The online world has brought incredible convenience and marketing opportunities to businesses big and small alike. At the end of the day, you’re still dealing with people and while it is really easy to find them online you can also find them offline. So after the article on underutilised online marketing channels, it is only right to take a look at underutilised offline marketing channels.

Notice boards

This is actually one of my favourites because something about notice boards just works for me. Perhaps it’s the personal touch or local feel but you really get the idea you are likely to be dealing with someone like you. You can always call back to the article on why people love small businesses if you need further justification of notice board listings. These can be found in supermarkets, churches and other institutions.

Corporate Social Responsibility

Corporate Social Responsibility was a huge buzzword in the 2000s and while it’s a very big thing it hasn’t always been approached in the right way. Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives are not about marketing your products but rather about marketing your business. You may be into selling homeware but that is not necessarily who you are. What do you stand for? What do you feel is so important you would put your money into it? These are the things that tell people who you are as a business.

Business cards

Business cards are a very old medium and still very popular. They are actually great marketing devices when used correctly. A business card that rattles off a list of the services you offer is good. One that talks to customers in the way they want to be talked to is great. Another great way to use business cards for those who have businesses that have highly variable products is to leave one side blank and on that side write small notes about the conversation that lead to handing over the business card. Choose an approach that works for your business.

Print publications

Everybody is moving over to digital… not so true. While print media have certainly been affected by the move to digital, it has also left print media publications with a hardcore following that greatly believe in the content or the medium. That gives you an interested audience if you can find the publication that works for you. Some people just light the feeling of print publications and magazines for special interests are still doing well.

Live demos

It is always better to show than telling. If you have a product that can be demonstrated live to audiences why aren’t you doing it? Live demos are great events that really give prospects a feel of the product and what it can do for them. Whether you’re an enterprising vendor selling a vegetable cutter or a real estate agent selling property the live demonstration is very important. Instead of just going to events and shows why not go there to do live demonstrations. Perhaps do roadshows of live demonstrations. This is really effective because it gets proof of the product and the only thing you should be negotiating with someone who wants the product is about payment.

None of these ideas save the live demonstrations are really about getting quick results. They are meant to be approached as campaigns that are long term. Sometimes, where these methods are used it’s not done in the best of ways so research a little into innovative uses of these ideas.