“What is one traditional marketing strategy that has consistently worked for your business despite the digital revolution? How has it evolved over time while maintaining its effectiveness?”
Here is what 18 thought leaders had to say.
Networking Still Wins Despite Tech Changes
Networking at industry conferences has consistently worked for us, even in the fast-changing SaaS space. At first, it was about handshakes and swapping business cards with other founders or decision-makers. Today, I use QR code exchanges, LinkedIn connections, and automated scheduling tools as a natural extension of the in-person introduction. What I’ve learned is that while the tools have evolved, the effectiveness still comes from showing up, listening, and building the kind of relationships that technology can only support, not replace.
Pavel Sher, CEO, FuseBase
Word-of-Mouth Referrals Power Custom Design Business
An enduring marketing method that has reliably worked for my business is word-of-mouth referrals. In the area of custom cabinetry and luxury design, there is a great deal of power in personal referrals. Clients are investing in their homes and are looking for someone they can trust. Over the years, this method has evolved from simply referring satisfied customers to us to a more formalized process where we actively ask our clients to share their experiences working with us by providing testimonials or writing reviews online. By developing a strong relationship with our clients and fostering a sense of community, we have established a process that encourages word-of-mouth advertising.
We have begun to integrate this method into our digital platform. Although the principle remains in effect, we now encourage clients to share their projects on social media, which expands our reach. This certainly is an adjustment from the word-of-mouth idea. It combines traditional methods with modern technology, while remaining authentic. The personal touch and genuine satisfaction of our clients continue to drive this strategy, ensuring that our business thrives even amid the digital revolution.
Josh Qian, COO and Co-Founder, LINQ Kitchen formerly BestOnlineCabinets
Direct Mail Delivers Local Impact Beyond Digital
Direct mail has always been the one that works. Years ago it was flyers dropped into mailboxes. Today it’s evolved into targeted, location-based outreach that feels personal but still reaches people at scale.
We keep it simple with a well-designed piece, a clear call to action, and a local tie-in. That combination still gets people to stop, read, and take action. The difference now is how we refine it. Instead of blasting a whole region we use data to identify areas with the highest foot traffic near our kiosks. The creative is sharper, the audience more specific, and the follow-up digital touchpoints are integrated.
What hasn’t changed is the tangible connection. People like holding something in their hands that tells them where they can go today and walk out with cash. That feeling of immediacy sticks and it’s why this “old” strategy continues to drive results even as everything else shifts online.
Alec Loeb, VP of Growth Marketing, EcoATM
Medical Office Materials Bridge Print and Digital
Leaving print materials in medical offices has been one of the most consistent referral sources for my counseling practice. For years, patients picked up brochures when conversations about therapy came up during their appointments. To keep it relevant now, I include QR codes that connect directly to assessments or scheduling, making it easy for someone to take the next step immediately. It’s a small adjustment, but it bridges the personal feel of print with the convenience of digital tools.
Dr. Mareba Lewis, Owner, Your Journey Counseling and Wellness
Workshops Blend Traditional Trust with AI Innovation
For me, traditional educational workshops have always been the backbone of building trust and credibility. Early on, these were full-day, in-person seminars where I’d walk a room through strategies with whiteboards and handouts. What’s changed is that now we’ve layered in hybrid models, where local attendees still get that face-to-face depth, but we pair it with AI-driven personalization for the wider audience online. Look, in-person energy is tough to replicate, but adding live AI demonstrations makes the material even more hands-on and relatable. My take: blending that original workshop structure with smarter tech keeps it just as impactful today, if not more.
Will Melton, CEO, Xponent21
Product Sampling Removes Doubt Through Experience
Product sampling is really effective because it removes doubt. Letting people test our desks and chairs in person is more convincing than selling that product to a prospect online. Being able to feel the product itself and the whole experience is something words cannot provide.
Product sampling has evolved over time, especially for brands that are purely online. Instead of using only showrooms, we send smaller items like desk mats or cable trays at no cost so customers can enjoy it at home. We also stage full office setups for teams to try for a week so they can experience it firsthand.
Sampling does not always mean giving something for free. It can also be done by proving and demonstrating the product and once someone experiences it personally, the decision to buy becomes more convincing.
John Beaver, Founder, Desky
Face-to-Face Connections Outperform Digital-Only Marketing
One of the traditional marketing methods that has always delivered for Level 6 is face-to-face relationship building, like trade shows, industry conventions, and partner meetings. Even in this day of emails, instant messaging, and social media, shaking hands, speaking to people face to face, and hearing their pain points firsthand still never goes out of style. It establishes credibility in a manner that does not always occur with pure digital.
We’ve added technology on top of this over time, capturing leads through mobile apps at events, with digital follow-ups and tailored content afterwards, and using data from those interactions to tailor outreach. But that central, clear human connection remains at the core.
Employee incentives are baked in. When our team goes out to events, we design incentives so that they get recognized for productive meetings and for turning prospects encountered face-to-face into sales. Customer rebates are also woven in, frequently given after trade show promotions or partner events to establish trust, reward early buyers, and build deeper relationships.
Even as marketing has moved online in so many ways, the combination of in-person connection, online engagement, and reward or rebate programs has maintained consistency and trust. It has maintained our pipelines full, our partners active, and our employees engaged.
Ben Wieder, CEO, Level 6 Incentives
Customer Stories Build Trust Beyond Digital Channels
At Easy Ice, one marketing tactic that has always served us well is to share real-life success stories from existing customers. Promoting concrete illustrations of how our ice machine subscription service has assisted companies in streamlining operations helps us connect emotionally with potential customers. Doing so has always established trust and credibility since our audience hears of tangible outcomes instead of intangible promises.
Years back, the tactic was straightforward testimonials in brochures. Now, we share detailed case studies with visuals at events, reinforcing credibility and real value despite digital channels.
The success is in the human touch. Through hearing our customers’ problems and demonstrating how we assist in fixing them, we remain relevant across industries. This approach has evolved without abandoning its initial premise: allowing happy customers to tell the story for us. It’s a compelling reminder that even when technology comes first, true, honest experience continues to be at the center of effective marketing.
Travis Rieken, Sr. Director of Product Management, Easy Ice
Word-of-Mouth Powers Sales Through Digital Evolution
One strategy that’s stood the test of time for us is word-of-mouth. Long before digital ads and SEO, our business grew because people told their neighbors, friends, or family about the great deal they found. That trust was priceless, and it still is.
What’s evolved is how we fuel it. Today, reviews and customer stories online carry the same weight as a face-to-face conversation used to. We make it easy for happy buyers to share photos of their finished floors, leave honest feedback, and talk about their experience. The reach is bigger now, but the principle hasn’t changed. Real voices convincing real people.
When I see a new customer mention they came to us because of a friend’s recommendation or a five-star review they read, it’s a reminder that some of the most “traditional” marketing is still the most effective, just amplified by the tools we have today.
Patrick Dinehart, CMO, ReallyCheapFloors.com
Client Referrals Drive 70% of Mortgage Business
While everyone is busy chasing whatever social media algorithms do, I generate 70% of my deals through referrals from happy clients and real estate professionals.
Although it has evolved tremendously. When I started at Monterey Mortgage in 2001, referrals meant handwritten thank-you notes and the occasional holiday gift. Now, I operate a full-fledged CRM system that tracks my referral sources and allows me to automatically send personalized follow-ups when needed. I send quarterly real estate market updates to past clients, but the information I send is very targeted based on each clients investment portfolio and goals.
The key to this strategy’s bulletproof nature is the trust factor that goes with private lending. When a developer tells another investor we can close in 10 days, that has far more weight than any ad I could put on Facebook. I have worked to build relationships with title companies, vendors, and real estate agents who understand exactly what fits our lending criteria.
The human touch has not changed. I still try to meet my clients in person whenever possible, but I supplement it with video meetings and digital document signing. Technology has improved the process of the human touch but it has not replaced the human connection that is necessary to achieve a referral for one of the highest stakes real estate transactions.
Jimmy Fuentes, Consultant, California Hard Money Lender
Industry Publications Connect Print Trust with Digital
One strategy that has always worked for us is advertising in industry publications. Twenty years ago, it was just static print ads highlighting speed and reliability, but now we use interactive QR codes and links to case studies. That shift lets us keep the trusted credibility of print while tying it back to measurable digital engagement.
Andrew Dunn, Vice President of Marketing, Zentro Internet
Direct Mail Succeeds Through Physical-Digital Integration
Direct mail has remained effective, especially for reaching older supporters who prefer tangible communication. In earlier years, it was simple letters with updates and donation forms. Over time, it evolved into personalized mailers with photos, short stories, and clear impact statements, often timed around seasonal giving. While digital platforms dominate for speed, the physical presence of a letter or postcard still prompts action in a way emails sometimes do not. The evolution lies in pairing direct mail with digital follow-ups, such as a matching email campaign or QR codes linking to online giving pages. That combination preserves the trust and familiarity of traditional outreach while connecting it seamlessly to modern tools, keeping it both relevant and impactful.
Belle Florendo, Marketing coordinator, Sunny Glen Children’s Home
Community Events Build Trust Digital Cannot Replace
Community events have remained one of the most effective traditional strategies. Health fairs, local sponsorships, and informational sessions create face-to-face trust that no digital campaign can fully replicate. Direct Primary Care is still unfamiliar to many, and meeting people in person allows for real conversations that address skepticism and clarify misconceptions.
Over time, this strategy has evolved by pairing events with digital follow-up. Attendees are now directed to QR codes linking to resources, membership details, or scheduling tools. What once ended as a handshake now continues online, where interest can be converted into action. The personal trust built in the community remains the foundation, while digital tools extend its reach and track outcomes. That evolution has kept the approach effective without losing its original strength.
Wayne Lowry, Founder, Best DPC
Word-of-Mouth Evolution Triples Digital Conversion Rates
Traditional marketing that has served me the best involves word-of-mouth marketing although we have since changed into the digital era. I came across in my formative days as a software solution provider that there are no greater arguments in the market than personal recommendations.
What is interesting is that this strategy has changed its shape and yet, maintained its power. First, word-of-mouth used to happen in the coffee shops and networking events. It now finds its way in the form of developer communities in Discord, GitHub partnerships, and writing bootcamp alumni groups. Its mechanism had also changed, but the factor of trust had not diminished.
I have seen firms spending thousands on Google Ads and forgetting about a group of engineers that may turn out to be the most dedicated proponents. According to research the traditional marketing continues to possess great value due to its long term value especially when combined with digital mediums.
The process of its evolution has been natural. Those students with technical interview success also formed our best ambassadors. They would give out their success stories at team meetings or leave referrals to their co-workers facing the same problem. We began monitoring these referrals and found them to be converting 3 times higher as compared to paid acquisition.
These relationships are now systematized to grow, though, the true human bond behind our suggestion has not degraded since I wrote my first line of code.
Mircea Dima, CTO / Software Engineer, AlgoCademy
Community Involvement Builds Loyalty Beyond Digital Reach
Community involvement is one of the conventional marketing strategies that has consistently worked in my business and even during the digital transformation era. Our participation in the local events and sponsorships has enabled us to establish good relationships in the community. This has been developed over time and now includes the use of social media, where we post about our events and get people in the community to join.
Through combining the old outreach techniques with new communication channels, we have increased our presence and strengthened relationships. In my opinion, community participation not only leads to brand loyalty but also helps to create the feeling of belonging within customers. This plan focuses on the significance of authenticity and local presence, which shows that, despite the digital environment, real-life relationships are priceless in the success of the long-term. The combination of conventional and new approaches will enable companies to remain relevant and not lose the essential values that will appeal to their audience.
Jeffrey Pitrak, Marketing Account Manager, Transient Specialists
Open Houses Combine Personal Touch with Technology
For me, open houses have always been a powerhouse marketing tool. Years back, it was simple flyers and signs at busy intersections, but the core ideagetting people in the doorstill hasn’t lost its effect. Nowadays, I combine that with digital check-ins, social media live tours, and even VR walk-throughs that keep buyers engaged before they step foot inside. Generally speaking, you’re in good shape with open houses as long as you balance technology with the personal connection that actually sells the home.
Ryan Nelson, Founder, RentalRealEstate
Referral Structure Triples Deal Size Over Digital
When I first began working at Helium SEO, the biggest mistake I made was thinking that referrals would diminish as digital channels became a bigger piece of the acquisition marketing pie. We shifted most of our spend away from referrals to paid acquisition and automating our content, but our highest-value accounts were still coming from direct introductions. After a six-month hiatus from our referral outreach, inbound deals north of $100K decreased by 42%, while leads from our ads, which were worth less, doubled. It was obviously clear referrals were not simply a vestige tactic, the referrals had become an actual pillar for revenue. Ultimately, the criteria were established so we could replicate the system. Every client with a contracted spend over $50K annually has a success director that monitors their satisfaction scores.
When a client’s score falls above the threshold, that client is invited into the referral circle that we established as the structure to pursue referrals from. Clients in the referral circle always get exclusive access, often beta access, to new tools and products like NobleSEO.io and strategy sessions dedicated to referrals for their own referral opportunities. At the end of each quarter, we send a data report to their clients to show how well their referrals performed, and this gives them social currency within their own networks. The mechanics of the referrals make it feel like engineering relationships, while simultaneously preserving the organic tone to referrals to make them a powerful way to generate revenue. The partial structure supports the referral activity in the digital age. It is still based on human trust, but it works within data triggers, structured rewards, and heightened reciprocal feedback affinity. Ultimately, referrals became the most predictable business growth engine we had for revenue again, achieving an average deal size that was 3.4 times higher than other avenues of acquisition.
Paul DeMott, Chief Technology Officer, Helium SEO
Print Placements Outperform Digital for Investor Trust
Print placements still work well for me because they have a heft that digital channels sometimes can’t translate. I remember, in 2018, I secured a full-page feature in a large financial newspaper which garnered 18 partnership inquiries in under 2 days, while a similar social campaign brought less than 5 inquiries over the same period. The measurable difference is stark and it has shown me that the trust developed through print can affect investors and decision makers to the extent that online content can’t.
Over time I changed how I use this channel. Instead of being broadly exposed, I seek out the part that speaks to the investor market or industry. One article in a weekend edition will get more engagement and build more credibility and trust than twenty online mentions dispersed across blogs. Print is still powerful because attention in that space is focused and carries weight.
Suvrangsou Das, Global PR Strategist & CEO, EasyPR LLC