Digital Signage and retail: 7 tips for effective communication
Online shopping has skyrocketed, especially recently. Home grocery delivery and takeout dinners are now part of daily life. Despite this, supermarket aisles are still bustling with people. However, what customers expect when they walk into a physical store has changed, and Digital Signage is the perfect tool to meet these expectations.
The online shopping trend has impacted every sector, including groceries. Food delivery and online grocery shopping have surged, with the number of people shopping for groceries online nearly doubling in the past three years. Yet, supermarket aisles remain busy, and sales in the retail sector have stayed strong.
Those who choose to shop in-store now expect more from their experience—greater efficiency, personalization, and advantages that go beyond what they once sought. Expectations have increased dramatically. If someone goes out of their way to visit your store, they likely want something that an online experience simply can’t offer.
So, how can you meet these expectations? With Digital Signage, which turns a simple, everyday activity like grocery shopping into an engaging, interactive experience.
Of course, a screen isn’t innovative or effective unless it’s paired with content that grabs visitors’ attention and encourages them to return.
Let’s look at 7 guidelines for creating effective and memorable content, so the retail sector can consistently offer customers something extra compared to an online experience.
Digital Signage Content for Retail: 7 guidelines for effective content creation
Here are 7 valuable tips for creating a cutting-edge supermarket experience, using Digital Signage to its fullest potential and giving customers a reason to choose in-store visits over online shopping.
- Inspire discerning customers with recipes and special offers.
- Create educational content to increase sales of ethnic and speciality food.
- Promote new brands or products through social or user-generated content.
- Quickly share urgent information and promotions.
- Accompany free samples with specially created content and CTAs.
- Help customers find the most convenient products (for them and for you).
- Turn the wait into an opportunity for one last purchase.
1. Inspire discerning customers with recipes and special offers.
Not everyone enters a supermarket with a shopping list in hand. Some people wander in just to browse, while others are hungry but unsure what they’re looking for. These are the perfect customers to engage with recipes and current promotions on your screens. For example, you could suggest a dish combining items on sale and show the aisles where they’re located. With Digital Signage, you can even tailor the recipes displayed by time of day, day of the week, or season, ensuring you capture their attention with the right suggestion at the right moment.
2. Create educational content to boost sales of ethnic and speciality foods.
Research shows that in-store shoppers are more curious and open to exploring than online shoppers. Unless they’re on a mission, people often take time to explore and discover new products and promotions. This creates the perfect conditions to highlight ethnic foods not typically found in everyday meals, showcasing their properties and nutritional benefits to encourage customers to try something new.
3. Promote new brands or products with social or user-generated content.
Over the past 10 years, there has been an increasing focus on issues such as wellness, sustainability and the origin of what one eats. Therefore, before buying unknown products, the 2020 consumer carefully informs himself about what he is going to buy and usually the final decision is dictated by the reviews of other users. With Digital Signage you have the opportunity to bring these reviews and other user-generated content into your supermarket to create confidence and trust in new brands in the shop.
4. Quickly share urgent or short-term promotions.
One of the key advantages of Digital Signage is the ability to update content in real-time. This capability is ideal for sharing last-minute promotions, notices, and new offers quickly. This keeps customers informed of all the options in-store, enhancing their shopping experience. Plus, all promotional content can be managed remotely, allowing you to broadcast the same messages simultaneously across different locations.
5. Accompany free samples with tailored content and CTAs.
Offering product samples is a time-tested way to increase basket size. This tactic becomes even more effective when combined with a screen displaying targeted content and CTAs. The right image and message, displayed in 4K on a 55” screen, attract and engage audiences far more than a simple handwritten sign or inconspicuous cardboard stand.
6. Help customers find the most advantageous products (for them and for you).
If customers can’t find what they’re looking for, use your screens to guide them toward high-margin alternatives that benefit both them and you. Once they’ve found the desired product, keep the communication going by keeping them informed of new arrivals and other promotions with videos, social feeds, and tailored content.
7. Turn waiting time into an opportunity for an additional purchase.
Studies show that screen content reduces the perceived waiting time by 35%. This makes waiting the perfect opportunity to upsell or promote loyalty programs. It’s also a great time to encourage impulse purchases before customers leave.
As you can see, there are many ways to make the most of Digital Signage in retail. The possibilities for content and strategies to entice customers and increase sales volume are virtually limitless. Here, we’ve highlighted the most popular applications, and we hope they inspire you to develop the perfect content strategy for your stores.