Trying to Boost Retail Sales? Here’s How Geofencing Can Help. | Entrepreneur

As a retailer, you’re always looking for new and innovative ways to attract customers and increase sales. One method that has gained popularity in recent years is geofencing marketing. By using GPS technology to create virtual boundaries around your store, you can reach potential customers in the surrounding area with targeted ads and promotions.

In this article, we’ll take an in-depth look at geofencing marketing and its benefits for retail locations. We’ll cover everything from how it works and the different types of geofencing campaigns you can run, to the best practices for creating effective ads that drive foot traffic and boost sales.

If you’re looking for a way to take your retail marketing strategy to the next level, geofencing could be just what you need. So, let’s dive in and explore the power of this cutting-edge marketing technique!

What is geofencing marketing

Geofencing marketing is a location-based marketing technique that uses GPS technology to create virtual boundaries around your store. These boundaries, or “geofences,” allow you to target potential customers who are within a certain distance of your store with ads and promotions on their mobile devices. This means that you can reach people who are already in the vicinity of your store and increase the likelihood of them visiting and making a purchase. Geofencing marketing is a highly targeted way to attract customers and boost sales, making it an effective tool for retailers looking to increase their foot traffic and revenue.

How can I set up geofencing marketing for my store?

Setting up geofencing marketing for your store involves a few key steps. First, you’ll need to determine the boundaries around your store that you want to target with ads and promotions. This can be done using GPS technology and mapping software. Once you have defined your geofence, you can then use a mobile advertising platform to create and launch targeted ads to potential customers within that boundary.

To ensure that your geofencing marketing campaigns are as effective as possible, it’s important to consider factors like the timing of your ads, the relevance of your messaging and the overall user experience. By taking these factors into account, you can create ads that are tailored to your target audience and are more likely to result in increased foot traffic and sales for your store. Working with a mobile advertising platform that specializes in geofencing marketing can also help ensure that your campaigns are expertly crafted and optimized for maximum results.

Examples of successful geofencing campaigns

Geofencing campaigns have been increasingly popular in recent years for boosting retail sales. Here are some examples of successful geofencing campaigns:

1. Starbucks employs geofencing technology to send targeted push notifications to customers who are in close proximity and have expressed interest. A prime illustration of this is their happy hour promotion, where select beverages are available for 50% off, and relevant users receive special push notifications regarding the offer. Besides pinpointing customers’ whereabouts or entries, geofencing marketing also enables Starbucks to classify them into different groups based on their preferred drinks, such as cappuccinos or frappuccinos, and deliver tailored push notifications accordingly.

2. Burger King‘s Whopper Detour campaign is a successful example of geofencing and geo-conquesting. By offering its iconic burger for a penny to customers who downloaded the BK app while visiting McDonald’s, Burger King gained new customers from their competitors and generated extensive publicity. This well-planned campaign remains one of the top picks for exceptional geofencing advertising.

3. Uber employs geofencing technology to target individuals at airports and hotels, as these are places where users typically require transportation to reach varying destinations. The strategic targeting of individuals in these specific locations can greatly enhance the effectiveness of a geofencing marketing campaign.

4. Dunkin’ Donuts launched a program to evaluate the efficiency of utilizing geofencing around competitors’ establishments along with behavioral targeting for distributing coupons through mobile devices. The outcomes were encouraging, as 36% of individuals who clicked on the offer responded by taking some additional action, with 18% of them saving the coupon, and 3.6% of secondary actions resulting in coupon redemption.

Overall, these examples show how geofencing can be a powerful tool for retailers looking to drive foot traffic and boost sales by delivering personalized messages and offers to customers when they are in close proximity to their stores. By leveraging the power of location-based technology, retailers can create a more engaging and relevant shopping experience for customers, ultimately leading to increased revenue and loyalty.

Are there any potential drawbacks or challenges to using geofencing for marketing purposes?

While geofencing can be an effective tool for retail marketing, there are also potential drawbacks and challenges to consider. One challenge is that customers may find it intrusive if they receive too many notifications or offers while they are near a store. This can lead to a negative perception of the brand and decrease customer loyalty.

Another challenge is ensuring accuracy in the location tracking, as inaccurate location data can result in sending notifications to customers who are not actually near the store, leading to frustration and a loss of trust.

Additionally, some customers may be uncomfortable with the idea of being tracked and having their location data collected by retailers. It is important for companies to be transparent about their data collection practices and provide opt-out options for customers who do not wish to participate.

Lastly, implementing geofencing technology can be expensive and may require a significant investment in resources and infrastructure. Retailers need to carefully consider the potential return on investment before deciding whether to implement this technology.

Overall, while there are challenges and potential drawbacks to using geofencing for marketing purposes, the benefits of delivering personalized messages and offers to customers when they are near a store can outweigh these challenges if implemented correctly.

How do you measure the success of a geofencing campaign, and what metrics should be used?

Measuring the success of a geofencing campaign can be done through various metrics. One important metric is the number of people who received notifications and offers through geofencing technology. This can be tracked using location data and can give an indication of how many potential customers were reached.

Another important metric is the click-through rate, which measures how many people actually clicked on the notification or offer and took action, such as visiting the store or making a purchase. This metric shows the effectiveness of the messaging and offer in driving customer behavior.

Retailers can also measure the return on investment by comparing the cost of implementing the geofencing campaign with the revenue generated from customers who received and acted on the notifications or offers. This can give a clear indication of whether the campaign was profitable and worth the investment.

Additionally, tracking customer engagement and loyalty can also be useful metrics in measuring the success of a geofencing campaign. By analyzing repeat visits, purchase history and other metrics, retailers can determine if the personalized messaging and offers delivered through geofencing technology have contributed to increased customer loyalty and engagement.

Geofencing marketing has emerged as a powerful tool for retailers looking to boost sales and engage with customers on a deeper level. By creating virtual boundaries around retail locations, businesses can send targeted messages to potential customers in the area, driving foot traffic and ultimately increasing revenue. Geofencing marketing also allows retailers to collect valuable data on customer behavior and preferences, which can be used to personalize future marketing efforts.