In a world where online shopping reigns supreme, it’s no secret that almost every business, big or small, has shifted its efforts toward digital marketing. After all, with so many of us spending most of our time on our devices, it only makes sense for businesses to focus their efforts where the audience is most present.
However, it’s important to remember that traditional marketing tactics should not be thrown out of the window, even in our tech-driven world. Brick-and-mortar is still thriving today, making traditional media a crucial marketing channel to tap into. So, how can one strike the perfect balance?
Here are five tips for effectively combining traditional and digital marketing tactics.
Add QR Codes To Your Print Media Materials
If there’s one thing we love, it’s a QR code. These nifty little squares have become part and parcel of our digital age, enabling customers to easily access websites, promotions, contests, and other online content through their smartphone’s camera lens. The good news is that this digital solution can be easily incorporated into traditional print media to boost your marketing strategy.
Whether it’s flyers, business cards or even product packaging, QR codes allow your customers to access online content in a matter of seconds instantly. All you have to do is convert a URL to QR code, print it on your promotional material, and have a surefire way to direct your customers directly to your website or social media. That’s a highly effective way to meld digital marketing with traditional marketing tactics.
Rent Some Billboards Equipped With Geotargeting
Once upon a time, billboards were an overly expensive marketing tool that only large corporations could afford. Fast forward to today, and they have become an inexpensive marketing strategy used by businesses of all sizes. Most modern billboards are also equipped with geotargeting, meaning they can display unique information based on location.
For example, a billboard in one area of town can deliver a completely different message to another in the next suburb or neighborhood. This ensures that your marketing efforts remain relevant to the local audience. Another good example would be restaurants using billboards to promote daily specials during peak lunch or dinner hours. The endless possibilities here make billboards an effective modern micro-marketing tool that still delivers a macro impact.
Create A Viral-Worthy Guerilla Marketing Campaign
One of the fastest ways to boost your company’s visibility online nowadays is to create a marketing campaign that has the potential to ‘go viral.’ Yes, internet virality is never a guarantee. Still, you’d be surprised by just how monumental a marketing campaign can become when it’s designed to get people to want to be involved.
Take Starbucks as a great example here. The global coffee house is certainly no stranger to viral-worthy marketing campaigns, but even with all their most curated advertising efforts, the promotional strategy that they’re arguably most renowned for is their baristas misspelling customer names on purpose. This funny little phenomenon prompted hundreds upon thousands of Starbucks customers to post the misspelling of their names online. An all-time favorite misspelling has to be ‘Phteven’ (i.e., Steven with a ‘ph’).
Suppose something as commonplace as misspelling customer names can provide Starbucks with one of the single greatest (and most cost-effective) marketing campaigns ever. In that case, you should have a field day, dreaming up some potential campaigns you can put together for your enterprise. Just think outside the box and see what you can come up with!
Combine Your Direct Mail & Email Marketing Efforts
Contrary to popular belief, direct mail is still an incredibly effective way to reach your target audience. Email, social media posts, and online communications reign supreme today, but that doesn’t make direct mail obsolete. In fact, many people still prefer receiving something in the mail rather than another email in their overflowing inbox, especially for older generations.
The best part is that your direct mail can be easily tweaked to encourage your customers to visit your website, sign up for email marketing updates, and take advantage of special online offers. Combining these two effective methods creates a recipe for marketing success, Whether through the use of QR codes, strong calls to action, or rewards for signing up for online newsletters.
Embrace The Power of YouTube Video Marketing
Finally, if you’ve ever dreamed of creating an infomercial for your business, we have some advice: look to YouTube instead. Contrary to popular belief, YouTube channels are not just for racking millions of views and getting paid for ads. While earning extra ad revenue is always a welcome bonus, YouTube video marketing is also a great way to get your business name out there and position your company as an authority in your market niche.
This is because YouTube videos provide more value to prospective customers than just a video advertisement. The best YouTube videos are going to be engaging and informative, too. Whether sharing behind-the-scenes footage on how your products are made, free tutorials, or creating viral shorts, YouTube can be an incredible way to market your business online.
One of our favorite examples of such success is Memory Box Candle Co. This YouTube channel was created by Erica Morris to showcase how her artisanal candles are made and offer incredible insight into the formulation, packaging, shipping, and marketing methods she uses. Not only does her channel serve as a marketing platform for her brand, but it also drives viewers to attend markets where her candles are sold, making it the perfect example of combining digital and traditional marketing tactics.
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And there you have it — 5 expert tips for combining digital and traditional marketing tactics in 2023. What are some ways your business successfully combines the old and new? Let us know in the comments below. All the best!
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