Bonus Content: 5 Tips for Driving Foot Traffic and Encouraging Local Shopping
1. Gamify the Shopping Experience with Contests & Rewards
Encourage visitors to explore multiple businesses within the area by creating scavenger hunts, stamp cards, or QR code challenges.
For example: A “Shop & Win” passport where visitors collect stamps or digital check-ins at participating businesses for a chance to win prizes. Explore Driftscape's Scavenger Hunts and Points & Rewards features.
2. Host Themed Shopping Events & Sidewalk Sales
Design events that make shopping an experience rather than a transaction such as:
Seasonal markets, late-night shopping crawls, or “Sip & Shop” evenings with live entertainment and food vendors can attract visitors.
TIP: Be sure to partner with local artisans and food trucks to extend foot traffic beyond retail spaces.
3. Leverage Local Influencers & Community Ambassadors
Engage local influencers and well-connected community members to promote businesses.
Then offer exclusive previews, giveaways, or early access to new products for influencers to share.
Finally, create a social media hashtag campaign that encourages visitors to post and tag businesses for a chance to win a prize.
4. Optimize Window Displays & Interactive Signage
Draw in foot traffic with compelling storefronts and interactive displays that spark curiosity.
Use seasonal themes and change them regularly to maintain freshness.
Then, integrate QR codes on shop windows for after-hours engagement, offering exclusive deals or sneak peeks at upcoming promotions.
5. Create a "Shop Local Loyalty Program"
Encourage repeat visits with a BIA-wide rewards program that benefits both shoppers and businesses.
For example: A digital points system where purchases at participating stores earn points redeemable for discounts, exclusive experiences, or BIA gift cards.
Then promote exclusive members-only perks, like early access to sales or private events.
Driftscape's Points & Rewards feature makes this easy to set up for your destination.
Webinar recap: Introduction
In today's fast-paced world, business improvement areas (BIAs) face increasing challenges in engaging their communities, promoting local businesses, and maintaining up-to-date directories. In our latest webinar, Empowering Business Improvement Areas: Strategies to Engage, Promote, and Thrive, industry experts shared actionable insights on how BIAs can leverage digital tools to drive economic impact.
Common Challenges Faced by BIAs
Business Improvement Areas play a crucial role in fostering local economic growth, but they often encounter several roadblocks that hinder their success. Some of the most common challenges include:
Limited resources – Many BIAs operate with small teams and tight budgets, making it difficult to implement large-scale marketing initiatives.
Declining foot traffic – With the rise of e-commerce, many local businesses struggle to attract in-person visitors.
Outdated business directories – Keeping business listings accurate and updated can be time-consuming and prone to errors.
Lack of digital engagement – Many BIAs still rely on traditional advertising methods, missing opportunities to reach audiences through digital channels.
Event promotion difficulties – Hosting and promoting community events effectively requires strategic outreach and seamless communication with local businesses.
Environmental impact and cost of reprinting flyers – Frequent reprints of promotional materials contribute to waste and increase expenses, making digital alternatives more sustainable and cost-effective.
The Importance of Community Engagement
One of the biggest challenges for BIAs is fostering a sense of community engagement that keeps residents and visitors invested in supporting local businesses. The webinar highlighted key strategies, including:
Using interactive maps to showcase local businesses and points of interest.
Gamifying visitor experiences through scavenger hunts and reward-based incentives.
Encouraging local storytelling to foster a stronger emotional connection to the community.
Digital Strategies for Business Promotion
Traditional marketing methods alone are no longer enough. To stay relevant and competitive, BIAs must adopt digital-first strategies. Experts in the webinar shared:
How to leverage mobile-first tourism platforms like Driftscape to drive foot traffic.
The role of push notifications and smart alerts in promoting events and special offers.
How SEO-optimized content helps increase visibility for local businesses.
Keeping Business Directories Updated
Outdated business directories can lead to frustrated visitors and lost revenue for local businesses. The webinar covered solutions such as:
Automating business listing updates using real-time data integrations.
Implementing a user-friendly self-service portal for businesses to manage their own information.
Leveraging AI-powered tools to ensure accuracy and completeness of business information.
Final Takeaways
As the digital landscape evolves, BIAs must embrace new tools and strategies to remain competitive and continue thriving. By leveraging interactive maps, gamified experiences, and automated solutions, they can ensure sustained engagement and growth for their communities.
Watch the Full Webinar
Missed the live session? Watch the webinar (above) or on Youtube to dive deeper into these strategies and learn directly from the experts.
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