Now that we are well and truly in summer mode, it is time to start thinking about more innovative ways to market your establishment to ensure you get maximum exposure and visits.
Social Media
Using social media platforms such as Facebook are a sure winner to increase your market presence. Statista reported 1.94 billion monthly active users during the first quarter of 2017.
Adding a promotion code that is unique to Facebook will encourage followers to like and share your content, thus helping you gain more followers and in time, customers. Featuring offers such as discount codes will encourage consumers to visit your business page more frequently in anticipation of more special offers.
This innovative social media app made up of videos and pictures has over 700 million users. It is a very en-trend pass time to take photos of your meals and drinks and upload them to Instagram. This is actually a powerful marketing technique as it is reliant on customers promoting to future/ potential customers.
A customer who has enjoyed a particular delicacy and shared it with their Instagram followers has just marketed your venue, without even giving it much thought. Using appropriate hashtags will allow potential customers to track down your pub or restaurant, just by seeing someone else’s pictures. As a company, Instagram is a very powerful marketing tool, and can be used to capture customers at specific times in the day. For example, adding picture of your daily brunch / lunch specials earlier in the day, is a good way to lure local customers who are pondering where to meet up with friends. A perfect visual will whet the palate and is likely to result in a follow through to sample your service offerings.
Loyalty Cards
Customers love the idea of getting something for nothing, and a points system on a loyalty card is a great incentive to encourage spend. A card that when complete with 8 stamps, equating to 8 purchases of food or drink can be redeemed for a free meal; is an ideal way to reward a customer for their brand loyalty.
Themed Days / Evenings
Arranging ‘special’ days in line with seasonal events is a lovely way to encourage customers to visit your property. For example, during Wimbledon, which has recently taken place, why not have a screen set up to watch the tennis, whilst enjoying a decadent pitcher of pimms, with scrumptious strawberries and cream. Customers especially enjoy being part of a much bigger experience, but at a more and informal local venue.
Business Card Raffle
An ornate fish bowl, strategically placed on the bar counter of your establishment, offering a free meal or bottle of wine for the owner of the lucky business card, chosen at random each month. This is a very easy way to gather contact details on your customers to use in future e-marketing and newsletters. Newsletters are a brilliant way to keep your customers updated on your latest marketing incentives.
Local Media Presence
Contacting local business publications or blog writers, with the offer of a free customer experience of lunch or dinner at your property, in return for a written feature. This is the perfect way to increase your customer base and get people talking, checking out your website and menus and visiting your eatery.
Accessible Menu
In the digital age that we live in, it is very common for potential customers to check out the menu of a pub or restaurant before making a decision on where to dine. It is therefore, of the highest importance to ensure that your most up to date menus are available on line in a good, clear format. A menu that is easy to read on a laptop, tablet and mobile is going to be a definite winner. Always remember to update your online menu when your menu options change.
Now that you have digested our ideas for marketing your properties, don’t forget to check out all of our high quality furniture and accessories to help further enhance a pleasurable customer experience for your clientele, both present and future.
For more information on our extensive range of commercial outdoor furniture and accessories please contact [email protected].