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[Jeffrey Mirro Company: Amway Contribution Level: 1]

If the Internet went away or didn't exist in the first place, how would you go about building your home based business?

I read a good older post the other day about 118 ways to advertise your home based business, and many of them were offline ideas, but I am looking for one or two major strategies from each person, especially if you've had success with offline business building.

For instance, has anyone had success with telemarketing or using the phone to call leads that were generated in some other way than the Internet? Does anyone have a positive experience with outsourcing lead generation or other vital business-building activities to professionals?

[Mehak Naheem Company: YourNetBiz Contribution Level: 3]

Although I do like to network and meet new people when I am enjoying myself such as going out shopping I personally wouldn't approach people saying that I have heard it does work, just not for me though! Though I do like attending networking events and meeting new people, it's very motivating attending these events and seeing how many other people are actually building a business online.

[Mario Sanders Company: Life Force International Contribution Level: 6]

There are plenty of businesses that have been built very successfully before the internet. The first well known business was the Fuller Brush Company. World Book Encycleopedia and Avon and Amway just to name a few did very well before the internet was discovered and before the computer among these other creative market tools.
I was part of a large distribution business. As a kid with my brothers throwing papers in the neighbors. We built our businesses on word of mouth. We talked to people and they saw us and liked our attitudes and drive to do the job.
That determination carried on to a regular job and I continued to work with people.
Remember the success of the computer age did not come until the late last half century. The many people who uses computer is still a small percentage of the population. Typewriters may be out where computers have replaced them on the job. The internet is still new to most people who don't have access to the computer.
We do still have to reach them and communicate on their level.
Remember, television just recently within the last 15 years added internet addresses for those to access the internet to get their news.
So, a lot of businesses were door-to-door and word of mouth sales.

[Donnie Norton Contribution Level: 3]

Many restaurants have a glass fish bowl by the cash register
where business people drop their business card. The lure is that
the businessperson might win a free lunch or dinner at the
restaurant in a weekly drawing.
What do the restaurants do with the business cards after the
drawing? They throw them out!

You can get these business cards free, or at least for the
minimal cost of purchasing the free meal that is given away.
Now, what would you do with these business cards?
You’d recognize these cards as potential prospects for your
opportunity.

What do you know about these prospects?
1. They currently suffer through a 9-5 job,
commute long hours, and they definitely know
the disadvantages and lack of freedom a job
offers.
2. These prospects have some disposable income
because they purchase their lunch instead of
bringing their lunch in a paper bag. This
available income could be re-directed to
building their part-time networking business.
For instance, if they buy 20 lunches a month,
that is at least $150 extra income they could
invest in their business.
3. These prospects spend their lunch hours
complaining to co-workers about their jobs.
4. These prospects have regular jobs that pay
their bills. They can afford to patiently build
their network marketing business.

Why not type up a short sales or prospecting letter to these
prospects? They have the motivation and the disposable income
to qualify as future leaders in your organization.
Why write to them instead of making a telephone call?
Because if you write to them, you’ll only hear back from the
interested, positive, motivated prospects who want to do
something. You won’t have to listen to the excuses and whining
from the non-qualified prospects.

Idea #1: Can’t get prospects to show up at your opportunity
meeting? Why not try this?
Hire a limousine service to pick up your prospects. Possibly
you can negotiate a reduced rate for your Tuesday night meeting
since most limousine services have peak times during the day
and weekends.

If a limousine picks up your prospects, how will they feel?
Not only will they feel important, they’ll also enjoy watching
their neighbors gawk at them though their windows. If you’re
going to give your neighbors something to gossip about, why not
make sure it’s something good?
Plus, how many prospects have actually sat in a limousine?
Very few. This could be an opportunity of a lifetime for them.
And how about that relationship building we always talk
about? Certainly a limousine ride could help the bonding
process, right?

Idea #2: Do you feel like nobody is seeing your advertising?
Why not try this?
Create a walking billboard with your ad.
If you’re not familiar with a walking billboard, it’s a front
and back sign that a person wears while walking up and down
the sidewalk. This was popular many years ago as a way to
promote local restaurants.

How much will this ad campaign cost?
The artwork on the two boards should be cheap enough, so
your major cost will be an employee to wear the sign while
walking up and down the sidewalk.
Even if you paid more than the minimum wage, your cost
should not exceed $10 an hour. It’s a great way for a student to
get a little exercise and make some money too.
And the effect?
Prospects notice walking billboards. And that means your
message or ad will have the punch you need to build your
business.

Ideas from Tom "Big Al" Schreiter

[Melvin Goodrum Company: AdvoCare International, L.P. Contribution Level: 4]

If the Internet went away or didn't exist in the first place, how would you go about building your home based business?

I read a good older post the other day about 118 ways to advertise your home based business, and many of them were offline ideas, but I am looking for one or two major strategies from each person, especially if you've had success with offline business building.

For instance, has anyone had success with telemarketing or using the phone to call leads that were generated in some other way than the Internet? Does anyone have a positive experience with outsourcing lead generation or other vital business-building activities to professionals?

Well, I'd go back to my closet and pull out my trusty easel, wooden pointer, and my sales posterboard to do my presentations. Then I'd get out my Atari 1040STF computer and printer and start making out a bunch of sales letters to mail out. Finally I'd call the newspaper up and have an ad put up.

No problem...in fact I still use newspaper ads....

[Verniel Cutar Company: Global Domains International, Inc Contribution Level: 3]

Referral prospecting is the way to go. If there was no internet, i'd put my time and effort on referral prospecting. For me, it involves the use of your WARM MARKET with a twist....they are not your target audience but you will gather referrals from them (i.e. you'll ask them if they know people who are active networkers or opportunity seekers).

I'd reply to every ad posted on the newspapers by a networker or home based business owner.

I'd attend every MLM event or money making seminar in my area and build a rolodex of MLM leaders and serious entrepreneurs.

I'll put up direct mail/direct response ads using fax, snail mail, and the telephone as the main tools. The principle is the same as in internet marketing..only with diff. tools: Newspaper ad will be the equivalent of Google pay perclick ad...initial contact with the prospect via telephone will be the opt-in page...direct mailings will be the equivalent of autoresponder messages...and the fax on demand letter will be the equivalent of the online sales letter.

A lot of folks who started using the funded proposal a few decades ago never had the internet. Just plain and simple direct response advertising tools and machines. And they have solid copywriting skills too.

[Tommy DiPietro Company: Herbalife International of America, Inc. Contribution Level: 3]

A great way to build your business is through your community.

I am a member of my local Chamber of Commerce. This opens up the door to network with other local businesses.

Being a member has some great advantages, which includes exposure, creating relationships and our Chamber posts a free local newspaper ad.

Within the school system is another great way. As an active parent in the schools includes a member of our PTA, it gives me the opportunity to meet more people. This gives me a better chance to expose my business.

I have a fundraiser for our school sponsored by my business which begins January, 2011.

Your local athletic programs - besides my children involvement in sports, I am also a coach within our townships athletic programs.

People will always be interested in what the coach does for a living.

My involvement in health & nutrition makes it easier for me to introduce products especially since my kids also use the products.

I attend networking parties and participate in our township events. This includes volunteer work for the town festival.

Just some ideas...

Tommy D.

[Eric W Company: Lightyear Wireless Contribution Level: 2]

Network network network. But don't just go out and start doing it. You have to purposefully put yourself in situation where other like-minded people will be. As was mentioned above, the local chamber of commerce is a great place. There are also networking groups like BNI all over the place that meet for that sole purpose.

[Flo Kay Contribution Level: 2]

It would be tough for me...to say the least because I am so used to the internet.

Anyway, I would make a few calls, advertise on the local paper or drop flyers inviting people to listen to an audio or attend a training session or something else of value (by myself or other speaker) where there is no pitching involved i.e. (give 80% of the time). I would then use this event to network and allow people to share their ideas and business opportunities. A this point, I would also share what I am going ....take only 20% of the time.

[Jerome Ratliff Company: Nu Skin Enterprises Contribution Level: 4]

No matter what, it would still be a "Relationship Business" but just in a different forum. I would do what I'm doing today, interacting with people and building upon relationships. The more I know about them and the more we share something in common, if I see there is an opportunity where I can present what I have to offer, then I most certainly will.

Think of it this way, even if an opportunity to present your business to someone doesn't present itself then at a minimum you created a friendship. That can lead to many new opportunities - in business or personal life.

People SHOULD BE doing this even with the Internet existing today! If you're not, then you're missing out big time.

Jerome