Business Cards
Business cards are one of the oldest tricks in the book, but they still work very well. You should already be using business cards when networking, but you should also start leaving them anywhere that you can because they’re a great way to get new customers. If you put them up on bulletin boards or leave them lying around in shops or cafes, people will pick them up and put them in their pocket, just in case they need them later. When they find themselves in need of your products or services, they’ll have your details there already. It also makes it easy for them to pass your details on to a friend if they are recommending your business.
Every business has business cards, even if they don’t make use of them, and the designs are all pretty similar. A boring business card isn’t going to grab anyone's attention and it is easily overlooked. But if think outside the box and come up with a more interesting business card design that people haven’t seen before, people will stop and have a look. Try to have a bit of fun with the design and come up with something that shows people what your business is all about.
Trade Events
Trade events are another great place to showcase your business and network with potential customers. If you get your own stand a trade event, it’s a great opportunity to show off your business and get a lot of exposure because there will be a lot of people attending. However, it’s important to remember that there is a lot of competition at trade events and people don’t have time to stop at every single stand, which means that you have to do something to make people notice you above all of the other businesses nearby.
The location that you choose is important because you need to find somewhere with good foot traffic. A lot of people make the mistake of thinking that the best place is right near the entrance because everybody will come right past you when they arrive. The problem is, most people don’t want to stop right away. They want to walk around a bit and see which businesses are there before they stop at any of the stands and, if you’re near the entrance, there’s a chance that they might not make it back around to you. The best location is actually about halfway around, at the end of the aisle so you get good visibility. Stand placement tends to be first come first serve at these events, so make sure to book in early so you get a good spot.
Location makes a difference but if your stand isn’t exciting and eye catching, people won’t stop regardless of where you are. You need something that is visible from a distance like some big teardrop shape banners with your company name and logo on it. If your signage is bigger and brighter than everybody else, people will naturally gravitate toward you and if people are specifically looking for you, they will be able to find you easily. Attracting people is the first step, but now you have to impress them and get them to stick around. One of the best ways to get people talking about your stand is to give out good free gifts. Everybody is giving out pens and mugs, so why not come up with something a bit more exciting like a pair of headphones, a t-shirt, or a laptop case. If you are giving out things that people want, you’ll get a big queue at your stand and that generates buzz. When it comes to your display, don’t just go for a boring corporate video and some posters because everybody else will be doing the same. Come up with something a bit more fun and interactive instead.
Inventive Packaging Design
So many businesses underestimate the value of good packaging, but it’s actually a great branding tool. When your products are sitting on the shelves in the shop, it’s the packaging that will first draw people toward them. Inventive packaging is a simple way to catch people’s eye and get their attention and that will hopefully lead to a sale. If you can come up with packaging that serves another purpose beyond just holding the product, that’s always a bonus. People like simplicity and minimalist design in their packaging as well, so try to keep things basic if you can. You can also include details of your business website and phone number so the packaging drives people toward your business even if they don’t buy the product.
The materials that you use are so important in packaging as well, and the right material choices can really help to strengthen your brand. Sustainability and environmental issues are so important to consumers right now and a lot of people base their purchasing decisions on how eco-friendly the product is. Some people are even willing to spend more money on a product if they are confident that it is manufactured in a sustainable way. Packaging has been a big issue in the last few years, particularly plastic packaging. People don’t want to use plastic if they can avoid it and they have a negative opinion of companies that overuse plastic unnecessarily.
That’s why you should try to remove plastic from your packaging altogether and try to make it all from recycled materials if you can.
Branded Merchandise
A lot of businesses don’t think that branded merchandise is an effective marketing tool anymore but it still works surprisingly well. Increasing brand awareness is a central part of any marketing strategy and branded merchandise is a simple but effective way to do that. If you hand out free items with your company brand and logo on it, people are exposed to your brand every single time they use the item. You’re also giving them something of value without expecting them to part with their money, which is a good way to start building trust and establish a relationship with that potential customer. As long as you make sure that you pick things like keyrings, notebooks, laptop cases, or memory sticks that people will actually use, branded merchandise is a great marketing tool.
Online marketing is important but it’s not the only way to promote your business. If you want to maximize your profits, you need to combine some of these tried and tested offline techniques with your online marketing as well.
