The Packers clinched their division, but can they lock up the NFC’s top seed? Will the Vikings hang on to a wild-card berth? Here is the current postseason outlook.
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As an entrepreneur, the move towards e-commerce and digital transformation shouldn’t pass you by. The good news is that as a brick-and-mortar business owner, you can promote your website to the foot traffic in and around your store to aid your online visibility and increase digital sales.
Perhaps your biggest advantage is you don’t need to spend quite so long building the relationships that turn people into buyers: you’ve already done that.
Shoppers coming into your store know you, trust you, and are more likely to purchase from you. Also, the surrounding foot traffic is at least familiar with your business, even if they haven’t bought anything from you yet.
Now comes the question: How do you turn your foot traffic into more digital sales?
Whether your website is fresh up or you’ve been running your website for some time, the techniques featured in this article are open to everyone.
First, let’s look at the two main different types of retail traffic along with their advantages and disadvantages.
When we talk about foot traffic, we mean the number of people coming into your store and those who walk nearby. It has always been an important measure of retail success, and naturally, the more foot traffic an area has, the more chances there are to make sales.
Each type of traffic has its pros and cons.
With regular foot traffic, the advantages are it:
However, there are also disadvantages to foot traffic. The most significant disadvantage is the decline. According to RetailNext, recent Black Friday figures were down 48 percent, and this is a trend that’s likely to continue as more consumers turn to e-commerce.
There are other disadvantages too, such as:
Consumers who use e-commerce benefit from the convenience and special offers available online. However, the growth in online sales is good for website owners too.
The main advantages of online traffic include:
Disadvantages of online traffic include:
No store owner can afford to ignore the potential of digital sales. E-commerce has dominated the retail sector for years now, and that’s not going to change, according to forecasts.
According to statistics, e-commerce sales are likely to reach 563.4 billion dollars by 2025, and your online business can benefit from this surge.
You’ve got customers coming into your store every day. Make sure they know about your website and social media presence by advertising your digital channels around the store.
Don’t go too crazy, though.
There’s no need for giant banners with “find us online @” written on them. Instead, be a little more discreet. For instance, you could:
Also, if you have any special internet offers, promote them through in-store advertising and handing out promotional materials. Add an incentive to spur interest.
Many people have two things in common: they love a bargain and have a fear of missing out (FOMO). According to the stats:
FOMO is a proven psychological tactic for driving sales. That’s why offering online-only items or special discounts can be an effective profit booster for your business, especially when you include a time limit on the offers.
E-commerce companies like Sleeknote use this approach, creating a sense of urgency to get consumers to sign up.
Another benefit of this approach is that buyers are only too keen to tell their friends and families about the great deal they got. This could mean even more visitors to your digital platforms.
When doing this kind of promotion, be sure to spread the word among your offline customers with leaflets or small cards and a promotion code so you can track your campaign’s success.
One deal-breaker for consumers is shipping costs. Eighty-two percent of shoppers hate them and prefer free shipping overpaid expedited options.
To overcome this obstacle, why not offer a free shipping discount code?
Once customers get to your website, sign up and register, it’s easier to engage them and build relationships by sending targeted offers. They also get to realize the benefits of online shopping.
If it makes sense, you could also offer free shipping on orders of a minimum value for future orders to further engage and encourage your customers to purchase.
Sometimes customers just need a nudge. They might have meant to check out your business on social media but just haven’t got around to it yet.
What can you do to get buyers to visit your social media platforms? You create incentives. They can be in the form of coupons, freebies, contests, and prizes.
You could also offer points or a percentage off if your customer shares your social media pages with others or gets a friend to sign up to your digital channels.
Let’s go back to FOMO just for a moment.
Arguably, FOMO has done a lot to keep the retail industry alive, especially on major shopping occasions, like Black Friday.
E-commerce store owners often use FOMO to secure more sales, and there are multiple other ways you can use it in your marketing campaigns.
By offering exclusive online-only products, you’re giving shoppers the reason they need to head to your website and sign up.
However, FOMO has a downside, too.
It can lead to impulsive buying by consumers. That’s not what you or your business needs: you want customers that keep coming back for more.
Also, it could be damaging to the overall customer experience, so use this strategy with care.
If another local store has a product that complements yours, then you may find cross-promoting each other’s products/services is mutually beneficial.
For example, an organic store selling nutritious foods and natural skincare products could pair with a local beauty salon or a gym.
You promote their online offerings and digital platforms in your store, and they do the same in their premises.
Perhaps take this a step further and collaborate with other local store owners to create a co-branded coupon with local businesses’ online details.
This approach can reach a broader scope of foot traffic, potentially leading to more visitors to your website and increased digital sales.
In-store promotions have been around for years, and they’re a staple of retail marketing. The goal of in-store promotion is to:
By creating a buzz, an in-store promotion attracts foot traffic from regular customers and possibly from passersby.
These events give consumers the chance to visit a store, check out products, and get to know you. They also give you the opportunity to promote your online channels and give out promotional materials directing people to your website.
Additionally, in-store promotions help with word of mouth, build customer loyalty, and you also have some flexibility regarding the style of the event.
Depending on what you want to achieve, your promotion could be:
Alternatively, you could take the Ikea approach and create a bring a friend event. Ikea asked people to “like” their Facebook page if they wanted to access the special offers only available to attendees who brought a friend along.
You can use such events to promote your store in other ways too. For example, you could invite visitors to take pictures or videos and share them on your digital channels to promote your brand further online.
Go wider and make the most of the foot traffic outside of your door. Flyers are one of the oldest forms of advertising, and they still work.
Hand out flyers to passersby highlighting your special deals and internet-only products to passersby. However, be sure to check if it’s permissible locally before you do.
You can then use this as an opportunity to introduce yourself to potential customers and tell them about your business and the advantages of buying from you online.
You can also:
Finally, offer discounts to anyone that signs up and include a code for people to use so you can track success.
You can use your website to attract extra foot traffic for a further business boost. Consider inviting people to buy online and pick up in-store, providing in-store redeemable coupons, and offering in-store exchanges and returns.
You can add codes to any flyers, cards, or other promotional materials that you put out or ask customers how they found you when they registered online.
By using signage, introducing a loyalty program, marketing, and social media. However, remember that these tactics take time, so they may not increase your foot traffic immediately.
The more foot traffic you have, the greater the opportunity for engagement and sales, helping boost your revenues.
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As a store owner, you’re in the unique position to start sending customers directly to your website to increase your digital sales.
You don’t need to rely on them finding you by chance, and you don’t have to take so much time building trust because these buyers already know you.
That gives you a perfect chance to start actively promoting your website to the foot traffic in and around your store.
There are plenty of strategies you can use to do this. For example, offering incentives to get consumers to sign up to your social channels, holding in-store promotions to highlight online-only products and give demonstrations, and advertising your store on your packaging materials and receipts.
Are you a store owner? How do you get your foot traffic to find you online?
One of the inevitable side effects of having a fleet of vehicles is they do nothing for you if they’re idle. In fact, you lose money on them, as you need to pay for parking. Plus, of course, they’re depreciating every single day. Turo is a company that can help you turn idle vehicles into cash cows – no magic wand necessary.
But first, you need to get the vehicles – and here’s how you do ALL that.
Your business doesn’t start off with good business credit already built. In much the same way, you probably didn’t start with any vehicles. Or, at least, not with business vehicles you wanted to keep. And even if you bought your business fully created, you can still build it to greater heights. For all three goals, it pays to work in an orderly fashion. Step by step, it all works together.
Building business credit means getting vendor accounts. Starting with vendor credit accounts is a proven way to start building business credit. But we don’t include vendors just because they report to the business CRAs. We include them because they have quality products you can use, and great customer service. They are more than a means to an end!
Let’s start with building business credit. You can’t start with high limits. First build starter trade lines that report (vendor credit). Then you’ll have an established credit profile. Then you’ll get a business credit score. With an established business credit profile and score you can start getting high credit limits.
Use your credit. Pay on time, like you should with personal credit. These vendors we’ll show you will report to the business CRAs. And you’ll build a good business credit score.
These trade lines are creditors who will give you initial credit when you have none now. These vendors often offer terms such as Net 30, instead of revolving. So if you get an approval for $1,000 in vendor credit and use it all, you must pay the money back in a set term. Such as, within 30 days on a Net 30 account. But there are some revolving accounts still considered to be starter vendors.
You must pay net 30 accounts in full within 30 days. And you must pay net 60 accounts in full within 60 days. Unlike with revolving accounts, you have a set time when you must pay back what you borrowed or the credit you used.
To start your business credit profile the RIGHT way, you need approval for vendor accounts that report to the business CRAs. Once that’s done, you can then use the credit, pay back what you used. Then the account is on report to Dun & Bradstreet, Experian, or Equifax, or some combination.
Once it reports, then you have trade lines, an established credit profile, and an established credit score. With an established business credit profile and score, you can then get approval for more credit under your EIN. For vendor credit, you can usually leave your SSN off the application. Because this credit isn’t offered through a bank. Then the credit issuer pulls your EIN credit, sees a solid profile and score, and as a result can approve you for more credit. Keep in mind, credit through a bank will demand your SSN. It’s an anti-money laundering requirement under federal law.
Vendor credit cards will kick off business credit building for your business. Once you’ve added payment experiences from three vendors, and they have sent reports to business CRAs like Dun & Bradstreet, you can start qualifying for fleet credit. Make sure business credit cards don’t report on your personal credit.
Every step and every credit provider is designed to help your business. It’s meant to help you qualify for business credit cards you will actually use. This isn’t building for the sake of building, and it isn’t just to increase a number. These credit providers are going to have what your business needs to succeed.
Keep in mind, business credit is independent of personal. Applying for it often won’t harm your personal credit scores, although it can if you offer a PG and then fail to pay. An inquiry will also impact personal credit. Too many inquires can hurt your ability to get an approval. Building this asset can only help your business. You can help your future business right now.
You need 3 or more vendor accounts reporting to move onto more credit with higher limits and better terms. More reporting accounts are even better. It will take 30-90 days for those accounts to report – 60 days on average. Do NOT apply for tier 2 credit without having 3 or more accounts first.
There is no Social Security requirement for starter vendor credit. This is unlike bank loans and bank cards. So leave the field blank. Don’t fill in any other number. It’s a violation of two Federal laws.
A blank field will force them to pull your business credit under your EIN. But note: some creditors will still want an SSN for verification purposes. You should present your SSN in this situation. But make sure you aren’t agreeing a PG or personal credit check.
Demolish your funding problems with 27 killer ways to get cash for your business.
You won’t get a Visa or a MasterCard (bank credit cards) right away. You need to have credit to get more credit. Start building trade lines to get the big payoff. Getting initial credit is the hardest part. The vast majority of trade vendors who issue credit don’t report it to the business CRAs. So, you MUST find sources which actually report.
Check out three of our favorite starter vendors:
All three come from Wex.
They report to Experian and D&B. They offer universal fleet cards, heavy truck cards, and universally accepted business fleet cards. Their cards have features supporting a small business. This includes a rewards program. Before applying for several accounts with WEX Fleet cards, leave enough time between applying so they don’t red flag your account for fraud.
If you don’t get an approval based on business credit history, or been in business for at least a year, then a $500 deposit is necessary or a PG. Apply online or over the phone. Terms: Net 15 (Wex Fleet Card), Net 22, or revolving (Wex FlexCard).
To qualify, you need:
Marathon Petroleum Company provides transportation fuels, asphalt, and specialty products throughout the US. Their product line supports commercial, industrial, and retail operations. This card reports to Dun & Bradstreet and Experian. Remember: before applying for several accounts with WEX Fleet cards, leave enough time between applying so they don’t red-flag your account for fraud.
To qualify, you need:
Your SSN is necessary for informational purposes. If concerned they will pull your personal credit talk to their credit department before applying. You can provide a $500 deposit instead of using a PG if you’ve been in business less than a year. Apply online or over the phone. Terms are Net 15.
Phillips 66 Company owns 76. It has more than 1,800 retail fuel sites in the United States. This card reports to: D&B and Experian. Keep in mind: before applying for several accounts with WEX Fleet cards. make sure to leave enough time between applying so they don’t red flag your account for fraud.
To qualify, you need the following:
Your SSN is necessary for informational purposes. If concerned they will pull your personal credit talk to their credit department before applying. You can give a $500 deposit instead of using a personal guarantee. if you’ve been in business less than a year. Apply online or over the phone. Terms are Net 15. You can used this card at any P66, 76, or Conoco fueling location. Let’s move onto fleet credit.
Demolish your funding problems with 27 killer ways to get cash for your business.
Fleet credit comes after starter vendors. It comes from places like Gulf and Exxon. You use it to:
Even businesses which don’t have big fleets can still benefit. These are usually gas credit cards.
You may need to have a minimal time in business. If your business doesn’t have enough time in business, you may be able to instead offer a personal guarantee or give a deposit to secure the credit. Now that you’ve got a bunch of cards to support your fleet, it’s time to look at vehicle financing to buy the fleet!
Chances are you didn’t buy personal vehicles outright. In the same way, financing is a great way to get a vehicle now, without having to wait until you can pay cash and drive it off the lot. With a fleet car, your choices are usually buying or leasing. Providers include banks like Bank of America or the financing arm of the manufacturer, like Chrysler Capital.
You can even finance a vehicle purchase or lease through our Business Credit Builder. These offers are in Tier 4. So they have certain requirements that business credit neophytes won’t be able to meet. Lenders will want to see you have the income to support the purchase. Consider Ford Commercial Vehicle Financing.
Ford offers several commercial vehicle financing options. These include loans, lines, and leases to actual business entities. This is not for sole proprietorships. You can get a loan or a lease.
Ford may ask for a personal guarantee if you do not get an approval on the merit of your application. Apply at the dealership. Ford will report to D&B, Experian, and Equifax.
To qualify, you need:
Ally provides personal financing. But they will also report to business credit bureaus. If your business qualifies for financing without the owner’s guarantee, you can get financing in the business name only. Ally will report to D&B, Experian, and Equifax.
To qualify, you need:
If you use a PG, Ally will not report to the personal credit bureaus unless the account defaults.
Get a lease or a loan. To qualify, you need the same things as you need for an Ally Commercial Line of Credit. This is except for a bank reference and fleet financing references. There is no time in business requirement. Apply in person only. The dealer will say if you get approval or must provide a PG. Now that you’ve got the cars and the cards, let’s explore Turo.
Demolish your funding problems with 27 killer ways to get cash for your business.
Turo is a peer-to-peer car sharing marketplace. You can book any car you want, wherever you want it, from a community of trusted hosts across the US, Canada, and the UK. Guests choose from a unique selection of nearby cars. Hosts earn extra cash to offset the costs of car ownership.
There are going to be times when some of the vehicles your fleet aren’t in use. This could happen if there’s a personnel change, or if an employee with an older vehicle gets an upgrade to a newer one. This could be a perk accompanying a promotion. Or an employee with a vehicle could be out for parental leave. But no matter how or why any vehicles are idle. you can be making money from them.
Turo says you can make an average of $620 per month per vehicle. This comes from 2019 stats for hosts with twelve or more trips and “at least average quality metrics”. You can set your own price and availability dates. Make 70% of the price, or 80% if you can prove you have your own insurance and waive Turo’s coverage. Turo offers an array of coverage options with different percentages and deductibles. So you can choose what appeals most to you. Liability insurance comes from a policy issued to Turo by Liberty Surplus Insurance Corporation. They’re a member of the Liberty Mutual Group.
There are ways to make more money and get your vehicle out there to more riders, more often. Turo offers tips on taking better photographs of your car and listing your car’s options. as riders may be searching for things like all-wheel drive or air conditioning, etc.
Turo will provide guidance on how to write better descriptions, and otherwise make a vehicle more appealing to riders. There is even a section on writing a business plan. Also – earnings go through Turo so you will get a 1099. And even making a few hundred per month per vehicle is a VAST improvement over letting a vehicle idle while you pay for parking and it depreciates! To end, let’s touch on personal guarantees for financing.
With commercial vehicle financing, business owners may need to personally guarantee vehicle loans. If you are a co-borrower the loan will most likely report to your personal credit report. Starting off by giving a personal guarantee means you can get money, and start building your commercial fleet now instead of later.
According to Investopedia, a personal guarantee is:
“an individual’s legal promise to repay credit issued to a business for which they serve as an executive or partner. Providing a personal guarantee means that if the business becomes unable to repay the debt, the individual assumes personal responsibility for the balance. Personal guarantees provide an extra level of protection to credit issuers who want to make sure they will be repaid.”
When you provide a PG, you are adding your Social Security number to the application. You should expect a hard inquiry. You’re also adding the details of your personal income to the application.
With no PG financing, you can get higher limits and better terms. Continue to build exceptional business credit and pay your bills on time. In general, the following you won’t need to provide a personal guarantee for this type of financing if you have:
Much like with any other kind of business borrowing, the more assurances you can give the lender, the better.
Use business credit to buy everything you need to run a fleet, from fuel to service. And use auto financing to buy the vehicles. Plus, you can make money with the idle vehicles in your fleet! Turn your fleet into a regular, reliable moneymaker – without having to pull any rabbits out of your hat. Let’s get together and talk about getting started.
The post Presto! Turn Your Commercial Fleet into a Turo Fleet appeared first on Credit Suite.
Money-market funds, banks and other investors are parking over $1 trillion in spare cash overnight in reverse and repo markets—a surge in short-term lending that is raising concerns about whether market unrest lies ahead. The post Cash Is Flooding Into Short-Term Markets Like Never Before appeared first on Get Funding For Your Business And Ventures. … Continue reading Cash Is Flooding Into Short-Term Markets Like Never Before
Money-market funds, banks and other investors are parking over $1 trillion in spare cash overnight in reverse and repo markets—a surge in short-term lending that is raising concerns about whether market unrest lies ahead.
The post Cash Is Flooding Into Short-Term Markets Like Never Before appeared first on Get Funding For Your Business And Ventures.
The post Cash Is Flooding Into Short-Term Markets Like Never Before appeared first on Buy It At A Bargain – Deals And Reviews.
Justin Fields said Thursday that he supports coach Matt Nagy’s plan to have Andy Dalton as the Bears’ starting quarterback for the start of the regular season.
The post Fields buys into Bears' plan to start Dalton at QB appeared first on Buy It At A Bargain – Deals And Reviews.
Max Verstappen crashing out of the lead, Lewis Hamilton fluffing the chance to re-claim the championship lead and three of F1’s most popular drivers on the podium. Here’s how Baku;s wild race unfolded.
The post How the Azerbaijan Grand Prix descended into chaos appeared first on Buy It At A Bargain – Deals And Reviews.
I was reading an article from my buddy the other day and he had an interesting trend. 14.1% of all searches on Google are in the form of a question. Here’s the breakdown within the United States: How – 8.07% What – 3.4% Where – .88% Why – .82% Who – .6% Which – .33% …
The post SEO is Turning into a Questions and Answers Game first appeared on Online Web Store Site.
The post SEO is Turning into a Questions and Answers Game appeared first on ROI Credit Builders.
I was reading an article from my buddy the other day and he had an interesting trend. 14.1% of all searches on Google are in the form of a question. Here’s the breakdown within the United States: How – 8.07% What – 3.4% Where – .88% Why – .82% Who – .6% Which – .33% …
The post SEO is Turning into a Questions and Answers Game first appeared on Online Web Store Site.
The post SEO is Turning into a Questions and Answers Game appeared first on ROI Credit Builders.
I was reading an article from my buddy the other day and he had an interesting trend. 14.1% of all searches on Google are in the form of a question. Here’s the breakdown within the United States: How – 8.07% What – 3.4% Where – .88% Why – .82% Who – .6% Which – .33% …
The post SEO is Turning into a Questions and Answers Game first appeared on Online Web Store Site.