Running a brick and mortar store is not for the faint of heart. You juggle rent, staffing schedules, inventory, headaches, customer expectations and the mystery of why weekends are either wildly busy or painfully quiet with no warning.While your physical location is your pride and joy, relying only on a walk by traffic is a risky game.

Even the most old school marketing agency will tell you this much. Digital ads aren’t just for online businesses anymore. They’re one of the smartest ways to get real people through real doors. And your shop on the High Street is still a real shop. So let’s take a look into 10 reasons digital ads deserve a permanent spot in your business toolkit, even if you’re not a digital business online.

Your customers are online before they go in the store.

People love to Google or search online for particular store names in specific areas. Most shoppers don’t just wander off the street anymore. They search, scroll, compare and read reviews before they go in. How to get people to frequent a brick and mortar business on the High Street? Digital ads. Make sure that your store shows up during that research phase. If customers see your name online before they’re out shopping, you’re already one step ahead of the local competition. 

You can target local shoppers precisely.

One of the best things about digital advertising is that you can focus on people who actually live, work or hang out nearby. With websites like Google My Business there to help, there is no wasted effort advertising to someone hundreds of miles away. Location targeting means that your budget works harder by reaching people most likely to walk through your door when they are already shopping in their local area.

Your budget stays under control.

Finances are always a big factor for any business, but traditional advertising often requires big commitments and crossed fingers. Digital ads let you decide exactly how much you spend. You can start small, test different messages, and scale up when something works. There’s no financial panic attacks required here because your budget will be under control no matter what you do.

Immediate visibility when you need it the most.

If you have a slow week, a new product launch coming, then surprise competition across the street arriving, digital ads deliver fast results. You don’t have to wait weeks to see an impact with digital advertising. When timing matters, digital ads help you to show up right now, right at your people where they need it. 

You can promote time sensitive offers instantly.

Whether it’s Christmas sales, flash sales, seasonal discounts or last minute events, digital advertising shines here. You can launch a promotion in minutes and pause it just as quickly. There’s no outdated posters hanging around long after the deal ends, and you can put a timer on those adverts so that they come down without you having to manually do it. This saves you a lot of time, a lot of money, and it gives you a chance to get in front of your customers before the competition does. 

Image source: Pexels

You finally know what’s working.

One of the biggest perks of digital advertising is the ability to track the data and analytics that you can gain from. It really does help you to see those clicks, views, calls, and direction requests. This data will help you to make smart decisions instead of guesswork. Less guesswork means better results and fewer wasted dollars because you’ll be putting that money where it should be rather than where it shouldn’t.

You can compete with the bigger brands. 

Big chains have bigger budgets and digital advertising levels the playing field. Smart targeting and strong local messaging can help your store to stand out. And you don’t need to outspend competitors, you just need to outsmart them. A good marketing agency with a great content team and search engine optimization team can help you here because they’ll be able to maximize your advertising and ensure that you’re hitting the right people in the right way.

You can drive online interest straight to your door.

Brick and mortar stores often feel like they’re going to lose out on the digital revolution, but they don’t have to. Your store definitely doesn’t have to. With digital advertising, you can make it easy for customers to take action. Map links, Click to call buttons, and clear store hours. Help your shoppers go from seeing your ad to walking in the store with minimal effort. This means that before people go. Shopping there will be Googling who you are on the phone and know exactly what they’re walking into, and that’s all because of your digital advertising efforts.

You have time to build brand recognition.

Not every customer will visit the first time they see your ad, and that’s OK. Repetition builds familiarity. When they finally need what you sell, you’ll still feel like the obvious choice instead of a random option. You need that to happen because if people think it’s an obvious choice to walk into your store, you’ll become the trusted person they go to. 

You can adjust quickly as things change.

Trends and customer behaviors can shift quickly. Digital ads are flexible, so you can pause campaigns, adjust messaging, or test new ideas without wasting time or money. This is the agility that you need that keeps your store relevant. Digital adverts won’t replace the personal touch of your store, but they’ll enhance it. You’ll be able to adjust as your customers need you to do, without having to come away from the High Street. 

Brick and mortar stores aren’t outdated, but marketing methods can be. Digital ads help physical stores to thrive in a digital first world that gives you control, speed, insight and reach all while driving foot traffic where it matters. In short, the digital adverts act like a friendly online sign, pointing customers straight to your door. They don’t replace the charm of your store, but they just make sure more people get to experience it.