Your offline marketing can greatly enhance your online tactics. And you don’t have to put in a great deal of effort. Learn how in this post.
Digital marketing or SEO, whatever you want to call it, confounds many small business owners. But, the reality is it works similar to any other kind of marketing. In the end, it’s all about relationships and making sure the other person’s needs are met.
Sure, some of the tactics and strategies change and look a lot different than years ago. But if you generally follow the rule of giving the most to others that you can (usually with content), you’ll succeed online too.
But you yourself may not be a digital marketer. You may be more of an offline “people person.” How can you use what you do offline and in person to support your online marketing efforts?
I’ll show you how:
- Networking in Relevant Groups Where Your Target Market Can Be Found
You can think of your website, in this case, as a brochure. You use your business card to drive people to your website.
Online, quantity of traffic is not important. Qualified traffic is. When you meet your ideal customers at an event, give them something to keep with them so they know where to go to learn more about you.
And since that traffic quality is high, the visitors will spend more time reading your content and they’ll browse several pages on your website (most likely). The higher both of those factors are, the better your search rankings.
- Taking Videos and Photos
Both of these are indirect ways of increasing your search rankings. They could play a larger role in your conversion rate once people visit your website.
You can also help your customers get to know you by taking photos and videos of company events. Videos help boost engagement on your website. And better engagement boosts search rankings. With photos, you can keyword optimize your “ALT” tags, which can help you be found in image searches.
Professional videos and photos are nice, but not necessary. These can both be done with your smartphone
- Speaking at Events
You simply cannot underestimate the power of public speaking. It’s a huge weapon in your marketing arsenal, if you think you have the ability to do it.
Honestly, links and social shares can go off like crazy when you find yourself speaking at an event, even if it is a small one. Links are still the most powerful search signal. And of course, at the end of your presentation, you can send people to your website too.
- Donate Your Services to a Charitable Cause
Regardless of what you do, there’s a non-profit out there who could benefit from your products or services. Think of the audience that uses that organization’s services.
Maybe it does work for people with mental disabilities. Those people have parents. So maybe you replace a couple windows just for the cost of goods. Not only can you ask for a link (which could also get shared in local news sites), but the parents, nonprofit staff, and other close family members may see your name.
So, you could win business right away. And you can also drive up your search rankings at the same time.
- Signs & Billboards
You don’t have a ton of space with these. And you don’t have a lot of time to engage drivers. You have a little more to engage foot traffic.
If it makes sense for your business, a billboard or sign with your name, disruptive marketing message, and URL could make great sense. Maybe throw in an offer or special link for those who see the ad to give them a personalized discount or gift.
Merging Online and Offline Marketing Is Only Limited to Your Creativity
Those are just some examples. You might use those exact ones yourself. You can also use them to inspire your own creative thinking.
There’s really no “right” or “wrong” way to do this. It simply shows you how online and offline marketing can work together. So, consider all the benefits any offline marketing tactic can provide for your online efforts!