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Web Site Promotion – Offline

Traditional advertising should not be overlooked in promoting your web site. The more people see your URL, the more likely they will visit your web site. The more people visit your web site, the more business you are likely to do! Keep this in mind and include your URL in as many places as you can think of. Take the time to brainstorm and promote your web site in as many various and sundry ways possible.

Business Literature

You should always... Let me say that again… ALWAYS include your web site address in all of your business literature. I am amazed at how often this gets overlooked by some of our customers. To get the mental wheels turning you should include it on your letterhead, business cards, brochures, envelopes, checks, faxes, flyers, advertising, direct mail, newsletters, press releases and media kits.

Promotional and Novelty Items

If your company participates in trade shows or gives away promotional items these items should have your web site URL on them. Sometimes people are not comfortable with coming to your place of business, or in doing business with you at all, until they have checked it out on the Internet first. It may be shyness or just what they consider smart shopping. They may want to find out everything they can before they actually purchase or make physical contact with you or your salesmen.

If you make these items objects that would be used while near a computer you will encourage and remind them to come to your web site since they will be near a computer anyway. Some items to consider would be mouse pads, disk holders, screen cleaning kits, software, screen savers, pens, pencils, scratch pads and sticky notes.

You could also target your audience by placing your web site address on novelty items that would appeal to that particular audience. For instance, if your audience was likely to be interested in computer related stuff you may want to use some of the above articles. If you need to appeal to a younger audience you might want to use toys, Frisbees, balls, beach towels or sunglasses.

Clothing

Clothing is a great place to advertise your web address! When it is worn people all over are likely seeing it! The person wearing it becomes a walking billboard! Whether the clothing is being given or sold to others or just being worn by your employees you should have your web site address on it. You could place your web site address on polo shirts, T-shirts, sweatshirts, jackets or hats. When these items are worn you never know who is seeing the advertising and will make the cyber trip to your web site.

Company Products

This may be obvious or maybe would never have occurred to you. If you place your URL on your products you make the obvious association between your business, what you do, and your web site. As long as your product is good it can only encourage more business and likely some repeat business.

I hope this article has served to get your mental gears churning to find ways to increase your business’ profitability and bottom line.

Reference

Sweeney, Susan 2001. 101 Ways to Promote Your Web Site. Gulf Breeze, FL: Maximum Press.

 

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