Friday, January 15, 2016

4 things shoppers do with mobile devices in a store

Author: YI Mobility


If you own a small business you've probably seen your customers using mobile devices in your space. Whether its diners searching through menus with smartphones in hand or shoppers walking aisles with their heads down reading a small screen, Internet Retailer shared an InReality report that found 75 percent of customers use a mobile device while visiting a physical retail location.
Some people may believe the use of phone or tablets serves as an obstacle between consumers and businesses, but if a location has the right solutions it can use this technology trend to its advantage. Working with mobile benefits allows you to provide optimal service to your customers through physical and digital best practices. Here are four mobile consumer activities you have to prepare for:
1. Comparative pricing
EMarketer reported the primary reason millennial shoppers use smartphones while in a business location is to comparative shop. When a young shopper sees a product they like, they'll use their mobile device to search online for a better price or other variants of the product.
You need to get ahead of your customers. Before you put a product on display, you should do a quick search online to see what your customers will find when they comparative price in store. Keep in mind, many searches are location specific, so they often will bring up other stores in the area.
Knowing what's available allows you to communicate the reasons for your prices. If you offer lower prices than local or the most popular competitors, you should encourage in-store mobile use. If you're prices are bit higher, than you know to emphasize other benefits like convenience, selection, quality, service or discounts.
2. Researching product and business information
Sometimes product packaging doesn't deliver enough information. Modern savvy consumers want to search their smartphones for information directly from the business that creates the merchandise and other users who post reviews online. They'll look for stuff that businesses won't say like if the item has a history of breaking or doesn't perform as advertised.
Once again, you need to discover what the customers will find. When sales clerks talk with customers they should be familiar with what information the shopper already has. Employees can also track customer comments and online discoveries, so they know what answers the business needs on the ready. For example, diners often search for health aspects of certain dishes, enough requests for specific details may encourage restaurants to list calorie counts next to meal choices or you might send out online messages advertising healthy eating options.
Collecting consumer data helps you determine what information is most critical for marketing content and in-store signage.
3. Social Sharing
Online reviews will also include your store. You need to encourage positive ratings on popular social media business appraisal sites. Loyalty programs, optimal service and a fun atmosphere can foster positive perceptions that can extend to Internet comments.
Customers will write reviews of their in-store experience while they are still in your business. If you start to feel an interaction is spiraling downward, the negative effects may last longer than the singular occurrence if something isn't done. You need to be aware shoppers communicate their preferences and complaints with their friends using their mobile devices.
This means you can earn a free form of marketing content by encouraging shoppers to share their positive visits with their online contacts. This can be as simple as suggesting they take a picture of an outfit and ask their friends on Instagram how it looks, or it can be an official incentive program that rewards shoppers and diners for their social shares.
4. Looking for deals
Shoppers will use their mobile devices to find special deals. A Shopatron eCommerce Study discovered consumers shop with their smartphones to scan QR codes and take advantage of other special discount programs - this was the most popular option for use after comparative shopping and gathering different sources of product information. The report found that consumers don't like specific company apps as much as general services to help find deals and local stores.
Businesses can use specialized technology like beacons to send discounts straight to a customer's phone, rather than forcing them to find them on their own. If a shopper or diner uses their phone to search for deals, a business with a beacon device can broadcast general deals or send specialized promotions to individual customers based on their past consumer activities.

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1 comment:

  1. Thimmareddy testing comments! Wondering why the label is 'No Comments' instead of comments

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