Many more people than ever have online businesses vs a brick and mortar type of business. You may be marketing your online business in person when you are networking and so I offer a few tips provided by my friend Paul Evans that will offer some ways to capitalize on your in-person networking efforts.

This is Part 1 of the list, more great ideas to come!


  1. Make sure your blog or website URL is prominently displayed on all your offline stationery, including your:
    • Business card
    • Letterhead
    • Envelopes
    • Postcards
    • Brochures
    • Gift Certificates
    • Invoices
    • Receipts
  2. Give away promotional items with your website URL embedded onto them
  3. Provide these same promotional items as prizes to local business networking conferences and meetings
  4. Send out Press Releases linking back to your website, containing a story angle that is relevant both to your target market and local viewers, providing the two are the same.  Be sure to put your link with the resource box information — not in the body of your article.
  5. Submit a proposal for a weekend workshop or evening course to your local community college’s Continuing Education department — as well as to your library. Your website and online business will give you credibility.  Many community colleges are eager for experts to pad out their continuing education programs.
  6. Volunteer at community events.  You can participate in a variety of ways, so you’re sure to find one that feels comfortable.  Plant trees or assemble food baskets wearing your URL-imprinted t-shirt.  Donate prizes.  Teach a short mini-workshop for free.
  7. Sponsor a local team or event.  And if you’re budget is too small for that, sponsor a participant in a community event (e.g. a runner in the annual Terry Fox run).
  8. Run a contest.  (Check local regulations.)
  9. Create a Contract.  Call the advertising manager of your local community newspaper and ask if he would be interested in a “contra” where you supply goods for a contest they can run; they get the glory and give you free advertising.

More tips to come in future posts!

Want to learn more about online marketing, check out my friend Paul’s great site called Nicheology. He is a brilliant marketer and someone I have learned alot from.