3 things you need to know BEFORE your hospitality marketing launch campaign
Guys, about half the clients who approach us, as a PR and social agency, come in for their launch (or relaunch), spanning public relations, social media and direct marketing. Today, we’re going to talk about the things we wish we could rewind the clock on, and tell clients before they embark on their hospitality launch campaigns.
HIGHLIGHTS
- The best launches are made months prior to launching
- Ask your customers – they have a point
- Get your visual brand HOT
#1. The best launches are made months prior to launching
Start MONTHS before you need your PR launch to kick in. Trust us, this is important.
If we were to put a finger on it, we’d say engage your PR agency (maybe us 😉) 6 months prior to your launch campaign. By engage, we mean ask for a proposal. If they’re any good (again, like us) they’ll leverage the time you have to prep the market. This means your restaurant, bar or venue won’t launch to tumble weeds. No one likes a tumble weed, except cowboys.
Some awesome things that can be done before launch:
– Building an epic social media teaser campaign, we did one for Gregory Hills that generated 10,000 followers before doors opened
– Pre-launch media stories. Check out the ones we got for The Oaks in Broadsheet, Good Food and Concrete Playground
#2. Ask your customers – they have a point
There’s no point in creating a beautiful venue that doesn’t suit your audience. If we had a dollar for the number of restaurant and bar owners who come to us with plans for beautiful venues for themselves, rather than their customers, we’d be the richest agency around (but we’re not, we provide value like that 😉).
Some ways to find out more about customers wants and needs include:
– Surveys – HOT TIP ask them what other food and beverage places they frequent. This will give you ideas
– Focus groups – Get a group of your target customers together and listen, listen, listen
#3.Get your visual brand HOT
In a launch marketing campaign, sexy branding is as important as that pillar holding up the roof – we wouldn’t want either to crash because someone might get hurt. It’s crucial to have a visual brand that will look good on social media, on a poster and even on the back of the toilet door. Today’s fashion is all about minimalism – clean lines and simplified graphics that are eye-catching, transferable and easy to read.
Check out some of Anna’s favourite use of Graphic Design basics for hospitality (restaurants, bars, pubs and clubs) of the year in her latest blog HOW TO GET MORE FOLLOWERS THROUGH DESIGN FOR FOOD AND BEVERAGE BRANDS.
As social media marketers and public relations experts we have some great strategies that can gain your campaign visibility and direct reach within a community Facebook page, whether your launching a new restaurant, venue or pub. Contact us to chat about how we can support you or have a look at some of our work to see the results we deliver.