Marketing Guide Secrets

Every news organization, magazine, newspaper, university, and group looks for experts to be their go to person, why can’t that be you?  Being an expert is a very effective way to market your online business offline because it will get you noticed. You’ll be in the news, both locally and nationally, maybe even internationally. By being a resource available to others you will quickly establish your expert status.

In order to establish yourself as an expert, you will need to contact the press every chance you get via press releases and queries for comments on issues. Submit content to offline publications, magazines, and newspapers as often as you can either via letters to the editor, commenting on someone else’s entry, or submit an actual article allowing them to publish it free or in some cases you can get paid too depending upon the venue. Remember that the important aspect of this is to be established as an expert in your niche.

Be available to the media to answer questions whenever there is a news story about your niche. Create an effective press kit that includes the types of information that offline media needs such as a “one sheet” which is essentially a paper, that is one sheet, that gives information about you in a nutshell. It has your photograph, your bio, your claim to fame and more all on one sheet of paper.

Sign up to be an expert on any database you can find that might be of interest to your target market. Always return calls even if you’re not sure if you can give the right information. If you’re quick to follow up, the press will be quick to use you again even if they couldn’t the one time. Make it clear that you’re ready and available for interviews, comments, and will help with anything they need.

Join local organizations and present yourself as the expert you are in your niche. Be a valuable member and contributor to the organization by being on the board, being a volunteer, submitting content for their websites and publications. Additionally, attend as many social events that are available as you can stand and make sure everyone knows you’re always able to speak on your topic at their organizations.

Contact your local radio station with your expertise and your story. Sometimes you might have to pay to be on the radio, but if it’s public radio it’s a great way to support them. You can also offer prizes to your local public radio station to give away at their fundraisers. Public radio stations love to interview local experts on many different topics, if you provide a compelling enough story, you’ll get on as an interview. If you went from a laid off mom on welfare, to a successful Internet marketing business owner, this is a compelling story, tell it!

And be sure you get your no cost copy of Quick Tips for Marketing Your Business Offline and learn more about taking your business to the next step.

1. Be an expert — Make sure everyone knows your expertise so that you can be a resource to them. Do not keep your online business a secret from your offline friends, family, and contacts. Talk about it, educate them, and before you know it you’ll be the expert that they come to when they realize having an online business is real.

2. Be a speaker –  Find your local speakers bureaus, sometimes maintained by your local library, your chamber of commerce, local businesses, nonprofits and universities and find out how to offer your speaking services. Create a “one sheet” which is just what it says, one sheet of paper that gives information about you as a speaker including your photograph, what you talk about, your fees, and products. Do a search on “one sheet” to discover what should be on this important marketing document.

3. Teach a class — If you have a college degree you can usually teach at your local college or university on an adjunct or part-time basis. Being a college professor will definitely give you “street cred” in your local community, and out of your local community. This is something you can add to your websites immediately. If you do not have a degree, you can still become a Lecturer when you own a successful business. Call your local university, college, community college, or the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute in your area for more information on how to get started.

4. Contact the press — If you have a good story to tell, send the press a tip. If you have certain news people that cover different types of news on your local channels, send them a brief summary of your story. Have friends send links to your story that you’ve told online. You might be surprised that sometimes they have slow news days and need to fill the space. In addition, make sure the press knows your expertise too, and make sure they know you have an open door policy to make comments on issues surrounding your expertise.

5. Network — Go to after 5 chamber of commerce meetings, business women meetings, meet ups that are in your area and rub elbows with a lot of people, making sure that they know your business, your expertise and your name.

6. Send out press releases — Whenever you have something wonderful to announce send out a press release and make sure it gets into the right hands. Target your press release blast to the right people, because otherwise, they will just toss it. If it gets to the right people, you’ll be surprised at how many will be printed.

7. Advertise locally — There are many local advertising and marketing opportunities for the online business to use off line. There are local magazines, local papers, placemats, bathroom ads, grocery cart ads, local “coffee news”, and more. Find these opportunities and use them. Usually the cost is minimal. Additionally, many of these local venues need content, you may be able to get free advertising by offering local content. Your info will be in the byline, much like online article marketing.

8. Business cards — Buy them, make them look great, and use them. So many online business owners purchase business cards and never give them out. Probably because they often never leave the house. So order some, and get out of the house and network.

9. Volunteer — Helping others is an excellent way to market your online business offline. Many organizations need volunteers, board members, sponsors, and participants. Leave no stone unturned. Volunteering locally will establish good will and trust both online and offline.

10. Advertise on your car — You can purchase either magnetic signs for the side of your car or window decals that give a website or phone number for people to call for more information. This is a great way to market your online business offline and get the word out wherever you go.

Getting your business known and seen is an excellent way to expand and let everyone know about you and your business. Do you have other ideas that you can share with others? For more ideas be sure to grab a copy of my no cost report Quick Tips for Marketing Your Business Offline.