For unconventional home business wisdom, home business opportunities, and lots more visit http:www.americanhousedad.com
Re-discovering offline promotion techniques to increase web traffic.
Published on April 24, 2005 By JonCastle In Websites
People are so focused on promoting their websites on the web these days that many are overlooking the original marketing medium—the offline world! Many tried and true methods of advertising exist for brick and mortar businesses that could just as easily be applied to online businesses. These methods have been developed over hundreds if not thousands of years—what cavemen used to sell I have no idea—but the point is still valid. Business promotion existed long before the internet. So what methods of marketing in the “real” world can an online business owner apply to the cyber world?

One extremely effective method is brand marketing through merchandise. Think about it—before the web existed, how did businesses like real estate companies market their brands? One way they did it was to give stuff away—a marketing trick that is still being applied effectively today. How many pens, pencils, and magnets do you have lying around the house, stuck to the refrigerator, placed behind your ear—wherever—that bear some company’s logo or name? If you have ever worked in an office environment doubtless you would have noticed several different slogans on a hodgepodge collection of pens (some that might even still work) and pencils collected over time from seminars, informational fairs, trade events, etc. Brick and mortar businesses are doing it, so why aren’t you?

If you don’t want to market your website on writing utensils or magnets you have several alternatives. Other products that work well for marketing include coffee mugs, travel-and-go cups, mouse pads, bumper stickers, key tags, and stress balls. Let’s not forget another great place to show off your website—on your body! No, I’m not talking about taking drastic measures like tattooing your company URL on your forehead. Clothing advertisements are the name of the game. Clothing is a wonderful way to advertise your website, especially if you have a funny slogan or eye-catching logo. You can have your website address printed on hats, shirts, umbrellas, tote bags, and all sorts of wearable accessories. The best thing about advertising on clothing is that the advertisement is mobile—it goes wherever you go. The next time you get dressed to go out why not wear something that promotes your business? Don’t forget that you can give away things as well—imagine a hundred walking billboards for your website!

There are plenty of companies that will apply your brands to products. The cost is cheap and the rewards can be high, so what are you waiting for? Look through your local phonebook or do an internet search for companies that print to merchandise and then go get branding!

Copyright 2005 Jon Castle
Article may be reprinted freely as long as the author bylines are included.

We are each a single drop of rain strafed by the wind to merge with other droplets and thereby form an ocean. For unconventional home business wisdom, home business opportunities, and more please visit Jon Castle’s website www.AmericanHouseDad.com

Comments
on Apr 24, 2005
Read the title of this thread and the first thing that came to my mind was "ebay!". There are so many people on there selling space on their body. Butt cracks, head, back, stomach(sp maybe), chest, etc. All for a quick buck
on Apr 25, 2005
How enlightening..
on Apr 26, 2005
This is all true! A few days ago, I was looking into free gifts that I could personalize and give away to promote my selling of Avon. You're right, it's inexpensive-just think about all the extra buisness that one can reel in. Things, such as magnets, I'll pick them up just because I can use a few extra magnets on my fridge. Next thing I know, I'm leaving for work and my car won't start, I need a tow, I live a busy life, and I don't have time to thumb through the yellow pages or log onto my computer to find a towing company. I pick up my phone, and I call the towing company whose number is printed on the magnet which is stuck to my fridge that is holding a flyer (that I grabbed from a local grocer's bulluttin board which I grabbed when I needed scrap paper to jot down the cheerleader's phone# who was selling candy bars to raise money for her squad. She mentioned that she babysits and she'd give me her number. So anyway, I call the tow company on this magnet. I was stunned when they asked for the location of where I'd like it towed too...duh...shouldn't I have known this already?!? I begin pacing back and fourth... to... afterall- find a phonebook. Oh wait...Look, on the flyer that's hanging from the magnet that has this cheerleader's phone# on it, I see the name and address of a private owned mechanics company that if offerring a 10% discount with the presentation of this flyer. Immediately, I read this address to the towing company. I jot down the babysitter's phone# onto another piece of "junk" mail and I snatch the flyer from the fridge's magnet to bring with me so I can present it to the mechanic for my discount. Two weeks later, I call the cheerleader to see if she can watch my kids. I greeted her, upon her answering of the telephone and she immediately asks if I recently had my car in a mechanic shop. When I told her, I have, she thanked me for buisness. I guess the owner of the mechanic shop saw her name and number and he called her when he needed a last minute babysitter!!!

So, you're advertising ideas do indeed work! As a matter of fact, I am going to copy this response that I wrote, into my other journal, and I am going to advertise for you, by opening my new memo with, "This was written in response to 'your web address'.
on Apr 26, 2005
Maybe you would like to promote your Avon products on my website. I have a message board set up there. It doesn't get much traffic now but I think it will eventually.
on Apr 27, 2005
Their butt crack? Really? Never thought of advertising there. Think it works? lmao
on Apr 27, 2005
Actually... Come to think of it, I better not laugh so hard... I could be losing money!!!
on Apr 27, 2005
I guess a women who looks fab-U-lous could sell her... butt crack... so that men ages 16 to 60 would see the word
WINCUSTOMIZE - Wanna See My Skin?

lol
on Apr 29, 2005
Just how big of a butt crack are we talking about here?
on Apr 29, 2005
LOL
on Apr 29, 2005
This should help show you what people sell to advertise on -> http://search.ebay.com/advertise_W0QQfkrZ1QQfromZR8