Research online, purchase offline shopping - what brick and mortar stores can do to adapt.
90% of global shoppers said they used online search prior to going into a store. The ability to research products online before visiting a store is now an integral part of the path to purchase. Searches for “available near me” have more than doubled globally, year over year, underscoring the importance of real-time and accurate inventory information. Shoppers want reassurance they will find what they are looking for before leaving their homes. In a world of lockdowns and stay-at-home orders, temporary closures and empty streets, making sure shoppers are able to find store and product information online should be a priority for retailers.
As a retailer it can often be overwhelming to try and figure out exactly what information to post about your store and where to post it. Below are 3 easy steps to take to ensure shoppers will never be left wanting more information about your store.
- Claim your Business Profile: First things first, claim your free Business Profile on Google and make sure it is updated with helpful information about your store—like contact information, updated hours, a description and photos and the safety measures you’re taking during the pandemic. With searches for “curbside pickup” have grown more than 3,000 percent globally since last year, it’s never been more important to let customers know how they can shop with you—whether you’re offering curbside pickup, in-store shopping or delivery options.
- Connect with Customers: Give shoppers more reasons to choose your store by interacting with them online. You can reply to reviews, post about what’s new and feature special offers. You can also include answers to frequently asked questions and turn on messaging to stay in touch with customers in real time.
- Show what’s in store on your Business Profile: 67% of shoppers say they plan to confirm online that an item is in stock before going to buy it, underscoring the importance of real-time and accurate inventory information. Shoppers are turning to Google to find nearby stores to buy a product from however, local retailers often don’t appear in these searches. Thanks to Pointy from Google, you can easily show your in-store products on Google so shoppers can see what you carry before they go to the store to make a purchase. Pointy connects to your POS and automatically adds your in-store products to your Business Profile on Google. This helps you to appear in search results when shoppers are looking for items you carry.
Pointy from Google automatically adds your inventory to your Business Profile and can help shoppers find you when they search for items you carry.
There are many ways to increase your online presence without the need for e-commerce. Increasing your online visibility using the three steps above can help you reach those shoppers who are doing their research at home before coming to the store and ensure that their transition from clicks to bricks is seamless.
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