Should I try offline marketing in my area?

7 replies
Hi there,

I'm new to this forum. and I'm especially new on this part of it I've never been here before. I was reading some of the other posted a notice that some people do very well off-line.

However I don't know if I would do very well off-line. I was just looking to get some opinions on what you thought, since you're the experts on it.

I've spent the last three years as a ghostwriter, working primarily on Elance and doing things like sales material, (brochures, sales letters and similar,) custom and rewritten articles of article marketing and SEO, ghostwriting Ebooks and doing online press releases.

I also know how to set up a basic WordPress website even though it's not really a skill I sell. Other skills I use in my own business but don't really sell include:

Youtube promotional videos, ebook covers, basic graphics, ( I do own a Photoshop) I don't usually sell these because skills I'm primarily a writer.

My area is a small area, not a city. We are a tourist area, so I can see potential for online marketing since most of the customers they're trying to reach are not here yet. We also have more small businesses than we do chain anythings.

I'm sort of known locally, but not for anything related to Internet marketing. I'm just known because my family's been here forever and I'm active in the arts Council, (helped them get a grant and everything.) I used to be an Artist before I discovered writing.

Do you think off-line marketing would be a valid option for me? And if so what would I offer?
#area #marketing #offline
  • Profile picture of the author Lori Kelly
    You have a lot to offer. Since you are active in the arts council, start by talking to people you come in contact with. Let them know what you do for a living.

    You could put together a short presentation, call on local businesses and let them know how you can help them.

    I am surprised at how many companies do not have a website - no online presence.

    If a business is not online, they are losing money. When you point this out to them, and discuss the cost of getting their business online, what you can do for them, you should have no problem showing them that the cost to get online is far less than the amount of money they are losing by not having an online presence.

    Nice site, by the way.

    Good luck, Sadie.
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  • Profile picture of the author mrmatt
    Keep in mind that you don't have to offer your services just locally. You can go nationally if you want too.

    Being a tourist area I think you have lots of options.

    Directories
    Business Profiles
    Adwords
    Google Places
    Yelp
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  • Profile picture of the author Jimian
    Definitely give it a whirl...you might surprise yourself. (especially if you're known and got a good rep in the community...)

    You could do online press releases if copywriting is your thing...linking it back to their site... and getting them some exposure... and/or having a local biz blog and writing articles about local biz in the area...

    I'm adding it to mine soon in the blog here for Local Businesses in RI
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  • Quite valid reasons
    Established family name - Town is small, but name and area provenance has lots of power -
    You use most of the offline skills already in your own biz -
    CoC and Arts council both great places to start - give a seminar and introduce yourself - they may have been looking for a leader in this area...
    You could build a theme website based on area - rent banners or space
    Keywords you already have available - (town name) + "right stuff" - think of the niche's just those generate.
    This small area has more selling points than not - The town itself is its own little niche!
    People are already looking for you - they just have not found you yet.
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  • Profile picture of the author BackLinkingNinja
    A tourist area is a fantastic opportunity filled place to start. You could hold a local seminar on opportunities for local small businesses - these kind of businesses could thrive from a blog or Facebook fan page of their own. You could help secure their Google Place as well and maybe a what's on guide. Why not put a town WP website (and FB Fanpage) together and offer a free listing on it - and an upsell to their own WP blog/site or banner ad with links to and from your town site. You could offer to not only put it together but keep it updated with their news, offers etc - of give them a half day training (or hold a seminar on it for local businesses) The key is to get out and talk to people, see if the local paper will write an article about you helping the local community that depends on the tourist trade. Good Luck :-)
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  • Profile picture of the author oldyounggary
    Lots of tourists research their destinations in advance, or look up restaurants, etc. when they get there. Your skill with youtube videos is golden, especially for restaurants. Show tourists the inside of the place, some attractive dishes, a smiling chef, a short testimonial or two.... Powerful stuff! And with you writing the copy for the videos, even better!

    You actually have alot of skills. I'll bet many of the websites (if they have one) in your area need better or at least punched-up copy, maybe a menu or better description of services (sorry, benefits) on their site. Help them get customers in the doors. And while you're at it they need brochures in the hotels and motels.

    Good luck,
    Gary
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  • Profile picture of the author benbro
    Heck Yea Mercedes! As marketers, I think we often take for granted that most of the stuff that we do seem like walking on water to the average joe or rather the average Joe the Electrician, Plumber or whatever.

    I'm sure you could crank out a pretty good living just on the promo vids, ghostwriting ebooks and press releases. I mean for real...out of all of the things to be good in IM you seem to be good at the most potent of tactics. So you definitely got my vote.

    Oh snap...Almost forgot-and you're known too? Sounds like a recipe for some serious offline marketing domination. Now go out there and go gettem'

    Seriously...though if you ever want to chat about any of that stuff I'd be happy to trade stories with you of what I've been doing in my local market. Just shoot me a dm. Or if you don't do those you can hit me up on twitter.

    All the best!
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