If there’s one thing that cities have an abundance of, it’s bars. They’re at every corner and all of them try to be unique in their own way in order to attract people. But how do you gain popularity in such a saturated market?
The answer is, of course, social media. Social media platforms have been the main marketing weapon for a few years now, and by the looks of it, they will continue to be. But there are a few orders of business to get through before you create a social media account for your bar a launch your first social media campaign.
1. What makes your bar unique?
The first step is to decide what makes your bar different from all the others. Is it the theme, the beer, or maybe the interior design?
Different types of bars demand different types of marketing and design, for example, if your bar was a music bar, you would focus on the music aspect and promoting live events. If, on the other hand, you have a dining bar, you would probably put the focus on food and drinks. There are also bars that show sports and have trivia nights, so those are always great when people want to have fun and drink with their friends.
2. Hire a photographer
This step is important for all kinds of businesses, but when it comes to nightclubs and bars, I dare say it’s crucial. When companies are taking pictures of their employees and the building, it’s to show customers who they are, but when it comes to bars and nightclubs, it’s far more important.
You need a professional photographer to capture the unique atmosphere of your bar, people having fun with their friends, and the food and drinks that you serve. If this may not seem like it’s worth it and you think that you can take a few pictures on your phone and save up, remember, you will be able to use these professionally shot photos for a number of things.
Aside from Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and other social media, you can also post them on your Google Business Profile, which is of significant importance. You will pay the photographer once, but the photos will be useful until you change the appearance of your bar and decide to promote the new look.
Keep in mind, how people see you on the internet is everything.
3. Google My Business
Google My Business is a free and quite useful service that Google offers to businesses and there’s really no catch to it.
In this day and age, having a GMB listing is pretty much necessary if you want people to find your bar. This service, which is especially useful for local businesses (like bars), allows you to control how people see your bar in the search results. People are now more than ever googling restaurants and bars near them, often using voice search while they’re getting ready to go out, and GMB is there to give them all the information they might need about a place.
Google My Business listings include the address of your business, working hours, a phone number, directions (so people can see it on the Google map), reviews, questions and answers, and maybe most importantly, photos of your bar.
Include professionally shot photos
Since you’re the one who controls your listing, you can edit and select which photos you want your listing to show. You can use an image of the outside of your bar, so people can recognize it when they’re near it, photos of the inside, so you can capture the atmosphere, and photos of the food and drinks that you serve.
If you decided to hire a professional photographer, you can use all the photos they took for you, and make sure that your GMB listing looks as professional as possible.
When creating your GMB listing, make sure to fill out all the spaces and include all the necessary information and keywords, such as the bar and the type of your bar. Remember, if you leave something out or think that something could be improved, you can always edit it later.
4. Why use social media?
You’re probably wondering why social media is such a popular marketing tool. It is not only popular; it has actually become essential and here’s why:
- There are 3.48 billion social media users currently in 2019
- 54% of social media users use the platforms to research products
- 71% of customers who have experienced good customer care on social media with a business are more likely to recommend it to others
- 58% of social media users have said that they prefer visual over text content
- 40% of social media users said that they only become emotionally attached to a brand if they interact on social media
The importance of social media for marketing is undeniable, and when it comes to bars, they’re a great free way of promotion.
Posting is free
If you’ve just bought a bar or have owned one for a while, but are just deciding to go online, trust me, you’re not making a mistake. Aside from the fact that creating social media accounts is free, one of the greatest benefits of them is that you also post for free.
If you’ve decided to organize a special night at your bar, for example, discounted drinks or karaoke night, make a graphic and post it on all your social media accounts.
This is a great way to promote an event and you’re also not paying any money for a local TV commercial. Also, the chances are bigger that people will see it on social media than on TV since more and more people are watching content on streaming services instead of paying for cable.
5. Marketing inspiration
If you’re not sure what to post about, here are a few tips:
1. Look at what others are posting
It is actually highly recommended that you look at how your competition is doing. Scroll through their social media profiles and see which of their posts are getting the most likes. Pay attention to how they’re structured, what they’re saying, if they contain images and if they do, what do those images look like, etc. Never copy them, instead, use them for research.
2. Think about your target audience
Speaking the same language as your target audience is very important.
Focus on your target audience and think of what they like. If you’re running a sports bar, posting about sports is the way to go, because that’s why your customers are following you. People also like funny posts and memes, and this goes for all types of bars. If you’re not sure who your target audience is and what they’re into, social media platforms offer all sorts of analytical tools that will help you learn a lot about your followers.
These tools can show you which of your posts gained the most popularity, shares, and likes, so you can make more of those.
Related: Best social media management tools!
6. Some examples of great posts
Wrapping up
It is hard to stand out in any saturated market, but with social media, a good photographer and the right posts, it is definitely doable. Bonus points if your bar is unique and you have the knowledge and inspiration to make posts your followers will like.
If there are any other tips for social media bar promotion that you can think of, drop them in the comments!
