Marketing your website offline
You should not always rely on search engines for heavy traffic. It is much harder to get your website included into a search engine than it was years ago. Actually, many more people are visiting websites for which they have seen the web address in writing. Why do you think so many television commercials these days always include the web address of the product they are promoting? The key thing to remember is: Anywhere you post your company name, post your website address along with it.
Some other ideas to advertise your website offline:
- Letterhead AND envelopes
- Personal brochures about you and your company
- Your resume
- Newsletters sent to your clients (either e-mail or in print)
- Signature tag of all e-mail messages (no matter to whom they are sent… friends, family, colleagues, etc.)
- At the end of your voice mail/answering machine message (i.e., …. “and be sure to visit my website at www.yourbusiness.com”).
- Fax cover sheets (many people forget this one!)
- Flyer on free local bulletin boards (grocery stores, discount chain stores, shopping malls, dry cleaners, etc.) – print a flyer on bright yellow paper detailing your web address and your company. BE SURE to include your e-mail address as well as your telephone number! Tack the flyer to bulletin boards all over your town. Keep a supply in your car for handy access.
- Magnetic car signs (many office supply companies will make these for you at a very reasonable rate)
- Neighborhood directories
- Bus stop benches
- Printed on mouse pads (give one to your clients at Christmas or on their birthday instead of sending flowers)
- T-shirts (white T-shirts can be imprinted with a one-color design for a nominal price). Think about how great it will make you feel to see YOUR web address “walking around town”.
- Business card (As simple as this sounds, it is often overlooked)
- Your business sign