Marketing yourself offline is as important if not more important than online. Offline connections are the most powerful because of in-person contact often. Freelancers sometimes have a hard time starting a business using offline connections. The fear of the unknown halts many, but you can learn secrets of making it easy and build business.

1. Sign up for events. Check with your local Chamber of Commerce. They have events every week or month. Events include lunch and evenings where you can meet many other business owners. Check with your local fairs and events continuing in your local area. Recently, we went to a chili cook-off. Most of the chili there included beef as the main meat ingredient. My friend, a weight loss coach and avid cook, thought that he would enter his recipe for turkey chili next year. It sounds like fun and a great way for him to build business. The chili cook off has thousands of people visit each year. Look into your local fairs and events that you can set up a booth or enter contests for your business.

2. Wear logo t-shirts and hats. Have some logo themed gear made with your business information. Turning yourself into a walking billboard will have people talking to you. Having a t-shirt made with your logo and business information gives people a way to start conversation with you about your business. Make sure to have business cards handy.

3. Leverage your social network. Call all of your friends and family. Even if you haven’t talked to your cousin in years, give her a call. Let everyone know about your freelance business. People want to help and will give you referrals as they come. Even making your intent clear by talking to people brings clients your way. Make sure that all of your social organizations know about your business too. People at the gym, church and tennis club will remember and send you referrals.

4. Arrange for speaking engagements. If you are starting in this area, try contacting local colleges and universities to give free speeches. You can set up a topic based on your business aimed at the students at the college. Make sure to have printed comment cards ready for receiving testimonials from attendees. Once you speak at a college, you can use this as a “name drop” to get your foot in the door with conferences and other speaking engagements. New to speaking? Join your local Toastmasters club. They meet once a week or month and are an engaged group, offering advice, help for new, and seasoned speakers.

5. Sponsor an event. If you can’t make it to the local fair, you can always sponsor an attendee. Have a banner printed and hang it up at their booth. You can pay their entry fee but get the publicity from having your brochures and business cards present at the event. Many charities ask for sponsors and print your name on fliers or programs.

6. Call potential clients. Old-fashioned phone dialing works best, as Mom always says. And it still does. Pick up the phone and call local businesses. There are a few ways to do this and researching before is best. Find the contact to talk to. Look at the business information online first. Look for the person with the title you need to talk to. When you call, don’t say Mr., Mrs., or Ms. Ask for the person by their first name. Don’t use their last name. Act as if you are their friend when you ask for them. The secretary assumes they know you. Have your thirty-second pitch ready and ask for a time to meet with them or if you can send information through mail. After you send information, follow up with them a few days later. It’s a lot more fun than you think!

7. Write on your car. Print a window cling for your back window. You might have seen the side magnetic clings, but these are not effective. People can only see them when you stop at a traffic light next to you. The back window text is much more visible to everyone behind you. Whether you are traveling on the highway or back roads, people will see your information. Make sure to include your business name, contact name, website and phone number. Use white text in serif or sans-serif. Don’t use cursive script. You can have these made at your local office supply store for a low price.

These are just a few ways for you to market your freelance business using offline methods. Which ones have you already tried? Which ones will you use for your business?

photo credit: ~Duncan~