How To Implement The Best Mobile Strategies for Retail

Submitted by: Ivan Serrano

​Mobile devices have taken the world by storm. Currently,  75 percent of the U.S. population older than 13 are using a smartphone. As mobile devices have become the go-to tool for information and communication, retailers must be aware and take advantage of the technology. If retailers don’t recognize the enormous power of mobile, they will miss out on opportunities to retain their customers and grow their business. To avoid these repercussions, retailers need to adapt their strategy to mobile, capturing the possibilities it provides.
 
In this article, we will discuss some of the best mobile strategies retailers can leverage.

      ​In the U.S., 75 percent of citizens older than 13 own a smartphone. Mobile has become the tool of choice for accessing information, communicating both personally and professionally, entertaining, and much more.

​Make Yourself Easy to Find 

Before coming to your store, mobile users often search online for the products they need. You need to ensure that your business can be found on mobile. Otherwise, you will miss out on potential customers looking for your products. Make sure that your business appears in mobile searches on sites like:

• TripAdvisor

• Yelp
• Google My Business
• Yahoo Local Basic Listings
• Bing Places for Business

​As you list your business on these sites, include relevant information such as your address, hours, photos, and a phone number. You want customers to be able to quickly move from interest to your physical store. The first step of a sale is getting customers through the door, and building your online presence helps you do that. 

Cultivate Your Social Media Presence

​An active social media account is integral for attracting new interest and for retaining existing customers. By building your brand image and “personality” on social media, you can attract positive customer attention. Relatable, interesting, or funny posts can be shared by followers, resulting in new customers seeing your brand. Additionally, you can even work with social media influencers to promote your business. You can even give these influencers incentives to post about you and share your content, promoting your business to their followers.

​Social media activity also reminds existing customers that you’re there, building brand loyalty. If they’d been planning on shopping, and see your activity on a social network, that nudges them to choose you for their retail needs.

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Offer In-Store Wifi

​Free wifi in your store improves the customer shopping experience. By allowing customers to freely surf the web or listen to music while they shop, helps them to enjoy being in your store. Not only does free wifi improve the customer’s experience, but it can also lead to greater revenues. Providing free wifi in exchange for a customer’s email or information gives you valuable data for later marketing. That remarketing helps you bring the customers back later for greater sales. These factors of enjoyment and marketing combine to make free wifi a valuable investment for retailers.

Design Thoughtful Notifications

​If your business has an app, consider sending location-based notifications. If your customers are in the same shopping area as your business,  it’s probably a good time to send a coupon to spark their interest.
 
In addition to location, be thoughtful about notification timing. Think about when your customers are likely to shop. Avoid sending app notifications late at night or when your customers are asleep; if your app wakes someone up, they’re likely to be annoyed and less inclined to shop at your store. The same protocol goes for emails. Send out email newsletters and promotions at times that your customers are willing to shop and won’t be disturbed.

Forge Partnerships

​Increasingly, customers rely on apps like Postmates, DoorDash, and Instacart to bring them food and groceries in the convenience of their home. As a retailer, apps like these can increase your sales and bring in new revenues. They also give retailers a way to stand up to Amazon and its Prime Now service.
 
In addition to partnering with food delivery apps, you can also use discount apps. Apps like RetailMeNot and Groupon are great platforms for you to bring in new customers. Design some thoughtful coupons that will spark interest without cutting into your profits.

Utilize Mobile Checkout 

​Consider offering your customers a way to pay through mobile wallets. You can use apps like Google Pay, Apple Pay, and Venmo to let your customers pay electronically. You could even create a unique payment app for your business. This provides customers with more flexibility and freedom in their shopping experience.
 
As customers become more tied to mobile devices, companies must follow their lead. By adapting your business to mobile, you adapt to your customers. Using strategies like social media campaigns, notification design, and mobile checkout, you prepare your company for a mobile landscape. This enables you to stay competitive in an increasingly uncertain future.

About The Author

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​Ivan Serrano, is a journalist and business enthusiast, enjoys sharing his knowledge within the business communities through his writing. In addition to covering social media marketing, he also likes to discuss globalization, business communications, and developing technology.