7 Effective Ways to Drive Foot Traffic to Your Store

While customers may find online shopping’s accessibility and ease attractive, in-store shopping experiences are incomparable to searching for items online. Statistics indicate that 61% of shoppers prefer in-store shopping to try on or see the products they're purchasing. In addition, 81.8% of American consumers would rather buy groceries in person than online.

Brick-and-mortar shopping offers unique customer service that can only be gotten in person. Also, focusing on foot traffic is like investing in prospective customers because every individual is likely to buy when they’re already in the store. Improving foot traffic isn’t easy. However, using the right tactics can help. Discussed below are seven effective ways to drive foot traffic to your store.

1.  Leverage promotional inflatables

Promotional inflatables are an effective visual advertising technique that you can leverage to ensure maximum business exposure. Since they're huge, they can easily appeal to your audience's sense of sight. Promotional inflatables are eye-catching. They help draw your prospective customers' attention to your store. Positioning them in areas that experience heavy traffic, such as at the corner of a busy street or in major shopping centers, can help attract passers-by, most of whom could be your prospects. Unlike other promotional tools, inflatables are affordable.

You can use them repeatedly, and they're durable, making them a cost-effective option for increasing your store's foot traffic. Inflatables come in different varieties, including air dancers, giant inflatables, flags, and more, which leaves you with multiple options. Alternatively, get your promotional inflatables customized to your business needs and requirements. You can visit Lookourway.com or any other trustworthy site to get custom pieces for your business or order the available ones.

2.  Create an online presence

A study found that 81% of consumers search online for information and respond to questions about a product/ service before going to the store to buy. This implies that your store's online presence is critical to driving foot traffic to your physical store. To ascertain whether your online presence enhances your in-store traffic and sales, consider the following:

• Add vital details on your website: If you don’t have a business website, create one and add all the vital details that customers and prospects are likely to look for to decide if they can visit your store. Include your store’s address, hours of operation, directions, and contact information
• Optimize your site for mobile use: When consumers look for stores online, they'll most likely use their mobile devices, and if they cannot view your site, they'll abandon you for a competitor. Mobile search drives brick-and-mortar traffic
• Engage customers via social media: Social media influences consumer behavior. So, create business social accounts on different platforms, like Facebook and Instagram. Since posts with videos or photos attract more attention, share attractive products and store images. You can also promote events and sales on the platforms and encourage your followers to share your posts

3.  Use signage

Efficient use of retail signage can attract and retain customers in your store. Consider using the correct signage from the start of a customer's purchase journey to the end. Examples of retail signage you can use to drive traffic to your brick-and-mortar store include:

Outdoor signage: It's the first impression customers and prospects get about your store. Ensure it's compelling and bright enough to captivate their attention

• Promotional signage: It’s excellent for attracting customer attention and for your window display addition. Promotions such as discounts always drive extra foot traffic. So, display in-store promotions prominently at your storefront or outside with a sidewalk sign
• Display signage: They help inform the customer better about your business and the products/ services you offer at a glance, making it ideal for display windows
• Digital signage: You can use it to customize customer shopping experiences as it offers the versatility to personalize your messaging based on what you’re selling, time of the day, weather, and who enters your store
• Directional signage: It helps guide customers to your brick-and-mortar store. Even after reaching the store, directional signage can help direct customers to particular sections, products, and more

Once you identify the signs you need to drive traffic, position them where customers can easily see them.

4.  Hold an in-store retail event

In-store events not only promote and develop unique shopping experiences they also provide an excellent option for stores to boost foot traffic and sales. They’re a unique chance to get your prospective customers’ foot into the store and expose them to your brand and its offerings. Retail events often leverage FOMO (fear of missing out) to entice prospects to spend.

Participating in in-store events enables your audience to experience your products, which creates a chance to convince them to purchase immediately. Holding workshops and classes in your store is great for drawing an engaged audience, showcasing your products, and getting prospects to experience them.

5.  Consider offering discounts and promotions

Offering discounts to customers who shop from your store regularly encourages them to return, and often, they bring their family and friends along. To maximize this strategy, use various discounts to appeal to different customer types. For instance, you can offer discounts on specific products, buy one get one free, or a percentage off the whole purchase. Offering promotions for a specific period (limited) can help drive foot traffic to your store. Consider sharing your promotions via social media and email and inform your customers that the discounts can be redeemed in-store.

6.  Offer a buy online, pick up in-store (BOPIS) option

Most customers don’t like paying for shipping. As such, offering a buy online pickup in-store (BOPIS) option can help lessen their pain. With this option, customers don't have to ship back products that don't meet their expectations or experience long delivery timeframes. Allowing customers to reserve and pick items in-store is another way to drive foot traffic to your store. This alternative works excellently when releasing new products. Make your BOPIS experience as convenient and seamless as possible to get the most out of it.

7.  Leverage influencer marketing

With influencer marketing, you can get your store and products in front of a broader audience by collaborating with influencers with a huge following on social media. It’s a great way to reach a vast, engaged audience to your store quicker.

Endnote

Driving foot traffic to your brick-and-mortar store isn’t easy. However, implementing these methods can effectively drive foot traffic to your store.