Unique Ways to Market Your Website Offline - for Less Than $100

People who rely on their website for business spend considerable time, energy and money marketing their site online to lure in visitors. Whether it's a blog or a business site offering goods/services, getting your site out to the masses is always a challenge.

Many often assume that the only worthwhile place to market their website is online. While promoting your site online is an obvious choice, consider going offline to make a unique statement about you, your website and even your business.

Throughout my years blogging, I have learned that there are some creative ways to advertise offline that are just as effective as any online marketing campaign. In fact, if you are not doing any offline marketing, you might be missing out on a golden opportunity. The following are some creative and inexpensive ways to get your web address out to the public, with little headaches:

1.The business card: I don't mean your usual business card, with your name, number and address. I'm talking about creating a unique business card that has your web address on it, and maybe a short blurb about your website. I did this for my own blog, which is about literature and writing. I then dropped these cards off at coffee shops, bookstores and other relevant places. You can also hand them out to anyone and everyone! Create your own with a desktop publishing program and buy inexpensive sheets of blank cards at your local office supply store.

2.Bumper stickers: Why not advertise your website while sitting in traffic? There are plenty of online services that allow you to create customized bumper stickers, or you can do-it-yourself with the right equipment. Make sure your bumper sticker is on an easily-seen area of your car. hand them out to friends, or even give them away as a promotion and let others advertise your site for you!

3.Hold a launch party! If you're new website is about to go live, then invite friends, family and even members of the public to a launch party. Raffle off giveaways that are associated with your site and be sure to have plenty of business cards (as mentioned above), bumper stickers, and other promotional products that your guests can walk away with.

4.Word-of-mouth marketing: Let your friends and family know about your website and what if offers. Much of my blog traffic when I started out came from this method. Encourage them to tell their friends and so forth. Just be careful not to harass them too much.

5.Send a press release to local news outlets: Write up a pithy press release that details your site and what it's all about. Even include a special offer or promotion if you can. Send the release to local newspapers, television and radio stations. You can even take this a step further with a follow-up call. Who knows, it might even land you an interview!

When it comes to marketing your website offline, you are only limited by your imagination. The above ideas are just the beginning of the opportunities to publicize your website without breaking the bank. The key is to think "outside the box" and try something different, even step outside of your comfort zone. You never know, your method for offline marketing might be a huge success and skyrocket your website to fame and fortune!