Guest Post by Elizabeth Lee
In today’s world where technology dominates nearly every aspect of our lives, it’s no wonder that the Internet and social media have become a highly effective marketing medium. The Internet is a very dynamic tool that allows you to connect with thousands of people with the click of a button.
Businesses both new and old have had to adapt to the current climate and primarily use online strategies to build brand awareness. However, not only do offline strategies still work very well but combining both online and offline efforts is one of the most efficient ways to market your company and build your brand. Here are some of the best ways to merge online and offline strategies.
Be inventive via guerilla marketing
One of the best ways to build brand awareness is via guerilla marketing. Guerilla marketing is one of the most inventive ways to grab the attention of prospective customers and involves the use of unconventional marketing strategies.
A popular method of guerilla marketing is leaving posted notes or graffiti that points people towards your place of business. You can take this one step further by posting on your Facebook, and Twitter accounts that you are leaving hidden objects around town and whoever can find one gets something free in return.
Actress Emma Watson did something similar to promote an event and set Twitter aflame with interest. Inventive act like this makes you stand out from the crowd and builds your brand as something that is fun and unique.
Live events
It’s always worth considering hosting live events at your location and using your website and social media to promote them. Not only does this get people through your door but it is also one of the fastest ways to find out who your target market is; based on who actually attends.
Whether it’s a public speaker, comedians, or a band, hosting live events puts you in direct contact with your surrounding community and your customers in a fun and entertaining way.
During the live event make a point of going around with a clipboard to collect emails and a stack of business cards to hand out. Doing so will get you a list of people who will be aware of your business as well as a list of people who you can now stay in contact with and inform them on future events as well as info about your business.
Record everything via photos and video
Social media marketing takes place online. However, many business owners forget that their social campaigns are boosted by offline efforts and helpful tips and tricks are overlooked.
One of the ways that offline efforts can help online efforts is by documenting daily goings on at your business and posting them on social media. Record a live event, take pictures of your colleagues hard at work or record videos informing people about your latest deals and offers.
Social media sites such as Instagram have an incredible reach, and if you use it in engaging and informative ways you can build a brand that resonates with people.
Donate products as prizes
If you can, donate products as prizes for a one question quiz and make sure that customers are only eligible if they follow you on Twitter and sign up to your mailing list. For example, if you run a cake shop you can both post on your Twitter account and have a sign up in your store letting people know that whoever wins your quiz gets a free cupcake.
For added effect, make sure that you get a picture with whoever wins your competition and post it on your social media accounts. Doing this once a month or so gets you a long list of email subscribers, followers, and people interested and engaged in your brand.
Be sure to utilize the tips in this article; merging online and offline marketing strategies can work wonders for your business and as you have seen above, having a strong strategy for both methods is the most efficient way to build your brand.
Bio: Elizabeth Lee is a passionate blogger and content expert, deeply interested in unique and unorthodox ways of reaching and engaging new audience. A part of marketing team at PACK & SEND for over 4 years, Elizabeth is often found sharing her insights with other professionals online.