Offline Web Site Promotion
Offline promotion is an essential element in a successful marketing campaign. Use as many methods as you can.
Make sure your URL is included on all of printed material. Letterhead, brochures, business cards, fax sheets, bags, signs, checks, invoices, receipts, order forms... Have stickers made. Stick your URL sticker on the bottom of every product that you sell, on the bag, on your envelopes... Have a rubber stamp made. Rubber stamp everything with your URL.
You can give away free items that include your URL like coffee cups, pens, Christmas cards, magnets, t-shirts, buttons, key chains, bumper stickers, mouse pads, paper weights, stress balls... Give away free "how to" guides on a subject your knowledgeable in and include your URL for further information.
Flyers are a very inexpensive way to advertise. You can also create some money saving coupons on your computer for a discount on any online purchase and pass them out. Coupons can be for 10% off your next online purchase, buy two get one free, free shipping coupons, etc. Every time you make a sale at an art show put a coupon or a flyer in the bag. Make sure the bag has your url printed on it. Get permission to leave your flyers and coupons at all of your local craft malls and art/craft supply stores. Hire the neighborhood kids to walk through all the craft shows/events in your area and hand out your flyers and coupon books.
Include your URL on your answering machine and holding message. Let people know that you are open 24 hours a day on the WWW.
Have your vehicle painted with your URL and logo or at least put it on your license plate frame. You can offer to have other peoples cars painted for free with your logo and URL. Make it big, make it cool, make it memorable.
Some more ideas to consider:
- Classified ads. Place ads in local and non local art and craft related publications.
- Yellow page ads.
- Billboards. Large billboards and small bulletin boards.
- Transit ads. Put your URL on the side of a bus or cab.
- Radio. Do an interview, pay for an announcement, call in to a talk show.
- TV. TV ads are expensive, cable channels are cheaper, volunteer to do a talk show.
- Press Releases. Pay someone to do a press release for you or learn to do it yourself. It's not as hard as you might think.
- Word of mouth. Spread the word everyday. "We have an online catalog." "Be sure to visit us on the web." "Here's my card." etc.
- Think positively. Visualize success and believe that you will meet your goals.
