There are many ways for businesses to drive more online shoppers to their physical stores, one of which is your store locator page. A well-designed store locator can significantly increase your in-store traffic as well as improve customer satisfaction.
Following are some of the best ways for you to make the most of integrating a store locator into your online business. Read on to find out!
Provide search and filtering functions
Sometimes, shoppers may want to search for physical stores that provide particular services or products. By offering advanced search and filtering functionality for store locators, you make it possible for your customers to enjoy a better shopping experience.
Take BeardBrand as a store locator example. This American men’s grooming company enables its customers to search for a store that has specific products available.
Show results based on users’ locations
By detecting a user’s location, retailers can display store locations right on their site without customers having to search for them. This can be done by detecting the IP address followed by a prompt for geolocation from the browser. As a result, merchants have increased their chances of a user finding the exact location they want.
Have a mobile-friendly layout
It is crucial to have your store locator work well on mobile devices. Almost everyone would definitely want to view it online using a smartphone, so make sure it is mobile-friendly and responsive.
According to Statista, mobile devices (excluding tablets) generated 50.81% of global website traffic in the third quarter of 2020. Also, smartphone users will view your site on a smaller screen than desktop and will often be on the move. That’s why you would want to ensure your store locator works smoothly on them.
Integrate with third-party apps for directions
With the integration of apps like Google Maps, customers can easily find the most suitable store for their current position. This solves the problem when the customer doesn’t know exactly where they are as the store locator will automatically detect their position and list all the nearest stores for them. Users will then be able to click on their preferred location and view travel directions.
Include clickable phone numbers
Some consumers may be on the way while searching for your store through their smartphones, so they would want a quick way to get in touch. Having clickable phone numbers can greatly benefit them and boost their satisfaction at the same time. On the other hand, not providing clickable features can cause you to lose customers since they might mistype or forget to copy and paste your store’s phone number.
Consider your store locator as one of your sources of traffic
When it comes to integrating a store locator into your site, it is to serve one main goal: helping you boost traffic. At the end of the day, it is all about getting your potential and existing customers to find your brand in the easiest way, visit your store and purchase there.
Purchasing habits abstract concept vector illustration. Generate consumer habit, marketing research, millennial purchasing preference, shopping, habitual buying behavior abstract metaphor.
Studies show that 18% of shoppers searching locally on their mobile phones will visit a store on the same day. Therefore, ensure your consumers can find your location quickly and easily and not turn to your competitors.
Final thoughts
When integrating a store locator, the key point is that you need to understand your customers and create a resource that is helpful to them. This eventually leads to your location marketing being more valuable to your business.
Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments!
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