10 Ways to Engage Customers in the Home Improvement Shopping Experience

Customer engagement fosters a stronger emotional connection between businesses and their customers. Engaged customers tend to develop brand loyalty, make repeat purchases, and become advocates for the company within their networks. According to Gallup research, successfully engaged customers represent an average 23% premium in share of wallet, profitability, revenue, and relationship growth compared to average customers.

In this article, we will explore 10 strategies that can help you enhance your customer shopping journey, engage your audience, and seamlessly guide them through the marketing funnel.

Starting with the Online Store

With more than 60% of purchases starting with online research, captivating users in the digital world is crucial. The online store offers a dynamic platform to connect and make a lasting impact. Let's start by exploring strategies for online shopping. 

Invest in Visual Content

It's fascinating to note that 90% of the information processed by the brain is visual, and the human brain can process an image in just 13 milliseconds. This underscores the undeniable power of visual content.

Elevating your product presentations with high-quality images, captivating videos, and interactive 3D visuals is the most straightforward way to engage website visitors in the shopping process. Interestingly, 72% of consumers prefer watching a video about a product rather than reading about it.

By embracing rich content, users can virtually place your materials within the context of their own homes, helping them visualize the transformation. This immersive experience sparks creativity and emotional connection, thereby increasing the likelihood of a purchase. 

Offer Personalized Product Recommendations

AI-driven algorithms can analyze users' past behaviors and preferences to make personalized product recommendations and suggest complementary finishing materials. By tailoring suggestions to individual needs, you demonstrate a profound understanding of your customers’ tastes, fostering a sense of personalization that resonates positively with users. Which in turn will help you grow revenue. Recent statistics reveal that after receiving personalized recommendations, 49% of consumers have purchased unplanned items.

Interest Users with VR and AR Technologies

Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) technologies significantly enhance user engagement. These innovative tools can transport users into a virtual environment, allowing them to explore your products in lifelike settings. Users can wander through simulated interiors, visualize various combinations of finishing materials, and gain an understanding of their potential. The emotional impact of this experience strengthens the user's connection with your brand and products.

Engage Users through Live Chat

Live chat serves as a bridge to engage users on a personal level during their home improvement shopping journey. Real-time communication allows you to seamlessly address their questions, provide instant assistance, and guide them through their decision-making process.

By offering a direct and immediate connection with your sales specialists, you create a space for personalized recommendations, quick problem-solving, and genuine interaction. Whether users seek advice on product features, need help with choices, or simply want to explore options, live chat empowers them with the information and confidence they need to make a purchase. 

Use Gamification Elements

Gamification taps into the innate human desire for engagement and competition, cultivating a sense of excitement that keeps users actively participating. Reward users with badges, discounts, or exclusive offers for completing specific actions. Encourage them to explore different product categories, share content, or refer friends. For instance, you can implement a loyalty program where users can earn points for engaging actions and redeem them for discounts or exclusive items.

Transitioning to the Offline Store

While online stores offer convenience and accessibility, offline shopping remains a cornerstone in the home improvement industry. Many customers still prefer to see samples and interact with products. Let's see what innovative tactics can bridge the gap between the physical and digital sales channels, enhancing the home improvement shopping journey.

Give Customers a Way to Take Action

Customer engagement thrives when interaction is a two-way street. Rather than maintaining your brand as the sole active participant, let your customers respond and engage. Implement in-store content platforms that facilitate conversation, grant control over the shopping experience, and manage purchases.

For example, you can install interactive displays throughout your space, allowing customers to control their in-store experience by signing in, setting up appointments, making purchases, and managing their accounts. Offer free WiFi in-store and use WiFi marketing for customized messages and digital experiences.

Host In-Store Events

Live events hold powerful potential for customer engagement and influencing purchasing decisions. By regularly hosting workshops and demonstrations in your physical store or showroom, you provide a platform for new experiences involving your brand and products. Invite designers and experts to showcase effective techniques for using your finishing materials. This hands-on approach not only educates customers but also encourages them to interact with your products in a tactile way. Live events have the potential to leave a lasting impression, solidify brand loyalty, and ultimately shape purchasing decisions.

Use Signage

Signage, a powerful visual tool, can play a pivotal role in engaging customers during the shopping process. Utilize signage to highlight key features, benefits, and real-life applications of your finishing materials. Incorporate QR codes that link to online resources or additional product details.

Create Design Spaces

Set up collaborative design spaces where customers can work with your design experts to plan and visualize their home improvement projects. This interactive approach fosters a sense of co-creation and involvement. In-house designers can help you sell more products, increase average spending, upsell and cross-sell products, and enhance customer satisfaction by guiding customers toward choices that suit their unique needs.

Set up Customer Feedback and Idea Board

Encourage customers to share their ideas, suggestions, and project plans on dedicated idea boards within your store. To create such a board, simply provide a space where customers can post their thoughts and concepts, whether through digital interfaces or physical boards. This initiative not only creates a sense of community but also provides valuable insights for enhancing your offerings.

In the end, we want to remind you one more time that happy customers equal loyal customers, stability, and high revenue. We hope these ten innovative strategies will serve you as pillars for captivating users throughout their home improvement shopping journey. By embracing visual content, personalization, cutting-edge technologies, interactive experiences, and community engagement, you can forge lasting connections and enrich the overall customer experience.