awareness.
#7. Networking
Networking is one of the currencies of the 21st century. A productive relationship with your network can become a veritable tool for supporting and promoting your business. Networking lets you connect with more companies, create business referrals, and offer excellent opportunities to share ideas.
#8. Partnerships
People often underestimate the marketing partnerships. But it’s very efficient and can bring your business to the limelight. These partnerships can help expose your business to a target audience you won’t ordinarily be able to reach.
In a marketing partnership, every company benefits directly from wider exposure, more referrals, and more efficient marketing.
#9. Vehicles
Another easy way to create awareness about your company offline is to brand your official vehicles. The vehicles should contain your business website, slogan, and, more importantly, logos. This strategy can potentially expose your business to thousands of people every day…
#10. Word of Mouth
Word of mouth marketing is one of the oldest offline marketing strategies. It’s as old as marketing itself. It’s very effective and allows you to talk about your business, products, and websites at every important. You can also encourage your friends, relatives, and existing customers to spread the word.
Offline marketing is an important marketing strategy to sell your products to the non-internet audience. However, for better results, you should use a combination of both offline and online marketing strategies.
