Benefits of Providing Free Wi-Fi to your Customers, and How to do it Right

Offering free Wi-Fi used to be viewed as quite unusual, and many businesses thought it was unnecessary and a waste of resources. However, times are continually changing, and free Wi-Fi is increasingly becoming an expectation among many customers. People want to access the internet whenever they come to your premises. It’s understandable since we live at an age when working remotely and freelancing is becoming quite popular. As such, your customers will need to continue their work without being confined at home or in their office.

It’s not unusual to find some of your customers want to grab a bite of a doughnut or a cup of coffee while comfortably doing their work on whatever device they have. When you offer them an increased Wi-F signal, you enhance their experience, which can increase their loyalty to your brand significantly. Despite this, some entrepreneurs feel that free Wi-Fi is only an added expense and an avenue for attracting loiters. They see it as a waste of resources, but you’d be surprised by what free Wi-Fi can do for your business if you do it right.

Customers get to stay within your premises longer.

Every business wants its customers to stick around. You stand to gain more when your clients stay longer. For instance, if you own a bar, it would be in your best interest to have your customers hang out there for greater periods of time. Likewise, if you have an automotive shop, your Wi-Fi will offer patience to your customers, which has a massive impact on their experience. With Wi-Fi boosters, you can increase the range and strength of your connection, and your customers will also linger around your shop for long, and chances are they’ll spend more during that time. The more time they spend in the shop, the higher the chances of finding an item they need. They could also come across something that attracts them and decide to purchase it. Free Wi-Fi also triggers impulse purchases, which can be quite profitable for your brand.

Helps to attract new customers

The internet has changed our way of life entirely. There’s so much to do online, and that’s why people seek Wi-Fi wherever they go. Businesses like pubs, restaurants, and cafes can attract new customers whenever they have Wi-Fi since people can continue with their online activities comfortably. Also, according to research, most people find it awkward going to some of these places alone and staring into thin air. With Wi-Fi, your customers will feel comfortable sitting alone and drive their attention to various online platforms. You attract more customers while keeping them happy as well.

Enhances customer retention

Free Wi-Fi does more than increase customer experience when people engage with your brand for the first time. It increases the odds of new customers becoming loyal clients to your business. Research indicates that nearly 80% of people that shop with a free Wi-Fi business, are more likely to return to make more purchases. It’s interesting to know that one of the things that most companies struggle with the most is trying to get hold of their new customers. When you make your Wi-Fi easily accessible, you can bet most of your customers will continue coming back. You can also use the Wi-Fi to identify how many people come back as well as notice new customers who access your Wi-Fi by putting the password for the first time.

Enables your business to gain a competitive edge

Consumers have gotten used to staying online all the time, and one of their expectations these days is access to the internet wherever they go. If your business doesn’t have free Wi-Fi, you can rest assured that nothing will stop your potential customers from going to the next company that has free Wi-Fi. Before long, you’ll be losing too many customers that would have been your loyal customers. With a secure Wi-Fi connection, many people will have your business as their favourite workplace. They will be more likely to keep coming back than going elsewhere where they are not connecting and aren’t sure if the Wi-Fi connection is stable.

Improves foot traffic

Businesses go far and beyond to market themselves, but it’s harder to get new customers than most people think. You might put on a sign at the corner of the street hoping to increase your foot traffic, but people are starting to use GPS when they want to figure out the location. The use of Social mapping services is on the rise. When your business has free Wi-Fi, it becomes effortless for customers to trace it, especially when they are looking for specific amenities such as free Wi-Fi. One of the significant benefits of free Wi-Fi is that it puts your business on the map, which facilitates recognition from people who wouldn’t otherwise know about you.

However, providing Wi-Fi alone is not adequate if you want to reap the benefits it comes along with. You have to do it right, and this is how;

Ensure the connection is strong

Connectivity has seen tremendous improvements from the age of 2G to the rise of 4G connection in most parts of the world. People now rely on fast and reliable internet and when setting up your Wi-Fi, you can’t offer any less. Customers get easily frustrated when they realize that a Wi-Fi connection is not living up to their expectations and can convince them to find a solution elsewhere.

A slow connection can also damage your reputation and affect your brand significantly if your cell phone connection lacks significantly. Make sure you have a reliable connection throughout by getting a phone signal booster for your home or workspace.

Check your access points.

Optimal performance is essential to any Wi-Fi connection, and to achieve it, you must check the access points and ensure they are well placed.

Make sure your connection is secure.

When your business provides Wi-Fi, it is available to the public. It means that many people will connect to it using different devices that carry a lot of personal information. It is your responsibility to guarantee the safety of all that information. You can consider using the latest firmware update to ensure your security features are functioning correctly.

Installing Wi-Fi to your business is one of the investment plans you won’t regret. It enhances your productivity and, if used well, can guarantee growth over time. However, don’t just claim you have Wi-Fi and expect that will be all. It must be a secure connection that won’t inconvenience your customers.