For many retailers, the first few months of the year are a chance to finally breathe: the holiday sales rush is finally over, the showroom floor is quieter than normal, and staffing is no longer an all-hands-on-deck situation. Finally, you can get reacquainted with your regular sleep schedule until the new year finally kicks into gear.

But why wait? If one of your goals for 2018 is to do more business (and it should be), the time to start is:

via GIPHY

And where to begin? Let’s start by getting more people into your store. After all, more foot traffic will likely mean more sales. So, here are some of Flonomics’ favorite ways to boost foot traffic in 2018.

1. Update your website. And set a calendar reminder to do it again.

For an increasing number of consumers, a company’s website is where customers go to kick the tires of your business before they purchase. Studies by google have shown that not only are consumers pre-researching products and stores before purchasing more than ever before. Discover more here.

75% of those who find local information in their search results are more likely to visit stores. Discover more about how digital connects shoppers to brick and mortar stores.

According to the same study, the items that consumers find most useful include the price of a product in a local store, what other items are available at that store, and general store information (hours, location, directions, etc.).

So are you putting your best foot forward online, allowing customers to find the information they need before entering your store? Well they’re definitely looking for it, so having a well-designed and current website and online presence needs to be a top priority.

Next, after you’ve updated your website, make it a point to check on your site regularly, preferably more than once a month (weekly would be better), to update anything that may have changed.

2. Offer free wifi

Studies have repeatedly shown that mobile internet usage is growing constantly. In fact, mobile users spend an average of 170 minutes on their phones every day. (Noted in the study linked here). Since this is the case, why not make it easier for them? And while you’re at it, why not pull in a little benefit for yourself by investing in a wifi marketing system.

A wifi marketing system, like this setup from Flonomics, lets customers access wifi while in your store just like a regular wireless system. But instead of entering a password, users connect by providing an email address, social media account, or some other type of contact information. Then, those contacts can be added to your mailing lists for future e-newsletters, product announcements, etc.

3. USB chargers

Here’s a not-so-shocking statistic for anyone who works in retail: the google study mentioned above found that stores were the third most-common location for mobile phone usage, just after home and work.

For customers that can’t resist the urge to surf and shop, make it easier for them to deal with their battery drain. Companies like KwikBoost offer pre-built solutions, or a simple Google search will produce various DIY options.

4a. (and 4b.) Reward customers for coming back, or build a win-back campaign to encourage return visits

Offer discounts to repeat customers as they continue to visit your store. Using a smart wifi setup like the Flonomics system in #2 above, determine which of your customers connect to your store wifi most often over a certain period of time.

Reward the most loyal customers with elaborate trophies (or more likely: company swag or a loyalty discount).

Or, do the opposite. Use wifi marketing analytics to build a list of users who have visited your business in the past, but haven’t come by in a while. Then, create a targeted email campaign offering them freebies or discounts to entice them into coming back.

5. Let customers check your inventory before they arrive

According to the study by Google about how digital shoppers connect to local stores, one in four consumers will actively avoid going to a store for fear that they won’t have their desired item in stock. Thus, not surprisingly, 74% said that knowing whether an item is in stock at a local store would be ‘very/extremely helpful’ in search results.

Order management systems like Kibo integrate with your online presence and allow customers to see what you have in stock before they arrive. Additionally, they offer services like Buy Online, Pickup In Store (BOPIS) and Ship-To-Store. And in today’s retail-scape, these services can easily make all the difference.

What are your favorite foot traffic-boosting tactics? Get involved in the conversation by leaving a reply below or join our mailing list!