Marketing yourself and your business online is a very important piece of your marketing plan. You can extend your reach and build your brand online using tools such as Facebook,Twitter, blogs, and email marketing. But, you want to make sure you integrate your online marketing with your offline efforts. Finding the balance between the two – online and offline – is the key. Here are a few ways to integrate the two:
1. Add the web address to your social networking profiles to your business card. This way everyone you meet in person can also find and connect with you online. For example, www.twitter.com/devonzimny is the url for my Twitter profile.
2. Add your web addresses to all for your offline marketing materials – such as postcards, brochures, and flyers. This way you offer the opportunity for people to get to know you and connect where they want. Many people who spend time on Facebook are comfortable there. And they may choose to get to know you a little better through your Facebook page before taking it to the next step.
3. Search for the people you meet at offline networking events online – Do a search for them on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter. By expanding your online network with people you have met in person, you can further that relationship and create a stronger network.
4. Make sure to invite those that you meet offline to join your email list. Let them know about the value you provide and ask if they would like to receive updates from you. Email is a great way to stay in front of people. And by providing consistent value, you will build a really strong relationship – and be the person that comes to mind first.
5. Attend events such as Tweet-Ups, which are offline meetups of people on Twitter. These events are a great way to meet people you connect with on Twitter face to face. They are also great for meeting new people and expanding your network.
6. Do a little research before attending a live conference or event – check to see who else is talking about the conference. Also, check to see if a hashtag (#) has been created for the conference. If so, be sure to include it in your updates and to follow along with others mentioning the conference. By preparing ahead of time, you can determine some people who you want to connect with at the event and even schedule some coffee chats.
Just because you are starting to utilize online networking tools does not mean that you abandon all of your offline efforts. By integrating both of your online and offline efforts, you can strengthen your relationships and build a strong network.
