In some ways, marketing offline can actually be more fun to
do and you can get very creative with how you do this.
Join Local Groups in
Your Community – I live in Lexington, Kentucky and I can tell you that this
is not a big city. Actually, where I
live I can have access to 3 cities that are rather small. However, there are business groups that have
regular meetings to discuss their businesses and network together.
These are usually businesses that perform services or
products in the bricks and mortar world.
So their topics whenever they speak of them are usually about what they’re selling or doing. In my case, since I talk about dirt-cheap marketing methods and also write advertising copy, I have a pretty wide appeal with my group. If I were a dentist, well, I don’t think I’d have the same appeal, even though dentists perform a super-important service.
So their topics whenever they speak of them are usually about what they’re selling or doing. In my case, since I talk about dirt-cheap marketing methods and also write advertising copy, I have a pretty wide appeal with my group. If I were a dentist, well, I don’t think I’d have the same appeal, even though dentists perform a super-important service.
Finding these groups is pretty easy. Just Google “Business Networking Groups” and
the name of your city or town. Once again, don’t try to be a “Johnny Jump-Up” and try to
connect with your group too fast. Just
like online social groups, you’ll want to get to know your group before you
approach them with anything.
Once they get to know you. They’ll be much more responsive
to what you have to say and your marketing message. At some point you’ll want to give them a
business card or offer to speak at one of the meetings.
I can’t overstate that you’ll want to ease into these
relationships before talking to them about what you do too much. Just be cordial and attend regularly.
Speak at local business meetings.
Speak at local business meetings.
Almost every city or large town has a Toast Masters
Club. These clubs are there to give
members the opportunity to speak or help you learn to speak. However, just like any other social network,
you will have an opportunity to network and talk to others that are in business.
And guess what? You’ll
be able to give a speech about your business there and hand out business cards
and make connections you can send to your website!
The next move you’ll want to make once you get used to
talking to crowds is to research different business groups in your area and contact
them. Usually there are business
chapters or clubs that meet regularly and many times they are looking for
speakers. Depending on your niche market,
you can speak at some of these events.
All you have to do is send a brief letter to the chair person leading
the group offering your services to speak.
The only words of caution I would have is make sure your
niche or subject is relevant and applicable to your audience. A good way to make sure that you’re speaking
on target would be to ASK the person in charge what subject (related to your
field) that they think would be good for you to speak about.
This method is very effective, especially if you’re
addressing people that are interested in your business. Usually, people will come up to you and ask
you for more information.
However, I have a better plan for you…
Hot Tip! Instead of
just giving out your marketing materials when someone asks for it why don’t you
“bump it up a notch”?
At the end of your presentation, you could say something
like this:
“Thank you so much for allowing me to speak at your
event. To show you my extreme
appreciation, I’ve got some free parting gifts I’d like to give you at the door
before you leave."
You could give them a free report, complimentary items like
pens or key- chains that have your web address and other contact information on
it. This way, you can make sure that
just about everyone in the room will have your marketing materials as they
leave, rather than just one or two people that just talking to one or two
contacts that happen to approach you.
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