Ask Mr. D - Offline Advertising

By Bill Daugherty
Posted Tuesday, October 26, 2004

Dear Mr. D,

I operate an online gift shop. With the holidays coming, I would to do some offline advertising. But, I have checked the ad rates for my local newspapers, radio stations and TV station and all their prices are astronomical.

My question is do you know of any effective offline advertising resources that don't cost an arm and a leg?

Signed,

Sharon in Houston

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Dear Sharon in Houston,

Offline advertising can a very effective way to promote any web business, but as you discovered, it is very expense.

However I know a couple of very savvy online business people that use a low tech form of offline advertising that works very well and doesn't cost much.

They use a word processing program to make up handbills promoting their web business and distribute them by the thousands. The only cost is the paper and toner for their copy machine.

The distribution cost is their time and they enjoy getting outdoors a few hours each week, besides it is great exercise.

They take the handbill door-to-door and place them under the windshield wipers of autos at various malls.

Give this a try, but be sure to check the laws in your area about such activity.

Good luck and let me know how it works for you. I will share your experience with my readers.

About the Author
Bill Daugherty. Do you have an advertising or marketing question you'd like to see published in this column? Send it to mailto:MrD@epm.zzn.com. You can visit Mr. D's website at: (http://www.freeadsgalore.com)