How WiFi increases customer loyalty in stationary retail

Who doesn't know that? Waiting in line at the cash register or in front of a full changing room - and immediately you reach for your mobile phone to pass the time online. That's when it's extremely helpful to be able to access the free WiFi provided by the store. Strategic digitization has therefore long since arrived in stationary retail, with WiFi hotspots for local customers. Because your own data volume is often not enough or the connection to the Internet is simply too poor. In addition to spending time in the shop, Internet access is also helpful while shopping or visiting. Many bonus programs or digital discount campaigns require a connection to the Internet in order to use them. These are all points that are crucial for many customers to continue visiting a company or store. And last but not least, WLAN is now an effective and extremely important tool for customer loyalty. In our blog article, you can also find out how WLAN access can also be used and what opportunities they also offer in the area of marketing.

WiFi as a prerequisite for customer loyalty

In the catering and hotel industry, freely accessible WiFi hotspots have already become an absolute standard. Retailers are now also increasingly using the offer of free WiFi. Because this also has great potential here. More and more customers also want to be online while shopping. And hardly anything is more disruptive than a poor connection to the Internet or even no connection at all. Especially in situations where long waiting times are often accepted, such as at a changing room or at the cash register, a functioning hotspot is essential for many people. But there are many other aspects that speak in favour of WLAN access on the part of the customer.

Customers are online not only in fashion stores, but also in supermarkets, for example. They search online for a recipe in order to buy the appropriate ingredients, or want to research the exact ingredients and product details. Direct online price comparison is also one reason why customers find hotspot access extremely useful.

This is also profitable for companies. Customer satisfaction comes first and this is significantly improved by means of a free hotspot. Even though they are already considered standard in many areas - or precisely because of this - customers really appreciate free WiFi. Customer satisfaction also increases customer loyalty — and that is exactly the goal: to retain new customers with the company in the long term. However, an Internet connection not only offers a strategic measure for customer loyalty on site, it also offers the opportunity to remain in touch with the customer after the visit.

advertising options

When the customer logs into the WLAN, you as an entrepreneur automatically receive customer data. In most cases, these are the email addresses that the customer uses to log in. These are automatically saved and are in the customer database. Regular communication is crucial in order to keep customers with the company. The competition on the market is huge and you as a company must never fade into the background or even forgotten. It is now possible to get in touch again using the email addresses. For example, if you have a discount campaign or a limited range of products, it is possible to simply send this information to the customer via email and thus establish lasting customer loyalty.

First, however, customers must be made aware of the WiFi hotspot. This is usually achieved with simple tools such as flyers, stickers or the like. After logging in, the process of marketing and customer loyalty begins. Customer data is read out and used, for example, for newsletters or email campaigns. These are particularly suitable in terms of low effort and high effectiveness. Newsletter campaigns can be individually adapted to the customer base and sent on a scheduled basis. Not only the sending of vouchers, discount campaigns, etc., but also communication with the customer himself leads to a long-term commitment. You can find out more about newsletter marketing here in another blog post from Socialwave. Find out exactly why discount campaigns are so effective and how they can be used individually here.

Target group targeting

Free WiFi access is a real customer magnet, especially among the younger generation. The desire of 14 to 29-year-olds is particularly strong. The majority describe a WiFi hotspot as essential and decisive for a further visit. But older generations are also reluctant to do without WiFi. Meeting customer needs and wishes is a safe bet with a WiFi hotspot. For many, this is no longer just a nice-to-have, but an absolute standard and should therefore in no way be regarded as optional. It also makes it possible to address customers in a much more targeted manner. As soon as they log into the existing WLAN via a social network such as Facebook, Instagram or WhatsApp, important information about the demographic background is obtained. The duration or activities on the WLAN can provide information about the respective customer, which makes it possible to address each customer in a targeted and individual manner.

Digital customer programs

Bonus customer programs are also an important part of customer loyalty. WLAN access is usually a decisive requirement for use. Without Internet access, customers are often unable to use the digital bonus program directly on site. A functioning WLAN is a prerequisite for networked action. If visitors, guests or customers are not satisfied with the performance of the hotspot, they will not only neglect the bonus program in the long term, but will also turn to the competition - even though individual customer programs such as voucher and discount campaigns are considered one of the most effective marketing measures. In the best case scenario, a WiFi hotspot and customer-oriented marketing go hand in hand. Socialwave offers an ideal solution for this. The marketing package combines WiFi access with all effective marketing measures. With the automated marketing tool, newsletter campaigns and discount campaigns, among other things, can be individually adapted to the customer base and sent - digital marketing (almost) by itself! You can find out more about this here.

conclusion

In summary, it can be stated that free WLAN access for customers is now required as a standard in every stationary shop, hotel or restaurant. On the part of customers, this is often a decisive factor in terms of overall satisfaction - and only satisfied customers come back! WLAN has a huge impact on successful customer loyalty today. However, it is important that this not only meets the customer's desire for a permanent Internet connection, but also the optimal marketing of the companies — a real win-win situation! With our WLAN marketing package, your customers/patients/guests advertise for you, are happy and recommend you to others.