Digital businesses have been on the rise for years. However, any speculation that the online world will replace brick-and-mortar businesses is misguided. While the internet may have snagged a big percentage of consumers, people still love shopping in the real world — and likely always will. According to the U.S. Census Bureau‘s Quarterly Retail E-Commerce Sales report, e-commerce still accounts for only around one-sixth of total U.S. retail sales, with the large majority still happening in physical stores.

So that gives businesses a real advantage over their digital competitors. Still, it doesn’t necessarily make things easy. There’s still a lot of competition in the real world, too. By increasing foot traffic to your store, you can increase interest in your business and make more sales. We’ll run through a few tips on how to do it below. These tips are part of a broader business growth strategy for small businesses looking to compete with larger, more established rivals.

How Can I Advertise Sales and Offers Locally?

Showcasing your offers and sales might sound like the oldest trick in the book. Nevertheless, there is a reason why so many businesses do it—it works. You can attract the interest of passersby by hanging posters that outline the offers and deals that they’ll find in-store. Simple, low-cost tactics like this remain a smart business strategy for a changing market, especially for stores working with limited budgets. Note that you can also advertise your sales in the digital world, too. Using your Instagram profile to highlight your offers may just be enough to convince someone to get off the couch and visit your business.

How to Make My Store Look Attention-grabbing?

It doesn’t matter where you’re located — you’ll always have competitors for customers. As such, it’s in your interest to make it as easy as possible for your customers to find you. All too often, you will see a business. This business has a discreet aesthetic, making it difficult for people on the street to notice. One way to handle this issue is to get a storefront look that grabs attention.

For example, having a company like Raytek Lighting install a visually appealing sign at your business. With that in place, you’ll draw the attention of potential customers, even if they only briefly look in the direction of your store.

What Helps Increase Local SEO for My Store?

Modern customers are happy to buy in person from real-world stores. Still, the internet plays a big role in how customers find those stores. There’s been a sharp increase in the number of users making ‘near me’ Google searches when looking for a business. As such, it’s imperative for all local businesses to invest in their local SEO — if they can do that, then the customer will be more likely to find their business, rather than one of their competitors. Investing in local SEO like this is a practical example of business intelligence for small business owners who want to stay visible online.

There are many ways to boost local SEO. Adapting these strategies over time also shows how businesses navigate market disruption driven by changing search habits. Two effective strategies are filling out your ‘Google Business’ page with detail and hosting local-focused content on your website (for example, a hamburger restaurant writing a blog about the ‘Top X Burger Joints in City Name.’).

Where Should I Showcase My Best Products?

Finally, remember that while window shoppers won’t be the driving force behind your success, they will play a significant role in generating revenue. You can entice these customers by showcasing your best products in your window. Tracking which displays draw the most attention is a hands-on example of how to use data for business growth. Remember to periodically change these window displays, in order to keep things fresh for passersby.