Why a Bricks and Mortar Business Desperately Needs Digital Marketing
Why a bricks and mortar business desperately requires digital marketing? The digital experience is becoming so important to bricks and mortar businesses that online retailers are incorporating mobile applications to improve customer experience. In-store experiences have also been infused with mobile applications. For example, the Guides app collects customer information to make the sales associate’s job easier by guiding customers to the right product. Increasingly, bricks and mortar retailers are taking note of this digital trend and embracing it.
While a bricks and mortar business still needs a physical location, there are many benefits to incorporating digital marketing into the strategy. Not only will it allow the bricks and mortar business to reach new audiences and increase sales, but it will also foster customer loyalty. With a solid digital marketing strategy, bricks and mortar businesses will have a strong chance of competing with ecommerce and other types of businesses.
With two-thirds of shoppers researching prices online before deciding on a purchase, brick and mortar stores need to take their websites seriously. A great website should provide valuable information about the company, what items are in stock, and what their return policies are. With the rise of mobile devices, it is essential to take online marketing seriously for your brick and mortar business. However, digital marketing has its limitations.
For a bricks and mortar business, focusing on its strengths is key to survival. Ultimately, its employees are its most important assets. Digital marketing is vital for bricks and mortar businesses, but it should be done in conjunction with in-store efforts. In addition, customers will be more likely to make repeat purchases when they are greeted by friendly, helpful employees. If you can create an excellent customer experience, you’ll be ahead of your competitors in the long run.
Consumer expectations are changing quickly. The brick-and-mortar consumer has a more demanding lifestyle than ever. This change in consumer behavior is driving the evolution of retail. Today’s brick-and-mortar store shoppers will search for your brick-and-mortar location online. It’s imperative for brick-and-mortar stores to be ready for this new era. It makes them more competitive and profitable. Moreover, consumers prefer to buy products that have an online presence.
If you’re a brick-and-mortar business that has a website, creating a social media presence will help customers learn about it even when the store is not open. Using tools like Google Analytics to measure traffic can also help you decide what pages and products are most popular. By studying these metrics, you can then decide where to focus your future marketing efforts. You can even offer coupons or special discounts to attract customers.
Regardless of size, brick-and-mortar retailers need to take advantage of the digital world to stay ahead of the competition. Despite the bad news for brick-and-mortar retailers, it’s still good news for e-commerce businesses: two-thirds of online shoppers now use their smartphones to compare prices. Brick-and-mortar retailers must change their marketing strategies in order to stay competitive in this new era. As physical retail continues to decline, many long-standing retailers have shuttered hundreds of stores because of the lack of foot traffic.
The future of consumer behavior is changing. In-store experiences and traditional marketing methods are saturated, and consumers are increasingly focusing on the experience over the product. Customers have more options than ever, and their attention spans are shorter than ever. The most effective way to stay ahead is to embrace digital marketing. It’s worth the investment to adapt. With the right strategies, your bricks-and-mortar business can reach new heights.