4 Traditional Marketing Methods Your Business Needs

The modern era has undeniably removed the need for many "old-fashioned" or analog activities and materials. This can be seen in many areas, including business marketing. The rise of the digital way has revolutionized how businesses reach people, allowing for a more targeted, cost-effective approach to marketing techniques for better results. And honestly, this is only a good thing.

However, does this mean you need to discount all traditional marketing methods and embrace a fully modern and digital approach to marketing your business? Absolutely not. In fact, that is the last thing you should be doing. These days, companies can reap a myriad of benefits from marrying the old with the new and utilizing virtual techniques and approaches for maximum impact.

Interested? This post will explore some of the more old-school marketing techniques and materials that your business can benefit from in 2024 and beyond.

Banners

An eye-catching banner can be extremely beneficial in marketing. Whether you're setting up a stall at a trade fair, advertising in a local area, or simply wanting to draw attention to something in a store, a banner can be a powerful tool that you can use repeatedly as long as you care for it correctly. This longevity provides a sense of security in your marketing efforts.

From banners that can be hung over doors to retractable banner printing for banners that can be moved and put away as required, the versatility of banners empowers you to use them in various settings. For instance, a banner for a therapist can be erected in a doctor's office, guiding those in need of mental health support to your services. This adaptability gives you the power to reach your audience wherever they are.

Direct Mail

Direct mail isn't dead and buried just yet. In fact, it can be more effective than email. One study found that direct mail has a response rate of 3.7% compared to the 1% delivered by email (source: Impact Group Marketing). This reassures you that direct mail can still be a powerful tool in your marketing arsenal.

The key to effective direct mail is to know your customers and send out communications that are relevant to them, their needs, and their connection to your business. General mailers might not achieve that 3.7% response rate, but segmenting ordnance like you owls for email, making it personal, and delivering direct, relevant information can secure the results you need from your direct mail outreach.

Flyers

We've all had unsolicited flyers posted through the door or handed to us on the streets we don't necessarily want. However, contrary to popular belief, flyers can still be effective marketing tools. Take Domino's in the UK. Each year, they deliver over £10 million in flyers. That sizable investment would be something they do if it didn't work for them.

The key to effective flyer distribution is strategy. Only distribute them when it can benefit the customer. Do you have a promotion or special time-limited offer going on? Get it on a leaflet and hand it out. Want to run a coupon promotion? Giving out flyers can be a great way to do this and ensure people retain your flyer and use them. It's not simply a case of printing a flyer for no reason. Use them strategically and they can be invaluable.

Promotional Merch

Lastly, promotional merch is still a good investment. However, like all of the above, you need to be intentional about it. You should not just print anything and everything with your logo on and throw it to an uninterested audience.

You can start with things like a printed bag for customers in your store, adapt branded uniforms for employees, sell clothing with your logo on it, or give out branded beanies for useful items that people want. All you have to do is look at big brands like Nike or Adidas and countless others to see how well their branded merch/clothing lines sell and promote the brands.

If you're a B2B business, braiding items those in your industry use is a good idea. Sell fitness equipment? Branded water bottles, protein shakers, or towels can be a great idea. If you're dealing with corporate businesses, then USB sticks, pens, pads, sticky notes, laptop bags, etc., might be a better decision for you. Know your audience, select your branded merch wisely, and let them work for you.

Traditional marketing methods shouldn't be brushed aside in favor of more targeted digital outreach options. Instead, they need to form part of your effective marketing strategy and be cleverly utilized alongside other options to yield the best results.

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5 Everyday Items That Can Quietly Boost Your Brand

By Julie Starr • July 17, 2025

The best branding doesn’t always come from big campaigns or expensive graphics. Sometimes it’s the smaller stuff that leaves the biggest impression. Things people actually use, touch, or carry with them. That’s where your brand can quietly make its mark without needing to shout about it. If you’re only focusing on social media and business cards, you’re leaving a lot on the table. Here are five overlooked ways to get your name out there that feel natural, useful, and more personal. Thank-you slips If you’re already sending out orders, there’s no reason not to include a short thank-you slip. You can easily get these made through any decent online print shop , and they’re usually pretty cheap to run off in small batches. Just a simple note that says thanks, maybe with a reminder to follow you online or a cheeky discount code for next time. It’s quick, thoughtful, and makes the whole order feel more finished. Customers notice that kind of detail, especially when everything else they buy online comes with zero personality. You don’t need a complicated design either. Just something clean with your logo, a message that sounds like you, and maybe a social handle. The point is to give them a reason to come back or remember your name without it feeling forced. Branded zip pouches If you sell physical products, offer services, or run events, small zip pouches are surprisingly effective. Think of the kind you’d use for stationery, receipts, or travel bits. You can get your brand printed on the side and hand them out with purchases or include them in welcome packs. People keep them because they’re actually useful. They get tossed in handbags, school bags, or glove boxes and your logo just keeps turning up. Cleaning cloths for glasses or screens This one works brilliantly if you’re in tech, health, beauty, or anything involving screens or eyewear. A simple microfibre cloth with your branding on it can go a long way. Everyone needs one. Whether they use it for glasses, a phone screen, or their laptop, it’s something they hang onto. It’s not the kind of thing people throw away, and that means your name sticks around too. Receipt envelopes You might already use little envelopes to hand over receipts or business cards. Branding those envelopes is a small change that makes a big difference. Instead of someone getting a scruffy bit of paper in a plain sleeve, they’re handed something that feels a bit more finished. You can even add a message inside. Doesn’t need to be anything dramatic. A simple “thanks for visiting” or “see you next time” is enough to add a personal touch. Wet wipes or mini hand gels If your business is in hospitality, food, or anything hands-on, branded wet wipes or pocket-sized hand gels are surprisingly popular. People actually use them, especially at festivals, food stalls, pop-ups, or kids’ events. They end up in handbags or cars and stick around longer than you think. They don’t scream “marketing” either. They’re practical, and when done right, they make your business feel thoughtful. That’s what good branding does, it shows you’ve thought ahead.

How Student-Led ‘Energy Audits’ Are Cutting School Costs (and Lighting the Way Forward)

By Julie Starr • July 14, 2025

What happens when students stop waiting for adults to fix things and start conducting their own energy audits? Money gets saved. The lights get switched off. Data gets analyzed. And a quiet revolution in sustainability begins—inside schools that once overlooked their own inefficiencies. Across the globe, student-led energy audits are proving that change doesn't always need to come from a policy shift or a major capital budget. Sometimes, it begins with a clipboard, a spreadsheet, and a group of curious minds asking: Why are the hallway lights on at noon when sunlight floods the building? The Energy Detectives These audits aren’t science fair projects. They’re rigorous investigations, often done in collaboration with facilities staff, local environmental nonprofits, or even engineering mentors. Students go from classroom to classroom measuring electricity usage, checking for phantom loads , and identifying where heat is escaping in winter or air conditioning is leaking in summer. One high school in Ontario saved over $12,000 a year after its Grade 11 physics students ran an energy audit and suggested simple changes—LED upgrades, motion sensors in bathrooms, and smarter heating schedules. They didn’t just propose ideas. They pitched them with spreadsheets, thermal images, and payback timelines. It worked. Learning That Pays Off—Literally Unlike textbook learning, these audits blend real-world math, environmental science, economics, and persuasive communication. Students aren’t just learning about sustainability. They’re doing it. And the savings add up. From dimming overlit hallways to reprogramming HVAC systems that run all weekend for empty buildings, students are surfacing blind spots that administrators often overlook. In some districts, their findings are influencing energy policy. Elsewhere, the audits have inspired school boards to hire sustainability coordinators—often alumni of the student programs themselves. There’s something poetic about a school funding new books or laptops from money saved by students who found out the vending machines didn’t need to be plugged in 24/7. Why This Matters More Than Ever With education budgets tightening and utility costs rising, every dollar saved is a dollar that can go back into classrooms. And here’s where it gets interesting from a family finance perspective, too. If you’re a parent setting aside money for post-secondary savings, every bit of school efficiency helps. Fewer energy costs might mean more programming, better STEM facilities, or even bursaries. That raises a broader point: when families save for their children’s future, they often look into RESPs (Registered Education Savings Plans). And many wonder—is a RESP deduction available on my taxes? While contributions themselves aren’t deductible, the gains grow tax-free, and students often pay little to no tax when they withdraw the funds during school. A Movement Worth Replicating These audits aren’t just an exercise in environmentalism. They’re leadership labs. Students learn how to spot inefficiencies, speak up in board meetings, and make a business case for change. They don’t just flip switches—they shift mindsets. And they carry these habits into adulthood. The result? A generation growing up not only with climate anxiety, but also with tools to tackle it.