SMS delivery: What rate should you expect? How to optimize it. read the article SMS delivery: What rate should you expect? How to optimize it.more information Entrega de SMS: ¿Qué tasa debe esperar? How to optimize it. más información Consegna degli SMS: quale tasso di consegna si deve prevedere? How to optimize it.per saperne di più SMS-Zustellung: Welche Rate ist zu erwarten? Wie man sie optimiert.mehr erfahren

THE BLOG SMSMODE©

Boost your in-store sales with these 10 must-have local strategies

May 11, 2023

Generating traffic in store is the sinews of war for all retailers.
A task that has become difficult for local retailers. With the rise of e-commerce and social networks, it is becoming more complex to attract customers' attention. However, there are many good practices to create visits and increase your in-store sales: optimized window display, web and drive to store, ephemeral events and 7 other useful marketing tools!

Create store traffic

What is store traffic?

Store traffic is the number of people who visit a store during a given period. It is a key indicator of the performance of a physical store and can be calculated on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. The more traffic there is, the more chances there are to make sales and therefore generate revenues. That's why this recurring presence is often the first point to measure the effectiveness of your marketing strategy, or any other initiatives to stimulate traffic, such as promotions, special events, or even the improvement of the customer experience.

How do you measure in-store traffic?

In-store traffic can be measured using various tools. Most often, a people counter is used (laser, calculation of the number of door openings...).

How can I measure the impact of my marketing actions on in-store traffic?

There are several ways, more or less complex, to measure the impact of your strategy. For example, you can use a coupon code dedicated to each of your actions, the number of times the coupon code is used represents the number of conversions attributed to the corresponding action. This way you can calculate the conversion rate of each of your campaigns.

You can also aim wider and integrate indirect conversions, matching every sale made by a customer reached by your campaign.

Finally, a message with an incentive like "Show me at checkout to get an extra 20%" can serve you well as a measurement tool. All you have to do is count the number of items sold with this promotion to calculate the return on investment of your operation.

By closely monitoring in-store traffic, you can adjust your strategy in real time to achieve your sales and profitability goals.

The drive to store, the marketing strategy to generate traffic in store

Drive to store " is a marketing strategy aimed at attracting potential customers to a physical store. The aim is to use digital channels such as online advertising, social networks and SMS marketing to ensure a strong online and offline presence to generate in-store traffic.

Drive to store" often involves the use of geo-targeting techniques to reach consumers in the vicinity of your local store. These ads can take the form of banners, videos or other formats, and can be delivered across different online channels to reach a wider audience.

The aim of "drive to store" is to stimulate customer interest in a store. Exclusive promotions, time-limited offers, loyalty benefits... anything to attract more visitors to your store. By tracking the performance of "drive to store" campaigns using data analysis tools, companies can optimize their strategy and increase their return on investment.

Why is sms ideal for generating visits in stores?

FRANCHISORS, RETAILERS, ENTREPRENEURS, CREATE TRAFFIC AT THE POINT OF SALE

SMS is a very effective marketing tool to generate traffic in stores.

By carrying out promotional campaigns by SMS (promotions, private sales, stock liquidation, etc.), whether occasional or frequent, you ensure recurring and stable traffic in your store. The reading rate of an SMS is close to 95% within 10 minutes, this medium offers you the guarantee to be visible to your base, but also to be retained: SMS marketing memorization rate: 60% (source: INSEE)

SMS = marketing tool ?
Targeted and customizable, you can enrich the SMS content with a url link, an image (MMS), a dematerialized offer (m-coupon), etc. The management of contacts or the statistical return of campaigns make SMS one of the most relevant media in mobile communication.

How to use SMS to create store visits?

Here are some ideas of how you can use SMS to increase traffic to your store:

Send special offers:

The exclusive promotions addressed to the customer will encourage him to come to the point of sale to take advantage of them, this is the basis of the drive to store.

Use promotional codes:

Promotional codes that are only available to consumers enrolled in your loyalty program have a double benefit. These codes can obviously be used in-store for discounts, but they also give the feeling of being privileged, of being enrolled in a useful program and they also benefit your brand image.

Send appointment reminders:

If you offer beauty services such as hairdressing or manicures, you can send appointment reminders via SMS to reduce cancellations and missed appointments by 4.

Effectively promote new products:

Using SMS to inform your customers of new products is to guarantee that they will be seen by a maximum of consumers and thus encourage them to come and discover these new products.

Create a sense of urgency:

Use short, punchy messages to create a sense of urgency, informing your customers of a last-minute special offer or in-store private sale. This can encourage them to get to your store quickly so they don't miss the opportunity.

SMS is a direct and efficient way to communicate with your customers. It is the perfect way to increase traffic in store and build customer loyalty.

The 10 techniques to implement to increase traffic in store :

Welcome to the world of retail marketing, where generating in-store traffic is the key to success. Here are some strategies that can help you bring more customers into your store:

Optimize the showcase:

Yes, that's right, it's the basics. Your storefront is your first impression to potential visitors. By optimizing your storefront to be eye-catching and engaging, you can grab the attention of passersby and entice them to enter your store.

Strengthen your discount policy:

Offering exclusive promotions, discount coupons or an additional percentage for several purchases; these are real incentives. The communication around these advantages will allow you to build customer loyalty to guarantee traffic for each campaign and in the long term. SMS, with its agility and record penetration rate, is the ideal channel to communicate about time-limited offers, special discounts for members, free gifts with a purchase, etc.

Organize special events:

Art openings, private sales, product demonstrations and launches, or workshops are all opportunities to build a quality customer base for a local merchant. (Another area where SMS can help you boost your visibility 😉)

Advertise locally:

Physical advertising campaigns are another great way to attract more customers. Use local advertising media such as newspapers, magazines, billboards, flyers, fliers, radio or television ads to get the word out about your store and the offers you have.

Reward loyal customers:

You've probably seen this phrase somewhere: "Recruiting a customer costs three times as much as retaining them." And this one is accurate and verified. Offer rewards to your loyal customers, such as coupons, gift cards for their birthday, bonus points to feed a loyalty program. This will not only keep them coming back to your store, but also potentially convert them into ambassadors for your brand. SMS is also a very good loyalty tool.

Create an exceptional customer experience:

A quality customer experience or a careful treatment of each person entering your store can make all the difference. Create a pleasant and welcoming environment while offering high quality products, your efforts will be rewarded by a constant flow of customers.

Use social networks:

Social media is one of the best web to store levers to spread the word about your store. Post regular updates on social networks, organize contests and use relevant hashtags to reach a wider audience.

Create Facebook and Instagram profiles and Google My business:

Social media is a great way to have a web presence for local businesses. Facebook and Instagram profiles allow you to communicate directly with your loyal customers, share information about your products and services, and promote your brand to a wider audience, ultimately increasing foot traffic at the point of sale.

Use location-based advertising:

Location-based ads target consumers based on their geographic location. Using digital advertising tools such as Google Ads or Facebook Ads, you can create ads that target consumers who are within a specific geographic radius of your store. You can also use data from your current subscribers to find new prospects with similar interests.

Use influencer marketing:

It's all about working with influencers to promote your store and your products. By working with influencers who have a large local audience, you can draw attention to your store and get their followers to come visit you.

Conclusion:

By using these and other strategies, you can increase in-store traffic and increase the chances of making sales and retaining customers. Physical retail is far from dead. Digitalization is also an opportunity you can take advantage of by applying drive to store and web to store strategies. Once these strategies are in place, don't forget to measure your results by calculating the conversion rate and the return on investment of your campaigns.

l

Our team advises you

Are you interested in our services? Our account managers and our technical team are at your disposal to answer all your questions about our SMS solutions and to give you advice on how to set up a campaign.

Contact us