I wonder how much advertising should be "hard copy" as opposed to online?

I don't think it's a good idea to interrupt a sports event to showcase a URL, as we've seen before, but I wonder what a good, cost-effective example of printed advertising for a site would be?

Hard copy still sells because not everyone is online. If you're targeting products for seniors, your best bet might be AARP print or something like that. Items focused on a target audience would apply as well. If you're in the entertainment industry, online isn't that important. What you want is a full page ad in Variety.

I think hard copy advertising is still very very important because
1. not may are still online
2. not many who are online, actually notice the ads...

So to reach out hard copy still rules.

Try these:

1. Pass out business cards everywhere you go! Leave 2 or 3 cards with people so they can give them to friends, put them in your bills, leave on the table with a tip, hand one to the cashier at the store, drop them into lunchtime drawing jars.

2. Create flyers and post them to bulletin boards at stores, churches, daycare's, laundry mats, etc. Tell people they can order online 24 hours a day without even having to lick a stamp.

3. Have t-shirts, hats, tote bags or buttons made and then WEAR them! While you're out running errands, people will undoubtedly notice and ask you about your product or service.

4. Talk to people everywhere you go! Strike up a conversation, ask them what they do and if they like it. Don't pre-judge - you never know who may be interested in what you're offering or in starting their own home business. Be interested in what they say to you, get a feeling for what their needs are and then offer your solution
whether it be your product, service or opportunity.

5. Use your car to advertise with hanging signs in the window.

6. Advertise in your local newspapers. 'Bargain hunter' and 'Penny-pinching' ads work well to get started with, as they are low cost, go out to your entire local area and are read (believe it or
not) by most people. You can also place ads on your local TV stations and radio stations.

7. Swap advertising flyers, biz cards and "perks" with other businesses. This can be done either online with other home businesses or with small businesses locally. Go to several businesses and offer to pass out their promotional material if they agree to do the same for you.

8. If you can afford to, have some sales aids made up. These can be calendars, pens, pencils, refrigerator magnets, snack bag clips, memo pads, post-it notes, monitor cleaners, novelty games, stress balls, key rings, etc with your URL on them.

9. Have a self-inking or rubber stamp made up with your business URL and contact information on it. Then start stamping every piece of paper, brochure and catalog before it goes out because it only takes a minute to do it!

10.For every customer enquiry that comes in by phone ask for an email address in the contact info then send them your URL Some of these techniques will also generate new clients as well; the possibility exists that you will attract a client whom you have had no prior dealings with.

These are good networking points. It's like Networking 101, the very basics you should do to get your name out there, especially for a very small, at home business.

I think there are some great tips there, that probably apply to many businesses in general.

I think there are also customized strategies for specific products that would be well worthwhile. A friend had some great looking T-shirts made and then gave them to people who'd be attending events that would be of interest to his demographic, which in his case was Reggae music fans. He's looking into other products as well.