My favorite Offline Marketing Trick

[Servicefly]

This is for local communities: Design and build menus for all your local restaurants. If you are a designer, create an awesome menu digitally and present it to the restaurant decision maker. You will usually drum up business just for having the balls to do it. Also, if they agree to use the menu, you now have an advertisement to their patrons!

 

[mudbutt]

what if they dont accept it? you lose all that time and have a menu that no one else can use?

 

[nethead01]

i kind of like the idea. i would probably just call them up and ask them if i could redesign their menu for free for advertising

 

[Servicefly]

mudbutt,

I am suggesting you simply design 1-2 pages of the menu digitally then present it to the restaurant decision maker. Very little time needed.

nethead01,

You are underestimating the power of tangibility. You will get a better response showing them something, not asking if they want it. Also, if you had the resources plus time, a physical menu (mock up) goes a lost farther.

I have used this technique and can attest to its effectiveness. I have tried to ask if they wanted it before presenting and 100% of the time get rejection! I have presented it digitally and achieved a 30% conversion to sale rate. I have presented physically and achieved a 75%-80% conversion to sale rate.

 

[BassTrackerBoats]

This is why auto dealers offer you to test drive their cars... having the car/menu/tangible item in your hands is an excellent technique in sales.

@OP Great share.

 

[fvcktheworld]

Agreed, great share. Thanks is given.

You can take the simple example and do many many things with this.

 

[mannclann]

If you think this is a bad idea then you must also think that creating and giving away an ebook for an email address is a bad idea. But you would be wrong, it is the same concept.

You must give something of value in order to get something of value. I used this same method 10 years ago when I designed websites. I would throw together a 1 page design and send it to a prospect, and I got plenty of jobs doing that.

Granted people are a little more jaded today but the method will work.

 

[12inchpianist]

This is why auto dealers offer you to test drive their cars... having the car/menu/tangible item in your hands is an excellent technique in sales.

@OP Great share.

I think it's a great idea. What auto dealers do is not only have you test drive it but many of them (provided your credit and attitude is right) will use the "puppy dog" close on you. They'll send you home in it over the weekend hoping you show your friends and fall in love with it; like a puppy dog.

You could have them test market the new menu and get opinions from customers. It would make the customer feel important because you're asking their opinion plus it's the customer's who have to look at them all the time anyway. Who better to give you feedback?

I'm trying to figure out how I can use this idea in other places.

Thanks for sharing.

 

[BassTrackerBoats]

I'm trying to figure out how I can use this idea in other places.

Thanks for sharing.

Websites for businesses that do not have one, set up some personal websites and advertise in retirement communities, home owners associations, build one for a downtown area and call it Downtown City Name, have every downtown business on there and offer them a live link with company logo to their company site for XX a month/year... I am sure that some of the more creative BHW members have better ideas.

 

[Simplex]

Servicefly - could you shed some light on your method for finding the name and contact info for the restaurant's decision maker?

 

[flexpaydude]

Servicefly - could you shed some light on your method for finding the name and contact info for the restaurant's decision maker?

though it's not cheap, salesgenie is a decent paid resource for this info

 

[Simplex]

Ya, I know a few other sites like that one and GoLeads, I was more curious if he had a local method of networking that helped get him in the door.

 

[BassTrackerBoats]

Ya, I know a few other sites like that one and GoLeads, I was more curious if he had a local method of networking that helped get him in the door.

The local chamber of commerce often has the contact info you need and it is generally online.

 

[jdn74]

This is for local communities: Design and build menus for all your local restaurants. If you are a designer, create an awesome menu digitally and present it to the restaurant decision maker. You will usually drum up business just for having the balls to do it. Also, if they agree to use the menu, you now have an advertisement to their patrons!

What do you charge a flat fee (i.e. $XX per 100) and do you also charge a design fee?

 

[Iandres]

When it comes to offline marketing, one thing I've learned is to always have your print marketing materials on you. You never know who you're going to bump into or when you're going to bump into them, so always keep your business cards, brochures, and product samples on or near you.

 

[janewhitman]

hmm great idea/strategy..

not sure if i would use it fore menus but the idea is solid..just have to apply to your own need..

 

[MaxBrunt]

This is how I'm going with this idea. I see in local paper a lot of service business advertising but don't have a website url in the ad - I'll call to make sure they don't have a website.

Anyways I will throw up a quick WP site with their information on it, nice graphics put together a quick report online searching in their niche, the importance of having a website and including url in the Ads etc etc.

I'll offer it to them for a low price to hook them in and sell them online marketing & other services at the back end.

I see these same companies color ads in the paper everyday for months now.

 

[Chief Ranker]

This is how I'm going with this idea. I see in local paper a lot of service business advertising but don't have a website url in the ad - I'll call to make sure they don't have a website.

Anyways I will throw up a quick WP site with their information on it, nice graphics put together a quick report online searching in their niche, the importance of having a website and including url in the Ads etc etc.

I'll offer it to them for a low price to hook them in and sell them online marketing & other services at the back end.

I see these same companies color ads in the paper everyday for months now.

great fucking idea man thanks i will try this. also op, very good idea. thanks guys.

 

[Methodic1]

One of the best ideas I have come across all week, thank you!

 

[Salto]

nice tipp, thanks =)