5 Ways Offline Promotions Can Be More Powerful Than Online Marketing
If you engaged in an in-depth discussion with an online expert, you would have a hard time trying to convince them that online promotion wasn’t the be-all and end-all. After all, there are so many benefits to online advertising that going offline may seem like a complete waste of time. The truth is, connecting with your customer base offline can be more powerful than online sometimes, and here’s why:
Connect with Your Customers Personally
Online promotions are an excellent way to achieve global reach, but what about the connection with your customers on a personal level? The best way to do that is offline with flyers, door-to-door meetings, and even promotional gifts. Customers who see that you’ve taken time out of your busy day to spend with them will be more likely to utilize your products and services.
Mass Reach Fast
You can reach a lot of people with online promotion, but how long is that advertising going to take? The beauty of offline promotions is that you can achieve mass reach – and fast. Take, for example, a flyer campaign with lots of leaflets obtained from somewhere like aura-print.com. If you have a special run for a limited time only, you will need to get to your local customers at the right time.
A flyer drop with the help of your local postal worker will have the desired effect. You may not have the same reach as online promotions, but you will get your message across far quicker.
Targeted Reach
A digital expert will argue that you can’t possibly benefit from targeted reach with offline promotions, but you can. When you advertise online, you can specify your geographical area, demographics, hobbies, and more, to get the right people to see your ad. New technology, even in the offline world, allows that as well.
Television continues to be one of the most effective advertising methods in any business owner’s arsenal – and it’s only getting better. You can choose time slots when your customer base is likely to tune in and schedule your ads for TV shows they are likely to watch too. Targeted reach is also achievable through other avenues like magazines and newspapers. Think about where your customers are likely to be and jump on that offline avenue.
Tangibility
How many times have you scrolled through your social media feed, found an advertisement for a product you liked, then lost it? One wrong click, and it’s gone, never to be seen it again. That’s why offline promotions shine. They are a tangible product that potential customers can hold, understand, and put on their fridge. The only problem you have to combat is making people see the value of your offerings amidst their endless piles of junk mail.
Loyalty Scheme Effectiveness
Loyalty programs and schemes have long been effective methods for generating sales. Who doesn’t like something for free or at a discounted rate? Some online advertising platforms, such as Facebook, cover the bare basics with loyalty schemes, but the offline world does it far better (and potentially always will).
You can walk into a business, take a loyalty card, then receive a stamp after each product or service you use or buy. Upon filling the coupon, you often receive something for free. This cost-effective promotional method is both offline and powerful for customer retention.
The online world trumps the offline one in many ways, but the offline world still has many cards up its sleeve. Evaluate both options to find out which might suit your business the best. A mixture of both may be the answer.