We just finished a trek cross country from our winter home in Florida to Denver to see family and then home to our summer place at Lake Powell in Arizona, and we found ourselves reminded of how valuable personal contact marketing can be in addition to internet marketing. We have magnetic signs on our vehicle and they remain on there at all times, advertising our home based business. However, while driving through all those states and towns, we were asked repeatedly (in drive thrus at fast food restaurants, gas stations and rest stops) about what the business is and we ended up giving many people our business card and speaking with them about the opportunity.
We also brought bandit signs with us. Many towns/cities don't permit them, but others do and we made sure to take advantage of the chance to leave them in places we don't otherwise frequent. It offers a whole new population of people who may be looking for a way to own their own business. Additionally, every place we stopped, we strategically placed business drop cards, furthering our exposure.
Personal contact marketing doesn't have to be something you go out and do on a daily basis. But it is a real option if you stay prepared and keep conscious of the opportunities you have day-to-day just in running errands. We keep a rubbermaid bin in the back of our car at all times. It contains flyers, business cards, drop cards, signs and magnets. When we go somewhere, whenever we can, we include this type of marketing in our efforts to further grow our business. If and when we pick up friends from airports, or go ourselves for a flight, we distribute cards there.
We also go to job fairs, health fairs, art shows, boat shows, car shows, RV shows, etc. It is the perfect setting for distributing our materials and we consistently gain prospects by being prepared. If we go shopping at a mall, we leave cards on benches and in public restrooms we go in. It isn't any real effort and we enjoy getting to meet new people and we welcome interest and inquiries from anyone who is like we were for years—looking for that right business that speaks to them.
While waiting in a long line in a large department store, I also have struck up conversations with people. I don't "push" our business on them, but if the conversation turns to where we work or what we do, I certainly give them our card and tell them to contact us and we'll provide them additional information so that they can make an informed decision. We also inform them about our webinars our company offers.
Internet marketing is an indispensable tool for growing your business. There is no doubt about that. And it costs little, offers immense exposure and allows you to reach people all across the globe. But do keep in mind that you have countless prospects right in your own backyard, and if you are always prepared, you will experience a growth in your business that only personal contact marketing can offer.
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