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 10:00 pm. 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 three old-school approaches to marketing that can easily be modified for today’s market.
#1. 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 pickle ball.
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 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.
#2. 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 stand 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 trial, 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 its freebies, deep discounts, or BOGO offers, there’s always a way to offer value and encourage customer engagement.
#3. 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 entice 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.
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.
Old School Business Practices that Never Go Out of Style
Access this invaluable resource to explore the business practices that have, do, and will always work to grow and improve your business.
