Offline Marketing - Do I need degree? Should I do online first?

First and fir most, you definitely do not need a degree. In your case you have a slight advantage having been online and ready to take online strategies to an offline market. Most marketers I have read about doing this realize that the competition is a lot less fierce. That's a plus for what you are trying to do.

You don't necessarily have to go through the online hurdles first in order to market offline. I think you are on the right track when you said "...putting together a marketing plan to pitch to potential clients." There you have it. Put together your plan and go for it.

Unfortunately, I don't know of any mentors specifically for doing offline marketing. Sorry about that part.

I will say this though, when it comes to offline marketing you'll most likely be marketing to your local businesses and etc. These "offline people" tend not to know online marketing strategies. That's why people who are online and take their online tactics to an offline market tend to hit it big.

These companies and individuals tend to have no clue about what should be done. So if you do decide to pursue this (which you should if your passionate about it) just know that you have a slight edge and you can easily position yourself as someone they should listen to.

I hope that helps you out.

I do need a website. How does the following sound?

jseymourmarketing.com
or
jsmarketing.com

I want to do it on my own right now and eventually lead into hiring people working for me.

als, should i be taking payments up front or after work is ready?

I think the way it is usually done is taking payments up front. I remember some time ago, me and this guy were going into real estate. We needed potential buyers for our homes. So we sat down and wrote out a short message to put on a yard sign with a call to action to call our toll free number. The results were amazing. We placed them over town and while at work people were calling us like crazy. For those signs we had to the company here in town up front. We paid first, then they made the signs. Definitely up front. It's standard protocol.

Get very clear about what you're offering.

Yes have your outsourcers set up before you start.

You don't need a degree...you need a specific skillset and results you can deliver on.

Start using the Search feature on this site and look for threads on how to run a business...you are going to have to learn how to make an invoice...prospect for clients...outsource effectively, and more...

Alright. I want to go after a couple niches so I'm wondering, should I have different marketing packages depending on the niche?

I've got a master package all made out but I'm thinking I shoukd edit it depending on each niche.

If anyome wanted to add me on Skype and take a look at my packages to see if I offer too much as a newbie, it would help!

You don't need a degree, you need a good course for it, to be perfect you need to link with the people who are in this business and learn from there experience.

All you need is balls, brains, and uncanny problem solving skills.

Please dont go out and get a degree just to do offline marketing, my friend. Take it from me, the guy who did just what you're asking - only to find that much of what I learned in school was useless to me after two years.

In fact, this question reminds me of the thread I just wrote about my observations as a full-time offliner.

See, what you have to face down if you're going to do this is all those thoughts that tell you that you need to do something else before you become an offliner. No you don't.

And I promise you that once you REALLY put yourself out there and just start talking to business owners, hearing their problems and solving them that the picture will become so clear you'll wonder why you even considered going to school for online marketing.

Would anyone recommend I team up with somebody before going out and finding leads? Or is it better if I start the journey solo first?

I'd recommend starting out on your own first so that you can learn the lay of the land and figure out what you're good at and where you're deficient and then you can figure out if you want to jv or outsource.

Got it, in that case...There's a fellow on the forum named Dexx. He has a wso called passive business profits that talks about that very thing. Given what you said, you should check it out.

I'm going back over it a second time now myself. Hope that helps!

The best degree is from the school of Hard Knocks.

Enroll by making some calls and talking to people and sell something super simple that everyone needs like business cards or printing services.

I will tell you how one of the most successful business people in this area started her business 5 years ago.

She simply walked into businesses and asked
"Do you need any help marketing your business?"

Today, she is one of the most respected business people in the area

I guaranfkingtee you that anyone who is willing to go door to door and
ask this will have more business than they can handle before long.

Took a business class in uni as an elective

Worse 500 bucks I have spent ever.

In college, I also had a marketing class, it was a waste of time full of corporate speak but at least I only spent 30 bucks on the manual.

It can open doors. Some marketing or business degree is pretty much required in most of the finance industry but for me it's just an expensive hoop to jump through.

You may not need a degree to do offline marketing, if you want to do it for your company, but you should have a degree if you wish to get hired by a firm, as there are lot many people going after that kind of job.

And regardless of type of offline marketing you want to do, I'll recommend getting some primers in Segmentation, positioning, branding, etc. understanding of concepts like these are absolutely necessary for doing any kind of marketing (offline or online). If you do not mind reading fat books than I will recommend you to read the following:

Marketing Management by Philip Kotler (this should be considered as a must-read)

Branding books by David Aaker. There are many more writers, but books by these two guys ar absolute must.

In case you need a compilation of notes on marketing then PM me your mail ID, and I shall send you the notes I prepared during my MBA. That will be a good start.

Getting a degree prepares you to work for someone else and not yourself.

Not to put a wrench in your spokes, Man, as I really do hate to be a downer, but it seems like you're asking the forum to make a decision for you on every single small step of your business.

Should I do this...or this? Should I do this...or this...? etc. Many of these are basic questions every business owner faces at some point and it just comes down to weighing the options.

One of the most valuable talents a businessperson can and should have is the initiative to make decisions and solve problems on his or her own. In fact, it's pretty much a necessity. I understand the need to ask questions and get second opinions on certain issues - this is what networking on forums like this is about - but when you need it every step of the way, it's a bit alarming...

I highly suggest cultivating the ability to make hard, educated decisions now because it's not a skill you'll want to scramble for when clients, employees, and profits are depending on you to do it. Start from the bottom, one step at a time, I say. There's a ton of info on most of the questions you've asked already out there if you just dig around, and the answer to most of those is no one's choice but your own.

Best of luck with your business, and I admire your enthusiasm, but I just felt that in this particular instance it needed saying...

You don't need to learn SEO or webdesign or any of the other things you mention.

You need to learn how to SELL them, and how to manage the projects. You need to know enough about them to advise and converse about them.

Selling is the lynchpin to your success. It mostly comes down to motivation and persistence.

I can tell you right now - and I guarantee you that I am right - this will take 10 times more effort than you are planning for right now. So, whatever you plan to do at this moment to bring in business, multiply it by 10 and do THAT much effort. Almost nobody, myself included, correctly estimates the amount of work required to start a business. You might fall short of the 10x amount of effort you plan, but it will still be much more than the 1x you are thinking of doing now.

Sure, get some WSO's, but don't make that your learning goal. This is not something you learn once. You need to get in the habit on constantly absorbing books and business material. I have been reading 3-4 books a week for several years now. I read several business magazines. I am absolutely obsessed with business and I believe having an OBSESSION is the way to success.

The most successful CEO's, on average, read 60 books per year. So, forget about asking for recommendations - READ THEM ALL.

Don't get wrapped up in endlessly designing your site and creating material and researching and blah, blah, blah. You could work 80 hours per week for the next two years and not make any money. The goal isn't to work, the goal is to make money. You do that by selling. My website, has a nice design, but the buttons don't go anywhere. I just don't have time to finish it because I am much more concerned about getting more customers than about my website. In fact, I have not had even one prospect reference my website. It just isn't important.

In short, make selling and learning your #1 and #2 priorities. Almost everything else is fluff.

Sounds like you have the mindset of an Offline Marketer - because it is ALL about building relationships with people who want to buy your products and services. The WF is full of marketers trying to find ways of selling offline without any contact with the people they want to sell to. There are hundreds of WSO's that claim to show you how to do this - but most go for the "scatter gun" approach - send out hundreds of "targeted" emails, handouts, mail shots, video examples etc and you may get a 1% or 2% return.

Reality - this take a lot of time and effort with poor results. Seems like you don't have any problem meeting people - that's the first step.

Here's what I do:

1. Join local Chamber of Commerce, BNI or Business Network.
Go to the meetings, join in, interact with other business owners. They are all there to network their business ideas. So you already have a forum for talking about what you can offer. Most networking groups give new members an opportunity to introduce their business. Prepare a 3 minute presentation. Most of all, keep building relationships through networking events and keep on talking about your business with them. This works!

2. I organise seminars that will be of interest to local business owners and invite them along for free. Do this through Chamber of Commerce and BNI membership. If you have a hot topic that will solve problems for local business owners, they will come. Provide great coffee - for free!

3. At the end of your free seminar, get them to complete one of your "get Connected" cards to claim their free one on one consultation with you.

Bingo! You now have one on one access to huge money making potential with local business owners.

I do this myself - it works!

Join local business networks
Build relationships
Run free local seminars
Offer free one on one consultations
Bank the checks!

Hope this helps
Steve

I think you should do a degree. you have no idea what life will throw at you in 5,10, 15 years and a degree in a hard subject, with good grades, will stand you in good stead.

as for offline - do it as well!! you will have at least 12 hours a week, especially in first 2 years, more then enough for a few clients. if it takes off, brilliant! if it does well but not so well that you can live off the proceeds, it makes a great addition to a CV. if it fails, its no biggie