Marketing is crucial to business success. Indeed, for consumers to come knocking, they first need to know about your product or service. Its importance is evidenced by the magnitude of company marketing budgets these days. For instance, businesses in the US alone are set to spend $146 billion on digital marketing by 2023. Thankfully, there are numerous offline marketing strategies to try for a fraction of the cost. Sound good? Keep reading for five of the best.
1. Advertising Inflatables
Advertising inflatables are an increasingly popular and effective low-cost offline marketing idea for businesses. They come in a variety of forms, ranging from simple blimps to complex 3D sculptures designed specifically to represent the brand. Companies can use advertising inflatables in various ways, such as displaying them in windows or storefronts, setting them up at special events, or flying them above their premises. Whether presented indoors or outdoors, they can hold logos and other graphics prominently and get the attention of passersby. In addition to their visual impact, there are several other benefits that advertising inflatables bring to businesses. They can be quickly and effortlessly deployed— often with no extra setup costs—which makes them ideal for locations with limited resources or strict time constraints. Furthermore, by stimulating curiosity about the company, they typically draw customers in for closer inspection of displays or promotions onsite. Ultimately, advertising inflatables can be an invaluable marketing tool for many kinds of companies looking to engage potential customers at a manageable price point.
2. Business Cards
Business cards remain an effective marketing endeavor that serves three purposes:
- To generate awareness of your product/service
- To provide contact details
- To appear more professional
Few other marketing efforts can tick these boxes for such a low financial cost. You can print thousands of cards at minimal expense, and distribute them for free to anyone you meet. Even better, people hold onto business cards for considerable lengths of time. Your business will literally be in someone’s wallet or pocket for weeks and months on end.
3. Flyers, Leaflets, and Labels
Printable materials are another top (and cheap) form of offline marketing to utilize. They boast many of the same benefits as business cards. After all, you can print thousands of copies for a relative pittance, and hand them out at no cost at all. With a compelling design and effective distribution, you can see a significant return on your investment.
4. Promo Freebies
Everybody loves a freebie. This is why companies have been handing out free branded products since the dawn of time. Keyrings, t-shirts, pens, bracelets, bags, and so on are all popular options. Branded water bottles can work wonders too. Design your water bottle labels online, print and stick them to the bottles, and distribute them on a hot summer’s afternoon. People happily accept the gift, thereby exposing them to your brand. They appreciate the freebie and are likely to tell their friends about it as a result.
5. Networking
Networking is another timeless means of marketing. It also happens to be one of the very best options at a marketer’s disposal. After all, you’re out there interacting with key players in the industry. The chance to build relationships and cultivate new connections is second to none. Go to industry events, meetups, and even post-work drinks. The people you meet can lead to new opportunities to both promote and expand your business.
6. Packaging
To their detriment, businesses often ignore the value of quality packaging. Leverage the opportunity it provides by maximizing its aesthetic appeal. Next, include little freebies and notes to help spread joy to your customers! Sometimes, a simple hand-written note can be enough to win a customer for life. Moreover, they might share it on social media, generating additional exposure all at no extra cost.
Time to Master Your Offline Marketing
Marketing can come with a hefty price tag, but as you’ve just seen, it doesn’t have to. There are numerous ways to market a product or service without excessive expense. Hopefully, this post has provided some useful offline marketing ideas to help out in this way. Looking for more articles like this? Head to the ‘Grow’ section of the website now!