Operating a business is never an easy thing, with so many different elements that you need to consider.
If you are opening a business such as a retail store, a café bar, or restaurant, then you will need to consider the various ways in which you are going to attract people into your establishment.
You should already have done research into your business regarding your location, what you are offering and to whom.
The most important aspect of how well your business will run is going to be the number of customers that visit your business, and the revenue that you can make.
In this article we will take a look at some of the most effective ways that you can attract potential customers to your business, as well as a couple ideas you can implement to keep them coming back.
Know your business
This should be an obvious factor, but one that is sometimes overlooked. It is vital that you are aware of who your target audience is, and what it is that you can offer them, in terms of both a physical product, as well as a service.
This will show them that you are an authority on the subject, and that if they need someone who knows a specific industry or product line in great detail, you are the person they should turn to. This gives you the potential to promote not only your business, but also your expertise in the industry as well.
Unique Signage for your establishment
One thing that can attract a lot of people into your business is the signage that you are using at the front of the establishment. Most highstreets and shopping centers are packed full of individual shops and businesses, most with the same type of simple and somewhat boring signage outside.
If you want to make a real impact and grab the attention of anyone passing by, then consider getting a neon sign created for your business.
Have a great website
Having a website is vital for all businesses, and they can act as your store window 24/7. Your website needs to show to visitors what you are about, what you are selling or what service you are providing. Most website visitors have a very short attention span, so you’ll want to make sure that your website makes an immediate impression on them, and keeps them interested.
If you are selling products, then you should also consider getting an e-shop set up for your website. E-commerce is a huge industry and more and more people all over the world are buying online. Having an e-shop means that people are going to be able to purchase your products at any time during the day or night. You can also reach a customer base that is global, rather than the local one that your business currently has.
Be active on social media
Along with having a website, it’s also very important that you are active on social media and have a business page set up on each platform. The main social media platforms are Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and as a minimum, you need to have a profile on each of these, with others such as Pinterest, Youtube or Tiktok being others that might be applicable depending on the type of business you run.
If you are a retail shop, then you can post about your range of products and any new lines that may be available in the near future. If you provide a service, you can keep people informed about what is happening in the industry. Make sure that you include your business information and contact details on your social media platforms, as you will want to encourage potential customers to get in contact with you.
Run a loyalty program
One great way to keep customers coming back to you is by running a loyalty program, and reward your repeat customers. There are a number of online loyalty systems that you can use, which will provide you with a fully featured digital loyalty platform using wallet passes, which are digital cards that are stored on your mobile phone.
Gone are the days of giving each customer a printed card, and then stamping it each time they make a purchase from your business. You can now do everything digitally and contactless, which is important in the current world we live in with the Covid-19 pandemic and the need for social distancing.
Encourage happy clients to leave reviews
Getting positive reviews of your business is a great way to promote awareness of what you do and offer. There are many websites that promote testimonials and reviews of business, as well as Facebook and Google. If you are listed in Google maps and have a Google My Business account set up, you can start collecting reviews on that. When people search in Google and find your business, they’ll be able to read through first hand testimonials from your clients.
Word of mouth is the best form of advertising, and if you have a client base that is happy with your products and services, they are more than likely to suggest you to their friends and family.
Run sales and special deals
Everyone likes a bargain, so why not consider running sales or set up some special deals on certain products or services that you are offering. For example, if you are providing a web design service, then why not offer free hosting for 12 months for every new business that signs up with you.
If you are a clothes store, then running sales throughout the year is a great way to attract more people into your store, as well as giving you the chance to move some of that older stock that you might have had for a long time. Your customers get a great deal, you make money, and also free up space in your store for new stock.
