Wednesday, July 11, 2012

8 Ways to Get Foot Traffic to Your Retail Store

The main goal of any retail store is to get customers to walk through your front door! Here are some tips to drive foot traffic to a bricks-and-mortar store.


1. Have a grand opening or re-grand opening. 
Make this day as big a deal as possible. Provide food, offer door prizes, and serve up other enticements and entertainment to make the day memorable. And, while you're doing it, keep tabs on who shows up by having them register to win a prize by providing their name and email address.  

2. Plan on holding other promotional events.
Any promotional event that draws attention can be effective. Look into an in-store raffle or giveaway, and advertise the event on social media (free) and as widely as your budget will allow. Connect with a local celebrity — say, an author or sports figure — having him or her on the premises can bring in clientele. But, no matter what you do, make it exciting and appealing to the public.

3. Make your business newsworthy.
By being newsworthy it attracts business beyond a 24-hour window.  For example, try donating a portion of the day's take to charity can win a flattering article in your local newspaper. Or investigate whether a local radio station would be willing to broadcast live on the day of your promotional event. The key is to grab the attention of customers who can't make it in at that particular time. That drives foot traffic in the future. This makes it all the more likely the customer will read or hear about it and come check it out."
 

4. Have a sale.
Nothing beats the lure of something that's less expensive for a limited amount of time. Do an e-mail blast campaign to existing and to boost foot traffic, urge them to bring a friend to receive something free or additional discounts. Have a group or individual check-in deal on Facebook for the event.

5. Host a seminar or workshop.
Boosting foot traffic doesn't even have to involve a direct effort to sell a product or service. These days, education is every bit as important and value-added, as consumers want to know how to get the most out of what they buy.

6. Use Social Media! Social Media is free and a great way to STAY connected with your customers and gain new customers. Facebook, Twitter and Google+ are great ways to drive foot traffic to the retail location.

7. Promote a mall walking program. Convincing your complex owner to host a mall walker program can provide free publicity and exposure for the store and can literally increase foot traffic near your store.  Mall walker programs are an excellent way to market your store and have a positive impact. Centers often encourage mall walker programs by helping to organize clubs, offering discounts, and providing health checkups onsite.
Madison Crossing in Madison Georgia-Sharp Realty


8. Follow up with your contacts.Keep encouraging foot traffic by staying in touch with customers by different ways, such as social media or e-mail blast. Let them know about events and encourage them to share the news with friends on social media.  

For great tips and retail locations available for lease follow us on Facebook or Twitter.


Sharp Realty

400 Union Hill Drive, Suite 300 Birmingham, Al 35209

205-879-1995




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