Rumour has it, Gary's first piece of internet advice was something like... "To sell online, you have to get people offline."
In other words, use online as a lead generation system. To get the prospects' name, address and phone number.
Another successful marketer followed that advice. Placed a ten word ad. Ten days later they had sold $55,000.00 worth of products.
The ad was a classified ad placed in the online classifieds on AOL (I believe it was AOL). And gave a phone number to call for more information.
Those who called left their name and address and were sent a sales letter through the mail.
The year. From memory. Was 1992. Eleven years ago.
So Gary's advice was valid. Valid then and valid today. Depending on the market.
Obviously no-one is going to call LA from NY to order a $15 eBook. Might happen. Probably not likely.
So the "use online to get them offline" technique would be product/market specific. Instead of a be all and end all technique.
Michael Ross
Offline. Online. Make Money Both Ways