How to Connect with Retail Customers

How to connect with a shopper

The emergence of new technologies provides forward-thinking retailers with a greater opportunity to connect with their target audience. By utilizing the power of different devices, platforms and programs, companies can connect with different types of customers to increase brand recognition and customer engagement, which can generate increased annual revenue.

If you want to take advantage of the different tech options available and turn a user into a buyer, find out how to connect with retail customers.

Blend Online with Offline

If you want to drive footfall into your brick-and-mortar store while boosting consumer engagement, you would be smart to incorporate in-store technology.

For instance, brands such as Lacoste and Topshop have enjoyed great success with virtual reality (VR) headsets. The retailers have chosen to introduce digital VR mirrors into their dressing rooms, which enables shoppers to virtually try on clothing to simplify the shopping experience and make an informed choice.

The innovative technologies could ultimately drive more traffic into a store, as they add a unique touch to a shopping trip and provide more exciting customer experiences.

Engaging with Customers on Different Platforms

Many customers turn to internet applications to watch videos, listen to music, play online casino games or even jot down notes. With many brands also creating powerful apps to connect with their target audience and increase their conversion rate, you would be wise to do the same.

No longer are customers satisfied with brick-and-mortar stores or a simple website. Nowadays, they shop on applications and social media, which is why you must focus on finding ways to help your customers buy from your business via a multitude of channels.

Optimize Marketing Campaigns

Many retail brands have adopted the power of big data to make key business decisions and adjustments to their sales and marketing campaigns. For instance, if you can identify when your followers are more likely to engage with your social media posts or when there is a lower level of application downloads, you can develop an engaging marketing strategy. By doing so, you can enjoy greater brand engagement and potentially a bigger annual revenue.

Always aim to gather as much data on your customers and their behavior as much as possible, which you can then analyze to make critical decisions that can push the business forward.

All types of shoppers

Humanize a Brand 

A faceless entity leads to a lack of trust in your business. Regardless of whether you run an in-store or online brand or both, you must appoint a brand representative so that your customers can receive answers to their questions or enjoy more meaningful help when shopping at your online or brick-and-mortar store. For instance, you could introduce a virtual chat facility onto your website to help visitors receive immediate answers to their questions, which can support a buyer’s journey. As a result, they will be more likely to make a purchase, and it could help your brand to develop a positive reputation. 

By offering a human touch, you can provide your customers with a unique shopping experience, as they will feel valued and welcomed by the brand. Such could also secure a customer’s brand loyalty and lead to increased word-of-mouth traffic, even if your brand’s prices are a little higher than your industry rivals.

Provide Compelling Loyalty Incentives

Many retail brands make the mistake of neglecting their existing customers. Unfortunately, this could lead to a considerable loss in revenue. After all, it is five to 25 times more expensive to acquire a new customer in comparison to retaining an existing one. That’s because you spend more time and resources when attempting to secure a new customer. However, as you have access to your existing customers’ information, it is much easier to reach out to them with a tempting offer or an exclusive deal.

To secure customer loyalty, you need to both nurture and maintain consumer engagement throughout the years. To do so, you must give your past customers a reason to return to your online or brick-and-mortar store.

A loyalty program can, therefore, be an effective way to do so, as you can provide your past customers with fixed rewards when shopping with your brand. For instance, you could present them with loyalty points each time they make a purchase, or you could provide a discount on their next purchase.

Email marketing can also be an effective way to connect with your past customers to promote a loyalty program. As you have access to their email address following a purchase, you could send personalized, targeted email campaigns right to their inbox. Because they have purchased a product from your business before, they will be more likely to engage with a compelling offer or message, and they might potentially visit your website once again to complete a purchase.

By introducing loyalty incentives into your marketing strategy, you could turn loyal customers into brand advocates, as they will be more likely to promote the benefits of shopping with your brand to their family members, friends or colleagues. What’s more, they might choose to spread the good word about your business on different social media platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. 

If you want to attract greater footfall, improve customer engagement and retain loyalty throughout the years, you must routinely look for ways to connect with your customers.

With new technologies emerging year after year, you would be wise to look for the best options to incorporate such into your business, which could range from digital VR headsets to utilizing different platforms. As a result, you could enjoy increased annual revenue, securing your company’s survival and growth in a competitive industry.