Old-school marketing tactics refer to those developed before mobile technology took off, while new-school marketing has grown up in the digital age. Without a doubt, marketers need to take full advantage of the latest technology and respond to the needs and desires of modern consumers; however, it would be a mistake to dismiss traditional marketing methods altogether. The following are four old-school marketing tactics that are making a strong comeback in 2019.
Email Marketing
The email has been around longer than most people realize. In fact, the very first email system was released in 1978, and the first marketing message was sent that same year, making email marketing a more than 40-year-old phenomenon and placing it pretty clearly in the old-school camp. However, if you’re visiting Sharpspring.com or another digital marketing site, you’ll see that email is still a key component of any marketing program. In 2019, this tried-and-true method is getting some upgrades thanks to developments in automation and artificial intelligence.
Word-Of-Mouth Advertising
In the old days, businesses banked on their reputation and relied on loyal customers to spread the word to friends and family. This approach is more relevant than ever in 2019, and digital technology magnifies the benefits of word-of-mouth advertising. Surveys indicate that the majority of consumers place a higher degree of trust in personal recommendations and consumer reviews than in any other form of advertising. By focusing on providing high-value products and service, you can increase the chances that happy customers will tell their friends. Implementing a referral program is also a great way to take advantage of your customers’ goodwill and channel it into recommendations.
Rewards And Incentives
The practice of offering incentives to potential customers goes way back. Discounts, coupons, a free product, or a chance to win a prize are all examples of old school marketing tactics designed to reward a customer for making a purchase or taking another action. Physical tokens, like paper coupons, are still valuable for brick-and-mortar businesses, while coupon codes are ideal for e-commerce. An incentive can motivate a potential customer to buy something, and it can also reward customers for doing helpful things like writing a review or sharing a link to your website on social media.
Building Relationships
Human relationships have always been at the heart of the business. A fairly well-known rule of business is that people prefer to do business with those whom they know, like, and trust. Face-to-face relationship building is still critical for most businesses, and even those that focus exclusively on e-commerce need to create a positive relationship with customers. One of the most useful strategies for doing this is to personalize the customer’s experience. That can mean recommending products based on a customer’s past purchases or product views. The style of online interactions can also go a long way toward creating a positive relationship. Choosing an informal style and using encouraging and appreciative phrases will help you to come across as friendly and relatable.
The world of marketing has changed dramatically over the years, but many core tactics are as valid today as ever. In 2019, savvy marketers need to use all the tools at their disposal, taking the best tactics from the past and making them evening more effective by integrating them with the latest technology.
