While there are many avenues online that can help you drive traffic to your online business you shouldn’t forget about offline advertising opportunities. Offline advertising can be just as valuable as online advertising and it can be just as affordable, too. There are many different offline strategies, but there are three that stand out because they are effective low cost or even no cost ways for you to get your information in front of your target audience offline so that they log on and check you out!

Using Flyers

Many business owners overlook the effectiveness of flyers. The great thing about using flyers to advertise is that they are easy to make, they are cost effective, and they don’t take much time to make so you can get the word out there to your target audience sooner rather than later.

When you make flyers you will want to post them in places where your target audience will visit or spend time in. Think about restaurants, may clubs, gyms, grocery stores, and even in bathrooms. Anywhere that your target audience will have an opportunity to see the flyer is a good place to post it. If you are going to hang a flyer up in a business you must ask for permission from the business owners. In addition to posting flyers, you can also just hand them out as you walk down the street. If you think about how many times you have been handed a flyer, you know that you will at least take a look, and if it’s something you are interested in you may very well visit the website and see what they have to offer you. Create your flyer for free from one of many online sources today!

Let Your Car Do Your Advertising

Advertising with the help of vehicles is a relatively new way to get the word out about your business, but it works! You can have magnetic signs made for your vehicle very easily and this will allow people that are just driving down the road to learn about your business. Simply having a catchy phrase and your web address on the magnetic sign can earn you more business than you ever thought possible. You can also choose to have license plate frames or bumper stickers made to advertise your business, as well. Advertising can be as simple as driving down the road and parking your car in parking lots as you go about your business.

Business Cards - Great Business Marketing

Business cards are a great way to share information about your business, and many times your business will be given more weight by consumers if you have a business card. Business cards can be very inexpensive or even free and when you hand them out to people wherever you go it gives your business merit with those that receive them. You can hand them out to anyone that you feel could possibly be interested, or you can simply post them on bulletin boards in establishments such as gyms, churches, and grocery stores where your target audience might spend time.

As you can see there are a lot of great ways to advertise your online business offline. Most of these advertising schemes do not require a lot of time or money, they just require a bit of creativity and the desire to drive traffic to your website. Don’t limit yourself to these offline advertising options, think outside the box and you’ll see the benefits of offline advertising in no time!

Stoyan Stoyanov is a SEO Expert. Business Marketing Agency is a SEO frendly human edited directory owned by the author.
http://www.businessmarketingagency.com/

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There isn’t anything that bugs me more than getting a business card and not being able to tell what the person does when I look at. It just seems like such a waste of: time, money, paper, energy (theirs that went into creating it and mine trying to remember who they are), and it does nothing to support the bringing about of more business.

Blah.

So if your business card just says your name, phone number, and website, it’s time for us to amp it up!

And another thing, if your business card matches your branding that’s great, but that does NOT need to be the first priority. I have never, ever, ever heard of ANYONE saying, “Oh, I couldn’t hire that person because their business card just didn’t match the rest of their branding. It’s really too bad.” Holding yourself back from networking or using your business card in any way because it does not “match,” is speaking more to an inner block that’s operating for you than anything else. This is an excuse. So let’s shift this energy from excuse to execution and look at ways this card will work marketing magic for you, ok?

All that matters is that your business card serves as an attractor factor to your ideal client. Sometimes all you get is that one, quick opportunity to ’speak’ to your ideal client. I would highly recommend you make it compelling. Simple as that.

Here are some ways to have your business card speak (and work marketing magic) for you:

* Be sure your title speaks about what you do.

* Ask a compelling question that speaks directly to your ideal client.

* Dare to use the words: You, Your, You’re and the like on your card.

* TELL the reader to go to your website.

* TELL the reader what they’ll get when they get there.

* TELL them it will be for free.

* Use the back of the card.

* Use embossed print (make it PHYSICALLY stand out).

* Assure the reader that you can solve their problem, e.g. ‘you can,’ ‘guaranteed,’ ‘promise,’ ‘be assured,’ etc.

Want to know a secret? I haven’t once had a professional business card made! That’s right. Want to know another? I’m in love with and addicted to vistaprint. The reason? Their products are of good quality (some better than others) and affordable, so I can change my business card ANYTIME I want without a major ordeal or expense and, oh, trust me, I have. So should you, because as an Entrepreneur you are always tweaking. I also like this service because I can do the creating myself and really fuse the card with my Core Value Offer energy while creating it.

Call To Action:

Take your business card in your hand.

Look at it.

Does it truly speak of YOU and all the uniqueness that you offer in your business? Does it look different from all the other cards out there or the same?

Now, how do you FEEL when you look at your card? Do you feel the energy of your business’ Core Value Offer?

Do you feel proud when you hand someone your card or do you instantly apologize?

Make whatever changes you need to make to this simple, highly effective marketing tool, so every time you hand your card to someone your heart sings with the joy that is your business and then let that energy jump-start every ideal client match.

Heather Dominick, EnergyRICH(tm) Entrepreneur Success Coach, has over 11 years of teaching and coaching experience. Heather’s primary focus is in coaching entrepreneurs to identify inner and outer sources for attracting clients and increasing business profit. To sign up to receive your free business building e-course go here now http://www.energyrichcoach.com

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The Business Card

If you work for a mid-sized to large company or organization, the style and format of the business card will have been decided for you. If you have your own company or organization, then keep the business card traditional in size and shape. Have them printed with all your key contact information in additional to you company or organization’s name, logo and tag line.

When to Carry Business Cards

Unless you are going swimming or otherwise actively engagement in sports, carry your business cards. Do no limit carrying them to work days, the office or business functions. Some of the best opportunities for business networking are at the least likely events or times.

How to Carry Business Cards

Some people carry business cards loose in their pockets or their purse. The best thing to carry them in is a business card case. These are available in metal and leather. I carry the leather one made by COACH and it has served me well. The metal ones are acceptable also as long as they are no bigger than the business cards.

When to Offer Your Business Card

Some people whip out their business card every time they meet someone at work or at a work related function. The best times to offer your business card are:
- When someone asks for your card.
- When you ask someone for their business card.
- At the END of a meeting with a client or potential client before they leave.
- If someone asks for your contact information (business or otherwise).
- At the end of an air flight if you have talked with the person sitting next to you.
- If you dine next to someone outside of your company at a professional or networking function (business-related), you may tell them that it was enjoyable talking with them and offer them your card as you shake hand and leave.

Business Card “Don’ts”
- Don’t give your business card to people who work with you. If you are that unmemorable you may need a professional coach.
- Don’t give your business card to people at a reception or networking function unless they ask for yours or your contact information.
- Don’t drop them in bowls for raffles as you will only be contacted by someone trying to sell you something.
- Don’t give them to others to hand-out for you.
- Don’t leave them on bulletin boards or in stacks at any place other than your own desk - and only then if you meet face-to-face with customers or clients.
- Don’t hand them out to anyone at a church service (social functions are acceptable) or at funerals.

Old Business Cards

Old business cards make great book marks and also work well for “to do” lists.

Business cards are both a blessing and a curse. Until everyone passes all contact information through technology, we will still have a tool called the business card. Know when and how to use them as an effective business development and communication tool remains essential to success.

George F. Franks, III is the President of Franks Consulting Group, a Bethesda, Maryland management consulting and leadership coaching practice. George has over twenty-five years of experience working with companies of all sizes plus associations, non-profit organizations and individual leaders. He is a member of the Institute of Management Consultants (USA) and many other professional and non-profit organizations. Franks Consulting Group is on the web at: http://franksconsultinggroup.com George can be contacted at: gfranks@franksconsultinggroup.com Franks Consulting Group also publishes a blog on related topics at: http://consultingandcoaching.blogspot.com

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