Work together to create more revenue for bars, clubs and restaurants

You’ve probably heard the saying, “No man is an island.” The same is true for your bar or restaurant! You’re part of a community, and it only makes sense to form bonds and engage local businesses to help your own business. See out how partnerships with local media, charities, and even your competition can help bring in new customers.

*Media.*
We’ve all been written about in a local publication or talked about on a local radio station…without actually paying for the advertising. But how can we do this more?
Try hosting an event for the local media! Offer your venue for media parties or to host events for them. You’ll bring in a crowd, get free advertising and you’re likely get a write up or a mention on air.
Come up with promotions that the radio station may be interested in sponsoring. What about a Blackpool or Swansea or where ever’s got talent. It’s topical at the moment. A battle-of-the-bands, or maybe the station could provide a well know band at your bar club or restaurant.
Radio stations always have bands turning up to promote their music. Put an exclusive meal on, they may even perform a track or two. Either way, you’ll get tons of free publicity every time the station announces the event.

*Charity.*
You can get more customers and show your business’s caring side by partnering with a charity. Try hosting a party with ticket, raffle and auction money going towards the charity. Or you can promote a regular night where a certain percentage of each diner’s bill goes to a chosen charity.
Customers will enjoy knowing that some of the cash they spend is going towards a good cause, and you’ll present yourself as a compassionate member of the community. They also heavily promote the events, which is just more free advertising for you.

*Competition.*
It goes without saying that you want your restaurant or bar to be the best, but that doesn’t mean you should wage an all-out war against your competition. Try banding together with other businesses in your area for a bar crawl, or an annual event.
Swansea have created Beaujolais day which brings in more revenue than any other night of the year. What they fail to do it to combine ideas to create another annual reason to come out. After all people just need a reason.
If you work together to advertise and spread the word, you can draw in far more people than your business could by itself. You can also try creating a good-natured rivalry between businesses in the area by starting a best bartender (or barista, or chef) competition. Remember that a healthy local economy means more customers in your business!
Taking advantage of the publications, radio stations, charities, and even other bars and restaurants in your bar is a smart move that shows your business is an engaged part of the community. And (perhaps even better!) it will help your restaurant or bar or club increase sales and get new customers.
How are you engaging with your community?
Let me know