In today’s world, everything feels digital-first, and businesses obsess over their Instagram strategy, influencers are constantly pushing TikTok trends, and even networking has moved to LinkedIn DMs and Zoom calls – it’s a lot to keep up with, and it can feel totally overwhelming. Of course, there is one thing you need to bear in mind – offline marketing is far from dead. In fact, with so much noise online, creating a strong offline presence might just be the secret to standing out. It’s definitely going to get noticed when you do it the right way.

What really counts, whether you’re running a small business, launching a new brand, or just want to make a real-world impact, is really working hard to make yourself unforgettable in every way, and that includes when you’re offline, even if that might not be the first thing that comes to mind. And what’s great about that is that it doesn’t cost massive amounts, so your budget should be able to handle it. With that in mind, keep reading to find out how to create a memorable offline experience. 

Get People Talking 

If you want a great digital ad campaign, there’s a lot to think about and a lot to include, but the fact is that no matter what you do include, it’s never going to be able to compete with word of mouth – a fantastic recommendation, particularly if it’s a personal one, really can be so persuasive. And when people trust a brand, they talk about it. And when they talk about it, more people pay attention. That’s the whole point of word of mouth advertising. 

So, how do you get people buzzing and talking about your business and how you can help? It starts with giving them something to talk about, so think about ensuring that becomes front and centre. Maybe it’s an amazing product, an exceptional service, or an experience so unique they can’t help but share it, but whatever it is, you’ve got to focus on it. If you’re not sure what to do, just think about the last time you told a friend about a great shop or something similar – something you thought they should experience for themselves. Was it the fancy website that won you over? Probably not (although it might have helped). It was the experience. So you need to create real-world moments that make people want to share. Whether it’s a surprise freebie, a pop-up event, or just mind-blowingly good customer service, the goal is to leave a lasting impression that travels faster than any social media post.

Use Print Marketing 

You’ll know yourself that we live in a world where in boxes are completely overflowing and pretty much out of hand, and adding to that overwhelm really isn’t going to help your cause all that much – but you can do something different, and there’s something really refreshing about giving or sending someone a beautifully design piece of marketing that they can actually hold in their hands. It’s so different compared to everything else, and it’s sure to stand out. And that’s why print marketing still works (perhaps better than every before, in fact) – it feels real, personal, and it’s harder to ignore than yet another email that ends up being immediately deleted or landing in the spam folder. 

One great thing to invest in when you’re thinking along these lines is leaflet printing. The fact is that a well-designed leaflet can do what every single digital ad just can’t, and that’s sit on someone’s desk in plain view, be handed to a friend or family member, get pinned on a bulletin board, and so on. But of course, if you’re going to do this kind of marketing, you’ve got to make sure your design stands out. 

You need to forget about anything that marks your flyer as being boring and generic, and instead go for bold colors, eye-catching headlines, and some creative ways to format the whole thing – the more unique you can be, the better. You want people to stop and look at what you’re trying to tell them. 

You also need to consider where and how you’re handing them out; it shouldn’t just be at random because you’ll find most of the leaflets that you took so much time and effort (and spent money) on go in the bin. You need to be strategic and put them in places where your specific audience is going to find them – that’s why market research is important, and when that and your design is done right, print marketing can be your best tool that’s also low-cost and powerful. 

Host Events

We’ve got to be honest about this one… most business and marketing events, including plenty that you might have hosted in the past, are boring. They’re just full of the same old information distributed in the same old way to the same old people, and that’s not going to get you anywhere. Yes, it might feel as though you’re doing something useful, but in the end, it’s probably not going to make any difference at all. Especially if the people who are there would rather not be. 

If you really want to do well in this way, you’ll need to create a memorable offline presence and host an event that doesn’t feel like one big chore for everyone involved (including you). It’s worth thinking about it less as a marketing tactic and more like you want people to have a good time, and it just so happens that you get to promote your brand at the same time. 

To start with, think about what your business does and then create an event that links to that. So if you run a bakery, you could do a breadmaking or cupcake decorating workshop that has a networking element to it. Or if you sell clothes, you could host a fun fashion show that lets people see what you’re selling and how they could wear it. And if you’re launching a new product, no matter what sector you might work in, you need to make it a full experience, rather than just a simple announcement on your social media feeds – plan a party, do giveaways, and make it an event people remember with good food, drink, and freebies. Why is that so important? It’s because when people have a good time they’ll have a positive view of your business and be more inclined to buy from you in the future. 

Freebies Are Crucial

We briefly mentioned doing giveaways above, and it’s an important idea that, although it might seem like a costly thing to do, could bring in a lot more money than you’re spending when you do it right. The fact is that everyone loves free stuff, and if the free stuff they get from you is worth something to them, they’re going to be very happy indeed – and they’ll come back for more (and spend money the next time). 

Of course, we did say it has to be worth something, and that’s the most important thing to remember. We’ve all been handed a cheap pen with a company logo printed on it, or a tiny notepad that got lost or a USB stick that never actually worked. That’s not the way to go, and that’s not effective marketing – that’s just wasting money. 

If you’re going to give something away, it has to be something that’s useful, memorable, and that people want – bonus points if it’s new and cool as well. A branded tote bag is a great choice, for example, because that’s going to get a lot of use (and it’s extra handy because when people use it in public, other people are going to see your business name and logo, and those people might need you – it’s a great way to extend your reach). High-quality stickers can be fun as well, especially if they’re funny or cheeky and can be placed on laptops, water bottles, notebooks, and so on. Or what about picking something that links to your business? If you own a gym, you could give away sweatbans. If you sell alcoholic drinks, perhaps a bottle opener. 

When it’s done right, freebies are fantastic advertisements for your business, and people love getting little gifts, so they’ll like your business more anyway. True, it will cost money, but it’s an investment because you should get plenty of business in return. 

Do Street Marketing 

If you want to make a really bold statement, why not take your business (and your marketing) to the streets? It’s not going to be for everyone, but if you feel you could do it and it would be worthwhile, why not? You could stand on a street corner and hand out your well-designed flyers, or have a pop-up store or stand, or even literally shout about your business so people can’t help but hear about it. 

Street marketing tends to work because it’s unpredictable, unexpected, and eye-catching – just imagine trying to ignore a flashmob or a big billboard that’s flashing at you. That’s definitely going to catch people’s attention, which is precisely what you need if you want to create a memorable offline presence.