10 tips for promoting your blog offline

Posted by Ben on July 08, 2009 | Permalink | Hits: 1266 
Tags: magazine, newspaper, advertising, merchandise, events, sponsorship, interview

< 10 tips for promoting your blog online | Advertising and Promotion |

Back in May, I published 10 tips for promoting your blog online. This follow-up post focuses on how to promote your blog offline.

A warning: some of these may be quite difficult to achieve. The way I look at it, if you've got a good enough story to tell and you're able to work on a pitch that packs a punch, all you really need to do is persevere. Don't knock it if you haven't tried.

1. Word of mouth.

Last week I published 10 ways blogging can help you get a job. It's fair to say that not every type of blog is guaranteed to help with a job application. But if you some of your friends or colleagues have an interest in what you write about, why not ask them to visit your blog?

2. Write a column for a magazine.

Some sites are reporting the demise of print media as online media continues to flourish. But there are still magazines out there, especially for specialist markets. Readers may prefer to get their updates in a publication they can hold in their hands and read on the train.

Why not send in a feature to a magazine that is related to the topic you write about? Writing a column may be a bit ambitious, but even a lone feature can work wonders. You're writing for people who are interested in what you're blogging about, so there's a good chance you can attract new people to your blog.

3. Get featured in your local paper.

Similar to writing for a magazine, but with a couple of key differences. On the plus side, you may find that many more people read your local paper than a specialist magazine. However, the audience is not as focused, and may not be overly interested in what you're blogging about. Still, it can be a good way to get your name out there and get some new readers.

4. Attend a blogging event.

Looking to meet some other bloggers? Want to share ideas and do some networking? Attending blogging events can be a great way to do this. Look for events in your area - try Upcoming.

5. Set up your own blogging group.

Blogging can be a very interesting thing to do even if you go it alone, but you open up so many more possibilities when you involve other people.

Don't view other blogs as competition. Getting together with bloggers who write about the same subject as you is a good way to share ideas and promote each other's blogs. You might want to set up a forum, write about other blogs, or work on a group blog.

But this is supposed to be an offline list. Setting up your own blogging group as an offline activity is similar to attending a blogging event, but you're the one organising it. In other words, if there isn't a local group you can join, why not set one up?

6. Sponsor an event.

Still on the subject of events, why not sponsor one? This may be out of reach if it's a large event, as sponsorship often means you need to contribute financially - but a smaller event could be more plausible. It's probably best suited to larger blogs, blog networks, or anyone who makes a living from blogging.

7. Advertising.

You can advertise both online and offline. Offline advertising includes newspaper ads, classified ads (cheaper but less visible than newspaper ads), flyers, and printed newsletters.

8. Branded merchandise.

Badges, mugs, mouse mats, t-shirts... there's a wide range of "schwag" you can offer for your readers. You might be able to make a bit of money from it - but that shouldn't be the primary goal. If someone buys a car sticker with your blog name and URL on it, then puts it in their car, people will see it. This can be a really good way to promote your blog without you having to do it - so why not give out "free stuff" and help spread the word?

9. Publish a book.

Publishing a book is another way to get people reading about your blog. Also, it can be a very convenient way to compile some of your best material with some new work exclusive to the book. One example is the ProBlogger book.

10. Do a radio interview.

Can you get on the local radio and talk about your blog? You might not think so - but have you asked? It's all about practising your pitch. Much like applying for a job, you have to give people a compelling reason to show an interest in you. If you can do that and someone picks up your application, you can reach a wide audience.

Have you done any of these? Can you think of any other ways to promote your blog offline?

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