Why a Bricks and Mortar Business Desperately Needs Digital Marketing
Why a bricks and mortar business desperately requires digital marketing is simple – consumers expect a better shopping experience, and the ease of online comparison shopping has changed the way shoppers buy products. As a result, price retailers need to change their offering to appeal to consumers while maintaining the necessary margin. In addition, evolving bricks and mortar networks will require improved cost control and a true multichannel retail operation. Experts stress the value of data in digital marketing, but the resulting strategy will have to be long-term to make a brick-and-mortar business profitable.
Bricks-and-mortar businesses aren’t going anywhere, but today’s consumers use digital channels to find what they’re looking for. Therefore, bricks-and-mortar businesses must be present wherever they’re most convenient for their customers. While digital marketing doesn’t replace bricks-and-mortar marketing, it can help businesses grow their business by attracting new customers and building customer loyalty.
The benefits of digital marketing for brick-and-mortar businesses are many. For starters, it can increase sales by bringing in more new customers. Additionally, most consumers check the websites of brick-and-mortar businesses before making a purchase. This increases revenue and increases customer loyalty. Using digital marketing for brick-and-mortar businesses will allow you to keep up with the changing times and remain technologically up-to-date.
Brick-and-mortar businesses are better equipped for interaction with customers. This gives them a higher risk of making costly mistakes with their marketing strategy. While mistakes are inevitable, they can be remedied by analyzing data and incorporating a digital strategy. Ask your customers if they feel happy with your services and their interaction with your staff. The more friendly and helpful your employees are, the better impression they’ll create. Knowing your competitive advantage is imperative to success.
Lastly, mobile is transforming retail. It puts the vast world of the internet in the palm of your hand. Increasing the number of people using mobile devices challenges brick-and-mortar businesses in terms of payments and marketing. Despite the challenges, Americans always have their phone with them. Although this may seem like a threat to brick-and-mortar businesses, embracing digital activity is the best way to remain competitive. As a result, consumers may choose to shop online and offline, and that is a positive sign for the brick-and-mortar industry.
Consumers trust companies with a website more than those without a website. Consumers also trust businesses with well-maintained websites over businesses that have no website at all. A good website can draw more traffic and generate reviews. A poorly maintained website can actually repel customers. And, when consumers trust businesses with a website, they’ll be more inclined to buy from them. So, a well-maintained website is an invaluable asset for any business.
The importance of customer experience is paramount in modern retail. Online experience isn’t just for shoppers, but also for businesses’ bottom line. Online and offline channels must complement each other. Bricks-and-mortar stores can be showrooms, warehouses, and community hubs. And, most importantly, customers will tell you what they want via digital channels – so retailers must be aware of their preferences.
The COVID-19 pandemic has adversely affected the world economy and businesses. In Australia alone, unemployment increased from 5.2% to 7.5%. In addition, traditional brick-and-mortar businesses have had no choice but to cut costs while seeing no revenue. But many businesses have innovated to survive the crisis. As a result, ecommerce, social media marketing, and search engine marketing are now strong selling channels.