Social media has become a major part of marketing. A strong following with heavy engagement can help build a durable brand. Because social media platforms are online, many might think the only way to boost followers is by using online means. However, that’s not always the case.
Online and offline marketing techniques should work hand-in-hand to support each other. People don’t all receive their information the same way, so it’s important to use offline methods, too. Here are five offline ways you can increase your social media followers.
5 Clever Offline Ways to Grow Your Social Media Followers
1. Mascot
Mascots are a great way to create brand awareness. They can be an inexpensive, efficient way to help people remember the company name or product and connect with the brand. Give your mascot a backstory and a name, or have a contest to let customers create those things for him.
If you haven’t already created a brand mascot, consider developing one. If you have, try having someone dress up and stand outside of your business or on the corner with a sign encouraging people to check out your business on social media. You could also develop special social media accounts for your mascot so people can interact with them. Have a meet and greet and allow people to take photos with your mascot; direct people to your social media to get a copy of their photo.
2. Host an Open House
Instead of going online to network, take this opportunity to meet people in person and have an open house. Invite customers and neighboring business owners to your business for hors d’oeuvres and a meet-and-greet.
Offer special discounts for the event. Provide marketing binders containing information about you, your business, your product line or services and QR codes for your social media pages. Then, they’ll be able to check out your online content and posts when they get home. You can also set up a table for other business owners to include information about their products and services. The other entrepreneurs will appreciate the opportunity to get their names out there and it will feel more like a community event, which it is.
3. Direct Mail
Get your brand into people’s homes with direct mail marketing. This method allows you to target people based on their location. You can invite people to events, send them coupons or ask them to connect with you on social media.
Your message has a better chance of actually getting seen, too, because it’s easy for emails to get lost in a cluttered inbox or end up in the junk mail folder. Direct mail typically has a longer shelf life, as some people keep it to refer back to later. Make your piece stand out by using a real stamp instead of a permit stamp and a handwriting font to add a personal touch.
4. Mobile Billboard
Hit the road to gain followers with custom vehicle decals and stickers, turning your vehicle into a mobile billboard. Use a design that encourages people to check out your social media. Keep in mind the design should be consistent with your other marketing materials, but also keep it simple since drivers won’t have a lot of time to check it out.
Give out the stickers at your open house or other events to increase your mobile billboard fleet. That’s a lot of people who will see your sticker as they share your commute route. Take it a step further and get a rear window design or custom paint job. That will definitely get noticed in a traffic jam.
5. Loyalty Club
Create a loyalty program that rewards people for their purchases. Allow them to collect points for every dollar spent. Then, give them bonus points for social media engagement such as likes, shares, and comments. Customers could earn special discounts or free items based on the number of points they’ve earned.
Loyalty programs attract new customers and reward existing ones. Plus, you can use the information customers enter when they sign up to create mailing lists and study customer demographics. That data is good to have to adjust your marketing campaigns. A good program won’t cost too much, as customers will be enticed to spend more to earn their next reward.
A well-rounded marketing strategy uses online and offline methods to build a brand. It makes sense to take a similar approach to boost your social media followers, too. Be sure to include QR codes or links to your social media pages on all other marketing materials, too. Hopefully, these tips will help your social media numbers and your business grow.
See also: How To Gain Loyal Followers On Facebook Pages?
