How To Reach People Who Don't Shop Online
September 18, 2025
Reaching your target audience is essential, no matter what type of business you run. But what are you supposed to do if your audience just refuses to go online (or at least, doesn’t shop there).
Fortunately, we have some answers. Here, we look at how you can reach out to people who might be offline, either because they have taken a vow not to use the internet, or because they’re much older.
Key Takeaways on Reaching People Who Don't Shop Online
- In-Store Promotions: These encourage customers to visit your physical shop, rewarding them for their presence and bypassing the need for online interaction.
- Vehicle Ads: Wrapping vehicles like taxis or buses with your branding allows for widespread visibility as they travel, reaching thousands of people throughout the day.
- Print Advertising: If your audience reads physical newspapers or magazines, print ads, including direct mail and flyers with coupons, can be very effective for local reach.
- Radio And TV Ads: These media options offer a broad reach, allowing you to capture a significant market share, though they can be a more expensive advertising route.
- Outdoor Advertising: Consider experiential events where customers can directly interact with your products or services, creating memorable brand experiences.
- Telemarketing: Engaging potential customers over the phone can help generate business and build valuable connections for your company.
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In-Store Promotions
If you have a brick-and-mortar store, you’ll want to begin the journey with in-store promotions. These are handy because they encourage people to actually come to your physical premises and reward them for doing so.
In-store promotions used to be the main event when it came to retail advertising. Brands would spend months planning, just to make sure that they got everything right.
But with in-store promotions, all that effort is often worth it. These bypass the need to go online.
Vehicle Ads
Another thing you could try is vehicle ads. These are where you wrap a vehicle in your advertising and then go from there.
For example, you often see taxi ads in large cities. These are literally vehicle wraps for taxis with all the proper branding on them. These go around all day long so thousands of people see them.
Bus ads are another option, as are coach ads. A lot of companies that service fleet vehicles also provide these advertising services.
Print Advertising
If you have a feeling your audience is still reading physical newspapers or magazines, you could also look into print advertising. These ads are highly effective in direct mail, flyers and other mediums for reaching local audiences who may not interact with the digital world.
Coupons are popular with print ads. These encourage your prospective customers to take action by taking advantage of the various deals you offer.
Radio And TV Ads
You could also look into radio and TV ads if you believe your audience consumes this type of media. These ads should focus on memorable messaging and highly what's happening in the store (to encourage people to come and find you and buy from you).
Obviously, these options are a little more expensive than a lot of people would like. But, at the same time, they allow you to reach a broad audience and really capture the market on your terms.
Outdoor Advertising
You may have also considered outdoor advertising, another way to reach people who don’t use the internet. These days, a lot of brands are opting for experiential events where they can market to their customers directly and show them what using their products and services is actually like.
This option is quite popular among exciting brands with bold campaigns. Often, they involve food, audio-visual experiences, or even live performances.
Telemarketing
Lastly, you could look into telemarketing. Getting people interested in what you sell over the phone can be a good way to drum up business for your company and build the networks and connections you need to thrive.
FAQs for How To Reach People Who Don't Shop Online
How can businesses connect with customers who prefer not to shop online?
Businesses can use various traditional methods, such as in-store promotions, vehicle ads, print advertising, radio and TV spots, outdoor advertising, and telemarketing, to reach people who do not use the internet for shopping.
What are the advantages of in-store promotions for reaching offline shoppers?
In-store promotions directly encourage people to visit your physical premises. They reward customers for coming in, creating a direct, tangible interaction that bypasses any need for online engagement.
Is print advertising still effective for audiences who avoid online shopping?
Yes, print advertising remains highly effective for this demographic. Ads in physical newspapers, magazines, direct mail, and flyers, especially those including coupons, can prompt prospective customers to take action.
How can Storific help businesses reach a non-online audience?
While Storific primarily supports online business operations, the principles discussed, like understanding your audience's preferences, are crucial. Businesses can then apply these insights to traditional marketing channels to connect with non-online shoppers.
What kind of outdoor advertising works best for people who do not use the internet?
Experiential outdoor advertising is very popular. This involves creating events where customers can directly experience your products or services, often incorporating food, audio-visual elements, or live performances to create a memorable impression.
