How Internet Can Drive Customers to Your Furniture Store

Launching a website is just one step of the overall equation when it comes to internet. Web 2.0 or otherwise known as social media, which includes applications such as Twitter, blogs, and Facebook, enable furniture stores to communicate with their customers like never before. Most consumers interested in purchasing furniture do their research online before stepping into any store. Now, the latest store promotions, specials, or new product introductions can travel at the speed of light to possible customers. It's a whole new world that doesn't rely on typical forms of advertising such as television commercials, direct mail, newspaper ads, or circulars. Brick and mortar furniture stores need to embrace this new technology.

Google, the most popular internet search engine for the last decade or so, will receive 38,000 searches for the "furniture" keyword in the next 45 minutes. That's just one word which relates to the home furnishings industry. Imagine how many other words or keyword phrases are searched every day. Can any form of traditional media offer that? "Online entities" that sell furniture rely on this. Why shouldn't a brick and mortar store as well? However, the advantage of brick and mortar stores that have their own websites is that customers can actually see the furniture, sit on it, open drawers, etc.

A consumer who lives in New Jersey, for example, uses a search engine like Google to search for a "platform bed". By using Search Engine Optimization (SEO) methods, website store owners can ensure that this consumer will find the store's website for that particular phrase. Now, consumers will stumble upon "online entities" that sell furniture but most consumers still prefer to physically see that platform bed in a real store. Perhaps, this consumer is also using his or her Facebook to ask fellow friends about platform beds. The friends will provide context about platform beds and indicate local furniture stores in New Jersey that carry platform beds and perhaps send them to the store's website.

Social media websites like Twitter and Facebook can be used to showcase the store's clearance sales, other specials, new products, and more. They become fans on Facebook of furniture stores that give them value or are of interest to them. Today's consumers are much busier and not many open up their latest Yellow Pages. With internet, they get their information on demand, whenever they want it.

It's time for brick and mortar stores that carry furniture in New Jersey or anywhere else to embrace the internet and offer consumers what no other "internet entity" can.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tony_Zovko