Getting people to walk into your shop, especially as a start-up, can be a challenge. Dealing with competition and the endless move towards online shopping makes generating foot traffic a tough cookie to crack.
However, this doesn’t mean it needs to be a problem for your business. There are plenty of strategies and tactics you can use to get more customers in your front door and one step closer to spending their money.
1. A Fun Storefront
Nothing says “come on in” like a lively, inviting entryway. The front of your store is obviously the very first thing potential customers will see when they walk by, so making sure that it’s welcoming and inviting is crucial.
Decorate the outside of your store with custom window stickers, bold signage, and some other fun extras that could catch the eye of any potential customers. Make sure that the designs you use align with your brand image and speak to the type of people who you’ll want to walk inside for a closer look.
2. Witty Signage
There are very few people who don’t give in to humour, so witty signs are a good tactic to get potential customers to take a second look when they walk by your store.
Think sandwich boards with snarky quotes or a clever, witty tagline under your store’s name that will make your people stop and chuckle – it’s one of the quickest ways to grab their attention and lure them in.
3. In-Store Specials
If you’re trying to generate foot traffic, there’s nothing quite like an in-store special to get people running to the doorway. Sales promotions can help to generate more revenue and drive traffic to your store or even your website, depending on the nature of your promotion.
Consider in-store only sales and discounts, or membership cards that can be swiped at the register for points or vouchers.
4. Free Samples
Yet another sneaky trap to set for potential customers is to offer free samples right outside. This works well for restaurants, bakeries and even grocery stores – allowing your customers to sample just how good your wares are will surely convince them to step inside and make a purchase.
This tactic could also work well for beauty companies offering skin products, perfumes, or other items that are easy to sample.
5. Host an Event
Finally, you could bring people closer by hosting relevant events at your location. This could be a charity event, or even a class that’s relevant to your business – such as a cooking class at a restaurant or a yoga class at a wellness shop.
You’ll be offering great service to your customers and make them feel valued by inviting them to events hosted at your location, plus this will put your store on their radar. They’ll remember where it was, remember the great time they had at the event and potentially be enticed to return. This is also a great way to generate word-of-mouth advertising – the gift that keeps giving.
6. Advertise on Social Media
Social media platforms are a powerful tool that can be used to market your business to a larger audience. By advertising on social media, you can target a specific audience with your ads and ensure that your message is being seen by people who are likely to be interested in your products or services.
There are a number of different social media platforms that you can use to advertise your business, but some of the most popular ones include Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
To Conclude
There are a number of different ways that you can get more customers in your store. By using a combination of these tactics, you’ll be sure to see an increase in foot traffic and potentially even sales.
