The internet has become an integral part of our lives; in fact it is hard to remember life without it. For this reason a lot of emphasis is put on the new and exciting digital marketing techniques that, without a doubt, have changed the face of marketing forever.
As digital has grown it has definitely taken our attention away from traditional forms of advertising such as print – and even TV – towards our handheld electronic devices, as we spend an ever increasing amount of time on tablets and smartphones.
The number of smartphone users is expected to surpass 2 billion this year, and with these tiny devices putting the internet in to our hands 24 hours a day 7 days a week, you may believe that this is the best and perhaps only place to be directing your marketing. However, if you were to do this you would be doing it at the expense of your campaign, because offline still plays a very important role.
Still not convinced? Here are 5 reasons why offline is just as important as online marketing.
- It enables you to meet with people face-to-face
Sure, online allows you to speak to people at any time of the day, wherever they are in the world and target individuals with timely content. But, there is a unique and distinct value to engaging with customer’s offline – that should not be ignored.
Through the likes of networking and speaking at events you are put in front of the right people and are able to form relationships with them in a way that you can’t over the internet.
- It offers something real
Whilst there is no doubt that social media is an incredibly effective part of a marketing campaign and it is has many benefits, offline marketing offers something real. Whilst there is a lot of competition online and tweets can get lost amongst timelines, offline provides something physical – a leaflet that can be pinned to the fridge, or a business card to pop in your purse.
- It reaches a wider audience
It is important to remember that not everyone is online and certainly not at the time you want them to be, even though it may seem like they are.
A poster, for example, could catch someone in the right place at the right time. If it is outside a pub advertising live music that night – this could help passers by decide how to spend their evening. If this night had been advertised online alone, they may not have seen it until it was too late.
- It is more affordable than ever before
Are you worried about the price? Yes, sending a tweet is technically free but Helloprint Poster Printing is only 27.95 for 100. You will quickly earn that back through all those extra customers those posters reach!
- It backs up and reinforces your online campaign
Whilst you don’t want to ignore offline marketing, you don’t want to ignore online either. The beauty of the two is that you can use them together to reinforce and back each other up. Your poster for example can include your Twitter handle and Facebook page, perhaps encouraging people to go on there and like it, whilst online could be used to advertise an event you are speaking at.
