If you think that your bar can rely on foot traffic and local prominence to stay in business, then you best think again. According to Wordstream, 75% of consumers prefer to use search engines to find local businesses. This means that your prospects won’t likely drive around or consult a phonebook if they want to find a bar in their area.
They’ll open up their laptop (or use their smartphone) to type in local bars in their area, and then they’ll most likely visit one of the top bars on Google Maps. What happens if your bar isn’t even on Google Maps? What happens if you don’t have an online presence at all.
You could lose your customers to your competitors who already have an established digital presence, so you should be mindful to employ effective marketing tactics to keep your bar afloat in 2019. This post will highlight a few bar marketing ideas you can try in 2019.
1.) Pin Yourself on Google Maps
Consumers use Google Maps more than ever to locate local businesses in their area, but often times getting your business featured on this platform isn’t enough. If you have just claimed your Google My Business profile, it can be difficult to woo your prospects from bars that may be at the top of Google Maps.
Fortunately, Google’s new promoted pins allow any local business to promote themselves with an eye-catching purple pin on Google Maps. With a promoted pin, you can even advertise a special deal that can drive foot traffic and increase your sales just from your online presence.
2.) Post Instagram Stories
If you’re running a modern-day bar, chances are that you already have an Instagram profile. However, if you’re just posting pictures, then you’re missing out on all of the benefits Instagram has to offer. Try posting Instagram stories to interact with and engage your followers. Instagram stories are fun and informal and will give your business a chance to take a break from mundane and corporate messaging.
3.) Use Chatbots
With new innovations, people become more accustomed to simplicity. That’s just a fancy way of saying that consumers are pretty lazy. Even if your website possesses all of your business’ information, many of your prospects won’t even take the time to read it. That’s because they want the answers to their questions immediately. Use chatbots to interact with your prospects immediately so they can receive vital information about your bar. This will help to drive foot traffic and increase the user experience of your website.
4.) Partner Up!
A strategic partnership is an age-old business tactic, but it’s still wildly effective today. By establishing a complementary (not a competitive) partnership with another local business, you can receive a free promotion in exchange for the same. For example, if you run a sports bar in a ski town, you can promote a ski life discount on your digital menu in exchange for a few Facebook posts advertising your happy hour cocktails.
Again, it’s important to partner with businesses that won’t compromise your own business in any way. Nonetheless, this sort of partnership won’t cost you a dime, and you’ll receive attention from a new audience.