Boost Traffic to Your HBB Website with Offline Methods

HBB websites: More traffic!

A major concern of all Home Based Business (HBB) Entrepreneurs is to get traffic to their websites. Most entrepreneurs are eager to promote their business online but, unless the website is ranked high in the major search engine result pages (SERPs), traffic will be hard to come by. This problem can become even more frustrating and demoralizing when you are new to Web Marketing and have a low advertising budget.

Promoting your Web Business offline is a great way of getting over this problem while at the same time creating an image for yourself and a brand for your Home Based Business. Outlined below are popular, free and inexpensive offline methods that have been proven to work, are still very effective today, and can easily be followed by most entrepreneurs for promoting their businesses offline.

Word of mouth

Word of mouth is one of the best forms of advertising your business. Pass the word around about your Home Business and your website. Let your friends, acquaintances, kith and kin get to know about it. More often than not you will find a few people who are prepared to go out of the way to help you in your efforts.

Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon.com and one of the most successful entrepreneurs of the Web Marketing era places great importance to this mode of promotion, and he should know. He said on more than one occasion, “If you do build a great experience, customers tell each other about that. Word of mouth is very powerful”

Business cards, flyers & brochures

Many entrepreneurs – and especially those who are new to business – do not realize the importance, significance and effectiveness of a business card. The card projects your business image and credibility. Seize the opportunity and pass the card on to friends and acquaintances at parties, seminars, conferences, clubs and other functions. A place to get started is VistaPrint which will supply you I00 cards free of charge if you contact them.

An inexpensive method of promoting your Home Business offline is by distributing flyers. This can easily be produced using your own resources, part of which should be a computer. Provide all the details of your home business and your URL as briefly as possible.

Flyers can be distributed door to door with the help of your family members. They can also be placed at community centers, bulletin boards, libraries, malls, super markets and other places where people gather.

A well designed brochure always captures the attention of potential customers. This too can be done on the computer. If you are unable to design it yourself there are several sites in the internet that will help you design one yourself. One such site is http://www.mybrochure.com. Once it is ready, place them in clubs, bars, supermarkets and libraries.

Automobiles & classified ads

While we’re on the subject of inexpensive ways to promote your internet business offline, let’s take a look at placing bumper stickers or magnetic signs on your vehicles. Have your website address, phone number and URL displayed clearly. This is a sure way of getting your website noticed by hundreds or even thousands of people everyday. Your friends could also assist you in this endeavor. Give them some of your products free as an incentive.

Placing Classified Ads in the local newspapers is a great way of promoting your Home Business and they do not cost much. Place a few ads on a regular basis and then request the editor to give your Home Business a small write up in the newspaper. Editors are always on the look out for news and if you are lucky your request will be granted. This will without doubt give your Home Business a great boost.

Novelties and promotional items

Everyone loves free gifts. Items such as pens, key chains, coffee mugs and refridgerator magnets are popular and inexpensive gift items. Imprint your business name and URL on these items and distribute them at conferences, seminars and community meetings.

Promoting your home based business offline requires a certain amount of effort, public relations and organizational skills. Remaining motivated and dedicated is the secret of success in most businesses and the end result of all your efforts will be a steady stream of prospects, loyal customers and traffic to your Web Marketing website.