Marketing your website/blog in the OFFLINE world?

Hey all,

Do any of our members here @ DP follow any methods of promotion in the offline world? I just wrote up a post recently about it, and was just wondering if any of those methods were being followed by webmasters here @ DP

Some things I've mentioned were; Running for Charity, Flyers/Business Cards, Voicemail, Sponsored Clothing,.. any of these things?

If you have, would you like to share with us your thoughts?

 

Get a magnetic sign for the side of your car or truck. I did this for a little while when I had my computer service. I would be driving down the road, look over and see people writing down information from the sign. Plus, if you use your car or truck for advertising, you can write expenses off your taxes - such as oil changes, new tires, gas,,,

Get with the local chamber of commerce and sponsor a local beauty pageant. You should be able to get your website name in the papers that are handed out during the pageant. And maybe even a link on the chambers website.

 

If you have a university or college near by you could certainly use that demographic to your advantage. Put up or hand out flyers there.

You can also write your website on pieces of money.

 

This might be illegal and self incriminating.

 

Indeed, I print pens with my info and hand them out all over the place. Anyone who takes a credit card will typically take a hand full of pens. Any place that sells beer or booze is really good as well since folks have a tendency to walk off with pens so they actually distribute themselves.

hope that helps,
Nigel

 

Teach a class.

Also start related sites and blogs w/local search and stick your site in it.

 

Word of mouth is the natural social networking.
If your site meets a need, people wil share it by themselves

 

I actually seen something like that on a $1 bill today. I couldn't believe it. I went to the guy's website and it was full of AdSense ads.

 

I have never done any deliberate offline marketing. Most of it was word of mouth. However, I have contemplated doing some flyers when I was doing some web design services. I think you really need to ensure that your business model would fit that form of advertising though. For example, a forum on internet marketing is probably less likely to get visitors in offline marketing than would a web development company.

 

Don't forget you're local newspaper/free ads paper. These can be cracking if your website does tangible goods, or affiliate links to tangible goods, phones, electronics etc. This has worked well for me. Dont forget CPA offers as well such as dating and flatmates/property and the like. Most papers do free small ads!

 

I don't see what you guys mean by the $1 bill ~ do you mean literally writing out your URL on money?

It can't be that...cause its so random lol and I fail to see its purpose
Would it be conceivable as legitimate money after that? Sure raises a few legal issues that's for sure, any tampering with official bills has got to be a big No-No

 

Yea. I wouldn't have considered the fact that it could render the tender illegal..although here in oz,i've had a ripped $5 note that was accepted as legal tender. I was actually wary of handing it over(considering i had no choice but to use cash at the time)..
I've seen various things written on notes before.

maybe australia is slack??

plus,just becuase a website url is written on a note..doesn;t mean the site owner did it. -what if it was used as notepaper by mistake??

haha

 

Newspaper ads are still very effective, networking and seminars too

Usually best for services though, not too sure about blogs.

 

How about your car? Bumper stickers or big vinyl letters/wrap all around it

 

I had a previous website that I wanted to promote. A friend of mine was good at woodworking so hen carved wooden pens with my website name on then. They looked fabulous! I handed them out to people who I thought could help promote my business.

 

Create unique business cards and put your website URL on it.

 

Woah, firstly thank you for such a detailed reply Strontium Dog

You are dead right about every genre having it's own communities of writers and printing publishers. So, anyone going that route will always have something or something to work with.

Moreover on the broader topic of say a SEO Blog flyer and brochure, it would much less effective posting it anywhere and everywhere, because most people wouldn't even know about it ~ on the other hand if you had a sporting blog say about Basketball - every Tom, Dick and Harry on your street would know what exactly your flyer's about

 

Where's the link to your articleee?
I'm thinking about promoting a couple of my sites in the offline..but it's not "suitable" just to throw around flyers
Let's say it's a bit maturish content..