Connecting Your Offline Business
to Your Online Business
By Thomas Antion
These may sound like no brainers, but you'd be surprised. No matter
how high-tech your business has become, there is no doubt you still have
some non-electronic aspects of your company. These are things like your
business cards, stickers, and work shirts, to name a few.
Check out your business cards first. These should be at the ready whenever
possible. Make sure your website is listed on your card: this is a way
for a possible customer to check you out on their own. A good tip is to
have your website printed in a font that ensures all of the letters look
like letters, rather than numbers. For example, "L" can resemble the number
one very easily when typed in lowercase. Stick to fonts that clearly allow
the eye to distinguish letters from numbers. Also have your website put
on your stationary: it is much easier to check out a website than make
a phone call these days.
If someone is calling your voicemail looking for a product, you had
better have your website spelt out slowly, and clearly on there too. Not
having your website on your voicemail will mean the loss of a sale. Our
fast paced world has spoiled us and people want things not now, but five
seconds ago. So if your website is not on your message, they will simply
forget you, and move on to your competitor. Adding your web address to
your voicemail will allow perspective customers to find out about your
business while you are making other deals, or watching TV.
Stickers are inexpensive and a great way to catch someone's eye when
they are least expecting it. Every single package that leaves my office
has a label with my web address on it. I even stick the little guys on
my bills. Why not, who knows who will see it? I also put my picture on
my shipping label. This is something that is not done often, so it helps
me stand apart from the rest. I usually put a little bubble saying "Hi"
to you personally, for the extra inch.
Another place to attach your web address to might be your promotional
handouts. If you send out an annual flyer, or give away freebies, make
sure you web information is on there. Some people do this with give away
items like mouse pads, or mugs. These along with the packaging on every
product you sell, should have your contact information via the web. If
your company wears workshirts, or sponsors a softball team, for example,
get your web address on there as well. If you produce it: brand it.
Lastly, if you call my office, and I speak to you on the phone, I can
gaurentee I will mention that you should visit my website. This is a tactic
that I swear by, because I firmly believe that if I can get you to my site,
you will stay and look around for awhile. No matter what it is you are
looking for, you are bound to stumble across something else. It's like
going to the grocery store for just one thing: you always come out with
two.
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