Introducing Similar Store: Heightening Visibility on Key Competitor Real Estate

Capturing a shopper’s attention at the right moment is crucial in today’s dynamic retail environment. Political and economic uncertainty has amplified the need for deal-seeking, making consumers even more likely to explore alternatives and less loyal to specific brands.

For retailers, the opportunity lies in their ability to connect with these shoppers early in their decision-making process. But to do so, retailers must draw shoppers in with compelling offers and the promise of value.

Similar Store transforms everyday browsing into pivotal moments of discovery and demand

Similar Store offers a targeted solution, increasing brand visibility precisely when shoppers are most receptive and actively exploring available options. By placing your brand directly on competitor websites, merchants gain an additional opportunity to reach a highly receptive audience.

Here’s how it works in more detail.

1. Categorical affinity
When a shopper browses a site not in the Rakuten ecosystem, the Rakuten browser extension surfaces an alternative “Similar Store” recommendation for consideration.

2. Intuitive experience
This on-site prompt aligns perfectly with the extension’s user-centric design. The store recommendation appears in the top right-hand corner of the screen, maximizing discoverability without disrupting the user experience.

• The Similar Store placement avoids blocking key site functionality and leverages the familiar top-right location – where Extension users have grown accustomed to looking at when hunting for deals.

3. Enticing Cash Back incentives
Shoppers are immediately informed of compelling Cash Back offers, incentivizing them away from the competitor site and instead redirecting to the Rakuten partner store to begin their shopping journey and capitalize on the savings.

A proven formula for success

At its core, Similar Store builds upon Rakuten’s proven formula for success: delivering the right message to a receptive audience at an influential moment.

• Relevant Messaging: Cash Back remains a primary engagement driver for Rakuten shoppers. Strategically highlighting relevant Cash Back offers continues to resonate strongly with our audience.
• Impressionable Moments: Similar Store subtly introduces your brand right as a shopper begins their journey on a competitor’s site. At this early stage, shoppers are often less tied to a specific product or brand, creating a more open and receptive environment for discovery.
• Prime Real Estate: Similar Store’s competitive edge lies in its ability to advertise directly on competitor sites. This precise targeting eliminates ambiguity: we reach shoppers who have demonstrated a strong affinity for a particular store through their direct visits.
• The Right Audience: Rakuten’s extension users demonstrate a clear opt-in through their continued usage and reliance on the browser extension. Their repeated engagement signals a high level of interest in finding deals and savings. Time and again, they demonstrate a willingness to adjust their purchasing behavior based on Rakuten’s recommendations.

Top-of-funnel growth continues to drive future advertising efficiencies
While performance metrics like clicks, activated trips, and sales demonstrate the value of Similar Store to merchants, the placement also offers significant, though less quantifiable, brand lift.

Branding is fundamentally about building brand recall and familiarity. Increased visibility on competitor sites, even without immediate conversions, can drive future gains. As brand familiarity grows, subsequent marketing efforts see increased engagement and response from audiences.

Similar Store empowers merchants to capitalize on market trends and seasonal shopping events. While traditional retail holidays drive significant traffic and sales for competitors, Similar Store provides a unique opportunity to capture incremental value. Even amidst the shopping frenzy, Rakuten partner merchants can leverage the increased traffic to competitor sites by redirecting engaged shoppers back to their own online stores. This allows them to benefit from the overall surge in consumer interest and awareness, turning competitor traffic into potential customers.

Campaign Spotlight: A Cookware Retailer wins over competitor’s shoppers

One specialty retailer in the cookware and home electronics space experienced an immediate boost to their top-of-funnel program through the Extension takeover banner.

By pairing the takeover banner with key promotions, the brand achieved increased exposure against two high-priority competitors. This strategic approach drove a 4% incremental lift in sales performance and a 13% lift in shopping trips during the peak holiday season.

Keeping your brand in the conversation
In a market where consumer loyalty is waning, Similar Store provides a crucial competitive advantage. By strategically positioning your brand on competitor sites, you can capture the attention of deal-seeking shoppers with a compelling offer and redirect them to your own site at the moment they’re most receptive.

Request more information about Similar Store here.