Starting a business and surviving in today’s competitive landscape is no piece of cake, especially when the United States is home to more than 72,000 startups.
But do all of them survive and reach the maturity stage? Certainly, not. Around 90% of startups fail.
Insufficient finances, poor product quality, and a lack of good leaders are a few reasons why startups don’t succeed. But some startups, despite having one-of-a-kind products and good leaders, fail to attract their target audience. Do you know why? Ineffective marketing is responsible for their failure.
They either run poorly-designed ads or launch a campaign on platforms that aren’t used by their target audience.
Now, what’s the secret to building a huge audience for your startup? No, you need not outspend your budget to attract the audience to your brand. Instead, you need to get creative with your marketing efforts, and sometimes, traditional or offline marketing is the key to winning over your audiences.
Let’s explore a few offline marketing strategies that will help your startup make a mark in the industry.
1. Design Flyers and Pamphlets
Flyers and pamphlets ruled before technology took over the advertising world. While it may seem like an old tactic, designing flyers and pamphlets can help you reach a wider design with minimal effort.
Don’t believe us? The Door Drop Report of the Data and Marketing Association reveals that over 80% of people remember receiving door-drop mailing more than other marketing methods. What’s more startling is that around 45% of people keep leaflets in kitchen drawers or pin them on a board.
Go the extra mile to brainstorm ideas and get past the standard template. Juxtapose imagery to trick the eye, play with proportion, get creative with details, or experiment with pop culture. Such leaflets are eye-catching and live rent-free in the audience’s minds.
If you’re short of ideas, why not check out a few digital leaflets and flyers of FMCG brands? Digital leaflets of Alcampo, Aldi, Delhaize, and Kruidvat could serve as the perfect example to start with.
2. Gift Custom T-Shirts
Who doesn’t love receiving free t-shirts? Well, everyone does!
Custom t-shirts were on the rise in the late 1900s, and even today, they are a means for businesses to grow and establish their brands.
You can print your brand’s logo, message, slogan, or other branding elements on t-shirts and give them away at concerts, trade shows, conferences, street theaters, and so on.
Irrespective of where you give away t-shirts, ensure they are of high quality, so receivers can wear them for months. The idea behind custom t-shirts is simple: your audience will promote your startup wherever they go, free of cost.
Paradosiaka is one notable brand that gives customers free t-shirts as a token of “thank you.”
3. Participate in Trade Shows
Participating in trade shows is yet another effective offline marketing strategy that will boost your visibility in the market. Even if you don’t sell anything, you can generate quality leads by displaying your products. Having a unique ploy and custom exhibits is the key to getting noticed at the trade show.
However, your trade show booth must be unique such that it should stand out from the crowd. Exhibits Northwest suggests that the trick to attracting people to your trade show booth is to use convincing graphics. You can also use trivia games, bean bag games, or AI and VR to attract people to your booth.
4. Publish a Book
There’s no better way to establish authority in your respective industry than to publish a book. We aren’t the only ones telling this. Experts, too, consider publishing books profitable for businesses as they allow them to showcase their work and build credibility.
Book publishing is especially useful if you wish to share your ideas with a large segment of the audience. Don’t know where to start? Turn your blogs or other bits of information into a pamphlet or brief book.
Publish hard copies, but don’t forget to launch e-books. After all, in a world full of Kindle readers, only a handful prefer hard copies. The best way to reach readers is to publish books in both forms.
Like custom t-shirts, distribute your book at press conferences and other offline events. Gift them to your customers and clients to let them know your business’ vision and mission.
5. Collaborate With Another Brand
Are you on a shoestring budget? Or are you struggling to reach a wider audience because your startup is too small? Here’s a solution: partner with another company whose fan base is larger than yours.
Brand collaboration was increasingly popular in 2022 and is showing no signs of slowing down this year. This brings to our mind the Deem-Uber collab where Uber for Business joined hands with Deem to streamline corporate travel.
Reports suggest that Uber lost $8.8 billion last year, whereas Etta Deem’s business management software won in the best user experience category. Through this collaboration, Uber for Business aims to enhance the traveler experience.
Even if you cannot team up with a company as large as Deem, search for a strategic collaboration that can help your brand gain visibility.
Unlock the Power of Offline Marketing Strategies Today
It takes blood, sweat, and tears for startups to secure their footing in the market. Without a creative marketing strategy, staying ahead of the curve is impossible. But bear in mind that the world we live in is digital. In your effort to focus on offline marketing tactics, don’t forget to adopt a comprehensive marketing strategy that integrates offline marketing channels with online.
Oh, and don’t forget to think out of the box, as that’s the only way to leave an impression in your audience’s minds.
Also Read: 10 Ways to Start a Business: A Startup Guide for Entrepreneurs
