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How to use email to drive in-store traffic

November 17, 2023 | Jimit Mehta

Have you ever struggled to get customers through the door of your physical store? With the rise of online shopping, it's becoming increasingly difficult to entice people to visit brick-and-mortar locations. But fear not! There's a solution that's been around for decades and still proves to be effective - email marketing. Yes, you read that right - email! By crafting strategic email campaigns, you can drive in-store traffic and boost your sales. In this article, we'll explore the various ways you can use email to entice customers to visit your store, from personalized promotions to in-store events. So, grab a cup of coffee and let's dive in!

Building an email list of in-store customers

Building an email list of in-store customers is an essential first step in using email to drive in-store traffic. Essentially, it involves collecting the email addresses of customers who make purchases or interact with your business in-store, so that you can follow up with them via email. There are a few ways to do this, such as asking customers to provide their email address at checkout, hosting a sign-up sheet in-store, or offering an incentive (such as a discount) for customers who sign up for your email list.

Once you've collected a list of email addresses, you can start to send targeted email campaigns that are designed to bring customers back into your store. By focusing on the customers who have already shown an interest in your business, you can increase the chances that your email campaigns will be effective in driving traffic and sales. Of course, it's important to make sure that you're complying with email marketing regulations and giving customers the option to opt out of receiving emails if they choose. With a solid email list in place, you can start to experiment with different email campaigns and strategies to see what works best for your business.

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Crafting compelling email subject lines and content

When it comes to using email to drive in-store traffic, crafting compelling email subject lines and content is key. After all, if your email doesn't capture a customer's attention, they're unlikely to open it or take action.

A good subject line should be short, eye-catching, and clearly communicate the value of opening the email. It's also a good idea to personalize the subject line whenever possible, using the customer's name or referencing a recent purchase or interaction they've had with your business. This can help the email stand out in the customer's inbox and increase the chances that they'll actually open it.

In terms of the email content itself, it's important to keep it focused and relevant to the customer. Make sure that the content of the email delivers on the promise made in the subject line and provides clear and actionable information about the promotion, discount, or event you're promoting. Use images and graphics to break up the text and make the email visually appealing, but be careful not to overload the email with too much information or too many images, as this can make it look cluttered and overwhelming.

Overall, the goal is to make the email as engaging and enticing as possible, so that the customer is motivated to visit your store and take advantage of the promotion or offer you're promoting. By crafting strong subject lines and content that speaks directly to your customers' needs and interests, you can increase the effectiveness of your email campaigns and drive more in-store traffic.

Personalizing promotions and offers to target specific customer segments

Personalizing promotions and offers to target specific customer segments is a powerful way to use email to drive in-store traffic. By tailoring your promotions to the interests and needs of different customer groups, you can make your email campaigns more relevant and engaging, and increase the chances that customers will take action.

To do this, you'll first need to segment your email list based on various criteria, such as past purchase behavior, demographic information, or interests. Once you have these segments in place, you can start to craft targeted email campaigns that speak directly to the needs and interests of each group.

For example, if you have a segment of customers who frequently purchase athletic gear, you might send them an email promoting a sale on running shoes or workout clothes. Or, if you have a segment of customers who have expressed interest in a specific product category (such as home decor), you could send them an email promoting a new line of home decor items that just arrived in your store.

By personalizing your promotions and offers in this way, you can show customers that you understand their needs and are offering them relevant solutions. This can help to build trust and loyalty with your customers, and increase the chances that they'll continue to visit your store in the future.

Of course, it's important to make sure that you're collecting and using customer data in a responsible and ethical way, and giving customers the option to opt out of targeted promotions if they choose. With the right segmentation and personalization strategies in place, you can create email campaigns that are highly effective at driving in-store traffic and boosting sales.

Offering exclusive in-store discounts to email subscribers

Offering exclusive in-store discounts to email subscribers is a great way to use email to drive in-store traffic. By providing customers with a special discount or offer that's only available to email subscribers, you can incentivize them to visit your store and make a purchase.

To do this, you might create a special promotion code or coupon that email subscribers can use in-store to receive a discount on their purchase. Or, you might send out an email that provides a link to a special landing page on your website where customers can print out the discount coupon or show it on their mobile device at the time of purchase.

The key is to make the discount or offer exclusive to email subscribers, so that customers feel like they're getting something special and valuable. This can help to build loyalty and encourage customers to continue to sign up for your email list in the future.

Of course, it's important to make sure that the discount or offer is compelling enough to motivate customers to take action. You might need to experiment with different types of offers and discounts to see what resonates with your customers and drives the most in-store traffic.

By offering exclusive in-store discounts to email subscribers, you can create a sense of urgency and excitement around your brand, and encourage customers to make a purchase in your store. This can ultimately help to drive sales and increase customer loyalty over time.

Creating urgency with limited-time offers and promotions

Creating urgency with limited-time offers and promotions is a powerful way to use email to drive in-store traffic. By creating a sense of urgency around your promotions, you can motivate customers to take action and visit your store before the promotion expires.

To do this, you might create a limited-time offer or promotion that's only available for a short period of time, such as a one-day sale or a weekend discount event. Or, you might create a sense of scarcity by promoting a limited quantity of a specific product or offering a discount only to the first 50 customers who make a purchase.

The key is to use language and imagery in your email that creates a sense of excitement and urgency around the promotion. This might include using phrases like "don't miss out" or "limited time only", or using bright, bold colors and graphics that catch the customer's attention.

By creating urgency around your promotions, you can increase the chances that customers will take action and visit your store to take advantage of the offer. This can help to drive more in-store traffic and increase sales during the promotion period.

It's important to strike a balance, however, and not create a sense of urgency so strong that it feels manipulative or pushy. Customers should feel like they're getting a genuine value and benefit from the promotion, rather than feeling pressured to make a purchase they don't really want or need.

By creating well-designed, targeted, and genuinely valuable limited-time offers and promotions, you can use email to drive in-store traffic and create a sense of excitement and loyalty around your brand.

Encouraging email subscribers to share promotions with their friends and family

Encouraging email subscribers to share promotions with their friends and family is a great way to use email to drive in-store traffic. By getting your subscribers to share your promotions with their personal network, you can increase the reach of your email campaign and potentially attract new customers to your store.

To encourage sharing, you might include a social sharing button in your email that allows subscribers to easily share the promotion on their social media platforms or via email. You might also create a referral program that rewards subscribers for referring friends and family to your store or for sharing your promotions on their social media.

By incentivizing sharing and making it easy for subscribers to do so, you can tap into the power of word-of-mouth marketing and use your email campaign to generate buzz around your promotions and brand.

It's important to make sure that the promotions you're asking subscribers to share are compelling and valuable, and that they provide a clear benefit to both the subscriber and the person they're sharing with. You might need to experiment with different types of promotions and referral incentives to see what resonates with your audience and drives the most sharing.

By encouraging email subscribers to share your promotions with their personal network, you can use email to drive in-store traffic and potentially attract new customers to your store. This can help to boost sales, increase brand awareness, and create a loyal community of customers who are passionate about your brand.

Promoting in-store events and experiences via email

Promoting in-store events and experiences via email is a great way to drive in-store traffic and create a sense of excitement and community around your brand. By using email to promote your events and experiences, you can reach a large audience and provide your customers with valuable information that can inspire them to visit your store.

To promote your in-store events and experiences, you might create an email campaign that provides detailed information about the event, including the date, time, location, and any special activities or promotions that will be available. You might also include photos or videos that provide a sneak peek of what customers can expect to see and experience at the event.

The key is to make sure that your email provides clear and compelling information that motivates customers to take action and visit your store. You might also consider creating a sense of exclusivity around the event by offering early access or special perks to email subscribers who RSVP in advance.

By using email to promote your in-store events and experiences, you can create a sense of excitement and community around your brand that can help to drive in-store traffic and increase sales. Customers who attend your events are more likely to feel a sense of connection to your brand, and may be more likely to make a purchase or become repeat customers in the future.

It's important to make sure that your in-store events and experiences are well-planned, well-executed, and provide a clear value to your customers. By creating events and experiences that customers genuinely enjoy and find valuable, you can use email to drive in-store traffic and create a loyal community of customers who are passionate about your brand.

Collecting feedback and insights from email subscribers to improve the in-store experience

Collecting feedback and insights from email subscribers is a valuable way to improve the in-store experience and drive in-store traffic. By using email to gather feedback, you can learn about your customers' needs, preferences, and pain points, and use that information to make informed decisions about how to improve your in-store experience.

To collect feedback and insights, you might create an email survey that asks subscribers to share their thoughts about their recent in-store experience. You might ask questions about the layout of the store, the friendliness of the staff, the quality of the products, or any other factors that might impact the customer experience.

By gathering this information, you can identify areas where you might be falling short, and develop strategies to improve the in-store experience for your customers. You might also use this information to create targeted marketing campaigns that speak to your customers' specific needs and preferences.

In addition to surveys, you might also consider using email to gather feedback in real-time. For example, you might send a follow-up email to customers after they make a purchase, asking them to rate their experience and provide feedback on how it could be improved.

By using email to collect feedback and insights from your customers, you can create a more personalized and engaging in-store experience that meets their needs and exceeds their expectations. This can help to drive in-store traffic and create a loyal community of customers who are passionate about your brand.

Using email to stay top-of-mind with customers in between store visits

Using email to stay top-of-mind with customers in between store visits is an effective way to keep your brand fresh in their minds and increase the likelihood of them returning to your store. By sending regular emails that provide value and engage your customers, you can maintain an ongoing relationship with them that goes beyond their in-store experience.

To use email to stay top-of-mind, you might send regular newsletters that provide updates on new products, promotions, or upcoming events. You might also include helpful tips or resources that relate to your industry, or highlight customer success stories that showcase how your products or services have made a positive impact on people's lives.

The key is to provide value and engage your customers in a way that feels authentic and meaningful. You might consider segmenting your email list based on your customers' interests or buying habits, so that you can send targeted content that is relevant to their specific needs.

By using email to stay top-of-mind, you can build a loyal community of customers who are passionate about your brand and more likely to return to your store in the future. You might also consider using email to invite customers to participate in loyalty programs or refer their friends and family, as a way to incentivize them to engage with your brand and spread the word about your products or services.

Overall, using email to stay top-of-mind is a powerful way to build relationships with your customers and drive in-store traffic over the long term. By providing value and engaging your customers on a regular basis, you can create a loyal community of customers who are excited to support your brand and make purchases in your store.

Tracking email campaign success and adjusting strategies as needed

Tracking the success of your email campaigns is an important step in driving in-store traffic and building a loyal customer base. By monitoring key metrics like open rates, click-through rates, and conversions, you can gain insights into how your campaigns are performing and make adjustments as needed to improve their effectiveness.

To track the success of your email campaigns, you might use an email marketing platform that provides detailed analytics and reporting on key metrics. You might also set up goals and conversion tracking to monitor how many subscribers are actually visiting your store and making purchases as a result of your campaigns.

Based on your analysis, you might adjust your email strategies to optimize your campaigns for better performance. For example, if you notice that certain subject lines or types of content are resonating better with your audience, you might adjust your messaging to focus on those topics. You might also experiment with different types of offers or promotions to see what drives the most conversions and in-store traffic.

It's important to approach email tracking and adjustment with a data-driven mindset, using the insights you gather to inform your decisions and make changes that are likely to drive better results. By continuously monitoring your email campaigns and making adjustments as needed, you can fine-tune your approach and create a more effective email marketing strategy that helps you drive more traffic to your store and build a loyal customer base over time.

Final thoughts

In today's digital age, it's essential for businesses to find ways to drive in-store traffic and build relationships with their customers. One effective tool for achieving these goals is email marketing. By crafting compelling email campaigns, businesses can stay top-of-mind with customers, personalize promotions, and create a loyal community of customers who are excited to visit their store.

To get started with email marketing, businesses should focus on building an email list of in-store customers, crafting compelling subject lines and content, personalizing promotions, and offering exclusive discounts to email subscribers. Creating urgency with limited-time offers, promoting in-store events and experiences, and encouraging subscribers to share promotions with friends and family can also help drive traffic to your store.

It's important to track the success of your email campaigns and adjust your strategies as needed, using data-driven insights to make informed decisions and optimize your approach. By following these tips and techniques, businesses can create a powerful email marketing strategy that drives in-store traffic and builds a loyal customer base over time.

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