How to Boost Retail Customer Engagement

How can you get more customers to visit your store? That's the million dollar question for retailers, and if you don't answer it, you face the danger of being unsuccessful. If you're looking for ways to boost customer engagement, there are a number of approaches you can take. Here are six ways to invite your customers to engage with your online presence. 

1. Generate Valuable Content 

While your store is bricks-and-mortar, your information doesn't need to exist in the form of paper handouts. Your retail customers enjoy and expect you to have a rich website full of information. For example, if you want your customers to try out your products, make sure that you have a strong FAQ section focused on their questions and needs. According to My Total Retail, "Your online presence needs to be about much more than the products you sell. A website or mobile site should be an educational resource for consumers, offering unique photos, videos, tools, blog posts, reviews and more." 

2. Host a Giveaway 

Everyone likes to get something for free. If you'd like to boost customer engagement, host a giveaway. You could do this in the store, or you could accept online applicants as well. Consider promoting your giveaway through text message marketing, since these messages are opened in an average of three minutes from their receipt. 

3. Use Text Messages to Interact on the Go 

While many people have cell phones, not all of these phones are smartphones. Be smarter than your customers' phones by using simple text messages to interact with your customers when they're away from their computer. For example, you could remind them of a sale that's ending soon, or you could send your customers a customized message designed for a specific audience that's interested in a product on sale. For instance, if you run a toy store, encourage your customers with preschoolers to come in for a sale on preschool-oriented toys by sending text message marketing to this specific audience segment. 

4. Encourage Customers to Give You Feedback 

Talking with your customers is one of the best ways to build a relationship with your customers. Only your customers can tell you about their questions, their favorite products, and where they hope that you'll go next. Encourage them to share their feedback with you by asking for it directly either in person, or via text message or digital channels. 

5. Contact Your Best Customers 

If you'd like to truly connect with your customers, begin with your strengths. Reward your best customers with a loyalty program, a free gift, or a thank you present for a referral. Engage with them via email or through text messages. 

6. Engage on Social Media 

When you want to increase customer engagement, turn your social media presence from an advertising venue into a place where your customers can share. For example, if you sell custom t-shirts, post a contest asking customers to pose in their favorite t-shirt that they have designed. This allows them to promote themselves, have fun, and connect other people to your business as well. 

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