Digitally marketing a bar or restaurant is no mean feat. Stakes are high, competition is fierce and if it seems like a never-ending task, that’s because it is.
While your business can be deemed successful or not by the amount of feet through the door, getting those feet in can make all the difference, which is where digital marketing can help. We’ve gathered together some quick tips to help with your digital marketing strategy.
Know your audience
It may be the first rule of Marketing 101, but it bears repeating. If you’re targeting the wrong people, your time, efforts (and money) are going to be wasted. Knowing your clientele inside-out will help you to focus your strategy in the places where it’s going to have the most impact.
Sort your website out
While most aspects of digital marketing can be handled alone, having a decent website can’t, but it is worth the money. It doesn’t have to be a huge affair. In fact, for a physical business like a bar or restaurant, a simple, but aesthetically pleasing website is a great choice. Just enough to give people a flavour of what your establishment is like. Any menus should be published, but do remember to update as and when you change.
Mouth-watering photos
Online is the perfect platform to tantalise potential customers with some great photographs. And it’s here you can really play to your strengths. Fancy cocktails, beautiful decor or tasty food make for the perfect marketing content and are eminently Instagrammable.
Ensure you get the best online reviews
Whoever said there’s no such thing as bad PR clearly never had a terrible review on TripAdvisor. Word of mouth is arguably the strongest form of marketing for a hospitality company, and can make or break a business. It may seem you have no control over these, but the best way to ensure you get great reviews is simply by providing top-notch customer service.
Sadly, no matter how hard you try, mistakes are going to happen, or you’re going to end up serving *that* customer who just can’t be pleased. And if you do get a bad review… don’t be the manager who leaves a sweary, embittered response, even when the review wasn’t justified. Awkward.
Competitions or giveaways
Some of the most successful establishments draw in customers by running giveaways or competitions on social media. Not only do these draw traffic to your social media channels (and in some cases, a surprising amount!), but they get the winners through the door, hopefully with their friends or family in tow!
Interact
One of the joys of social media is the ability to interact with your customers – existing or potential. One of the biggest mistakes bar owners can make is to set up social media accounts, post sporadically and not respond to any interactions. People use social media to interact, ask questions and get up-to-date information. If you haven’t got the time to keep on top of them, then don’t set them up in the first place!
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