In the days before the digital revolution, companies marketed their businesses using largely traditional methods. Some of these methods included going door-to-door, direct mail, and buying radio or TV airtime to help promote their products and services.
Today, most marketing efforts are concentrated within the digital space. Due to the large number of people gravitating toward buying goods online, companies need to reach out to where the customer is actively buying. This is why we see such a large number of digital marketing campaigns across the modern business world.
Though digital marketing is a wave that every company has to ride in order to be successful, there are still some traditional methods that can be leveraged in order to get an edge over the competition.
Here, we’ll explore some traditional marketing tactics which are still relevant today.
Usenet
Back in the ’80s, marketing efforts were mostly focused on TV commercials and radio. But then along came an advancement in technology that made it possible to reach out to people all over the country.
If you’ve never heard of Usenet, this was the original academic chatroom that spawned the evolution of online networking we know today.
Usenet is composed of newsgroups, and all of these groups are arranged by topic. Anyone can access Usenet today, even though it was developed four years before the Internet’s official birthday. The great thing about Usenet is that you can use this tool to get an inside glimpse at what your competitors are up to, all while chatting and sharing information with other users.
Though Usenet exists independently from the Internet, you can still use the Internet to access it. It is recommended that you use a Usenet provider to access Usenet and familiarize yourself with the protocol and etiquette that is standard within the system.
Billboards
While most drivers are sadly preoccupied with the constant smartphone notifications that disrupt their peace (and concentration), people still pay attention to billboards as they commute to and from work or while they’re visiting a new place.
Most people think that billboard marketing is a lost art, but they are still proven to gain attention and customers just simply by standing alone. In fact, you may notice on any typical drive that one company might employ the use of several consecutive billboard spaces just to dominate the area in order to hopefully gain the most exposure.
A billboard is simply extra exposure that you get from posting your logo or brand name on a roadside sign. These are relatively inexpensive, and most billboard owners will allow you to use their space for a flat fee, or a monthly rate, depending on how long you want to utilize the advertising space.
Radio
Most people might think that the radio is dead. But, this is far from true. Radio has simply shifted form, and its utility today can still be used by any major business, startup, or nonprofit company.
Radio ads are now more commonly found at the beginning or end of podcasts. While terrestrial radio hosts will still promote local businesses, this is a great way to get your name out into the local community.
You’d be surprised at how many people still listen to the radio despite all of our modern technology and apps like Pandora, Spotify, and Apple Music. And, even these music apps offer advertising space as well for a nominal fee.
The main thing to remember about radio ads is that it focuses your marketing efforts at the local level, and this is where you ultimately need to begin if you want to become a staple business within your local community. Don’t worry, world domination can come later on down the road.
No matter your marketing strategy, you need creativity and ingenuity in order to get an edge over the competition. This means that you need to use modern, experimental, and traditional strategies when you formulate your marketing campaign.