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There’s a lot of talk about cutting costs these days. What better way to approach that than looking for free alternatives to some of your biggest expenses?&nbsp;



With all the free technology and website plugins out there, some must be at least semi-decent, right?



We wanted to find out more about what you don’t get with free versions, and what that might cost you in terms of customer experience and ultimately, revenue.



For this, we looked closely at 4 popular free WordPress (WP) plugins and compared the most important booking features against each other.



<h5 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-4-free-wp-booking-plugins-compared">4 Free WP Booking Plugins Compared</h5>



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<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table valign="middle"><tbody><tr valign="middle"><td class="has-text-centre" data-align="centre">Features</td><td class="has-text-valign:middle" data-valign="middle" data-align="centre">ReDi Restaurant Reservation</td><td>Five Star Restaurant Reservations</td><td>WPCafe</td><td>&nbsp;Quick Restaurant Reservations</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Number of free venues</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">1</td><td>1</td><td>Unlimited</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Reservation restrictions&nbsp;(block times/days/length)</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">X</td><td>Only for days and times</td><td>X</td><td>&nbsp;Yes</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Data Export</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">X</td><td>X</td><td>X</td><td>X</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Customisable</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Yes</td><td>Only for the form, no custom fields</td><td>Yes</td><td>Only for the form, no custom fields</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">&nbsp;Automated reservation confirmation</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Yes</td><td>Yes</td><td>Yes</td><td>Manual only</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">&nbsp;Booking reminders</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">X</td><td>X</td><td>X</td><td>X</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">&nbsp;Support</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Yes</td><td>Yes</td><td>X</td><td>X</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Integrations&nbsp;</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">X</td><td>X</td><td>Yes</td><td>X</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">&nbsp;Additional notes</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">No analytics or statistics</td><td>No front end page to display bookings</td><td>No front end page to display bookings</td><td>No daily or monthly calendar view</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



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<h5 class="wp-block-heading">7 Reasons Why Bookings Platforms Are Worth Paying For</h5>



Here are a few important things you might be missing out on by relying on a free booking platform plugin



Data access:



You often have to pay to access customer data and/or are not able to download it for further usage. This means you can’t contact customers post-visit to ask for feedback or send them offers to bring them back.



Integration with other tech tools:



If you can’t access or download customer data, an integration would at least allow you to use your data to some extent. Without any of those options, you are massively missing out on future revenue.



Limited live or backend support:



You always have to install the plugin on your website yourself, which can sometimes come with its own challenges and takes up time. Plus, not all providers offer free customer support.&nbsp;



Multi-venue:



The majority only have one venue included in their free version. Any additional venues cost extra. Same for having multiple users for your account.



Customisation:



Custom fields (i.e. dietary restrictions, extras) are vital to make your customer experience more personal. Quite often you can only choose from preselected fields, even in the paid plans.



Customer communication:



Most of them don’t allow you to send email/SMS booking reminders. This can lead to an increase in no-shows and high operational costs.



The same applies to the post-visit feedback request, which isn’t available on any free plan.&nbsp;



Automation:



Technology should make our lives easier and help us save time. Booking reminders and review requests are one of the simplest marketing automation to set up but are not included in any of the free plans.



<h5 class="wp-block-heading">Takeaway</h5>



Free booking platform plugins might satisfy some basic booking requirements. However, the money you save on the free versions often costs you more further down the line.&nbsp;



Being unable to contact customers to drive loyalty is one of the biggest issues here. Your loyal customers are the ones that bring in new customers. And with their connection, the process starts over again.&nbsp;



In this case, it is definitely worth investing in a more complete booking system. Make sure to check out our <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/buyers-guide-11-key-features-your-table-booking-system-needs/">buyer’s guide</a> including the key features you should look out for when choosing a platform.



Get more tables booked, and manage your front-of-house operations efficiently. <a href="https://calendly.com/stampedeae/stampede-demo-request">Book a demo</a> with our team to find out more about Stampede Bookings.

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Are Free Booking Platform Plugins Any Good?

How do you, as a bricks and mortar business, thrive in a digitised world where the challenges are mounting? You learn what the current challenges in the hotel industry are. Then you take strategic steps to not just get over them, but use them as a springboard to success. Tall order? If you have the right tools at your fingertips, such as <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/getting-started-with-guest-wifi/">WiFi marketing for hotels</a>, we don’t think so.







In this article, we reveal 5 of the dominating challenges in the hotel industry and give you real solutions for tackling them.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Expectations are changing</h4>



Your customer of yesterday is not your customer of today. Guest expectations and demands have undergone radical change.&nbsp;



Customers today expect personalisation, on tap WiFi, speedy check-in and more. It’s not just a matter of meeting expectations. You need to exceed those expectations. The bar has been raised thanks to technology, experience sharing and familiarity with streamlined services throughout all areas of an individual’s life.



Solution: Catch your guests where they are – on your WiFi. Beyond simply offering it, you then need to make it part of their personalised unique experience. For example, through <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/how-marketing-with-wifi-benefits-your-business/">WiFi marketing for hotels,</a> you can give them targeted offers to redeem during this stay or the next. Another solution is advance automated check-in. Indeed, whilst the <a href="https://www.bdo.co.uk/en-gb/insights/industries/leisure-and-hospitality/hotel-britain-trends">Hotel Britain Report 2018</a> put automation as a top prediction, we’d say it’s now not even optional.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">The sharing economy isn’t a hotelier’s friend</h4>



Perhaps the biggest challenge that the hotel industry is facing is the boom in ‘hospitality hosts’. In London, the number of Airbnb listings has <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-47910700">quadrupled in the last four years</a>. Indeed, research shows that <a href="https://www.hotelowner.co.uk/15939-airbnb-now-a-third-of-the-size-of-the-hotel-sector-in-london/">Airbnb is now one-third the size of the hotel sector in the capital</a>.



This is competition on a scale the hotel industry isn’t experienced with. What’s more, these hospitality hosts are able to offer something unique and highly personalised.



Solution: Get savvy and offer things that hospitality hosts can’t, because of their size and set-up. Up your service levels and use technology in unique ways.&nbsp;



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Marketing trends are all about the digital</h4>



Linked closely to the above two challenges is a reality that marketing trends today are all about the digital landscape. Yet, traditionally, hoteliers haven’t done too well at embracing this shift. Online marketing is now mandatory if you want to survive, let alone thrive.



Your customer spends their time online. When they are checking you out, they check online first. They hunt down your reputation and offerings like a bloodhound. A whopping <a href="https://revenue-hub.com/respond-negative-positive-reviews/">93% check hotel reviews before making a booking</a>.



Solution: Digital marketing which focuses on engaging the customer is the way forward. You can do this through social media marketing, WiFi marketing and things such as hotel apps. Indeed, with Stampede you can make WiFi marketing effortless and make it easy for guests to leave reviews on major sites and get them boosting your social media profile through Facebook login. <a href="https://stampede.ai/product/features/">Check out more WiFi marketing features</a>.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Data matters</h4>



We need customer data if we want meaningful insights which enable us to improve our service and grow. The growth of the <a href="https://www.revfine.com/smart-hotel-room/">smart hotel room</a>, such as Hilton’s Connected Room and Marriott’s Internet of Things room, make valuable data collection and analysis possible. But it’s scary to know if you’re doing it legally and ethically. That’s before you consider the vulnerabilities and risks of attacks via connected devices.



Solution: Use smart and innovative solutions which take care of the tricky legalities for you. For example, we handle the GDPR side of your WiFi marketing so that you don’t even have to think about it.&nbsp;



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Loyalty, loyalty, loyalty</h4>



Loyalty in the hotel industry has always been the Holy Grail. But now your customers are more fickle than ever. The digital world has made it easy for customers to succumb to enticing offers from competitors.



Solution: You need to be the one offering the right incentives at the right time, pulling your guests back, over and over again. With segmentation and data capture and analysis through <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/the-marketing-power-of-wifi-analytics-for-your-business/">WiFi marketing for hotels</a> then you can entice your guests back with things such as birthday gifts or meal offers.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">You have solutions</h4>



We’re not underestimating the challenges in the hotel industry. We are actively innovating to create solutions.&nbsp;Find out for yourself how<a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/effective-email-marketing-tips-for-hotels/"> WiFi marketing for hotels </a>is a simple and affordable solution to many of these challenges by using our free trial. Join other hoteliers including Emerald Hotel, Trump International Golf Hotel Scotland and more.



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A Guide On Current Hotel Industry Challenges

Working In Hospitality: Harnessing The Efficiency Of Tech

How to Set Up a Coworking Space in Your Coffee Shop

Establishing Your Coffee Shop Brand Online

Grow Your Coffee Shop With Free WiFi And A Captive Portal Solution

5 Tips to Make Your Restaurant More Instagrammable

3 Time-Saving Newsletter Tips to Keep People Engaged

Social Media Trends 2021 – Snackable Content

If you are a small business owner, then you are very likely looking for strategies to get your leg up on the competition. You want your business to succeed, despite your limited marketing budget. The good news is that you do not have to fork out a fortune to get your services or products “out there”- you simply have to know which free marketing tools are available and how you can use them to their maximum potential.&nbsp;



In this article, we will mention various tools that can boost sales, make life easier, and empower you to get the most out of your investment. With these tools, you do not need to outsource your marketing – you don’t even have to have in-house marketing staff. As an owner of a small or new business, you can manage these tools yourself and we will give you insight into how, when, and why.&nbsp;



Here are 5 free marketing tools that can help you to increase your resources and do more for your business:



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">1. Canva</h4>



When it comes to creating visually appealing marketing material, then Canva is fast becoming the most popular free graphic designing tool. Whether you are looking to design a logo, a brochure, an infographic, a sales proposal or a social media post, this platform allows you to easily design visually appealing content.&nbsp;



What we like most about this platform (apart from it being extremely user-friendly) is that it gives you templates, ideas, and suggestions to draw inspiration from. So, even if you don’t have a creative bone in your body, you can still produce something that looks both professional and attractive.&nbsp;



Canva pretty much works using a “drag and drop” approach. You simply move your images, text, and elements around until you are happy with the layout. It also has a massive library of free fonts and stock images you can use.



With visual content becoming an increasingly important form of marketing collateral, a tool such as this could become indispensable to your business.&nbsp;



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">2. MailChimp</h4>



When considering email marketing campaigns, then know that MailChimp has your back. This platform currently has an average of 12 million users and with this type of support to back up our claim, we can confidently say that this software remains one of the best free email marketing tools out there.&nbsp;



What’s important to note is that this software only remains free for those who have less than 2000 subscribers. As a new or small business, however, it’s safe to assume that you have not yet built such a huge contact list where your customers are willing and happy to be added as recipients.&nbsp;



The software is simple to use and with tons of templates to choose from, designing an attractive newsletter, an advert, or even a survey is hassle-free. Emails can also be set-up to be sent automatically at your preferred times or you can batch emails according to your different target audiences.&nbsp;



Did you know that according to <a href="https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/email-marketing-stats">Hubspot</a>, 80% of business professionals believe that email marketing increases customer retention? 59% of marketers also say that email is their biggest source of ROI<a href="https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/email-marketing-stats">[1]</a>.



Learn more about email marketing and how it works <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/learn-how-to-boost-your-business-with-sms-and-email-marketing/">here</a>.&nbsp;



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">3. Grammarly</h4>



Few things are as off-putting to your audiences as badly written content that hasn’t been revised adequately. When you are trying to draw audiences in and impress them so that they stick around for more, then be advised that blatant spelling mistakes and grammar issues can create a huge barrier.



Enter Grammarly. This software helps you to avoid critical mistakes without much effort from your side. Simply copy and paste your content into the relevant site section and then the programme will review your work and give you editing suggestions. If you use Microsoft Office to do your writing, then you can also use the even more convenient downloadable version.&nbsp;



Some food for thought –



58% of marketers claim that “original written content” is their most important digital asset <a href="https://www.wordstream.com/blog/ws/2017/04/17/content-marketing-stats">[2]</a>.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">4. Hootsuite</h4>



Hootsuite is a tool that works really well for marketers who want to tap into a central social management platform and streamline the posting of content. It’s a programme that helps marketers to create a consistent voice for multiple audiences with ease.



Hootsuite allows you to schedule social media posts in advance and can free up tons of valuable time. It also manages social media profiles for more than 30 platforms (just imagine having to post the same content 30 different times on 30 separate platforms). To add, you can also reply to comments and mentions through the dashboard without, once again, having to open up different platforms on your browser.&nbsp;



This social media marketing manager works extremely well at automating social media content. It can be a little tricky getting used to the functionality but once you have a firm grasp of the ropes, this tool makes marketing online a breeze!&nbsp;



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">5. Bit.ly</h4>



Bit.ly has gained quite a positive reputation among marketers and it is also extremely easy to use. The main purpose of this programme is to shorten links, so it’s helpful anywhere you don’t want a URL that goes on for a whole mile.&nbsp;



But while Bit.ly makes your links look more attractive to readers, its purpose is far more powerful. It’s also an amazing online marketing tool that can follow clicks, view site referrals, and generate an idea of which geographical areas most clicks are emerging from. These features are very useful when you want to collect data on how your marketing strategies are performing. This data can then be used to refine your techniques &#8211; resulting in more customer conversions.&nbsp;



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">In Conclusion&nbsp;</h4>



We understand how frustrating it can get when you are a small business trying to compete with bigger fish who have marketing budgets beyond measure. The good news is that with these free marketing tools (and the many others found online), you have the opportunity to get your feet wet and who knows – you too could soon be swimming along with your competitors at the very same level.&nbsp;



References:



<ol class="wp-block-list"><li><a href="https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/email-marketing-stats">Hubspot Marketing Statistics</a></li><li><a href="https://www.wordstream.com/blog/ws/2017/04/17/content-marketing-stats">Tips and Tricks for Online Advertising</a></li></ol>

5 Useful Free Marketing Tools That Anyone Can Use

The Guest Re-Engagement Workflow Every Venue Needs

Introducing – Marketing Workflows

Coming Soon – The Enquiry Pipeline

June Update – AI Review Insights, New Features and More

Build, Build, Build

Introducing AI Segments for Marketing

A more effective ways to run Meta ads for hospitality

4 Ways CRM Data Can Be Used in Day-to-Day Service by Your Staff

How to Use Segmentation to Increase Guest Engagement in Hospitality

Introducing Quick Campaigns

The tinsel is down, the streets are filled with discarded Christmas trees and you&#8217;ve finally pieced together what happened on New Year&#8217;s Eve. That can only mean one thing: 2018 is here and there&#8217;s not a damn thing you can do about it.

But that&#8217;s ok, since we here at Stampede are always looking to the future. The past is past and onward and upward.  That&#8217;s why we wanted to take this opportunity to showcase some of the trends and events we see happening with WiFi in 2018.
<h3>Still Champion &#8211; 802.11ac</h3>
Approved in 2012 and introduced to consumers the next year, 802.11ac is the current wireless standard used throughout the world. For now. Nipping at 802.11ac&#8217;s heels is the next breed of wireless standards &#8211; 802.11ax. The killer feature behind this latest standard is something called OFDMA, short for Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access. This this technology allows one access point to to host multiple devices on the same WiFi channel, which will greatly boost the capacity of routers and access points for heavy usage areas like stadiums and public spaces.
But that doesn&#8217;t mean you&#8217;ve got to trash your current network setup and start shopping. The 802.11ax standard hasn&#8217;t been approved by the IEEE yet, so it might not be until 2019 that we see the next generation of WiFi.
<h3>Intent Based Networking</h3>
IBN started popping up on the radar in 2017 and will start to get mainstream in 2018. IBN utilizes Machine Learning to make networks smarter and faster. Think of IBN as the first step towards Skynet from the Terminator movies. IBN probably won&#8217;t make much difference to you if you&#8217;re simply offering WiFi to customers in your local coffee shop, but if you&#8217;re managing WiFi as part of a larger network topology, you could see IBN making your networks in 2018 more hassle free.
<h3>5G Makes an Appearance</h3>
5G, the cellular connectivity standard that follows (naturally) 4G is finally going to get a rollout in 2018. Expect 5G to hold center stage at the <a href="https://www.ces.tech" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Consumer Electronic Show</a> that begins in January. In the United States, both Verizon and AT&amp;T are <a href="http://www.zdnet.com/article/5g-takes-center-stage-at-ces-2018-with-actual-deployments-later/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">planning rollouts for selected markets in 2018</a>. However, there is still some confusion surrounding 5G &#8211; including exactly WHAT consitutes 5G. There&#8217;s concern that unscrupulous providers might just take a gussied up 4G signal and rebrand it as 5G. Still, don&#8217;t expect WiFi to be consigned to the dust bin quite yet. There are sill 8 times as many devices connected to WiFi networks than there are to mobile networks.
<h3>Growth of Free WiFi</h3>
It&#8217;s becoming more and more common to see cities launching free WiFi initiatives and this isn&#8217;t going to be stopping any time in 2018. If fact, it&#8217;s predicted that by 2020 the <a href="https://www.vpnmentor.com/blog/free-wifi-hotspots-research/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">number of public WiFi hotspots will grow to 549 million</a> &#8211; that&#8217;s a sevenfold increase from the 2015 figure of 64 million. It&#8217;s predicted that there&#8217;s going to be so much free WiFi, in fact, that mobile providers are already starting to grow concerned.
<h3>WiFi As a Service</h3>
You&#8217;ve seen it with software packages like Office365 and Adobe Creative Suite, streaming services like Netflix and Hulu, and now even movies theaters are offering a monthly subscription model for all you can watch flicks. So why not the same thing with WiFi? Introducing WiFi-as-a-Service, the latest entry into the monthly recurring revenue model marketplace. WiFi as a service makes a lot of sense to businesses, who would rather, you know, be running their businesses instead of wrestling with persnickity WiFi controllers and updating passwords. The other advantage to this model is that firmware and other upgrades can be done automatically through the cloud. Which can come in handy the next time there&#8217;s an issue <a href="https://www.stampede.ai/blog/wpa2-breach-is-your-wifi-safe" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">like the recent WPA2 breach</a>. 
<h3>What Else Will 2018 Hold?</h3>
It&#8217;s hard to say exactly what&#8217;s around the next bend. But that makes high tech kind of exciting, isn&#8217;t it? In any case, if you&#8217;re ready to step into the future by offering safe and secure WiFi for your business, why not give Stampede a try?
<a class="eut-modal-popup" href="https://calendly.com/stampedeae/stampede-demo-request?month=2020-02">Click here to get started.</a>

WiFi as a Service and other Trends for 2018

The&nbsp;aim of a staff newsletter is to foster a community feeling and a sense of involvement&nbsp;amongst your staff. This is one of the key ingredients for successful retention. Check out our 25 content ideas and start creating engaging internal staff newsletters.



<hr class="wp-block-separator"/>



In&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://stampede.ai/blog/how-internal-newsletters-help-you-to-retain-staff-part-1/" target="_blank">part one of this series,</a>&nbsp;we provided some tips on how to set up the staff newsletter.



But you also have to make your updates worth reading. Staff newsletters should be&nbsp;informative, interactive and engaging. So, find a balanced mix of relevant information and important updates combined with something light-hearted.



To encourage your social sharing and employee advocacy, make sure to also include some content your staff can share on their social channels.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-25-ideas-to-inspire-great-internal-staff-newsletters">25 ideas to inspire great internal staff newsletters</h4>



We’ve compiled a list of content ideas to give you some inspiration for your next internal newsletter, featuring three main topic areas.



<h5 class="wp-block-heading">1. Company-related content</h5>



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Upcoming key dates &amp; events</li><li>Open jobs &#8211; encourage them to share with their network</li><li>Internal updates &#8211; staff, common customer issues</li><li>Industry &amp; local news</li><li>Training opportunities</li><li>Free resources</li><li>Financial key results of the previous month, quarter, year</li><li>Reminders</li><li>Seasonal greetings</li><li>Guest post from suppliers/partners/brand friends &#8211; intro, short interview</li></ul>



<h5 class="wp-block-heading">2. Customer-related content</h5>



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Customer success stories</li><li>Recent reviews or feedback &amp; employee mentions&nbsp;</li><li>Customer content from socials</li><li>Updates on new menu items, new policies, etc.</li></ul>



<h5 class="wp-block-heading">3. Staff-related content</h5>



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Guest post from different people or departments</li><li>Team spotlight &#8211; a day in the life of&#8230;</li><li>Top 10 list &#8211; places for lunch, to-dos on the weekend, podcasts</li><li>Recommendations from team colleagues</li><li>Celebrate staff anniversaries, milestones, achievements, etc.</li><li>Poll &nbsp;&#8211; what’s your favourite …? Share the result in the next email</li><li>Competitions &amp; contests &#8211; send in your best shot of …, can you guess …?</li><li>Fun trivia &#8211; did you know? &nbsp;</li><li>Employee of the month</li><li>Virtual suggestion box for feedback</li><li>Social media events &#8211; how staff can take part</li></ul>



Last Tip&nbsp;&#8211;&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.wordstream.com/blog/ws/2021/01/05/creative-newsletter-names" target="_blank">give your internal staff newsletter a name</a>&nbsp;to make it even more engaging and recognisable.



Need a hand with setting up your first internal newsletter?&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="mailto:contact@stampede.ai?subject=&amp;body=" target="_blank">Get in touch</a>&nbsp;with our team.

25 Content Ideas To Retain Your Staff With Internal Newsletters [Part 2]

It’s quite rare to find a coffee shop that doesn’t offer free WiFi nowadays. Fact is, customers do expect to have access to WiFi whilst being out and about. If you haven’t yet installed yours in your venue then you are missing out on a very big and very obvious trick. Switch on to the benefits of free WiFi in combination with a captive portal solution to drive more revenue to your coffee shop.



<hr class="wp-block-separator"/>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-1-attracting-new-customers">1. Attracting New Customers</h4>



The offer of free access to fast and reliable WiFi is one of the top priorities for coffee shop customers. Over the last year, the coffee shop has become a popular remote working place for many. According to a report from <a href="https://kam-media.co.uk/remote-working-pubs-restuarants/">KAM Media</a>, 1 in 4 people would work remotely in a hospitality venue. This comes with a huge opportunity to increase footfall during quieter periods of the day. 



The offer of free WiFi is also important for social coffee shop visitors who want to share their experiences with family &amp; friends. If you want to attract new customers then you simply must offer free internet access.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-2-building-exceptional-marketing-campaigns">2. Building Exceptional Marketing Campaigns</h4>



You can prompt your coffee shop visitors to enter their personal details in return for access to your free WiFi. For this, you have to install a <a href="https://stampede.ai/how-it-works/wifi/">Captive Portal</a> solution to sit on top of your coffee shop WiFi. It can be set up to capture your customers&#8217; email addresses, names, dates of birth, and other information. 



What&#8217;s more, it will automatically reconnect customers the next time they pay you a visit. A captive portal is indeed an easy and streamlined way to grow your customer database and boost customer loyalty. 



Take it one step further and use the data you&#8217;ve captured to optimise your customer experiences. For example to create highly targeted and <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/a-5-step-recipe-that-creates-profitable-personalised-marketing-part-1/">personalised marketing campaigns</a> that convert. 



You can send out promotions to customers on their birthdays and other special occasions, which will boost their loyalty. It is even possible to add custom questions in order to find out customer opinions on the quality of service. The possibilities are endless.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-3-increasing-brand-awareness-and-customer-experience">3. Increasing Brand Awareness And Customer Experience</h4>



Your <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/avoid-these-3-common-guest-wifi-mistakes/">digital customer experience</a> is as important as your in-venue one. There are various ways of boosting brand awareness and customer experience via your WiFi sign-up. One option is a fully branded and easy to navigate splash page which you can create with the <a href="https://stampede.ai/how-it-works/wifi/">Stampede Captive Portal</a>. 



Your log-in page can feature your coffee shop logo, brand colours, photos, and any other information of interest to your visitors. All this will contribute to improved brand recognition.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-4-building-the-social-media-community">4. Building The Social Media Community</h4>



You can also build the level of digital engagement by redirecting customers to your social channels once they&#8217;ve logged in to your WiFi. By offering free WiFi access, you can then encourage them to share their experience directly on your pages. 



If you want to make the ultimate difference to your coffee shop fortunes then get in touch with<a href="https://h.stampede.ai/meetings/stampede/demo"> Stampede</a> today. We’ll take you through your options and show you how a captive portal can work for your coffee shop. Because good coffee + free WiFi = the perfect blend.