Sounds great, so what’s the catch we hear you cry? Well really there isn’t one and it’s entirely up to you how much time and energy you give to it, however, as with most things; the more you put in the more you’ll get out.
Quite simply you need to “cash in” on your extra “Christmas” customers by getting their email addresses.
You can then invite them to join your own dedicated, secure and private Inapub community safe in the knowledge that next year they’ll be automatically reminded of any event, promotion or special offer that you run.
But why? Well it’s been proven in one industry leading report that engaging with your customers through social media increases your revenue on average 18% per annum.
And recent articles in the trade press have added to this compelling argument – Ben Langdon chief executive of the Digital Marketing Group, speaking at the M&C Report’s Digital Future conference told leading sector executives “if used correctly digital platforms could tap into a huge wealth of resources” adding that “Online Socialites (or 78% of UK internet users) have a disposal income of 20%”.
Below are our 4 steps to maximise your revenues next year using the busy period you’re about to enter this year.
STEP 1: Gather Email Addresses
Up to you how much you want to invest on this – we’ve priced some options below all of which we’ve tried.
Less than £10
Either on a computer, or by hand, create a form for people to write their name and email address on.
Place a pot on the bar with a hand-made sign saying “drop in your business card to receive news, offers and promotions”.
If you serve food ask people to write their email address down at the end of the meal.
Less than £30
Buy a bundle of Inapub sign up cards for £10.
Place a pot on the bar with sign up cards next to it saying “win a bottle of wine” – encourage all your customers to take part either by dropping in a business card or by completing the Inapub sign up cards.
Make the competition prize only available to those who register in your community.
Less than £50
As above, only improve the competition prize; perhaps a bottle of Champagne, a meal for 2, a crate of beer – depending on what you think your customers will like.
Up to & over a £100
The most successful way to accumulate email addresses is to make run a “Christmas Nearest the Answer” evening.
Whenever you feel the pub is busy enough create on the hour questions where the person with the nearest answer wins the prize – prize size and type is up to you.
All entries need to fill in a simple ticket which has name, email and answer and return them during the hour to your pot – 3 hourly questions starting at 8pm will hit your entire evenings customer base and will likely result in you gaining a significant volume of email addresses.
Use this PDF for a printable sheet of entry tickets.
STEP 2: How to invite your customers to join your online community
Regardless of the option you go for in step 1, you now have to invite your customers to join your online community.
To do this go to www.inapub.co.uk
Login (top right of the homepage) using your details.
On the logged in homepage click “View Details” of your pub/bar listed under the “My Venues” section.
Click “Invitees” – you’ll find the link directly under the “Your Venue Community” heading.
Click the link to the right of the Invitees area saying “Invite More”
Add the email addresses into the box marked “Invite more friends” separated by commas or semi colons: me@me.co.uk; you@you.com;
STEP 3: Write your invite email
The email will be sent by Inapub and will include the necessary links for your customers to register in your community. It will also say it has been sent by you.
But there is an area within this email for you to provide a further reason for the “invitee” to join your community.
We suggest something along these lines:
“Thank you for giving us your email address during [enter the promotion you ran] we’re now inviting you to join our private and secure online community on Inapub.
By joining our community you’ll be first to hear about and receive our event, special offer and promotions news. You can also share your stories and photos with other members in the community area.
[Add if applicable – As a community member you'll also receive exclusive special offers.]”
STEP 4: Monitor uptake and re-invite
By following step 2; you’ll be able to monitor which invitees become full members and which remain as invitees.
From time to time it is advisable to re-invite your invitees to join your community [every 2 weeks is about right] you can see when you last invited people and select all or individually who you’d like to re-invite.
NB: all invitees and full community members receive notification of events that you add to your community.
