With more and more companies popping up online, it’s more important than ever to find ways to increase foot traffic if you run a brick-and-mortar store. Attracting people to visit your shop boosts your chances of making sales. It also lets customers see what you have to offer and helps to build relationships with them. These things combine to lead to higher revenues.
Create Curb Appeal
The way your store looks plays a big role in attracting customers. It’s imperative that you keep a clean and organized storefront. Make sure the physical aspects of your store’s appearance are in order by performing regular activities like sweeping and cleaning the windows. Be prepared to take on maintenance tasks such as painting doors and trim at least once a year or as necessary to keep things from looking rundown. You may even need to invest in a complete overhaul of your store’s outside if things are looking dated. Modern signage and a new color scheme are things to consider. You may even need to take on large projects with professional contractors such as commercial roofing Brooklyn.
Look Busy
Many storefronts have large windows where customers can see in as they walk by. If this is the case for you, be sure that things are looking busy inside. If your employees are sitting around doing nothing, this could send a message of disinterest to potential customers. On the other hand, they may be more inclined to pop in if associates are engaged in activities like tidying products or even standing near the entrance smiling and waiting to greet people.
Have an Online Presence
While many of your efforts to increase foot traffic should take place in-person, using online tools can also play a strong role in helping to bring customers in the door. Having a social media presence is a great way to be seen and to give prospective customers a way to see what you have to offer. Trust and engagement can also occur online, helping to build the foundation for creating later face-to-face interaction. Folks will be curious to stop in and see your store in person if they get a good sense of who you are ahead of time.
Engage in Email Marketing
One more digital method you should take advantage of is email marketing. Having an email list allows you to have direct access to your customers. Through your email list, you’re able to connect with them or relay your messaging to them at any time. It’s the perfect medium for staying in touch. You can send them information about special sales, set up perks for email subscribers, or share unique product updates. A great feature of email marketing is that it lets you create unique list segments to reach particular demographics, targeting your messaging even further. You can base these targeted messages on things like location, purchase history, or incentive. Email marketing is a sure-fire way to bring customers into the store.
Hold Events and Classes
Holding in-person events or classes can be a real magnet for foot traffic. Creating these events can be quite fun. Base them on your product or service and gear them specifically toward your customers’ interests. For example, a jewelry store may want to offer a regular cleaning event where customers can bring their jewelry in to be cleaned. While they’re waiting, they’re likely to do a little shopping. If you own a cookware retailer, consider hiring a professional chef to do a demonstration using your products. Share the dish with customers in your store. People love to get free food!
These creative ways to get more foot traffic to your store should provide you with a good start. You can tailor the ideas to meet your particular needs and build on them for future use.
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