OFFLINE BUSINESS

In India it would be both. The online and offline business models would complement each other in a very effective manner. A customer can make online bookings for a variety of products and services in the travel industry such as hotel rooms, airline tickets, attractions, insurance, car rentals, etc.

However, these online bookings have to be supported and enhanced by an offline presence for many services. For example, BTQ forms have to be signed and picked up. Documentation for visas such as income tax forms, photographs, etc are also required. We need to give the traveller a choice of payment options as they may not be in a position to book very high amounts via credit cards.

So we need to provide them an offline location to make payments. In this case, an offline presence with a network of offices would act as fulfillment centres. This demonstrates that offline and online presence would be critical to our business plan. Some businesses already have websites and do brisk business both online and offline. The first one that comes to mind is a book store that's not too far away from where I live. They have a great venue for book browsers who are spending a sunny afternoon walking around town. And, I've discovered recently, they also have a dot-com behind their name and do well online, sending books all over the world.

But periodically, one or two of the offline businesses approach me and tell me that they want to build their business (what business owner doesn't?) and they'd like to see if there's a way to do it online. I say there is! Here are 6 ways that offline business can promote their businesses online. There are offline yellow pages that people use fairly frequently but more and more people are online.