Believe it or not, digital marketing isn’t the only way to attract new customers.
There’s no denying the benefits of automation and reaching your customers where they are, which is often online, scrolling their phones at 10pm.
However, there are plenty of timeless ways to get customers curious about what you have to offer. In fact, some of the oldest marketing strategies in the books remain relevant today.
Here are 3 old-school approaches to marketing that can easily be modified for today’s market.
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Old School Ways to Attract New Customers
It’s important to stay current with the trends, but don’t give up on the old-school methods for marketing because they are still very relevant.
Revive and Revise Going Out for Lunch
There was a time when some of the biggest business deals were hashed out over a meal. ‘Let’s do lunch’ was an invitation to get together with an expectation to talk about business.
The modern version of doing lunch may include meeting up for a latte or something physical like a round of pickleball.
Be intentional about inviting colleagues, vendors, and customers for a meetup. If you are separated by distance, consider a Zoom or Facetime call. Set aside a specific time in your schedule to entertain and be sure to pick up the tab to invest in the relationship.
Your time and effort can result in sales, referrals, or collaborations that lead to new customers.
Use Incentive Programs That Offer Value
People love an incentive to buy.
If you’ve ever filled a stamp card and gotten a free item from your favorite coffee shop you know the feeling. Offering a fun reason for someone to engage your business and come back again and again works.
Giving customers an opportunity for an inside advantage, exclusives, free trials, or memberships is a great way to build interest and brand loyalty. Try giving away promotional items for passive advertising while offering something useful for your customers to use.
Create incentive programs that make sense for your business. Whether it’s freebies, deep discounts, or BOGO offers, there’s always a way to offer value and encourage customer engagement.
Incorporate Testimonials Into Your Marketing
The old-school practice of using testimonials is very effective, even in today’s digital market.
Word of mouth still remains one of the most effective ways to attract new customers. Nowadays, influencers showcase goods and services while offering testimonials to their tribes, often reaching upwards of a million followers.
Couple testimonials with other old-school marketing strategies like sending flyers, adding testimonials to written content, or showcasing customers on your social media.
Don’t be afraid to ask for a testimonial. Be sure to offer more than one way for someone to give you a shout-out or feedback about their experience. Ask customers to ‘tag’ you in their social media for a future discount. Offer a freebie for someone to do a video or review of your business on platforms like YELP or Google.
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No one likes to make mistakes, but they are part of the learning process.
Errors can be disheartening, but they don’t have to derail your success for the entire year. Instead, use them as an opportunity to reflect and learn so that you can move forward with better strategies and tactics. With some self-reflection, you can make the most of the mistakes in your business and use them as a stepping stone for an even more successful year.
Download my free checklist, Common Business Mistakes, and avoid the false moves and slipups that even veteran business owners and entrepreneurs make.