Getting people into your store or business is often one of the hardest challenges of being a business owner. It’s easy for anyone to visit an e-commerce site and make a purchase but getting them to leave their homes these days is much more of a challenge. However, with a few simple strategies, you can increase the amount of traffic coming in.
Make it Visible Online
The best way to increase traffic to your store or business is likely through the internet. It’s the primary way that people discover new businesses they want to visit and learn more about them. Start by ensuring that your business is listed on Google through the My Business program, which will help ensure that local people find your business when searching online.
In addition to a Google business listing, it’s also important to have a website. You likely don’t need anything complicated, just a few pages describing your business, what you offer, and how people can contact you. There are website-building tools that make it easy for you to create a website yourself, or you can work with a freelancer or a digital marketing agency to get started.
Get Active on Social Media
After you have a website and are listed online, the next thing you can focus on is your social media presence. Social media is an excellent way to connect with people in your area and inform them about your business.
One of the best things about social media is that it’s free to get started, so businesses of all sizes can take advantage. Then, if you want to increase your exposure on social media platforms, you can use their ad platforms to reach highly targeted audiences on any budget. However, sometimes simply having a page for your business on the major social platforms and updating it periodically is enough to start driving more traffic.
Add Some Exterior Signage
Now that people know about your business online, it’s time to start getting attention from the people who pass by your business in the real world. Enhance the curb appeal of your business to make it clear where you’re located and what you offer. While you could opt for something silly, like the waving inflatable figures seen outside car dealerships, more often a few noticeable signs will suffice.
Add some monument signs if you want to give your business a more prominent presence in the area, or consider installing neon signs to attract attention at night. Big banners help announce special promotions, while smaller signs on the roads leading to your business can help people find you. Consider which types of signs will best suit your area and your specific objectives.
Host an Event
Another great way to draw people into your business is by getting them there for another reason. For example, let’s say you have a small bookstore that you want to promote. If you have a cozy sitting area, you could host an event where local writers come to read their latest works. People will come to share and listen at the event but learn about your bookstore in the process.
You could also host events where you teach people a skill or serve as a staging ground for a local charity event, such as a blood drive. Getting someone through the door for the first time is often the hardest challenge, and events are a great way to overcome that barrier.
Sponsor Local Groups
Since you’re hoping to attract people from your local area to visit your business, you’ll want to advertise where these individuals spend their time. To that end, you should explore sponsoring local groups or charity events. For example, the local youth baseball league may need sponsors to help cover the cost of equipment, or there could be an upcoming 5K race in the area that requires sponsors. When you sponsor a local event, you get your business’s name in front of a ton of people who live in the area and who will now associate you with being a helpful member of the community, making them more likely to visit.
Partner with Other Local Businesses
Finally, consider partnering with other local businesses to promote one another. For instance, if there’s a coffee shop down the street, your small bookstore could offer anyone who comes in with a coffee from that shop a discount on their next book, while the coffee shop offers a similar promotion. These types of partnerships are useful for everyone involved, so look for businesses in your area that might have a similar customer base, then reach out to the owner about potential partnerships.
