Promoting a blog or website isn’t limited to online methods.  When it comes to website marketing, nothing is set in stone. The internet is a relatively new medium, which means that you should experiment with things and go with what works for you.

Let’s face it.  We all love to read lists, “10 ways to do this or that”, “5 mistakes to avoid when…”, and so on.  So, here is a list of suggestions to promote your site when you’re not online.  I’d come up with ten methods, but I’m too tired to write any more, so I’ll just have to owe you three.

1. Business cards – Your URL does not take up much space on your business card. In fact in this day and age where everyone has a blog or website, your URL should appear on your business card alongside your phone number, email, and address.

2. Stationary, t-shirts, coffee mugs, mouse pads, etc. – There are sites like Cafepress.com that lets you create and purchase custom t-shirts, coffee mugs, mousepads, and other items.  Design your items and put your URL on them. Then buy them as gifts for your friends, customers, and acquaintances.  Every time your friend drinks from your coffee mug, they’re reminded of your website.

3. Yard signs and billboards – These can be made relatively inexpensively and placed on street corners for passers-by. For motorists to take notice of your URL, it must be catchy, descriptive and memorable. Since short, descriptive domain names are hard to come by these days, you can compensate by using longer but attention-grabbing phrases your URL.  But check your local ordinances before you go about planting signs on every corner; or else you could get into a lot of trouble with the law.

4. Bumper and windshield stickers can be an effective marketing tool, especially in large metropolitan areas. When people are stuck in traffic, they’ll have no choice but to look at your sticker. Again, you need a catchy and memorable URL for this technique to work.

5. Word of mouth – Tell all your friends, relatives and acquaintances about your site. If your site is any good, words will spread like wildfire and traffic will grow virally through word of mouth.

6. Classified ads in print media. Pick up a free classifieds publication from your local supermarket and look at where other people are advertising their sites.

7. Include your URL on everything you can think of. I’ve already mentioned stationary and business cards. URLs don’t take much space on letterheads, memos, calendars, Yellow Pages ads, press releases, brochures, and so on and so forth. I don’t recommend that you go overboard by tattooing your URL on your forehead, but make it a habit to include it everywhere appropriate.

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