One of the best ways to attract local customers to your store is by using check-in services. Check-in services such as Facebook Places allow customers to use their smartphones to “check in” to your business. Logix9 business services can help you get set up to use this valuable service.

Check-ins are valuable to business owners primarily because they are a free form of advertising. For example, if a customer checks in to your store on Facebook, all of the customer’s friends will see it. Some of them may check out your store or your Facebook page for your store. If those people check in too, all of their friends will see it. If your store becomes popular, it could travel all over town via Facebook.

The hardest part of working with check-ins is getting customers to participate. There are lots of creative ways to encourage participation:

1. Have a one-day sale where customers have to check into your store in order to receive discounts. Customers have to show you they checked in when they get to the register.
2.  Offer a free item to the first 100 customers who check in on a given day. Use a small but popular product for this–something lots of customers want but won’t cost you a lot to give away.
3.  Enter customers in a sweepstakes or other contest when they show you proof that they checked into your store within a particular amount of time.
4.  Offer a referral program where customers can get a few dollars if they refer other             customers to you via Facebook Places or other check-in programs.The key to getting customers to use check-ins is to offer incentives. The more incentives you can think of, the more likely you are to get customers checking in to your stores.

Logix9 Takes Care of Check-In Software

The other component to check-ins is setting up the software so that customers can check in. If you’re not familiar with the technological requirements, don’t get overwhelmed. You can get help with check-ins from Logix9 and quickly set yourself up to offer them.

Marketing educator Logix9 doesn’t program check-in software, but it can help businesses learn how to access it. You’ll learn all about Facebook Places, Foursquare and other check-in programs from marketing expert Logix9. Study at your own pace via online modules and ask Logix9 staff any questions. Soon you’ll be able to reap the rewards of using check-ins to promote your business.