How to Use Lighting to Entice Customers

When running a business, we are always looking for new ways to bring in new customers. Most people will look to marketing, whether it be billboards or social media, to promote their company. However, there are a few other techniques we should be applying.

There's no doubt that technology plays a huge role in drawing in clientele, and a great way to use it to our advantage is through lighting. Perhaps not the most thought about method, but it can do the trick.

From an outdoor light box sign to cozy indoor lights, let's delve a little deeper into the world of bright and beautiful to see how lights can open the door to many more customers. 

To Set the Atmosphere

How many times have we walked into a bar or restaurant because it looks inviting? Of course, it has something to do with the layout and design, but the lighting is one of the most important aspects and can be what makes us walk in to dine or choose somewhere else.

For most drinking and eating establishments, dimmer lighting is what brings in most clients. On a cold and rainy evening, low lighting and a fireplace can do the job. Even in summer, we'd much prefer to sit in a dimly lit bar than one with bright white lights. There's something about a bright light that doesn't make people want to go inside.

On The Other Hand:

If heading to a shopping mall, we don't want them to be dark. Bright lights are perfect here and help people see the products. They are much more likely to buy something in a well-lit store as no one wants to be shopping with low yellow lighting.

In the dressing rooms, it changes again, however. If the lights are a little dimmer, we are going to look better in the mirror. Bright lights will highlight everything we don't like about our bodies, so keeping it low means that people look better in what they try on, so they are more likely to purchase something from the store. This is fantastic for business.  

Outdoor Lights

For a restaurant or bar that has outdoor seating areas, string lights are a great idea. It looks inviting from afar and makes us feel warm and relaxed. This is one of the first impressions people will get from a place, so using lights to create the perfect effect will get folks inside. 

For shops, bars, and restaurants, it's an excellent idea to have a sign that will light up in the evening or spotted lighting around the outside. The more it stands out, the better, so people will see it from far away.

If it's a museum or theatre in question, the best way to go is with some big outdoor lighting signs. Exhibitions should be on show for all to see, and in Broadway, people will be drawn in by the bigger and better signs. 

Use Contrast Effectively

Another top tip for getting clients inside is to play around with the lighting. If everything is lit the same, it can look quite dull. Using a mixture of different shades of yellow lighting with different brightness is very enticing to clientele. 

A great example of this is a clothing store. The lights in the shop tend to be bright, but you may see low LEDs around the bottom of a shelf, for example. It makes things look better presented and can even give the impression of a higher quality shop.

Use Accents

In some places, it can be useful to use some accents. It might be a spotlight on a specific product or a particular part of the shop or bar. It's usually about three times brighter than other lights to get the most substantial effect. 

It can do wonders for any business but works best in smaller establishments. An accent in a large place can get lost and won't have the same effect. It's also more common for smaller stores to want to sell a specific product more, and they may not have sufficient staff to be showing every customer around like the bigger ones. 

Backlights to Highlight

In shop windows, a backlight to highlight a poster or special offer will attract more people. It's an excellent marketing strategy. A big shop window that promotes the latest products that's bright and enticing will sell a lot more of the item. Having it on a manakin just doesn't have the same effect. 

This can also be used in busy bars to entice new customers or even to light up their drinks menu on the wall inside or outside. Passers-by are more likely to stop and look at the menu if it's well lit from behind. 

Use Colors the Right Way

Some people are huge fans of colorful lights. It can either make or break a business, however. Too much can look a little cheap, and people might stay away from the place. Using color in the right setting can do a lot of good.

As it's rarely used, in a shop, color can create a few different moods and sell a product. They can elicit moods and feelings in the consumers and even influence how they feel about something. For example, if an item has a little shed of red light on it, it could mean something romantic and may encourage buyers to purchase an item for a loved one. 

Colorful lighting is also perfect for special events. In a bar during St. Patrick's Day, more people are going to head inside if it's decorated with the green theme and even emerald lights. At Christmas, customers tend to head for places with Christmas themed lighting, like gold, red, and green.

It may seem a little simple to some, but using lighting for different seasons and holidays can work well for a business.

Vertical Lights Make a Difference

Who would have thought it, but it's true. When potential customers are wandering past a store, they usually see the vertical set up first. It's their first impression of a place and is actually very important. 

Instead of using a spotlight directly above a product, which can make it look dark, it's a far better idea to use vertical strip lighting down the sides. It accentuates all sides of the item and will make the entire room seem a lot more spacious. 

Change it up During the Day

This one goes for restaurants and bars. Depending on the hour, the lighting should be monitored. As it gets later on into the evening, the lights can be dimmed and can be accompanied by the right music. 

As the night draws in and people have been there for a long time, they will stay longer if the lighting slowly goes down. They'll feel more and more comfortable there and will stay instead of moving on to another place.

Let There Be Light

So next time we start thinking about ways to market a business and gain new customers that come back time and again, we should focus a little more on the lighting. It could make a huge difference and will be the deciding factor of why many choose to enter or walk away.