How to Get More Customers and Increase Foot Traffic

By EODIGO Editorial · Updated October 1, 2026

Short answer: To get more customers, first make sure people can find you on Google Search, Maps, and listing sites with correct hours and fresh photos. Then make your entrance and signs inviting, and give first-time visitors a simple reason to try you. Finally, bring people back with great service, loyalty perks, and easy word of mouth.

In this guide

The three stages of getting more customers
Stage 1: Get found (ideas 1-5)
Stage 2: Get them in the door (ideas 6-10)
Stage 3: Bring them back (ideas 11-15)
Tips for businesses in tourist areas
Tips for welcoming Korean travelers
Should you try business promotion with discounts or ads?
Get found by Korean travelers on EODIGO

The three stages of getting more customers

Every new customer goes through the same path. First they find you. Then they decide to walk in or book. Then they decide whether to come back and tell friends. If you lose people at any stage, more advertising will not fix it.

So before you spend money, look at each stage. Are people finding you? If yes, are they coming in? If yes, are they coming back? Start with the weakest stage. The 15 ideas below are grouped by stage so you can pick the right ones.

None of these ideas can guarantee new customers. Every area and business is different. But they are the basics that most successful local businesses get right.

Stage 1: Get found (ideas 1-5)

Online visibility comes first. Many people, and most travelers, search on their phone before they choose where to go. If you do not show up, or your info looks old, they pick someone else.

1. Complete your Google Business ProfileIt is free and appears on Google Search and Maps. Fill in every field: category, hours, phone, website, photos, and menu or services. Google says complete and accurate information helps your local ranking. Follow our Google Business Profile guide.
2. Get listed on other sitesAdd your business to Apple Maps, Yelp, Tripadvisor, and other directories your customers use. Keep your name, address, and phone the same everywhere. See our list of free business listing sites.
3. Add fresh photos oftenPhotos help people picture themselves at your place. Add real photos of your food, rooms, services, team, and entrance. Update them every week or two.
4. Ask for reviews and reply to themAsk happy customers to leave a review. Reply to every review, good or bad, politely. Google lists responding to reviews as one way to improve your local presence. Never pay for reviews. For more, read local SEO and reviews.
5. Use the words people searchDescribe what you sell in plain words customers use, like "Korean BBQ," "foot massage," or "airport car rental." Put them in your description, menu, and posts. Do not stuff keywords into your business name. Google's guidelines do not allow it.

Stage 2: Get them in the door (ideas 6-10)

Now people know you exist. The next job is to turn a look into a visit. This is where foot traffic is won or lost, often in just a few seconds.

6. Make your sign easy to readPeople should know what you are from across the street. Use a short line like "Fresh Poke & Plate Lunch" instead of only your name. Light it well at night.
7. Make the entrance welcomingClean windows, open doors when weather allows, good lighting, and a clear path in. Remove clutter. A dark or messy entrance makes people walk past.
8. Show prices and menus outsideMany people will not walk in if they cannot see prices. Put a menu or price board by the door. Photos of your best items help even more.
9. Give first-time visitors a reason to try youOffer something small and easy: a free drink with a meal, a short add-on treatment, or a first-visit discount. Keep it simple and set an end date so it does not become your normal price.
10. Make booking and contact easyShow your phone number, booking link, and messaging options on your profiles and at the door. Answer calls and messages quickly. A missed call is often a lost customer.

Stage 3: Bring them back (ideas 11-15)

A customer who comes back is worth much more than a one-time visit. Returning customers also bring friends. This is how word of mouth marketing really works: great experiences people want to talk about.

11. Remember your regularsLearn names and favorite orders. A simple "The usual?" makes people feel at home. Train staff to do the same.
12. Start a simple loyalty programA punch card or a points app works. Keep the reward easy to reach, like a free item after a few visits.
13. Stay in touchCollect emails or phone numbers with permission. Send a short note when you have a new item, a holiday special, or an event. Do not send too often.
14. Make it easy to shareCreate one photo-worthy moment: a signature dish, a nice wall, or a view. Show your social handle near it. People share what looks good.
15. Partner with nearby businessesTrade referrals with hotels, tour desks, and shops that serve the same customers but do not compete with you. A salon and a nearby cafe can recommend each other.

Tips for businesses in tourist areas

In places like Hawaii, Guam, and Saipan, many customers are visitors staying only a few days. They do not know the area. They depend on their phones, hotel staff, and what they see as they walk. Plan for that.

Think about traveler routes. Where do visitors walk between their hotel, the beach, shopping, and attractions? Put signs, flyers, or partnerships along those paths.
Work with hotel front desks and concierges. Drop off a clean, one-page menu or price list with a map. Visit again every few months.
Show info in more than one language. A short menu or service list in Japanese, Korean, or Chinese can help, depending on who visits your area.
Post clear hours and holiday hours. Travelers often search late or early. Wrong hours lead to bad reviews.
Make payment easy. Show which cards and payment apps you accept at the door.
See local pages for Hawaii, Guam, and Saipan.

Tips for welcoming Korean travelers

Korean visitors are an important group in many US tourist areas. A few small changes can make them feel welcome and more likely to walk in.

Add a Korean name or short Korean description. Even one line helps travelers recognize what you offer.
Use a photo menu. Pictures with prices remove the language barrier. Number the items so people can point or say the number.
Explain tipping kindly. Tipping is not a local custom in South Korea, so many visitors are unsure what to do. A short, polite note on the menu or receipt explaining how tipping works in the US, and whether service is included, avoids confusion on both sides.
Show prices with tax info. Say whether prices include tax, since this can surprise visitors.
Be listed where Koreans look. Korean travelers often search in Korean, on Korean apps and directories.

Should you try business promotion with discounts or ads?

Discounts and paid ads can bring in new people, but they work best after the basics are in place. If your profile is incomplete or your reviews are weak, ads may just send people to a page that does not convince them.

Use discounts for a clear goal, like getting first-time visitors or filling slow hours. Avoid constant deep discounts, which can train people to wait for deals. For paid options, see how to advertise your business. For no-cost ideas, see free advertising ideas. To put it all together, use our one-page marketing plan.

Get found by Korean travelers on EODIGO

EODIGO is a free directory Korean travelers use to find local businesses. The Standard listing is free, we write the Korean description for you, and there is no commission. Pro ($30/mo) and Premium ($200/mo) plans are coming soon.

It covers Stage 1 for Korean visitors: being found in their own language. List your business for free. See examples for restaurants, tours, and hotels.

FAQ

My customers dropped. What should I do first?

Check the basics before spending money. Look at your Google profile and listings: are hours, phone, and photos correct? Read recent reviews for a pattern. Check whether something nearby changed, like construction or a new competitor. Ask regulars what they think. Fix the biggest problem first, then try new ideas.

Do discounts work to get more customers?

They can help people try you for the first time or fill slow hours. They work best when short, simple, and tied to a clear goal. Constant deep discounts can hurt your profit and teach people to wait for deals. Great service is what brings them back.

How do I create word of mouth?

Give people something worth talking about: a signature item, friendly service, or a small surprise. Make it easy to share with a photo spot and your social handle. Ask happy customers to tell a friend or leave a review. Never pay for reviews or offer rewards for positive ones.

What is the fastest way to increase foot traffic?

Make sure people can see what you sell and what it costs from the street, and that your hours and photos are correct on Google Maps. These are quick fixes. Results still depend on your location and season, so no method is guaranteed.

How can I grow my business with no budget?

Focus on free steps: complete your Google Business Profile, list on free sites, post fresh photos, reply to reviews, and build partnerships with nearby businesses. These cost time, not money.

Sources

This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. Features and prices of other services change; check each official page.