A Beginner's Checklist to Promoting an Online Business - Part 3
by Angela Wu


For those of us who operate Internet home businesses, 
'cyberspace' is so convenient that it's easy to forget that 
people still exist out there in the 'real world'. Part 3 of 
our 'checklist' series on promoting your online business provides 
you with a few tips on how to reach your audience offline.

Note: Parts 1 and 2 are available online at:  
* http://www.sitepronews.com/archives/2002/sept/6.html 
* http://www.sitepronews.com/archives/2002/sept/13.html


PART 3: Marketing Techniques for the 'Real World' 

1. Business cards. Leave a few in the local library or 
   with other local businesses where prospects gather 
   (with permission, of course); include a card in your 
   postal mail; tack up a card on the bulletin board at 
   your grocery store, etc. One place that offers quality,
   professional business cards at reasonable prices is 
   ExtraValue.com, http://www.extravalue.com/ . On a 
   tight budget? Go to VistaPrint for free trial cards:
   http://www.vistaprint.com/ .

2. Direct mail. Flyers, brochures, catalogs, coupons....
   there are all sorts of things you can send through the 
   mail. Need help? Freelancers can create pretty much 
   any type of direct mail promotional items for you at
   competitive rates. Try 
   http://buildyourhomebiz.com/rd/gethelp.html .

3. Use your car! How much time do you spend driving (or, 
   unfortunately, sitting stuck in traffic)? Take advantage 
   of this opportunity by placing your URL on your car for 
   everyone to see. Web Decals offers custom-printed 
   decals that quickly and easily attach to your car's 
   windshield: http://buildyourhomebiz.com/rd/webdecal.html

   It's also a good idea to keep a few business cards, 
   brochures, flyers, or other information in your car 
   that you can give out to people who stop to inquire 
   about your business.

4. Newspaper advertising. Keep in mind that classified 
   ads are usually extremely short; you'll need a punchy, 
   compelling ad that fits into just a few lines.  
   Nationwide Newspapers offers classified advertising 
   in over 8000 newspapers across the United States:  
   http://www.nationwideadvertising.com/
   U.S. Media Inc., http://www.usmediainc.com/ , 
   specializes in many types of 'offline' advertising, 
   including newspapers, radio, TV, magazines, and more. 

5. Get to the 'heart' of your audience by advertising 
   in a quality magazine with loyal readers. U.S. Media Inc. 
   lists a wide variety of trade and consumer magazines and 
   publications. Contact their reps for more information: 
   http://www.usmediainc.com/

6. Participate in trade shows. Get exposure by networking 
   with others in your industry. While you're there, you can 
   even make a pen and paper available to collect the email 
   addresses and/or postal addresses of people interested in
   receiving your newsletter or additional information about
   your product or service. Visit the Trade Show News Network 
   to search for trade shows of all types in industries 
   worldwide: http://www.tsnn.com/ 

7. Visit your local Chamber of Commerce. They may be able 
   to offer you suggestions on where you can promote your 
   business locally. 

8. Send out postcards. Postcards are short, attractive, and 
   readers can easily see your information 'at-a-glance.' 
   Don't forget to display your URL! Extravalue.com is a 
   great place to get professional, quality cards at very 
   reasonable rates.

9. Put your URL on every piece of printed material that 
   leaves your office. This includes brochures, business 
   cards, flyers, faxes, labels, letterhead, invoices, 
   cheques, envelopes, and anything else you can think of.  

10. Consider using promotional items such as notepads, pens, 
    mugs, etc. Imprint these items with your URL. Give some 
    away as gifts to your best clients. You can even sell 
    them online! iPrint is one place you can find 'do-it-
    yourself' promotional items, including t-shirts, golf 
    balls, pens, mugs, clocks, tote bags, and much more:
    http://www.iprint.com/ . And at CafePress.com you can 
    upload your artwork, set your prices, and you're ready 
    to sell. 

11. State your URL on your voice mail message. Say your 
    standard spiel, then add something like, 'For more 
    information on [your product], visit our website at 
    www.MyDomain.com.' uReach is a service that offers 
    all-in-one communications service that includes voice 
    mail, email, and faxes. http://www.ureach.com/

12. Seek potential partnerships with complementary 
    businesses. For example, let's say you sell a dog
    training video. You could approach local groomers or
    dog agility centers and offer to share the cost of 
    their next direct mail campaign: when they mail a 
    postcard or letter inviting their clients to return, 
    you also offer their clients a discount on your dog
    training video. This way you both reduce your costs... 
    you reach a targeted audience quickly, easily, and 
    through a trusted party (the other business)... and
    your business 'partner' can make a valuable product
    available at a discount to their customers.

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Angela is the editor of Online Business Basics, a practical 
guide to building a business on a beginner's budget. It's a 
proven hit with beginners, for the down-to-earth style and loads 
of instantly useable tips! For details, visit
http://onlinebusinessbasics.com/article.html 
OR request a series of 10 free reports to get you started:
mailto:businessbasics@workyourleads.com
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