Running a Retail Business in the Digital Age: Your Blueprint for Success

Welcome to the digital age, where running a retail business is thrilling and challenging. The retail landscape has drastically shifted in the past few years, and the truth is the way consumers shop will always be different from what it once was. If you don’t adapt, you’ll lose your customers to your competitors.

Despite this new reality, the future of retail is brimming with opportunities! Whether you’ve been in retail for years or are just starting, retail is essential for any business’s success. The key is to hit the start button and begin working towards running your advertising campaigns! Here’s how to do it.

Embracing the Digital Transformation

When we say digital transformation, we don’t just mean creating a website and setting up an online store. Although those are reasonable first steps, we mean weaving digital into every aspect of your business. Dedicate your marketing budget to incorporating some of the most effective digital tools.

Projections indicate that small retail businesses will allocate a significant portion of their marketing budgets to digital channels and spend over fifty-seven percent on digital advertising. Consider these five essential elements your business needs to invest in to develop its digital toolkit.

1. E-commerce Platforms

Building your online store is like opening a new flagship location, only it’s open 24/7. E-commerce platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, and Square Online make it easy to set up shop and start selling, especially for small to mid-sized businesses. 

User experience is critical when using these platforms. Now that sixty-three percent of searches happen on phones being mobile-friendly is a must. Imagine a customer shopping on their phone only to find your site hard to navigate. Instant frustration, right? Keep it smooth and responsive.

2. Omnichannel Retailing 

Omnichannel is the secret sauce for a seamless customer experience. It offers multiple channels (online platforms, mobile apps, social media, etc.) for your customers to choose from. This can provide personalized experiences for your customers, increase sales, and drive traffic to your site. Whether your customers are browsing online, strolling through your store, or using your application, make sure their journey is consistent and connected.

Master omnichannel retailing by syncing your inventory and sales data across all platforms. Real-time updates mean no more disappointing “out of stock” surprises. It all goes back to that seamless customer experience!

3. Listen to the Data 

If you plan on participating in this digital revolution, let’s get one thing straight—data is your new best friend. Did you know your marketing and advertising campaigns are incredibly rich sources of actionable business data? Tools like Google Analytics can help you understand your customers better than ever before.

If you work with a platform that has robust reporting, you can find how certain audiences responded to specific products and services.  Use the insights you gather from these platforms to tailor your marketing strategies, make decisions, and enhance customer service.

4. Social Media Marketing

Social media, including retail, is massive for any business in today’s market. With forty-seven percent of U.S. consumers purchasing from social media, the question becomes, “How could I not use it to sell my products?” Like anything digital, social media is your chance to influence anyone with a mobile device to buy your product. It is your storefront to the world because it offers a new way for consumers to purchase.

Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and X are perfect for engaging with customers and building a community. Don’t just post—interact. These platforms can create buzz around your products by running targeted advertisements, responding to comments, and engaging with your audience!

5. Be Discoverable Through SEO

So now that you’ve set up your website, also known as your virtual storefront, it’s crucial that you put out content that will lead your customers to you. Believe it or not, there’s a way to get your ideal audience to purchase from your business without you having to make the first move. That’s all thanks to search engine optimization (SEO). 

The beauty of SEO is that it’s helpful for any retail business, whether an online shop trying to sell to consumers globally or a small local business wanting to attract within its community. By leveraging keywords in blog posts, social media content, and website copy, you can position your business as the solution to your customer’s needs while driving more visibility and traffic to your online platform.

Think of this as the equivalent of having the best-lit storefront on the busiest street.  Don’t let your competitors steal the spotlight!

How to Reach Your Ideal Customer

One of the most notable benefits of digital advertising, especially for smaller retail businesses, is that it gives retailers an opportunity to reach customers they’d otherwise struggle to reach. But wait, there’s more! By leveraging the strategies listed above, retailers can specifically target the best customers.

Let’s dive into ways to reach your ideal retail business customers using digital advertising.

Become a Staple of Your Local Community

If you’ve had a smaller retail shop in business for a while now, you might have relied on word of mouth or locals stopping in while walking down the street. But how would you like to become the staple business for the products you sell in your local community?

What if you were the first business that pops into your customers’ minds when they need something you sell? Geo Fencing can make that happen! By targeting advertisements to people within a specific radius of your store, you create a sense of local buzz and excitement, reach audiences in your neighborhood, and solidify your business as a pillar in the community.

Don’t Wait, Pursue Your Ideal Customer

Tired of putting out endless advertising efforts in hopes that a few of the “right” people will see it? Display advertisements are your way out! With display advertisements, you can cut through the noise and reach the people most likely to become your customers.

Imagine being able to put your advertisements directly in front of those who have already shown interest in what you sell. That’s the magic of display advertising. Instead of waiting for them to stumble upon your store, you can proactively seek them out and bring them to you!

And the best part? Display advertisements are some of the most affordable and successful kinds of advertising. Since they’re hyper-targetable, you’re only spending money to get in front of the exact type of customer who will fall in love with your products and services. How great does that sound?

Leverage AdCellerant’s Digital Advertising Insights

Running a retail business today looks different than ten or even five years ago! Amongst the rapid and drastic changes to the retail industry lies an opportunity to connect with a broader audience. By embracing the digital mindset, you can confidently navigate these industry changes. 

Is your retail business ready to take on your first digital advertising campaign? We think so! AdCellerant is passionate about helping retail businesses like yours flourish in the digital world. Whether boosting your digital presence or crafting cutting-edge marketing strategies, we’re here to guide you every step of the way. 

Book a demo without strings attached, and let’s transform your retail business together!