In today's increasingly oversaturated market, owning a skill gaming location in Georgia can be a challenging endeavor. With so many establishments competing for customers' attention, it is crucial to promote your bar effectively online to achieve sustainable success. However, many small businesses make the mistake of promoting their establishment digitally without clear goals - or having goals, but no real strategy to achieve them.
When promoting your business online, it's not enough to simply aim for increased sales. Every company's goal when promoting is to boost revenue in some way. To ensure your promotions lead to a successful future, it's important to dive deeper.
Let's consider an example. Imagine you're a stakeholder in a bar and you've noticed that a significant number of middle-aged people visit your establishment during the summer to watch baseball games. This results in a spike in business during the season, but it doesn't continue after the conclusion of each season. If you want to recapture those customers during the other seasons, you need to formulate clear goals for your promotions. In this case, a good promotional goal would be: target men and women aged 40-65 and drive revenue through beverage and food sales on weeknights from September to March.
A successful promotional goal should possess the following characteristics:
- Who: Your promotion's target audience cannot be "everyone", especially as a small business. You need to tailor your messaging to reach specific individuals who are most likely to engage with your business. Figuring out your target audience should be the first step you consider when promoting your venue digitally.
- What: Define what action the target audience needs to take for you to achieve your promotional goal. In the example, the target audience would need to contribute positively to your bar's revenue on weeknights when the MLB is not in season. The ‘What’ aspect of developing a comprehensive strategy for online promotion involves understanding exactly what you are hoping to accomplish.
- Specific: A good goal leaves little room for interpretation. It should be immediately clear to anyone who reads it what you are hoping to accomplish. If your team members are confused about your goals, chances are your customers will be too. The promotional goal in the example is specific regarding what needs to happen in order to promote effectively online.
- Measurable: It's crucial to be able to measure your goals to determine the effectiveness of your promotional campaigns. In the example, you could compare your revenue on weeknights from February 2023 (before promoting) to February 2024 (after promoting) to gauge the success of your promotion.
Once you have formulated a goal statement that considers your target audience and the desired action you would like them to take, while ensuring it is specific and measurable, the next step is to strategize.
Your promotional strategy should align with your goals to maximize your chances of success. It should be relevant and interesting to the demographic you are targeting. For instance, if your promotional strategy aims to attract more 21-30-year-olds to your establishment, hosting a live music event with a Frank Sinatra impersonator might not be the most effective choice, as it might not resonate with that age group.
Remember, in this oversaturated market, having clear goals and a well-thought-out strategy for expanding your online presence can make all the difference in promoting your gaming location effectively and achieving sustainable success.
Finding the right niche to promote your business can be challenging, but it can also be an exciting opportunity to showcase your venue's unique brand. Look for new and innovative ways to connect with your target audience and keep them engaged with your business. For more resources on how to take promoting your business online to the next level, be sure to check out some of Bulldog Gaming's additional materials.