10 Steps To Increase Traffic to Your Gas Station

How many gas stations and convenience stores are within two miles of your locations?  For most regions of America, it’s easy for consumers to find a gas station wherever they are.  Simply pull up Google Maps and search for gas stations–you’ll see red “pinpoints” light up your screen.

Attracting and retaining customers to your locations should be one of your team’s top priorities.  Luckily, there are many tactics you can use to meet this objective.  Here are ten plans you can implement right away to increase traffic to your gas station.

1. Visibility – How easy is it for customers to find you? Take some time to see your businesses through your consumers’ eyes and ask yourselves these questions:  When you perform an internet search for gas stations in your area, does your company show up?  Do you have a “Google My Business” account?  Do navigation software programs identify your locations correctly?  Is your signage bright and visible from the road?  Now’s the time to make sure customers can find you regardless of how they search.
2. Accessibility – How easy is it for customers to enter and exit your business? Many consumers, particularly those hauling trailers, driving RV’s, or navigating commercial vehicles, will decide which fuel station to visit depending on how easy it is to get in and out of the parking lot and return to the main thoroughfare.  You may not be able to alter the roads if your accessibility is challenging, but adding directional signage and using traffic flow arrows on your parking lot can help.
3. Visual appeal – Does your business look modern, clean, and inviting? Visitors want to feel safe and secure at your place of business.  Giving your facilities a fresh coat of paint, replacing dim or non-functioning lights, cleaning windows, hiding dumpsters, weeding flower beds, and sweeping the grounds routinely will show your care.  Simply making sure your team members are completing daily checklists of simple maintenance tasks will give customers confidence about the quality of your products and the safety of your location.
4. Cleanliness – How sanitary is your facility? The COVID-19 pandemic increased the emphasis customers place on cleanliness.  It’s more important than ever that restroom facilities are kept very clean and in functional condition.  Employees should sanitize shelves, countertops, and fixtures throughout the store routinely.  Installing a hand sanitizer dispenser near doorways will assure the most cautious customers of your facility’s cleanliness.
5. Products and services – Are you a one-stop-shop? Customers have increasingly busy lives and choose places of business where they can complete more than one errand at one time.  It’s easy to start with a full review of your convenience store inventory to make sure you have the products consumers need most readily available.  Adding grab-and-go meals is an easy way to add value to your store.  With more significant investment, building a carwash will add functionality for your customers with little addition to staffing requirements.
6. Word of mouth referrals – What are customers saying about your business? Once your customers have a great experience at your location, you’ll want them to share their opinions with others.  Encourage word-of-mouth referrals by asking for them.  Include messaging on your receipts, store signage, and website asking customers to share their experiences with friends and family.
7. Advertising and promotions – What deals are you offering your customers? B1G1 and other promotional deals are very attractive to consumers.  Modern POS systems make pricing and tracking promotional discounts easy.  Changing up promotions will keep customers engaged and introduce them to new products.
8. Loyalty programs and partnerships – How are you rewarding repeat customers? Consumers enjoy getting rewards from loyalty programs.  You can boost the value of your program by partnering with other local businesses to cross-promote products and increase sales.
9. Social media – Are customers following you? People like to do business with companies they relate to.  Sharing fun and inspiring stories on social media help customers learn about your culture.  Like-minded customers are more likely to choose you when they need to fuel up and increase traffic.
10. Customer service – How are your team members engaging with customers? One of the easiest ways to retain customers and generate positive referrals is by treating each customer with dignity and respect.  Training and retraining employees in customer service standards, problem resolution, and professionalism will pay off a thousand-fold.

Our teams at GP Energy work with business owners to create strategies and implement programs to increase traffic and boost bottom-line profitability.  Contact us today to learn more about how we can help your company achieve success!