10 tips to attract customers to your store

Driving traffic into your store is the biggest issue of any retail venture. Even if you have the best product or service in the world, you need people to come into your store to buy it. Here are ten suggestions to get more people in your store.

1. A Store Sign That Stops People in Their Tracks. An eye-catching store sign is the first thing people see when they approach your store. It gives them an impression of what your business is about. Consider using a lighted sign so that your business stands out at night, a store sign with a large window display so that you can show off what you sell in your business and a store sign that reflects the style of your business. The storefront should be inviting enough for customers to enter. The sign should be kept up. A faded sign or dirty windows can give the wrong impression.
2. An Interior That Makes a Statement. When people come into your store, they should see your store's personality shine through. This includes the paint color on the walls, the decor and furniture, the lighting and overall atmosphere. If you have a high-end boutique, the inside of your store should reflect this. The same is true for a coffee shop. The store should be inviting and a consistent look and feel. Music and fragrance can be part of your branding as well. Make sure it's consistent with the type of store you have.
3. Bags and Boxes That Advertise. When customers leave your store, they are taking your brand with them. This is true of any bag, box or other container your customers carry out of your store. Invest in attractive packaging that reflects the image you want your store to have. For example, consider using reusable bags and boxes that complement your brand.
4. Employees Should Dress the Part. Uniforms or shirts with your company's logo on them should be worn by your employees. Not only will your store look more professional, but customers will know immediately who works in your store. Branded shirts or aprons do not have to cost a lot.
5. Advertise on Multiple Media Platforms. You do not know which medium your target market uses. Use all of them to advertise your store. This can include flyers or brochures left in high traffic locations near your store, social media ads that are targeted to your area, Google ads that pop up when people in your area search for the type of business you have, a radio ad if you have a local radio station in your area and an ad on your car if you use it for business. Send an email to customers who have been to your store before inviting them to come back.
6. Create a Great Website Most of your customers will find you online before they step into your store. In many cases, your website will be the first impression they get of your brand. So, make sure it’s fast, good-looking, easy to navigate and includes all the information your customers might need: what you sell, address, working hours and contact information. Add some high-quality images of your store and your products. Make sure your website is optimized for mobile because most of the local searches are done on a smartphone. A good website will convert online browsers into offline shoppers.
7. Dominate Local Search When people search for a product or service in your area, your business should pop up as one of the first results. Local search engine optimization will help you with that. Claim and fully optimize your business profile on major search platforms. Make sure all of the information is accurate: name, address, phone number, working hours, website and photos. Ask your satisfied customers to leave a review because the rating of your business is one of the key factors that determine which businesses will appear in the local search results. Also, use location-specific keywords throughout the content on your website. If you have a bakery in Austin, make sure you have “bakery in Austin” and other similar keywords throughout the content on your website.
8. Establish a Strong Social Media Presence Social media allows you to connect with your local audience in a way in which traditional advertising can’t. Behind-the-scenes content, new product releases, customer spotlight, upcoming events are all great content ideas for social media. Focus on one or two social media platforms where your target audience is most active and try to post as much as you can. Engage with your followers, respond to all of the comments and direct messages and use your social media presence to drive traffic to your store. High-quality photos and short videos are one of the best ways to attract the attention of your followers and showcase your store.
9. Organize an Event People need a reason to visit you. Events create a buzz, encourage social media sharing and attract new customers to your store. You can organize a new product release party, host a seasonal event, organize a workshop or a tasting, do a live demo of a product or collaborate with another local business. Promote your event across all of your marketing channels a few weeks in advance. Try to create an experience people will remember and that will make them come back for more.
10. Offer a Promotion Who doesn’t love a discount? A promotion is one of the best ways to drive foot traffic to your store immediately. There are different types of promotions you can run: discount, loyalty cards, BOGO, free product samples, refer a friend program, etc. Make sure your promotion creates a sense of urgency or people will delay their purchase. Advertise your promotion everywhere: website, social media, in your store, etc. so as many people as possible find out about it.

Taking it all Home

Getting more foot traffic is not just about one marketing tactic, it’s about the overall experience you create for your customers before, during and after they step into your store. Invest your time and money into your store, your online presence and customer experience. The businesses that succeed are the ones that make every customer touch point (from the storefront to the social media and the packaging) remarkable, customer-friendly and shareable.