One of the major issues from the COVID-19 pandemic has been the demise of so many businesses in the hospitality trade. Sadly many bars, pubs, restaurants, and cafes never reopened. For the ones that have survived, you are in a leaner industry but still face fierce competition.
A key way to stand out from that competition is how you present and market your business. Here are some expert tips to help you plan an effective marketing strategy.
Presenting the business
At the heart of any marketing strategy is the assessment of what you are marketing. What is the business about? What does it offer? How does it present itself to customers and what impression does it make on them?
Marketing a laid back coffee house will be very different to marketing a Michelin star restaurant. The customers visiting a sports bar in a small town may be different to those using an expensive cocktail lounge in the centre of the city.
How the business is presented to the people you want to bring through the door is crucial. You need to think further than your front window and website and bring all the elements together cohesively. This includes:
- The decor of the business – what it looks like when you step inside the door
- The staff uniforms, the tables and the layout of the key elements
- The signage outside the building, signs in the windows and other visual marketing elements inside the premises
- How the food and drink is presented
- How much continuity there is between your business premises, your marketing and your website
Mastering traditional + modern marketing
Once you have assessed your premises and made sure you have created the atmosphere you’re striving for, it’s time to move into marketing. For hospitality businesses, the best blend is often a combination of traditional marketing and digital opportunities.
So this might mean that you get new menus that sit on your tables and feature your website. Or you have fliers to pop through the doors of local residents that also feature on your Facebook Page.
Get your branding organised
It’s essential that your branding is recognisable, and cohesive across your printed and digital marketing. The same logo, fonts, colours and tone for everything helps people remember your business.
Combine online and offline
A website, even a simple one, is a great way to get found online. But don’t discount marketing opportunities like newspaper ads, radio promotion or billboard posters in your local area. Blending the traditional routes with the modern is definitely the best way to succeed.
Encourage people to leave reviews
Once you start marketing the business and customers are coming in, encourage them to leave a review if they enjoyed their visit. It’s easy to set up a review option on your website, and these days a presence on third-party apps such as TripAdvisor where reviews can be left is essential. You can then use these reviews in future marketing campaigns as social proof.
Get expert help
Marketing a business successfully can feel like an overwhelming task. When it comes to marketing elements such as menus, posters, banners, business cards, flyers and leaflets, SBS Printing can help. We offer a range of business services to suit your needs and can help with the design as well as creation. Contact us today to find out more.