HOW TO GET YOUR VENUE THE RECOGNITION THAT IT DESERVES

Lately, there’s been a lot of noise in the hospitality industry about venues missing out on prestigious awards and feeling overlooked. With so much competition and limited media space, it’s easy for venues – no matter how great they are – to slip through the cracks. If you’re feeling like your venue deserves more recognition, you’re not alone. But don’t worry, here are a few simple strategies to help ensure your venue is front and center in the media, stays relevant and gets the recognition it truly deserves. 

• Is You Social Media Up To Scratch 

Social media is one of the most powerful tools for keeping your venue in the spotlight. Be consistent with your social media posts, share behind-the-scenes content and engage with your audience. Journalists often turn to social media for inspiration and to see what’s trending. If your venue consistently engages with its audience, posts visually appealing content and creates a strong brand presence, it increases the chances of being noticed by media and being featured. 

Pro Tip: Profile your team behind the venue – your chefs, mixologists and staff. People love connecting with the personalities that make a venue great. 

• Nurture Relationships with Journalists 

In a competitive landscape, building strong relationships with food writers is important. When it comes to getting press, a personal relationship can make all the difference, especially when they’re flooded with pitches. Make sure you stay in touch with key media contacts, invite them for experiences , keep them updated with fresh news and offer them exclusive updates. 

Pro Tip: PR agencies already have established relationships with journalists, which means a much higher chance of your venue getting featured. 

• It’s Story Time

Media love a good story, and your venue has one to tell! It’s not just about your food and drinks; it’s about the people, the passion, and the unique angles that make your venue stand out. Whether it’s the inspiration behind your menu or the journey of your chef, there are many angles to capture the attention of journalists. 

Pro Tip: Get to know the editors and writers you’re targeting so you can tailor your pitches to their interests and needs. A personalised pitch will stand out more than a generic one. 

• Create Memorable Campaigns 

If you are not launching a new venue, you will need to create a newsy campaign to capture journalists attention. Pop-up style events, collaborations, limited menu items that tap into current consumer passion points will get you media exposure. 

Pro Tip: Venue anniversaries and birthdays do not count as news. Don’t feel like you need to reinvent the wheel, you can package up existing items on your menu with a twist to make it newsworthy. 

• Send Media High-Quality Imagery 

High-quality imagery can make or break a story. Journalists are inundated with pitches daily and a striking photo often catches their attention more than the pitch itself. Working with photographers who are known and loved by media can make a huge difference. Offering them a variety of professional, eye-catching shots of your venue and offering will ensure they have the right content to create an engaging story. 

Pro Tip: Invest in a professional photographer who’s known in the industry for their work. Their expertise will make your venue and offering look its best. 

• Consistency is Key

Staying in the news isn’t a one-time thing. It’s about building an ongoing presence. If you are regularly seeing the same venues featured in round ups (for example, The Best Venues In Sydney Right Now), this is because they are consistently reaching out to media and staying top of mind. 

Pro Tip: The more regularly your venue is featured in the media, the more likely it is they will keep returning for coverage and reaching out to you personally.