How To Get Customers Through Your Door And Online Store

Do you know what makes people buy from you? Is it trust or having a great product or service? It’s both and more.  People want to feel like they’re getting something extraordinary when they buy from you.

Getting customers through your door or online store, i.e., customer acquisition is probably more difficult now than in previous years.

With the economy so erratic, consumers are watching their spending.  Your competitors know they have to do more to win them over.  Therefore, it’s not just your marketing and customer service that needs to be spot on; there are many more requirements to winning customers’ trust, including:

• Creating a great first impression
• Inspiring trust from the first contact
• Customer service starts immediately
• Offer value beyond expectations
• Be irresistible
• Do everything differently

First Impression

Making that all-important good impression the first time you contact a prospective customer is high on the tips to get customers to trust you. People stay with companies and businesses they trust, so your job is to inspire that trust from day one.

Here are our recommendations for getting customers through your door.

Brand Signage

How eye-catching is your brand signage? Have clear and attractive signage that reflects your brand and is easy to read from a distance.
Ensure your business name, logo, and any promotional messages are visible and that your logo and branding are consistent across all marketing channels. For example, your website brand logo should be like your stand signage.

Engaging Window Displays

Be sure to change your store window displays regularly. Have some fun with the task of creating exciting and engaging installations. Use topics and events to entice your foot-traffic customers to view your window display and walk into the store. For example, events like Valentine’s Day, where love is in the air. Showcase your products with the theme of love. If you have a food store, showcase wine, chocolates, flowers, etc.

Special Offers and Promotions

Use your window to shout about your special offers and promotions. Additionally, ensure the deals are visible from across the street and on large banners in the store.

Well-Designed Interior

Carry your theme throughout your store. Ensure your products are clean and well organized so customers know where to find and assess them. Touch is an essential sense for in-store shoppers. Reach as many senses as you can.

Use colours, lighting, and layout to create a positive atmosphere. Use smell and touch to fully engage customers’ emotions with the products.

Rotate displays regularly to keep them fresh and exciting.

Website

On your website, you can create call-to-action pages for special events. For example, for Cyber Weekend, your web designer can create a Black Friday and Cyber Monday page showcasing what deals your business offers customers over the weekend.

Promote the page URL on social media. Link to it via a banner on your homepage. Additionally, consider creating a video for the special event and use that in your online marketing. Use consistent marketing material online and in your store.

Your website homepage is your store window. Use it to encourage visitors to visit your online shop and blog.

Inspire Trust

Use communication as the channel to inspire trust. You can communicate in many ways, including with your blog and social media profiles.

Regularly share your knowledge with customers through thoughtful blog posts. Your blog is the repository for providing regular updates on products, services, and any business changes. Hence, this is where you share news on upcoming deals and special offers.

Maintain open and transparent communication with customers on your social media profiles. Respond promptly to customer inquiries, concerns, and feedback. They will appreciate your input.

For example, you may suggest a cheaper solution you may not offer. While it may seem counterintuitive to use this approach, the customer is more likely to share their positive experience with their friends on social media and also return as a repeat customer.

For your walk-in customers, your staff can inspire trust with their open and friendly body language.

Customer Service

Today, customers expect personalized customer service. Use technology to capture, store and access customized customer data.

AI-driven algorithms can also recommend products and assist with customer inquiries. For example, Al algorithms can be set to analyze customer data in the following ways:

• Booking Platforms: Search user history and past bookings to recommend similar activities, travel or accommodation
• Financial Services: Analyze user spending habits, income and financial goals to offer personalized budgeting, investment and financial planning
• HR and Recruitment: Assist in matching candidates to job opportunities

Use AI-powered personalized follow-up emails to reach customers after purchasing a product or service and after your support team has resolved an issue.

Ask for feedback on how your team performed. Use feedback to improve your products, services, and customer interactions.

Train your customer service team to approach each interaction with empathy, understanding, and a genuine desire to help.

Offer Value

One of the easiest ways to build customer loyalty is by offering value. This means providing your customers with something they need or want. For example, if you run a restaurant, provide complimentary appetizers or desserts. Or, if you own an auto repair shop, give away a coupon for a free oil change.

When you’re looking to increase sales, consider offering discounts or promotions. You could provide a special deal on a new product or service. Or, you could offer a discount on a regular item. Whatever you decide to do, remember that people buy from businesses they trust. And one of the best ways to earn trust is by giving them what they want.

Be Irresistible

If you want to ensure that people return to your store, give them something they can’t resist. Make sure that your products are unique, and that there’s nothing else out there, that looks exactly like yours.

The best way to ensure your business stays open is to offer something people can’t live without. When you’re trying to sell something that people already know they need, it’s easy to forget that they might be interested in something new. That’s why it’s essential to think outside the box and develop something nobody has ever seen. You’ll never know if your offer will work unless you try it.

Be The Best Marketer

Avoid being the best-kept secret. Sing your brand praises from the rooftops, i.e. market better than your competitors. Invest in your social media presence, blogging, and email marketing. Learn how to create marketing content and campaigns that target customer behaviours and needs.

Do It Differently

You will need to show off your best features and USPs. This will help potential customers see why they should choose you instead of your competitors.

If you want to stand out from your competition, then you must be able to showcase your best features. For example, Whether you are selling flowers or furniture, display your products in a setting that resonates with your customers.

While you may feel you’ve gone too far, chances are you have not gone far enough! Let your sales and customers decide what and how you do it.