Bringing People That Are Online...Offline

One of the biggest misconceptions about Internet Marketing is that it only works if it is done online. After all, so the argument goes, the Web has millions of people using it, so the best way to get them to your site would be through online advertising, right? Well, it sounds good in theory, but you’re only reaching a portion of your total potential market. What about the millions of people who aren’t online?

The fact is that not everyone who has a computer uses it to go online like you do. Of course there are also thousands of people who either don’t have or don’t want a computer. These people are part of the larger segment of your potential market that is offline. And unless you make the effort to target them offline, they will never know that you or your product exist.

Direct mail has proven successful for many years and recently several of the best-known marketers have started using it along with their online campaigns. One of the easiest ways to use direct mail for offline advertising of your online product is to simply print out and mail your website sales letter. Another popular method is to send postcards with some teaser copy and your product’s web address for more information.

Of course there is also offline media like radio and television. Those late night infomercials point the viewer to the product’s website to order or for more information. Airing a commercial for your product or service on radio or TV with a link to your website is another possibility.

Speaking of offline media, let’s not forget the newspapers. Whether it’s a full or quarter page ad, a classified ad, or ad piece inserted into the paper, this is a great and fairly inexpensive way to drive offline prospects to your online offer. Of course, you could also contribute an article with a link to your site in the byline.

And let’s not overlook the “low-budget” avenues of offline promotion as well. Bulletin boards in restaurants or businesses are still very effective methods of free advertising. You might also consider having a business card printed for your product, with the web address included. Using your computer, you could create and print out flyers for your product or service and (with permission) post them at area businesses or leave small stacks of them in the library or other public places.

If you’re really into some creative offline advertising, you might have bumper stickers or window decals made with your website address. T-shirts or caps with your website name are another possibility. And, if you’ve got an adequate budget, you might order some promotional items like pens, cups or mouse pads with your product’s name and web address printed on them.

There is so much out there you can do offline to direct your traffic to go online and look at your website for more information. If you want to really learn how to market on online as well as offline you can check out my 1-2-3 Power System at http://www.incomepowersystem.com/. It is a great system and will teach you a lot about marketing in both areas.