Is your New Year’s resolution to grow your business? Then your first action item is to create a solid grocery store digital marketing plan.
The number one way that today’s customers discover new businesses is online — whether they’re scrolling through social media, browsing search results, or virtually wandering through a map of their neighborhood.
That’s why your grocery store needs a strong online presence. Grocery store digital marketing helps new shoppers find you, builds customer loyalty, and establishes your small business as a community staple.
In this blog, we’ll explore a few reasons why grocery store digital marketing matters — as well as some ideas you can put to work to boost your business in 2024.
Why Grocery Store Digital Marketing is Key
If you want to grow your customer base in today’s ultra-competitive environment, a sound digital marketing strategy is essential. Big-box supermarkets and online retailers are carving out space in the industry, so you’ve got to actively market your store to attract and retain customers.
Neglecting marketing could be a huge mistake. Without an online presence and engagement through channels like social media and email, you risk losing visibility and failing to bring in foot traffic. These channels are free, too!
You can use grocery store digital marketing to:
- Promote seasonal products
- Offer discounts on various products during the holiday season
- Highlight unique and local products that set you apart from big chains
- Nurture customer relationships and loyalty
Your point of sale (POS) system is the best tool for launching and managing marketing campaigns. It collects data on inventory, customers, and sales — which enables targeted digital campaigns. Other features like integrated customer loyalty and customer relationship management (CRM) also help.
Let’s get into some actionable ideas you can start using today!
#1: Implement a Customer Loyalty Program
If you haven’t leveraged a loyalty program in your store, you’re missing out. Some 55 percent of Americans use loyalty points to save money on grocery shopping. And with a robust POS system and integrated loyalty software, they’re easy to implement.
Tracking customer behavior and leaning on purchase history means you can personalize promotions. You can track purchases and apply reward points for frequent shoppers. It’s a great marketing tool, because customers will spend more money to earn points and unlock savings.
The more customers spend, the bigger their rewards. Loyalty program reports can also help uncover what each customer buys the most. If James buys strawberries every week, you could send a digital coupon for his favorite berries.
The idea is to build loyalty and keep customers returning to your store each week.
Do you want to promote a limited-time offer? There’s no better place than social media.
For example, you could use Instagram Stories to promote a limited-time bargain. Perhaps you have blueberries on sale for $2 just for today? Post the deal to your Stories and include a bright photo of your fresh berries to entice people to grab a treat on their way home.
You could even show a video of one of your employees making pancakes with the blueberries. Whatever works! The most important thing is simply to meet consumers where they are.
#3: Embrace Email Marketing
Do you collect email addresses during online or physical transactions? As long as customers opt in, they’ll love hearing from you about deals, promotions, and other store news that improves their shopping experience.
With the data you collect, you could integrate your POS software with a platform like Mailchimp to segment your customers based on past purchases and interests. Let’s use James as an example. Based on his past history, you could send him a recipe for strawberry shortcake, or offer discounts on related items.
Sending emails that speak directly to different types of customers keeps them engaged. This boosts how often they open emails and act on deals.
#4: Highlight Your E-Commerce Integration
As consumer appetite for convenience grows, offering online grocery and delivery is crucial. You need a user-friendly online platform for this to work. Create an intuitive webstore that makes it easy to select products and check out.
You can also offer online-only promotions and discounts. Special discounts and loyalty perks exclusive to digital shoppers give customers more reason to buy online.
Integrating your webstore with your POS is crucial to ensure smooth operations. When a customer places an order online, the POS system automatically updates the inventory count, providing real-time information on product availability. Staff can manage and fulfill online orders seamlessly, generating packing lists for curbside pickup preparation.
Giving customers an omnichannel experience helps set your store apart.
#5: Engage With Your Community Online
Even if you’re not currently running an in-store promotion, it’s critical to stay active on your store’s social media channels.
Social media is an invaluable small business tool that can help you build your brand image, expand your loyal customer base, and establish your grocery store as a neighborhood cornerstone.
Here are some ideas to inspire you as you plan out your social media posts:
- Highlight members of your team regularly. These introductions will make your customers feel personally connected to your small business and encourage them to stop by and say hi!
- Showcase how your grocery store gives back. If your grocery store regularly donates to charity or hosts food drives, tell your social media followers about it. They’ll see how important your business is to the community — and they might feel inspired to donate, too.
- Spotlight your suppliers. If your grocery store sources inventory locally, it’s a great idea to emphasize this via social media. For example, if you sell produce from a nearby farm, you’ve got a great opportunity to post about the importance of eating locally.
Use Your POS System To Implement Grocery Store Digital Marketing Ideas
With the power to expand your reach and build customer loyalty, grocery store digital marketing is a key factor for small business success.
But to reap the benefits, you need the right approach — including a POS system to power your marketing efforts.
If you’re looking for a POS system to take your grocery store to new heights in 2024, look no further than IT Retail. IT Retail is an all-in-one solution designed with the needs of small business grocers like you in mind.
Our POS system includes digital marketing integrations, along with all the other tools you need to manage your thriving grocery store, including robust inventory management tools, speedy checkout functions, and detailed reporting and analytics.
Learn how IT Retail can supercharge your grocery store by scheduling a personalized demo today!
