7 Tips for Attracting More Customers to Your Store

Competition is fierce; customers are spoilt for choice. As a result, retailers cannot rely on enough customers automatically finding their way into the shop. Retailers are therefore regularly faced with the question of how they can attract more customers to their shops. The following seven tips offer suggestions on how to increase footfall.

1. Creative shop window design

 The shop window is a shop’s calling card. After all, you never get a second chance to make a first impression. Creative shop window design catches the eye of passers-by and invites them to pop in. The visual design can be based on the seasons, promotions, trends or special events taking place in the local area.

The shop window should never be overloaded with goods; instead, it should arouse curiosity through careful placement. Arranging the goods in a pyramid shape helps to hold the attention of passers-by for longer. A good shop window display tells a story and captivates the viewer. Passers-by must always be able to get a good view of the shop and its atmosphere from outside. Warm lighting, a tidy layout and fresh colours will then entice them into the shop.

2. Eye-catching design of the outdoor area

The design of the façade and the outdoor area also influences a shop’s visibility. Display stands, banners, awnings and advertising signs can attract the attention of passers-by, encouraging them to stop and take a look inside the shop. All such measures must be in keeping with the corporate identity.

The entrance area must have an overall welcoming feel to it in order to attract customers into the shop. A large, open, clean and bright entrance area without any barriers is most effective. Furthermore, retailers must carefully consider which and how many products they can display outside a shop. Inexpensive and small items often lead to impulse purchases and entice customers into the shop to pay.

3. Use of customer loyalty cards

Regular customers are a key factor in the success of any shop. After all, they are satisfied with the product range, the shopping atmosphere and the service. Such regular customers must be looked after. This is because retaining customers is more cost-effective than constantly acquiring new ones. However, regular customers need an incentive to visit the shop at regular intervals. A loyalty card serves as a regular reminder of the shop to regular customers and strengthens their loyalty. Such a loyalty card can be linked to special discounts or small gifts to reward their loyalty.

4. Print adverts for specific target groups

Local advertisements are not usually very successful. However, it always depends on the retailer’s target audience and sector. After all, discounters and DIY stores also use weekly leaflets to attract customers. And print adverts in relevant local media are still an effective way of reaching an older target audience and winning them over as customers.

5. Using social media for strong customer loyalty

Social media now offers more than just a few nice pictures and lots of ‘likes’. As more and more people spend increasing amounts of time on social media channels, it stands to reason that retailers should use these platforms to communicate with their target audience. Furthermore, channel-specific advertising managers make it possible to run online advertising campaigns based on highly detailed audience segmentation. Targeted advertising measures can be used to attract customers from the immediate vicinity to the shop.

6. Local online marketing with Google

Google, in particular, as by far the most widely used search engine, offers a wide range of features to help high-street retailers boost their digital visibility. By creating a listing on Google My Business, retailers can decide how they are presented in Google Search and on Google Maps. Such a business listing is particularly important for local search queries from customers. In addition, Google’s Local Inventory Ads can be used to promote in-store products online. Furthermore, standard Google advertising also allows retailers to target local audiences.

7. Make the most of events and promotions

Organising events and taking part in special promotions can significantly boost footfall. Such special promotions include, for example, Black Friday and Cyber Monday. However, locally organised shopping events can also attract customers to your own shop. This creates special shopping experiences for customers. Retailers should then tailor their product range to the theme of the event. It is not just a matter of offering substantial discounts. Every retailer needs a well-thought-out strategy for such events and promotions.

Measuring customer footfall to monitor success

In order for retailers to assess the success of their initiatives to boost footfall, it is essential to continuously monitor the number of customers, visitors and passers-by at a store. This provides retailers with an insight into the number of visitors and passers-by per hour, weekday, week or month. It is also possible to collect further socio-demographic data, such as age and gender, and to link this to till and weather data. Retailers can then use this robust data to analyse which measures have been successful and where there is still room for improvement. Please get in touch with us for a consultation! After all, customer footfall measurement can be implemented for any shop size and any type of retail business.