Today we’re talking about online retail. Keeping ahead of the game means always being on the lookout for fresh and exciting ways to engage with your customers while at the same time giving your sales a nice boost. (Because, let’s be honest, if you’re not getting an ROI on your time why are you doing it?) I’ve written previously about the benefits of hosting in-store events and classes, a great way to stand out from the crowd of big box stores and other retailers and increase customer engagement.
Loads of businesses, from cute little boutique shops to sporting goods stores, are excelling with this approach. Mixing up their offerings with regular events, workshops, and classes gives customers more reasons to keep coming back. Even restaurants are seeing substantial benefits from non-standard offerings like classes and events.
But here's the thing: in-store classes and events are great for locals, but what about your fans that shop online or follow your social media from hundreds (or thousands) of miles away? How do you keep them in the loop and excited about your brand if you can’t have them in your store?
An online problem requires an online solution. There are tons of ways to connect with your customers online, and one that I think is ripe for the picking is creating eLearning videos. Essentially, put your event or class online. Give your customers the opportunity to learn from you without even being in your shop.
Now, I’m not saying you need to go out and hire a production crew or invest your life savings in expensive videography equipment. But maybe you could try grabbing an inexpensive stand that you can use to film yourself creating your latest masterpiece or kit. Then, hop into Stride and create an e-Learning course with the footage. The eLearning features on Stride are tailor-made for creating engaging 'how to' courses. You can break them up into bite-size segments, add pictures or additional detailed instructions and boom, you’ve got an online course. These courses not only beef up product knowledge for customers, but they also get them excited about trying new projects they might not have tackled before and buying more from you in the process.
Businesses in every industry from manufacturers to distributors have been using online training to increase their sales and boost customer engagement. It's clear proof of the awesome potential 'how to' eLearning videos have for small retail stores. You’re the pro! Use your knowledge to inspire others on their own journey.
So, why not give it a whirl? With Stride, you can create courses that you can sell or give away to your customers for free. Imagine the possibilities of pairing a 'how to' video with a specific kit or product. Now customers not only get written instructions, they can also see how to do it. You could also offer customers exclusive "perks" as they watch your tutorials, enticing them to purchase more from you in the future. The sky's the limit, and so is your potential to grow!