Offline marketers - I'd like your expertise.

Tinker,
We just posted our 'website money mindmap' on the blog yesterday, Local Internet Marketing-The Website Money Mindmap :: City Biz IM. Just click the link in the post and it will open it for you. Feel free to download it and take it with you.

Warmest Regards,
Marcus

As well as this, if you get the chance, I'd recommend getting some business cards (even from a machine if you don't have the time).

Then, when you talk to them if you like the sound of any, maybe you could ask them for something they obviously don't have there and then and ask them for a business card.

Chances they'll say no which will give you a chance to give them one of yours and ask them to give you a call if and when they do have the item.

If they take it good for you, if not no loss.

Just make sure to tell them not to get the item before getting on touch with you in case you find it elsewhere, of course.

And, the most important thing, make sure your card has an eye-catching benefit - something for which they might require your services which is, after all, the reason reason.

Just an idea.

Edit: Just checked I might be late, but it's an idea for next time, eh?

Yup, I'm certainly not going with the intention of actually talking business with anyone. Just want to get in front of them once...and a few of them will recognize me as my family and I frequent this neighborhood on the weekends.

Thanks again!

I can see where using the flyer may not be the first method of choice, but "detrimental"? In my mind, any form of action is a good thing. Would I go with the idea of just handing out flyers? No....I would have a few different tricks up my sleeve.

If one would go to a sidewalk sale, street fair or any type of community event that includes local business.....go with the intent for first getting to the business owner & striking up a conversation.
If they are not available, or too busy with business matters to stop & talk.....ask when a good time would be, then ask for his contact info...then thank him & hand him your business card and/or flyer. I see nothing dertrimental about it....it's just another form of taking action.

I've used this flyer method in almost the same situation as Tinker 4 months ago. It was a local street fair....local business were all opened, specially restaurants. I went with the same flyer as above, stopped to talk to some local businesses. Where I was able to chat them up a bit I did not use the flyer, just an exchange of business cards....but where I found them to be unavailale or too busy to talk, I left my flyer & business card for them. If I remember correctly, I went through 35 business cards & 27 flyers +/- that afternoon.

That's the only place I used the flyers so far. From that days events, I received 3 call backs, one from an owner I personally talked to, 2 from owners who received my flyer....2 of the 3 became clients, adding a little over $4,500 in web design / redesign work for me. From the 2 clients I've received 2 referrals so far....hardly a "detrimental" day if you as me.

Take action...YES!! If you can't talk to them, leave a card or flyer, if you can't do that, get their contact info & call them, email them, snail mail them...any kind of action is better than just turning and walking out the door.

As far as it coming off as a salesperson in their eyes.....the second your conversation turns from..."so hows business"... to "how do you drive traffic to your website" or "what forms of advertising do you use"...you start sounding like a salesperson....They know something is up...Your everyday, run of the mill customer would not be asking questions like that.

Go, have fun, talk to owners, hand out flyers....Why? Because Your Taking Action!!

Good luck,
Ken