25 Tips to Increase Foot Traffic for Your Business

October 28, 2024

You have a great business. You offer items/services everyone needs, yet you’re struggling to get people in the door. What can you do?


You need traffic to increase sales, whether that’s online or in-person. If your business is struggling to bring in customers, you know that has to change if you’re going to survive. While there are many ways to improve your online traffic (search engine optimization, user experience, etc.), your physical business’ traffic is all about location.


But before you go and pack up your stuff to find a better location, let’s go over a few things you can do to increase your daily visitors.


The Right Foot

Foot traffic is great, but a bunch of Looky Lous aren’t going to pay your bills. You need to attract the RIGHT kind of potential customers. For instance, if you own a bakery that makes the most delicious dog treats ever, a parent looking for a Paw Patrol Birthday cake is not your ideal customer (unless they have a dog celebrating too).


Before you read the rest of these steps to help you increase foot traffic, you need to be sure of your ideal audience, their needs, and their challenges. Use that information to shape how you use the tips below.


25 Tips to Increase Foot Traffic for Your Business


Show Don’t Tell

Most businesses tell audiences what they do or offer. That doesn’t inspire action. It sounds good, but it won’t get someone who’s seated on their couch at home motivated enough to stop in. You need to show them why they need your product or service.


I don’t mean “show” in the literal sense (although images and video are great marketing tools). To motivate people to take action, you need to paint the picture of how your product/service gives them something they need or want.


You can do this through words and/or images. For instance, instead of saying, “We have the best bread in town,” (that’s nice, but I’m not leaving my home for that), say “our bread will make all the other kids at lunch jealous and we’re so sure of this, we want you to stop by for a free sample between 10-2 (nothing beats bread fresh out of the oven). Start winning the cafeteria lunch wars.” In that example, you’re playing on a fear of missing out and parental pride in packing the best lunch. Plus, you’re bringing them in with the offer of a delicious free sample.


Which brings us to the obvious…


Offer Something Delicious

Even if you don’t sell food, offering a free sample is a great way to bring in a crowd; just check out Costco on the weekends during their sample days. If you don’t sell food, you may wonder how offering a free sample of something you don’t sell will work. Give away something that fits with what you sell. For instance, if you have a bookstore, cook up a recipe from one of your cookbooks (hopefully a recipe you can make in-store in a crockpot so the delicious aroma permeates your place). A pet store might give out free pet treats. If you sell furniture (with a fabric care product), offer a messy treat and invite people to sit on your couch. Then show them how easy it is to clean.


Talk to the Chamber

Your local chamber probably receives a lot of visitors. Let the chamber know you want to increase foot traffic to your business. They may be able to send you referrals. Perhaps they have an event coming up that could help you increase visits. Make sure you tell them the type of audience you want to attract.


Here are a few additional ideas to increase your foot traffic:


1.     Improve your curb appeal.

2.     Ensure your storefront is spotless, windows are sparkling, and any outdoor signage is in top condition.

3.     Create interesting window displays that change regularly to draw people in. Use bright colors and unique props. Highlight your bestsellers or new arrivals.

4.     Use a sidewalk sign with a clear and enticing message, daily specials, or promotions.

5.     Bring your store outside. During good weather (and assuming your city allows it), bring a few items outside to catch the attention of people walking by.

6.     Make sure your store is well-lit inside and out, especially in the evenings. You don’t want to lose possible customers because they think you’re closed.

7.     Team up for joint promotions. Cross-promote each other on social media or host a small "block party" event.

8.     Offer a free class or demonstration (if your products lend themselves to it), such as a quick tutorial or a hands-on/making class.   

9.     Participate in farmers' markets, craft fairs, or community festivals.

10. Complete your Google Business Profile ensuring it is up to date with accurate hours, photos, and contact information. Encourage customers to leave reviews!

11. Run simple contests or giveaways on social media to increase engagement and attract new followers.

12. Offer free Wi-Fi to encourage people to linger in your store (or perhaps work there).

13. Play appropriate music to set the mood.

14. Use a subtle, pleasant scent to enhance the ambiance. Avoid anything too perfumy.

15. Ensure your store is easy to navigate and products are well-organized. Clutter and crowded aisles are not inviting.

16. Acknowledge each person who enters your store with a friendly greeting.

17. Offer assistance without being pushy.

18. Ensure your staff is knowledgeable, friendly, and provides excellent customer service.

19. Set up a comfortable seating area to encourage people to stay longer and browse.

20. Provide a charging station. It’s a welcome bonus, especially for visitors.

21. Offer water, coffee, or tea to make customers more comfortable.

22. Add an Instagrammable item. Some people lead an Insta life, and they want to show their followers all the interesting things they’re doing and places they’re exploring. Create cool photo backdrops in your business to become a stop for them.


By implementing these ideas, you can create a more inviting and engaging shopping experience that encourages people to visit and return to your store. It might even prevent you from having to scout out a new location.



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Christina Metcalf is a writer and speaker who believes in the power of story. She works with small businesses, chambers of commerce, and business professionals who want to make an impression and grow a loyal customer/member base. She is also the author of the nonfiction book The Glinda Principle about rediscovering the magic within.

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Medium: @christinametcalf

Facebook: @tellyourstorygetemtalking

Instagram: @christinametcalfauthor

LinkedIn: @christinagsmith

Leavenworth-Lansing Area Chamber of Commerce Appoints Shawn Carns as President/CEO

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They name the employee who made the experience better. They compliment the thing you barely noticed. They complain when something meaningful disappears. Pay attention to repeat phrases in reviews, emails, conversations, referrals, and testimonials. Your strongest positioning and ideas to meet customers needs are often hiding in plain sight. Over-Professionalizing the Brand There’s nothing wrong with looking polished. But polished should never mean sterile. Some businesses scrub away personality because they think professionalism requires sounding bigger, colder, or more formal. They replace specific language with vague industry terms. They remove humor. They bury warmth. They stop sounding like humans and start sounding like a committee circling back and drilling down because bandwidth requires a game-changing pivot—a bunch of empty, overused words. Professionals and brands have personalities and the best brands feel trustworthy and recognizable. Your unique value proposition is not a slogan you write once and tape to the wall. It should guide your decisions, messaging, customer experience, hiring, technology, partnerships, and growth. Before you follow the next trend, hire the next expert, or hand your voice to AI, ask one question: Will this make us more clearly ourselves to the people we’re here to serve? Read More: Are You Accidentally Repelling Perfect Clients? Embracing Imperfection to Strengthen Your Business The Hidden Shift Every Growing Business Owner Faces Your Business Isn't Too Small to Build a Brand ------------------------- Christina Metcalf is a writer and women’s speaker who believes in the power of story. She works with small businesses, chambers of commerce, and business professionals who want to make an impression and grow a loyal customer/member base. She is the author of The Glinda Principle, rediscovering the magic within. _______________________________________ Facebook: @metcalfwriting Instagram: @christinametcalfauthor LinkedIn: @christinametcalf5

How to Turn One Happy Customer Into Three New Leads

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Hopefully, your happiest customers are already doing some marketing for you. Maybe they’re mentioning your business to a neighbor or tagging you in a post. Perhaps they’ve told a friend, “You should call them.” The problem is that most small businesses leave those moments to chance and probably don’t even know about them. That’s why you must make referral marketing part of your marketing goals. Referrals are powerful because they come with built-in trust. A stranger clicking an ad may be curious. A person recommending your business to a friend is handing you a warm lead. That’s worth building a simple system around. You don’t need a huge budget or a complicated referral program. You just need a few repeatable habits that make it easy for happy customers to send more people your way. Ask at the Right Moment Start by knowing when to ask. Timing matters. The best moment is usually right after a customer has had a positive experience. Maybe they compliment your team. Maybe they leave a great review. Maybe they reorder, renew, rebook, or tell you how much something helped them. That’s your opening. Instead of saying, “Let us know if you know anyone,” which puts all the work on them, be specific. Try something like: “If you know another business owner who could use help with this, I’d be grateful if you’d send them my way.” Or: “We love working with customers like you. If you have a friend or colleague who needs this, feel free to share our contact info.” Specificity helps people think of someone. Or tell them the why you need referrals. People are more likely to help when you tell them why you need it. “We’re a small business and we get most of our clients through referrals. We would appreciate you telling your friends and family about us.” This helps them understand how important referrals are to you, but it also tells them that many people have referred you (“We get most of our clients through referrals.”)—that’s social proof. Make Referrals Easy to Share Next, make referrals easy to share. Create a short blurb customers can forward by text or email. Keep it conversational. For example: “I’ve been working with [Business Name], and they’ve been great. They help with [specific service/product], and I thought of you because [reason]. Here’s their info.” You can also create a simple referral card, QR code, or web page with your contact information, top services, and a clear explanation of who you help. If someone has to hunt for your phone number, website, or booking link, you’re making them work too hard and few people will do that. Turn Conversations into Warm Introductions Another quick win is to ask for introductions in person, especially at events. If a customer, vendor, or fellow business owner says they know someone you should meet, ask whether they’d be comfortable making the connection. A warm introduction is stronger than a cold email. It gives the other person context and makes the conversation feel less transactional. This is where your chamber can become a practical business development tool. Chamber events aren’t only for showing up, shaking hands, and collecting business cards you’ll later find in your purse, car, or desk drawer like tiny rectangles of guilt. Used well, they can help you build a smarter referral network. Use the Chamber as a Connection Partner Before attending an event, think about who you want to meet. Are you hoping to connect with real estate professionals, restaurant owners, nonprofit leaders, healthcare providers, employers, young professionals, or city leaders? Reach out to the chamber and ask which events tend to attract those groups. Many chambers know the personality and audience of each gathering. A morning coffee may draw a different crowd than a women’s leadership event, an industry roundtable, a ribbon cutting, or a large signature event. Your chamber may also be able to make direct introductions. If you’re looking to meet a certain demographic, ask. That’s part of the relationship-building advantage of membership. Chamber staff often know who’s growing, who’s hiring, who’s collaborating, who’s new to the community, and who might be a strong connection for your business. Follow Up Before the Lead Goes Cold Once you make a connection, follow up quickly. Within 24 to 48 hours, send a short note. Mention where you met, reference something specific from the conversation, and suggest a next step if it makes sense. Don’t overcomplicate it. A good follow-up might be: “It was great meeting you at the chamber event yesterday. I enjoyed hearing about your expansion plans. If you ever need help with [specific need], I’d be happy to be a resource.” Track What’s Working Finally, keep track of referrals. A simple spreadsheet or notes field in your CRM is enough. 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She works with small businesses, chambers of commerce, and business professionals who want to make an impression and grow a loyal customer/member base. She is the author of The Glinda Principle , rediscovering the magic within. _______________________________________ Facebook: @metcalfwriting Instagram: @christinametcalfauthor LinkedIn: @christinametcalf5