Internet has made online marketing possible and very effective. Most home based business owners use online marketing to reach out to a wider range of audience online. However, we should not take for granted the effectiveness of offline marketing.

In fact, many of them may not even surf the web for hours. Some people simply use the internet to chat with their friends or check their emails. Moreover, if people are not aware about your website, they may not even know about your company’s existence. Thus, despite the popularity of internet marketing, you still can’t ignore the fact that offline marketing is just as important.

Yes, promoting your business in the old fashioned way is still a must. Combining your internet marketing strategies with offline marketing campaigns enhances the potential of your business. Take a look at these offline marketing methods and see which one works best for you:

Print Ads. One of the oldest method to advertise a business is through print ads. Despite the introduction of the internet, paper still remains to be an unbeatable means of business marketing. Aside from gaining exposure through magazines and newspapers, you can promote your company on almost every kind of paper you distribute. Make sure that the URL to your website is printed on your calling cards, letterheads, fax sheets, labels, invoices, order forms, stickers, memos, etc.

Giveaways. Almost all companies use freebies or giveaways to attract new buyers or as a way to thank customers. Take advantage of this opportunity to let people know about your online existence. Print your website address on the items you give away to your customers. Whether you’re giving away coffee mugs, umbrella, pens, key chains, calendars, caps, t-shirts, paper weights, stickers and other tangible items- place your company’s name and website where people can see it more often.

Post cards. Post card marketing is considered more efficient and cost-effective than sending out direct mails. Your recipients can immediately read your messages because they won’t need to open postcards just like a letter in an envelope. Post cards contain short messages that are easy to read and remember. When sending out post cards, don’t forget to include the URL to your website so people would know where to check you out for more information.

You can also use post cards as discount coupons at the same time. Offering discounts is a great way to attract new customers to try out your product or visit your site. You can include a discount code on the card and ask your customers to enter the code when they purchase online. Using codes would help you track the results of your post card marketing campaign more easily.

Word of mouth. Lastly, telling people about your business is one way of promoting it. Start with your family, relatives, and friends. Don’t forget to mention your website to every person you meet. Ask people to spread the word out. Inform your customers that you have a website that they can check out as well. Let them know that they can buy your products or avail of your services by simply going online.

A lot of us work hard to promote our online business but one thing we might forget is that we can get a lot of traffic by promoting offline as well. Following is a list of ideas you can use to promote your online business, offline.

1. Brochures - Brochures are a great marketing tool because you can provide a lot of information about you and your business. Contact your local Chamber of Commerce and other businesses to see of you can put out your brochures.

2. Newspaper Ads - Run classified ads in some local or not so local newspapers.

Remember these points when writing your ads:

- You must get the reader’s attention.
- Once you get their attention, you must keep them interested.
- Turn their interest in desire for your products.
- Give them a call to action!

3. Radio Ads - Check with popular radio stations to see what they charge for a short ad and make the ad pop as much as possible.

4. Promotional Items - Have your url printed on caps, t-shirts, sweatshirts, etc. and give them to as many people as you can to wear. This can be very effective in getting your business known.

5. Postcards - Postcards are very cost effective and versatile. You can announce new items, offer special deals, promote a special business event or announce your website and what types of products/services you offer.

6. Offline Networking - Join your local Chamber of Commerce. Get involved in business clubs and groups and talk about your business whenever possible.

7. Car Signs - These are great products because they allow you to advertise your business wherever you go - family outings, running errands, visiting family, etc!

8. Business Cards - Design your business card wisely. They are no longer just for listing your name and address! Have your business card double as a coupon or gift certificate. Hand them out whenever the opportunity becomes available.

9. Flyers - Distributing flyers is a very affordable way to market your online business. Be sure to specify what service/product you offer and use incentives to get people to ACT NOW. You can also encourage people to pass the word if your products/services can help anyone they know. Parades and other public events are great opportunities for handing out your flyers.

10. TV Ads - TV ads are a bit more expensive but if you have the budget it would definitely be worth looking into.

11. Coupons - Print out coupons and hand them out wherever and whenever you can. Offer special deals, sales discounts, etc. This can lead to many sales and a larger customer base.

12. Freebies and Samples - People love getting things for free. Offer small items as free samples. You have seen grocery stores do this many times. Give a free sample of a good product and you will get more sales!

13. Letterheads - Have your business name and url on everything that gets mailed out of your office/home. You never know who will be reading it and if they might take an interest in your products/services/opportunity.

14. Catalogs - If possible, have catalogs made and distribute them as much as possible. Use direct mail as well, if you can. Offer x amount of dollars off their first order or a free gift with first order.

15. The Yellow Pages - Get listed in the Yellow Pages so more people can find out who you are and what you offer!

16. Billboards/Signs - We all notice billboards and signs and they can be very effective in increasing your business.

17. Job Fairs - If you offer a good business opportunity, make it known by participating in job fairs and career days.

18. Print Magazines - Purchase advertising or try submitting articles to various print magazines. Getting an article published can do a lot for your online business.

19. Greeting Cards - Send personal greeting cards or even thank you notes to all your customers as well as people who expressed an interest in what you offer. This is guaranteed to make a lasting impression!

20. Gift Certificates - Print out gift certificates and distribute them as much as possible. Put them in mailings both personal and business. Work with other businesses to distribute each other’s certificates (complementary not competing businesses).

21. Community Involvement - Getting involved in your community events and activities can be one of the most effective ways to get your business noticed. Volunteer for school activities, work for charities, attend social functions, etc.

Offline marketing strategies can work quite well in generating exclusive leads for your business if you have a system to follow. As with any businesses especially in work from home program or small businesses, it is important that you utilize a system that is simple to implement. Even more critical is the ease of duplication especially if you are constantly into network marketing recruiting. One such system is the use of drop cards.

What is a drop card? A drop card is a unique business card or sizzle card. Call them whatever you wish, drop cards will definitely get you some awesome attention, thus making them fantastic offline marketing, sales and exclusive lead generation tools. This is especially so if you are using the $100 bill drop cards! The front looks exactly like a $100 bill and you can have your little advertising message on the back.

Drop cards are cards that you can leave behind after sitting in a public area or drop one on the ground where there is human traffic. You can place them in the credit card slots at the petrol pumps which leaves the next customer no choice but to remove it before he can slot in his credit card.

Stretch your imagination and creativity. Tip the waiter or waitress at the restaurant for the good service rendered. You will add a smile on his/her face and you can leave the drop card as well, explaining that you have a wonderful business opportunity and if he/she would be interested to find out how to make more of such bills. Do note that this tactic will not work if the tip is measly. You have to be generous.

Do some reverse shoplifting in bookstores. Instead of removing anything, all you need to do is insert these $100 drop cards into motivational books such as The Secret, Rich Dad Poor Dad, etc… This strategy has worked tremendously well when placed in The Secret, a book based on the movie of the same name which reveals some of the most powerful laws in the Universe, in the chapter on Prosperity. Remember that you are looking for like minded people in your team and these are the people you are targeting by placing the drop cards in such books.

Drop cards can also be dropped into the newspapers at the newspaper stands. Do this routine in the early morning or just after the evening papers have been loaded. Slot in your quarter and then start placing your drop cards into all the newspapers that you find there. You can get great mileage for just a quarter.

The realtor’s magazine is another good place to leave your drop cards. People going through these magazines are prepared to spend some money. What do you think they will do when they come across your drop card? If they are keen in your product or business opportunity, you will soon end up with a new customer or distributor.

When you go on holidays, you can still do your offline marketing for your work from home program. Time does not stand still. Whilst staying in the hotel, write a thank you note to the room maid telling her how much you appreciate her efforts and leave her a handsome tip as well as your special $100 drop card.

Whilst travelling on the plane, many passengers will tend to flip through the SkyMall magazine, another good place to insert your drop cards.

The various methods of utilizing drop cards listed above are not exhaustive. However they can definitely go a long way in helping you build your list of exclusive leads and business partners for your work from home program or small businesses. Drop cards have been used effectively as one of the most easily duplicated offline marketing strategies. They work wonders for network marketing recruiting as well.