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Marketing is the activity for creating, communicating, delivering, and exchanging offerings that provide value for customers, clients, partners, and society at large. It’s not shoving stuff at customers, clients, partners, and society at large, which adds no value but serves instead to annoy.

As consumers we are currently abused by marketers, so it&#8217;s no wonder that early in 2018 <a href="https://www.stampede.ai/blog/offer-gdpr-compliant-wifi-with-blackbx" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">GDPR</a> is reviewing how consumers consent to online marketing.
It’s pretty obvious that marketing initiatives should carry social responsibility and be targeted towards the desire of individuals; instead of annoying &#8220;one size fits all&#8221; marketing campaigns that don’t give a hoot for those who don’t want to hear.
<h3>Can You Throw This Flyer Away for Me?</h3>
<a href="https://www.eif.co.uk/">Edinburgh Festival</a>, one of the most well known festivals in the world, proves that we cannot yet free ourselves from paper spamming. Millions of flyers are designed, <a class="" href="https://www.thefringeshop.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">printed and distributed</a> (6 million in 2016) across the city during August as struggling artists shell out to compete in all the wrong ways. At the same time, the city of Edinburgh allows this, becoming an agitator of eco-friendly mantras against waste and excess.
Are the flyers even doing what they are supposed to be doing?
And more importantly is this really any different to digital spam and telephone cold calling?
There’s no doubt that finding out about things in general is a challenge. Years ago we were encouraged to ‘Let ours fingers do the walking’ an adage drummed into television watchers to promote the <a class="" href="https://business.yell.com/yellow-pages/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">yellow pages</a>. Nowadays we have the Internet and we cleverly navigate the maelstrom of available goods and services in search of what we want. Not only that, but once we have started our journey of discovery, search preferences are remembered and we are for at least a few days pushed towards what we are looking for &#8211; be it a ski holiday, central heating system or slippers. Marketers can remarket to us successfully until we have what we want.
The problem arises in real life when we don’t know what we want. We know what we like and we know how things make us feel. The result is we don’t know which flyer to accept so we take them all and chuck them in the bin later.
<h3>Loyalty is Key</h3>
<a class="" href="https://www.stampede.ai/blog/loyalty-program-ebook" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Loyalty cards</a> have been clever in picking up on this, rewarding us for our loyalty and acknowledging our preferences. No one loves <a class="" href="https://secure.tesco.com/clubcard/collect-points/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Tesco points</a> and the occasional birthday treat in <a class="" href="http://www.caferouge.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Café Rouge</a> more than me. It totally works.
What doesn’t work for me is carrying around dozens of plastic cards on the off chance I may go in Boots or Holland &amp; Barrett. It’s all become a little silly.
The upshot is I want rewards and surprising treats, information about the things I’m interested in but, I don’t want loads of paper thrust at me, a wallet full of plastic cards, junk mail in my inbox, on the door mat or telephone calls from people I don’t know trying to sell me something.
If companies, cafés, restaurants, theatres, performers, railways, schools, marinas, stadiums listened to their users in the same way that Google learns from internet surfers, there could be a beautiful synergy between business and clients, with benefits for everyone all round.
If you know of a business that would like to learn more about their clients in a positive and useful way then <a class="" href="https://stampede.ai/features/analytics/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Stampede</a> can help
<a class="eut-modal-popup" href="https://calendly.com/stampedeae/stampede-demo-request?month=2020-02">Click here to get started.</a>

post

Good Adverts, Bad Adverts

Thousands of new businesses are established every day. It’s a rough world and taking care of your new company isn’t always easy, as most of them aren’t profitable enough to grow and make themselves a name on the market. 

<h2>Adaptation</h2>
But why do so  so many companies <a class="" href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/288769">struggling to establish themselves</a>? Some don’t make it due to a lack of funding, others fail because the product isn’t made for the market and another aspect that is often ignored is adaptation. Darwin (amazing dude), already knew that the key to survival is constant adaptation &#8211; and he&#8217;s right.
Even more established companies fail, when they don&#8217;t adapt. This was the case with Atari, Blockbuster, Blackberry, Hummer and many more.
Customers are looking for more than another retail shop, hotel or restaurant. They are looking for someone who offers them a unique experience and a venue that doesn’t compromise their wants and needs. Customers want to be able to work at your &#8211; or your customer’s &#8211; venue, check the latest football scores or send a text to grandma.
Enhance the Experience
Many businesses have recognised that shift and adapted accordingly. They started adding Guest WiFi to their venue to enhance customer experience and give guests the freedom to surf and relax. This adaptation might have happened in time, but is your guest network really adding something to the customer experience?
Top 7 WiFi Mistakes
To make sure you don’t commit a blunder with your guest WiFi, we collected the most common WiFi Mistakes that businesses tend to make and put them all together in this new eBook for you. Make sure you, or your customers, don’t fall into the WiFi trap and keep your business growing and thriving.
Knowing these common mistakes will not only help you offer the best experience to your guests, it will also save you a lot of time and money (as these are usually what business owners lack the most).
Make sure you’re on the safe side and get your eBook today!
<a class="eut-modal-popup" href="https://calendly.com/stampedeae/stampede-demo-request?month=2020-02">Click here to get started.</a>

Learn from other’s mistakes

AirBnB-ing your place out (did we just use &#8220;AirBnB&#8221; as a verb? Yes, deal with it) during the holiday season is a great way to earn extra cash at a time when every little helps.&nbsp;And if there&#8217;s one thing that every AirBnBer knows, it&#8217;s that your guests are going to ask for Guest WiFi. 







It&#8217;s a known fact that <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/TripAdvisorInsights/n2670/6-key-travel-trends-2016" target="_blank">travellers consider WiFi one of the top amenities when choosing a place to stay</a>. So it seems that offering Guest WiFi at your place for your AirBnB guests is pretty much a no brainer.



But why just offer your Guests free WiFi when you can also be using it as a tool to help market your property during the busy holiday season?&nbsp;



Here&#8217;s just a few tips on how to get started.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">USE A CAPTIVE PORTAL</h4>



Instead of sticking your WiFi password up to the wall with a piece of tape, you can purchase an inexpensive piece of equipment and have your customers sign into the WiFi through what is known as a <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/getting-started-with-guest-wifi/">captive portal</a>. 



How does it work? When a guest enters your AirBnB, fires up a WiFi device and connects to your network, they are first steered toward a splash screen, also known as a captive portal. The portal is preconfigured to ask the guest for their email address. Once the user has confirmed their email, they&#8217;re allowed access to the network.



Even more the cool part, though &#8211; on the splash screen you can ask for as little or as <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/the-marketing-power-of-wifi-analytics-for-your-business/">much information</a> as you want. Want to know where your guests are coming from? Ask for their zip or postcode.



Looking for a demographic breakdown of your guests? Ask for gender or age. A good piece of captive portal software (spoiler alert: <a rel="noopener noreferrer" class="" href="https://www.stampede.ai/how-it-works" target="_blank">we can recommend one</a>) should allow you to customise your questions so you could ask just about anything.&nbsp;



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<figure><iframe loading="lazy" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/hxS07gP8xFo" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure>



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<h4 class="wp-block-heading">BUILD A MAILING LIST</h4>



So, you&#8217;ve got your captive portal setup and now you have a list of guests who have used the WiFi at your place and their emails.&nbsp;So what?



Now, what??! You&#8217;ve got yourself a marketing list there, buddy! &nbsp;And that list has value. Remember that awesome Guest WiFi solution we were talking about? 



You can now use that to send out email or SMS messages to everyone on your list. Or, if you already have a mailing list solution like MailChimp, Zoho or Mailify, use your guest WiFi solution to <a href="https://stampede.ai/product/how-it-works/#marketing">automatically import your email guest list.</a> Then, when you&#8217;re ready,&nbsp;send out an email blast to your favourite customers letting them know your AirBnB let is available for the holiday. <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/how-marketing-with-wifi-benefits-your-business/">Connect with</a> your best customers and avoid having to lower your prices at the last minute in order to book guests.&nbsp;



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">GUEST WIFI SECURITY</h4>



Remember that WiFi password we talked about earlier &#8211; you know, the one you had taped to the wall above the router? You haven&#8217;t changed it at all, have you? So each and every guest who has ever been to your place now has access to the WiFi. What about that router password? Still using the default one printed on the bottom?



Those are just a few of the <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/take-the-risk-out-of-guest-wifi/">security facts</a> you have to take into account when offering free Guest WiFi for your AirBnB guests.



And then there are the&nbsp;<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="/blog/articles/porn-prisons-wifi-network-safety-tips" target="_blank">sites that your guests are visiting</a>. Maybe sometimes it&#8217;s best NOT to know these things. But then, you don&#8217;t want your guests downloading pirated movies or using your WiFi to seed a bunch of hacked copies of the latest version of Windows.



A security nightmare, right?



Not if you&#8217;re using <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.stampede.ai/how-it-works#security" target="_blank">a secure Guest WiFi solution</a>.&nbsp;Because your AirBnB guests won&#8217;t be connecting to your router. So there&#8217;s no chance they&#8217;ll get in and mess up your network. Or leave a little bit of malicious code behind.



With a captive portal solution, you can even set bandwidth limits so your guests aren&#8217;t downloading everything under the sun. You could even make a bit of change on the side by charging for your WiFi after your guests have used a certain amount of data.



Looking to get more in-depth? <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.stampede.ai/blog/articles/airbnb-wifi" target="_blank">Check out our earlier post</a> for helping to keep your WiFi secure for AirBnB guests. &nbsp;



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">AIRBNB GUEST WIFI WITH Stampede&nbsp;</h4>



So if you&#8217;re looking for ways to make the most out of &nbsp;your AirBnB Guest WiFi over the holidays, we&#8217;ve got just the solution you need. With Stampede you offer fast, safe, secure, and legal WiFi for all of your AirBnB guests.



But hurry, because the holidays are here!&nbsp;



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Or arrange an online demo with our product specialists.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="#schedule-demohttps://calendly.com/stampedeae/stampede-demo-request?month=2020-02">Click here to get started.</a></h2>

Tips on Using Guest WiFi with Your AirBnB

More and more hospitality operators are looking to take advantage of AI-driven marketing solutions as an opportunity to streamline their operations and support their staff.



In this guide, we will explore how hospitality operators can utilise AI to strengthen their marketing efforts, increase the visibility of their brand and drive growth at every stage of their customer journey.&nbsp;



From gaining AI-driven customer insights, and leveraging marketing automation, to in-depth data analytics and predictions. There are plenty of ways AI can be implemented in various areas of the business.



Now is the perfect time to jump on board with integrating AI into your hospitality business’s marketing plans.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ai-in-hospitality-marketing">AI in hospitality marketing</h2>



Artificial intelligence (AI), is the ability of computer systems to perform tasks that would usually require human intelligence.



In recent years, AI has revolutionised the hospitality industry, providing ample opportunities for businesses.&nbsp;



For instance, AI can quickly analyse large amounts of customer data to gain insights into preferences and behaviour. This can be used by staff to tailor the service and marketing campaigns. I.e. greeting a hotel guest with his favourite cocktail upon arrival or treating a customer with a restaurant voucher for their birthday.



In addition, AI can adapt the pricing strategy depending on the current market situation and provide future predictions. Managing and responding to online reviews also becomes much easier with AI tools. To name just a few, we will have a closer look at those and others in this guide.



Overall, by using AI in marketing, hospitality operators can create a seamless guest journey from the moment the customer first interacts with their brand, to the point they come back to the venue. This all leads to higher revenue and customer satisfaction.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-advantages-and-disadvantages-of-ai">Advantages and disadvantages of AI</h2>



It is important for operators to weigh the pros and cons before deciding to incorporate AI into their business operations. We have summarised the most relevant ones in this short list below. 



You can find a more extensive list <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/the-pros-and-cons-of-using-ai-in-hospitality">in this article</a>.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-main-advantages">Main advantages:</h4>



<ol>
<li>Increased operations efficiency and productivity. AI can streamline and automate repetitive tasks.</li>



<li>Cost reduction. AI allows for data-backed decision-making.</li>



<li>Tailored customer experience. AI provides insights that support personalised marketing and service.</li>



<li>Accurate forecasting. AI can identify revenue opportunities.</li>
</ol>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-main-disadvantages">Main disadvantages:</h4>



<ol>
<li>Impersonal service. AI lacks the human touch that many guests desire.</li>



<li>System failure. Operators are highly dependent on their digital tools to work seamlessly.</li>



<li>Technical limitations. Not all AI tools are able to cater for the needs of the hospitality industry.</li>



<li>High investment costs. Implementing AI is often a major investment.</li>
</ol>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ai-as-a-growth-tool-for-hospitality">AI as a growth tool for hospitality</h2>



AI technology is undoubtedly a growth tool for the hospitality industry, and those who successfully embrace it will thrive in the long run.&nbsp;



<a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/4-ways-to-optimise-your-hospitality-business-with-ai">Here are 4 ways</a> it can support different areas of the business.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-1-operations">1. Operations</h4>



AI technology has vastly improved the way hospitality operators conduct their daily operations and provide service.&nbsp;



Chatbots are a great example, as they can scan common customer queries and answer them in real time. This relieves staff of tedious, repetitive tasks, while still ensuring customers receive an excellent level of service around the clock.



Hotels are also increasingly leaning on AI for contactless check-ins and virtual concierges, making sure guests get the most out of their stay. Self-service kiosks in restaurants on the other hand allow customers to place orders more quickly and efficiently. Again freeing up staff time for other duties.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-2-marketing">2. Marketing</h4>



AI can massively improve the way hospitality businesses communicate with guests and market their services. It can gather a multitude of data points in one place, coming from tech tools such as Guest WiFi, table booking platforms or loyalty scheme.&nbsp;



Marketers can use the data to better understand customer preferences, habits and needs. This then allows them to provide a more personalised experience, offer relevant promotions and optimise their marketing campaigns for maximum results.



With AI automation, tasks such as uploading data are made simpler and faster. This frees up time and reduces human errors. Trigger-based campaigns based on previous customer interactions can also be easily automated. Such as sending discounts to customers who haven’t been at your venue for a while.&nbsp;



Lastly, AI can power up digital advertising by helping with audience and campaign optimisation. On top, it can monitor social media channels for brand mentions and engagement.&nbsp;



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-3-sales-revenue">3. Sales &amp; revenue</h4>



There is promising potential for integrating AI to improve sales too.&nbsp;



AI can analyse customer data to predict their preferences and suggest personalised recommendations. Equipped with these insights staff can better upsell and cross-sell when customers are in the venue. Marketers as well can take advantage of this with highly targeted campaigns that lead to higher conversion rates and ultimately create more sales opportunities.&nbsp;&nbsp;



AI can further be used for improved revenue management for hotels and restaurants. It creates accurate forecasts by analysing past data as well as external factors such as market fluctuations.&nbsp;



This enables operators to adjust their pricing in real time. So they can take advantage of peak periods while still remaining competitive during off-peak times.



For hoteliers, this also means that they can ensure guests always get the best price when booking direct.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-4-data-analytics-reporting">4. Data analytics &amp; reporting</h4>



By using AI to generate accurate reports hospitality businesses can become more successful in the long run through leveraging data-driven insights into customer behaviour. So that they don’t rely on guesswork anymore.



A lot of, usually manual, tasks can be automated as well. Such as the creation of monthly reports or the building of customised dashboards with the metrics that matter.



AI can present the data in a way that is accessible to the entire team and that also facilitates performance analysis from relevant KPIs.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-3-ai-use-cases-for-hospitality">3 AI use cases for hospitality</h2>



There are already examples of hospitality businesses successfully implementing AI and it&#8217;s likely that more will follow suit in the coming years.



We’ve summarised 3 <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/4-revenue-driving-ai-tools-for-hospitality-operators">popular use cases for AI marketing</a> and operations below.



If you’re a hotelier you can find more relevant examples <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/3-clever-ai-tools-to-support-your-hotel-operations">here</a> and we also got some, especially for restaurant operators <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/3-restaurant-specific-ai-tools-that-drive-sales">here</a>.



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



AI enables hospitality marketers to create a personalised customer experience with ease. Through the smart analysis of customer data, AI can segment customers into small groups according to patterns, demographics and historical interaction.



This empowers businesses to deliver targeted marketing campaigns that resonate with individual customers, helping them feel appreciated and increasing loyalty.&nbsp;



AI also helps to <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/another-5-step-recipe-how-to-easily-win-back-lost-customers-part-2-of-5">detect and retain lost customers</a> through automated campaigns that are triggered by pre-defined conditions.



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



AI technology can be used to quickly generate various pieces of content. This ranges from email campaigns to social media posts and website copy. Plus, it can translate content into multiple languages so you can reach wider audiences.&nbsp;



AI algorithms can also analyse the most engaging social media posts and create similar ones. Plus, it can also determine the best posting schedules, hashtags and content for various platforms to grow engagement and followers.



When it comes to website content, AI can improve SEO rankings and develop search engine-optimised content by incorporating relevant keywords.&nbsp;



Another example is restaurant menus. They are often seasonal and need to be changed on a regular basis. AI can support operators to come up with enticing menu descriptions and iterations to speed up the process.



<a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/how-to-speed-up-content-creation-with-ai-in-hospitality">Check out this article</a> to find out more about how you can create more hospitality marketing content in less time with AI.



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



As already mentioned, hospitality operators are now discovering the value of AI-powered chatbots in providing better customer service that is available for customers&nbsp; 24/7.



Chatbots can be used for a variety of tasks. Common examples are answering FAQs, taking orders in restaurants and helping with general service requests.&nbsp;



Plus, they can act as a concierge and support customers with their travel planning by making personalised recommendations based on past interactions.



With the ability to integrate with voice assistants like Alexa or Google Assistant, hospitality operators can further create a more human experience and eliminate the typing for customers.



With these advanced capabilities, hospitality operators can enhance their services while also improving staff efficiency. All without ever compromising on guest satisfaction.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-ai-can-improve-reviews-management">How AI can improve reviews management</h2>



Online reviews play a crucial role in attracting customers. However, managing these reviews can be a daunting and time-consuming task for busy hospitality operators. This is where AI comes in to lend a <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/how-ai-can-facilitate-reviews-management-for-hospitality-operators">helping hand with your reputation management</a>. 



For example, it takes over previous manual tasks done by staff. So instead of analysing each review platform separately and dealing with spreadsheets, AI can automatically gather all reviews in one place. This allows for quick access and a multi-channel overview. Reviews can be dealt with more efficiently and progress on each response can be tracked easily.



To avoid further complications, operators have to react to reach review in a timely manner. This way they can retain unhappy customers and show that their opinion matters to the business.&nbsp;



Depending on the number of reviews flooding in it can be challenging to keep up. With automated response generation, AI can help operators to better handle their to-do lists. Based on keywords AI can generate a personalised reply in no time.&nbsp;&nbsp;



Further, AI-powered sentiment analysis can provide operators with valuable insights into customer feedback. It can detect common themes and tag them accordingly. This enables businesses to quickly identify areas for improvement to enhance their service.



With AI, hospitality operators can better stay on top of their online reputation, and improve their overall scores and customer satisfaction.



If you want to find out how AI can also make it easier for customers to leave a review, check out this article.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-summary">Summary</h2>



AI is a very beneficial tool that hospitality operators should look to explore and utilise to back up their marketing strategy.&nbsp;



AI technology has tremendous potential for increasing speed and accuracy in data collection and analysis. This allows operators to provide more tailored services for their customers based on what they&#8217;ve learned from past engagements. But also to make accurate predictions and more informed decisions which will save them time and money.



Moreover, AI can be used to aid in developing marketing content, automating and supporting daily service operations and improving reviews management.



There may be valid concerns around its adoption cost and potential impact on losing the human touch. Though, when leveraged correctly, AI can have significant positive impacts on your hospitality business.

AI In Hospitality Marketing: A Complete Guide

These Automations Can Help When Short-Staffed

It’s time to have a look at upcoming Social Media Trends. The last year has been quite transformative for businesses and customers alike. Staying connected, being able to communicate with one another and socialising has been taken to another level.&nbsp;



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



The one thing playing a crucial role in all this is social media. The way we use and interact on different platforms has changed. New trends have emerged and will continue to gain popularity throughout 2021.



<a href="https://www.oberlo.com/blog/social-media-trends" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Oberlo</a> has just published an article with 10 trends to watch out for. We’ve picked our top 2 which are particularly relevant for the hospitality industry and will give you some tips on how to make the most out of them.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-snackable-content">Snackable Content</h3>



The umbrella term summarising our top social media trends is: Snackable Content. Your customers are craving snackable content. This term is somewhat self-explanatory.&nbsp;



Customers want straightforward, short and easy to digest content. Their attention span drops drastically whilst scrolling through their social media feeds which are probably overloaded with posts. So ideally you get their attention with some highly visual and easygoing content.



Businesses on the other hand want content that is shared and goes viral to boost engagement.



So far so good. Apart from gifs and quotes, there are 2 tools that satisfy all of the above.&nbsp;



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-memes">Memes</h3>



Memes are not a new thing per se. However, the usage of memes has increased by 26% over the last year. Memes often go viral. Think of Bernie Sanders, he was all over our feeds.



Check out the American restaurant chain <a href="https://www.instagram.com/dennysdiner/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Denny’s diner</a> who is known for creating and sharing memes around all sorts of topics.



Memes make you laugh, they’re refreshing, relatable and highly engaging. They grab people’s attention and the likelihood that they’re shared is huge. There is an endless amount of memes available to underline your post’s message, anything around food, drinks, fun customer stories, kitchen stories, daily life hassles and much more.



But there are a few things to consider when using memes:



Do&#8217;s



<ul><li>Keep them simple</li><li>Mix them up with other types of content</li><li>Link them to social media events, i.e. National Pizza Day</li><li>Include relevant hashtags</li></ul>



Don’ts



<ul><li>Don&#8217;t overdo it! Only use them when they add value to your post</li><li>Don’t post outdated ones</li><li>Avoid double meaning</li></ul>



You can even create your own! Sounds far more complicated than it is, use platforms such as <a href="https://pixteller.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pixteller</a>. And don’t forget to link them to your brand-related hashtags.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tiktok">TikTok</h3>



Short-video platform TikTok’s user base went up by 210% during the last year, and most businesses will have customers there. Have you seen the recent sea shanty hype going on? Another great example is the Mexican grill restaurant chain <a href="https://www.qsrmagazine.com/fast-casual/how-chipotle-took-over-tiktok" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chipotle</a>. They have launched several (i.e. #GuacDance for the National Avocado Day) very successful record breaking TikTok campaigns.



85% of businesses are already using video as a marketing tool. Every social media platform now offers a video sharing tool. “We’re going live” is something you’ve probably heard a lot recently.&nbsp;



Besides going live, sharing short videos is the new thing. Remember, lighthearted and entertaining is what they want. And short videos are great to create awareness and to attract new customers through the gained exposure.



How hospitality business can use TikTok as part of their Social Media strategy:



<ul><li>Go behind the scenes</li><li>Share recipes</li><li>Share short DIY kitchen, bar and cooking tricks</li><li>Q&amp;A</li><li>Introduce new products/services, team members, partners</li></ul>



Why not give Instagram Reels a try as well? Same idea as TikTok.

Social Media Trends 2021 – Snackable Content

For hotel managers, increasing profits is a never-ending endeavour. You need to know how to promote your hotel to new customers. You need to make your customers come back for another stay. Email Marketing is reportedly the best solution to manage this. 



Whereas with social media the results can be mixed, if you have a robust email marketing strategy you are likely to get better results. Read on to find out about a few tips every hotel running an email marketing campaign should know!



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">How to Get New Contacts</h3>



The first thing you need to do is <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/how-to-build-an-email-list-for-a-non-digital-business/">build a contact list</a>. This can be done using your website. Just asking people to subscribe to your newsletter with an annoying pop up won’t do. 



Subscribers want to know how you can add value to their vacation experience. So, why not ask something along the lines of “Would you like to be part of our VIP list and get exclusive offers?” This type of question makes your customers feel like they’re gaining access to something exclusive. Something other guests wouldn’t have access to. 



Your customers are out looking for <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/infographic-how-likely-are-people-to-act-on-promotions/">deals</a>; they don’t want to receive the same offers anyone could get. Make sure you nurture these contacts by sending them genuine exclusive offers &#8211; discounts or special packages are just an example.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Getting Contacts From Your Guests</h3>



Most guests arriving at your hotel will have used OTAs to get a good deal on their stay. You’ll want to get their contact details, especially now that they’ve been to your hotel and had a wonderful experience. It’s essential to get your guests’ details so they’ll return to your hotel again, <a href="https://www.happybooking.fi/en/blog/october-2017/9-reasons-to-grow-the-share-of-direct-bookings-for-your-property/">without using the OTAs.</a> 



Return customers are a big part for every hotel. Guest WiFi is a reliable way to get those valuable contact details and more relevant information. More on this later. 



If you don&#8217;t offer <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/getting-started-with-guest-wifi/">Guest WiFi</a> we can help you. Why not also check out our eBook on how to avoid common mistakes.



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Sending a Confirmation Email</h3>



It’s important to send a confirmation email to anyone who asks to be part of your mailing list. This way, you get people who are notably engaged in your services. More engaged customers are more likely to open your emails and click-through. 



This automated confirmation email should have some useful info on it already. Maybe mention some of the advantages of staying in your hotel. For example, if your hotel has a great view from your rooftop, make sure to include a picture. It will be a visual treat for people to remember you.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Use Appropriate Segmentation</h3>



Once you have a contact list growing, it’s important to know how to make good use of the data you’ve got from them. You can segment, as an example, people who visit your hotel for business and people who visit for vacations or simply segment them by age and gender. 



You can use whatever data you’ve captured to segment your audience. This will mean different marketing emails for each segment. Personalisation based on this segmentation makes your email marketing relevant to your guests’ at a deep level and delivers strong interaction. But also affects their <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/engaging-customers-through-wi-fi-marketing/">loyalty</a> towards you. 



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Types of Segmentation</h3>



For business travellers, you could focus on advertising conference and meeting room hire. Perhaps add a little bit about bars and restaurants in the area where your business customers could relax after a long working day.



For the holidaymakers, put the focus on the sighseeing aspect. You can even add a map for your city.&nbsp;But also use the chance to share some of the amenities in your hotel as well, restaurants, bars, spas and fitness clubs etc. 



Again, knowing and understanding what your customers want is essential to deliver an experience that’s especially tailored to them. The importance of segmentation lies in making sure you’re taking care of each guest’s interests and motivations. 



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">When to Email Your Customers</h3>



Another useful piece of information is your customers’ date of birth. Having that, you can send them a special offer for their birthday. 



You can also send some emails in the lead up to Spring and Summer, or before Christmas and New Year. It’s important that these emails showcase special offers that your customers wouldn’t get just by booking through an OTA. You want them to book on a landing page that’s linked through from your emails.&nbsp;



&nbsp;<a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/how-to-set-up-your-first-email-campaign-guide-2019/">The success of email marketing</a> is determined by your guests. They’re the ones who choose to read your emails and click through. 



You have to make sure that your email subject will be appealing and stand out from the rest of the offers they receive in their inbox. After your customers open the emails, you need to know how to make sure they’ll read on. You can put a special offer at the top to capture their attention, or use a nice picture of the closest beach. 



Be enticing, be urgent, and your customers will respond to your email marketing and book through your landing page.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Emailing Guests Who Have Booked at Your Hotel</h3>



If a guest has booked a stay at your hotel, you should email them straight after they make their reservation. Show them what they can do at your hotel and nearby. Offer to be available in case they have any questions or special requests for their booking. Make sure your email makes your customers feel special &#8211; remember what we said about personalisation.



It’s also important to send your guests an email a few days before their booking date with more information. Especially, how to get to your hotel and what they can do while in the area. Once again, personalisation is key &#8211; you need to pay attention to the information they’re providing in your form and segment your guests so that each one of them can get the best out of your hotel.



Then,&nbsp; email your customers after they leave the hotel so that they can tell you what they thought of the experience. This is of the utmost importance. It helps you see if there’s room for improving or if any hiccup in their stay could have been prevented. Swift responses to complaints can help prevent those <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/how-to-respond-to-positive-and-negative-customer-reviews-online/">reviews</a> going on pages you can’t control.



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These are our main tips for an effective email marketing strategy. 



Remember, <a href="https://stampede.ai/">Stampede</a><a href="https://stampede.ai/"></a> also offers you an easy way of getting emails for your contact list. Stampede is a tool you can use at your hotel, providing a connection to your guests without affecting your hotel’s services. We offer all the technology you need for setting up a Guest WiFi, getting customer contacts and more. 



We also are GDPR-compliant, which means you’ll never have to worry about the contacts or data you get from our platform. <a href="https://stampede.ai/contact/">Contact us</a> for more information and… happy emailing! 



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Effective Email Marketing Tips for Hotels

Email marketing is one of the most effective digital marketing strategies; in fact, <a href="https://www.wordstream.com/blog/ws/2017/06/29/email-marketing-statistics">59% of B2B marketers</a> claim that this is the best channel for generating revenue. To add to this, 80% of retailers say it <a href="https://www.wordstream.com/blog/ws/2017/06/29/email-marketing-statistics">leads to the highest customer retention</a> – even surpassing social media efforts. In short, this means that even businesses that are non-digital, such as restaurants, pubs, bars, etc. can also benefit from email marketing; a study even found that emails have a click through rate that is six times higher than tweets. But to be effective, you need to first build an email list . Then you can get the best possible ROI from your marketing efforts. An email list is just a list of collected emails that businesses gather over time from customers. Customers sign up for the list to receive updates on products, discounts, seasonal sales, and other details about the business – directly into their inbox. Let’s first go through the benefits of building a list, and running email marketing campaigns designed to engage and retain consumers:



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-benefits-of-email-marketing"> Benefits Of Email Marketing </h3>



 Email marketing has a lot of benefits, especially if you are not an online business. Once they walk out from your establishment you often don&#8217;t have other means of connecting with your customers. These include:



<ul>
<li> Direct communication with your customers</li>



<li> A broader audience base that includes the people who aren’t active on social media</li>



<li> Low marketing costs</li>



<li> Emails also acquire new customers around <a href="https://www.campaignmonitor.com/blog/email-marketing/2019/04/importance-building-email-list/">40 times better</a> than Twitter or Facebook. </li>



<li> Surveying the market to determine customer demands</li>



<li> Word of mouth (QuickSprout found that email subscribers are <a href="https://www.quicksprout.com/11-things-i-wish-i-knew-before-i-started-my-first-blog/">three times more likely to share content</a> on social media than leads coming from any other channel).</li>
</ul>



 Every email you send to the customers should contain to something valuable. Non-digital businesses can utilise email lists to raise awareness regarding new campaigns, product release, promotions, and even reward loyal customers. This will lead to increased consumer engagement, and eagerness to open the emails as they expect to gain something of value. For example, restaurant owners can send email alerts about a revamped menu, while boutiques can promote their summer sales to returning customers who have subscribed to the list. Remember, consumers who purchase through email tend to <a href="https://www.jeffbullas.com/email-marketing-statistics/">spend around 138% more</a> than people who do not subscribe to your list.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-building-an-email-list-from-scratch">Building An Email List From Scratch </h3>



 Before you start building a solid email list for your business, make sure you have the following supporting resources: Detailed Knowledge About Your Target Audience Prior to building an email list, it’s always better to know exactly who these people are. By creating a basic marketing persona, you can determine how well different kinds of emails would be received. To gain valuable information like the customer’s demographics (including age, gender, and even salary), as well as their buying goals, use tools like Stampede – a Wi-Fi marketing platform that makes capturing information like this easy, and fully <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/blackbx-wifi-and-gdpr/">compliant with regulations like GDPR</a>. This is the ideal way of gaining a large number of email addresses, especially since most customers want to connect to free Wi-Fi. A good way to encourage more people to connect – and thus, sign up for your newsletter – is by announcing the fact that you offer free Wi-Fi on your menu, on the concierge’s desk, on your waiting staff’s aprons, tables, etc. An Updated Website With Attractive Landing Pages You also need a solid base to direct your email list members to; the business website is the best location for this purpose. If you’re a small business with a minimalistic website, don’t worry. All you really need is a basic landing page that contains your email/subscriber form. Now that you’re ready with the above-mentioned resources, it’s time to get to the actual job at hand – building your email list. Here is a step-by-step guide that is guaranteed to help you build an effective list: 1. Sign Up For An Email Marketing Service To reap the benefits of your mailing list, you first need to choose the right email marketing service for your business. These marketing services generally tend to offer different pricing models that you can choose from. To test the waters, try a basic package and see how well it works. Popular examples include MailChimp and Hubspot. You can use any provider that you’re comfortable with, and simply export all the customer data through a software like Zapier. 2. Integrate Email Into All Marketing Strategies With the help of your email provider, integrate your mailing lists with any other platform that your business is active on. This will allow you to collect email addresses from different platforms, and even alert the consumer whenever you send an email. 3. Optimise Your Website Campaigns and attractive landing pages are the top ways through which you can collect emails. You could include the following into your website:



<ul>
<li> Personalised CTA For Each Landing Page Or Blog – In a study conducted by <a href="https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/personalized-calls-to-action-convert-better-data">HubSpot</a>, personalised CTAs have led to 42% higher view-to-submission rates than uniform CTAs all over the website. </li>



<li> Slide-Ins – Slide in advertisements, or website retargeting can help you engage the consumer better. They can convince a visitor to stay, and even attract them towards a particular product or service.</li>



<li> Opt-In Forms – Good opt-in forms can make or break your mailing lists. Be sure to only ask relevant questions. Don’t be too intrusive, but also, don’t hesitate to ask for the information that you need.</li>



<li> Timed Pop-Up Surveys – To increase the probability of your viewers signing up to the mailing list, first make sure they are well-invested. Pepper different pages with specific surveys related to that content, after the visitor has spent some time on the page.</li>
</ul>



 4. Use Stampede This service provides you with a branded login portal that greets your customers when they connect to your Wi-Fi. It further enhances your marketing campaigns by collecting valuable data to increase customer loyalty, sales, and even return visits. Customers gain lifetime access to the business’s Wi-Fi, while you capture a ton of customer insights.



5. Set Up Auto-Responders Now that you have an optimised website or landing page (through the Wi-Fi sign up portal); it’s time to ensure that you send the right content, at the right time, to subscribers. A simple way to do this is by setting up auto responders. These are automated emails, scheduled in advance to send upon specific triggers or actions by your visitors. Stampede can help you send action-triggered, highly targeted, and personalised messages automatically to your customers. For example, you can set up an auto responder for when customers sign up to your list. This ‘welcome email’ can contain short message, followed by a coupon for 5% discount or complimentary dessert on their current dine-in order, or any other purchase. This can be incredibly effective to increase sales, providing <a href="https://www.easy-smtp.com/welcome-email-marketing-optimization">average of 320% more revenue</a> per email than other promotional material.



As a non-digital business, it’s important to incorporate various mediums into your marketing efforts, such as email marketing. While excellent service is one aspect of retaining customers, targeted emails can keep them engaged – even when they’re not physically present in your store or restaurant. And the most important factor to consider when building your mailing list is valued content. As long as you send good deals to your customer, they will remain engaged with your brand. To take things a step further, carry out A/B testing to determine what kind of emails have higher opening, and click-through rates. This will offer you insights into what drives your customers – which can be further used to drive engagement, and ultimately, sales. Want more information on how email can be used to boost your business? Read our eBook to understand how our platform makes it easier to <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/learn-how-to-boost-your-business-with-sms-and-email-marketing/">reach your customers through their phones instantly!</a> Are you ready to start working on your email marketing efforts? Give us a try – we offer a free, no-obligation trial, and simple integration with your existing Wi-Fi equipment. <a href="https://stampede.ai/contact/">Contact us today!</a>

How To Build An Email List For A Non-Digital Business

With Google announcing the end of third-party cookies in 2024, the clock is ticking for hotels to switch to a first-party data strategy for good.



For many this radical change has already proven worthwhile. As per a recent survey by Sojern, <a href="https://www.sojern.com/press-release/81-percent-of-hoteliers-see-a-lift-in-revenue-once-a-first-party-data-strategy-is-implemented">81% of hoteliers said they have seen an increase in revenue</a> since changing their game plan.&nbsp;



No doubt, this is a big strategic move that requires thoughtful resource management and planning.



We’ve gathered some key things to keep in mind before you get started.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-is-a-first-party-strategy">What is a first-party strategy?&nbsp;</h2>



First-party data refers to data that is obtained by the hotel through its owned digital channels. Examples are their Guest WiFi, loyalty program or website booking integration.



The biggest benefit is that operators have full ownership over this type of data. They can store, access and manage it directly and use it for marketing purposes and more.



In addition, 1st party data is often more accurate and relevant as it is willingly provided by customers to the company.



However, the current situation is more like a mix of first- and third-party data. The latter often comes from guests booking through OTAs rather than direct.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Why opt for a first-party-only strategy?</h2>



Without third-party tracking and data, operators miss out on essential interaction points in their customers’ journey.&nbsp;



Personalised marketing and on-site service become nearly impossible, the outcome is a rather disjointed guest experience. 



For example, hotels <a href="https://stampede.ai/downloads/the-direct-booking-checklist">don’t get access to OTA booking data</a> and can therefore not contact guests prior to their arrival to tailor their stay.



So in an ideal scenario, all the data is collected by the hotel based on actual customer interactions. From the first touch point, i.e. the initial booking, onwards when guests return.&nbsp;&nbsp;



This then allows operators to create a holistic guest profile which stores preferences and previous interactions. Insights that can be used for personalised marketing to drive long-term loyalty and revenue.



Though, the key to a successful 1st party strategy is getting the right data from the right sources.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">10 most-used 1st party data sources for hotels</h2>



How can hotel operators gather their own data covering online and offline events? Let’s have a look at some common first-party sources:



<ul>
<li>Property Management System (PMS)</li>



<li>Customer Relationship Management System (CRM)</li>



<li><a href="https://stampede.ai/how-it-works/wifi">Guest WiFi</a></li>



<li>Website &#8211; newsletter sign-ups</li>



<li>Mobile app sign-ups</li>



<li>Online booking engine</li>



<li>Guest surveys</li>



<li>Loyalty program</li>



<li><a href="https://stampede.ai/get-bookings">Table booking platform (F&amp;B)</a></li>



<li>Social media channels</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">4 steps for implementing a first-party data strategy</h2>



Here are 4 essential actions to take to start shifting your strategy:



<ol>
<li>Map out your entire customer journey. Consider all potential online and offline sources. Define your marketing short/long-term goals.</li>



<li>Determine the required data and its sources. What is the current process in place and what is missing? Close potential data gaps.</li>



<li>Make the best use of your data. Choose the right technology to manage your data most efficiently.&nbsp;</li>



<li>Analyse and adjust if necessary. Build your own customised dashboards and reports to keep an eye on progress.&nbsp;</li>
</ol>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">How to maximise your first-party data</h2>



In general, the more data sources hotels can access, the easier it is for them to build a 360-degree customer view.&nbsp;



However, this can also quickly lead to <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/5-common-data-integration-flaws-in-hospitality-tech">disjointed data silos</a> piling up, which requires a lot of manual labour and time to connect them. But without their integration, the data is of no use and correct attribution is nearly impossible.&nbsp;



In addition, handling various systems and spreadsheets also increases the potential risk of a GDPR breach.



So, in order to use the data in the most efficient and secure way, hotels should therefore opt for a <a href="https://stampede.ai/">unified CRM solution</a>. It automatically syncs all their sources into one place without the need for integrations.



All staff members get access to the same data and from there they can quickly analyse it, segment it and use it to drive their marketing efforts.&nbsp;



Plus, with a multi-functional system, the overall data quality increase as guest profiles are always up-to-date. Which in turn results in better marketing conversions.



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Make sure to check out our <a href="https://stampede.ai/downloads/the-direct-booking-checklist">FREE Direct Booking Checklist</a>. Our step-by-step guide features examples around social media, email marketing and SEO to ensure that you’ve ticked every box when it comes to your direct bookings.

A Quick Guide On First-Party Data Strategy For Hotels

Internet access and provision is essential for nearly every successful business these days. Customers and clients love fast and reliable guest WiFi. But if you’re just starting out, or you’re upgrading your WiFi, getting your head around the WiFi jargon can take up time better spent running your business. Here’s an explanation of the terms you may come across to help you provide the best WiFi for your business and customers.



ISP &#8211; Internet Service Provider An Internet Service Provider (ISP) is a company that supplies the Internet connection into a venue. The router provides the gateway between the Internet and all the devices via this connection. The ISP is often referred to as the ‘provider’. Every organisation or home with Internet access has an ISP. 



Broadband Broadband is a type of high-speed Internet connection which is now the standard way to connect to the Internet. Broadband packages come in different forms including cable, ADSL, and mobile.



Cable broadband is provided through fibre-optic cables. These provide faster broadband speeds than ADSL. Landline and digital television services can also be provided through the cable. Your ideal speed depends on your business. You should consider fast fibre-optic cable with a package that includes unlimited downloads if you are providing guest WiFi in premises such as cafes and bars. 



In the UK, ADSL broadband is provided through existing BT phone lines. The speed depends on your distance from your local telephone exchange. The closer you are to the exchange, the faster the broadband. 



Mobile broadband is transmitted via mobile phone networks. Users need a mobile phone signal to access the broadband.



LAN &#8211; Local Area Network A local area network (LAN) is when two or more computers are connected together in a building using software or hardware. A LAN can be wired or wireless. The administrator of the LAN will decide what can be shared and what can’t be on the network.



You can set up multiple networks on the same broadband connection, with different bandwidths for each one. For example, you might have one network for staff and one for customers. You’ll need plenty of bandwidth for your customers! You set these up through the router.



Your router sends data from the Internet cable to a device and acts as a wireless access point so that the data can be shared through radio signals instead of another cable. It is plugged into your landline or cable line. When running a business with guest Wi-Fi, you’ll need a router that allows for multiple networks. Routers may come with various security tools, for example, firewall management and intrusion detection.



IP Address IP means Internet Protocol. There are two types of IP address: internal and external. An internal IP address is a series of numbers that identifies your router connection. 192.168.1.1 is a common one used for routers. To change your router settings, you need to know your IP address. 



The easiest way of finding it is to look at the back of your router. Most have a sticker or card with all the information you need for logging into its settings, including the IP address.



An external or public IP address is used across the entire Internet to locate computer systems and devices. Your Internet service provider assigns you an external IP address when you connect to the Internet. When your web browser requests a webpage, it sends the IP address along with it. Your provider uses external IP addresses to determine which customer uses which website. 



Bandwidth Bandwidth refers to the volume of information per unit of time that an Internet connection can handle. Bandwidth is expressed in bits per second (eg, 50 Mbps is 50 million bits per second). However, it can be expressed in other ways and it’s important to check which unit is being used.



Businesses will vary on how much bandwidth they need. If you’re providing guest WiFi, you must get this right. Customers will not tolerate poor Wi-Fi connections and your reputation will suffer. Monitoring usage is essential in understanding how much bandwidth is being used, and when. 



WAP and Hotspot A wireless access point (WAP) is a hardware device on a local area network that allows WiFi devices to connect to a wired network. The WAP usually connects to a router although it may be included in the router itself. WAPs feature radio transmitters and antennae. 



The hotspot is the physical location where Wi-Fi access is available. Putting up signs with a Wi-Fi symbol is a helpful way of letting customers know how and where they can log on.



Cloud Controller Your WAP can come with a hosted cloud controller service. Cloud computing simply means that you store and access data over the Internet rather than on your hard drive. A cloud controller lets you manage your WiFi system from anywhere as well as managing multiple sites with a single log-in.



Mesh Network WiFi mesh networking kits are often sold to businesses and consumers to address WiFi ‘dead zones’ because they blanket a building or home with WiFi. Having a mesh network means that you don’t need to use range extenders or extra access points. 



The kit, which normally replaces your existing router, includes nodes. One node or router connects to the Internet through your modem. This node and each of the other satellite nodes then communicate with each other. Cover is expanded with each new node. Mesh networks are easy to set up. You manage the system, for example, to set up a guest network, by using an app.



Captive Portal If you want to set up guest Wi-Fi, you’ll need a <a href="https://stampede.ai/how-it-works/wifi">captive portal</a>. A captive portal is a webpage that a user needs to view and interact with before being given access to a public WiFi network. It is mainly used for authentication purposes and is usually in place for free or chargeable WiFi hot spots e.g. business centres, cafes, bars and hotels. 



The captive portal may feature a branded log-in page, conditions of access, surveys, and payment options. The page with the log-in details is sometimes called the splash screen. The landing page is the page the customer or guest gets put through to after they log in.



The trick to a great captive portal is making it easy for the user while getting benefits for your business or service. Through your captive portal, Stampede can turn your guest Wi-Fi into a money making asset for you. It will also give your customers a great Wi-Fi experience. You can grow customer loyalty, stay compliant with the law, increase your social media presence, and build your brand.



Wireless security Wireless security, sometimes referred to as wireless network security, <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/take-the-risk-out-of-guest-wifi/">protects a wireless network from unauthorised access</a>. Understanding the common acronyms will help you choose the best security for your network. 



WPA2, WPA and WEP are the three encryption protocols you will probably come across. WPA2 is the most secure of the three. When it is enabled with its strongest encryption option, data traffic is scrambled with the most up to date encryption standards. This is the one you should use. If you are providing guest Wi-Fi through a captive portal, you have to use it. 



WEP, introduced in the late 1990s, is easily hacked and should not be used. WPA replaced WEP, and is an option if a device does not support the more up to date WPA2. 



<a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/wpa3-the-next-generation-in-wifi-security/">WPA3 will replace WPA2</a> and the transition has already started, although it will take time to roll out. WPA3 has significant new security features and will be important for open public Wi-Fi networks. However, a WPA3 enabled router will need WPA3 compatible devices (laptops, phones) to take advantage of the new features.



MAC Address – Media Access Control Address A media access control address (MAC address) is a unique code assigned by a manufacturer to every piece of hardware that connects to the Internet. A MAC address ensures each device is unique and allows data to be passed among hardware devices. 



Many people will never need the MAC address to use their devices. However, some providers may require registration of the address to ensure those who are paying for the service are the only users who can connect. If you do need it, you can normally find it on a sticker on the device. The address is composed of six pairs of numbers/letters separated by colons. If the device is portable, it may be printed inside the battery compartment.



Contact us at Stampede



If you’d like more info on how to make guest WiFi work for your business, we’re ready to help. Whether you’re a major business or just starting out, you’ll be in good hands. 



Stampede is the smart guest WiFi for any venue, from independent coffee shops to global brands with thousands of sites. We provide a level of <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/the-marketing-power-of-wifi-analytics-for-your-business/">customer insight</a> previously only available to large corporations. If you’d like to grow your business and build brand loyalty, get in touch. We’d be delighted to chat.



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The Ultimate Beginners Guide to WiFi Jargon

In the last few years, social media has completely transformed not just how we interact with each other, but how as businesses, we interact with our customers too. We’ve gone from leaflets through the doors to paid Facebook campaigns, megaphones in the street to hashtags and tweets. If you’re not au fait with social media, you can be forgiven for thinking Tik Tok is simply the noise a clock makes. When in reality being one of the biggest platforms of the new decade.







So, when you’re a restaurant with social media feeds, just how do you get them to work for you? So that your tables are booked and not sitting empty? If you are looking to get higher engagement across your social media channels, here’s everything you need to know.&nbsp;



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Start with the basics</h4>



When you first create a social media page for your business, it’s going to have nobody following it. Therefore, no engagement either. A really simple step is to invite all of your friends to like the page. Maybe leaving a message explaining it’s your new venture, or that your business is now on Facebook/Instagram etc, and you’d appreciate the support.&nbsp;



You should also have links to your social media pages clearly displayed on your website. Also any other digital or physical marketing material, you put out. ‘Follow us on Facebook’ is a really simple sentence, but you’d be surprised how well it works. Make sure your page name corresponds with your business, and that the page is public and easy to find.



When it comes to social media posts on Instagram and Twitter, always tag the location of the city you’re in. Additionally, aim for at least 20 hashtags on each post. You can type the hashtags out in advance if it speeds things up. But always include tags that state your location and the food you serve. <a href="https://adespresso.com/blog/instagram-statistics/">The most popular time for posting food-related content is 12pm on a Friday</a>, so this would be a good time to tap into that all-important engagement.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Be engaging to begin with</h4>



It sounds simple enough, but one of the biggest mistakes companies make on social media is assuming that your followers are extremely interested in everything you post. In reality, if it doesn’t offer value to the customer (such as informing/inspiring/entertaining them etc), then why should they stop and pay attention. Let alone share it with friends?&nbsp;



If you are stuck in a rut, and all your posts are flatlining. Then it’s time <a href="https://coschedule.com/blog/social-media-post-ideas/">to research the type of content that will spice things up</a>. Perhaps you could share a blog post about your upcoming events. Do a giveaway or even run a straightforward poll asking people how they like their steak. It’s not always about too technical, rather delivering content that provokes a reaction, therefore, boosts engagement.&nbsp;



It pays to <a href="https://www.postplanner.com/facebook-post-ideas-for-businesses-that-guarantee-engagement/">go through your previous posts and see what did well, versus what didn’t</a>. Ask yourself if the image or message was weak, or if the timing could have been better. Sometimes, looking at things from a fresh perspective can be really useful. Perhaps even put it on a big screen and ask your staff for their feedback too.&nbsp;



Further reading: <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/how-to-effectively-design-social-media-posts/">https://stampede.ai/blog/how-to-effectively-design-social-media-posts/</a>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Remember it’s supposed to be sociable</h4>



Running a restaurant probably takes up most of your waking hours, but that doesn’t mean to say you can neglect your social media as a result. When companies respond and react to their customers on social media, this boosts engagement as a result.&nbsp;



If you really don’t have the time or knowledge. You may consider employing a social media manager or even outsourcing your social content to a marketing agency. Either way, ignoring it is the very opposite of what social media is about, and it’s definitely not a tactic that will win you new customers.&nbsp;



On Facebook, in particular, your stats <a href="https://www.facebook.com/help/1625715647696553">showing how fast you respond to customers is public</a>. Imagine if someone was looking to ask about booking a table with you over Facebook, but they saw you take 3 days on average to respond?



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<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Try a sponsored campaign</h4>



Ideally, your social media followers and the engagement they can generate will happen organically, but sometimes this just isn’t the case. If you are a new restaurant to the area, it can take time to build up a decent following. When you’re trying to spread the word about your business, time isn’t a luxury you have.



In this instance (or if you just want to shake things up) <a href="https://sproutsocial.com/insights/topics/social-media-advertising/">you should consider doing a sponsored campaign through Facebook, Twitter or Instagram</a>. Essentially, by creating a campaign and agreeing on a budget in advance, your page will be exposed to thousands of people automatically. The amount you spend is up to you. The platform will display the expected number of engagements or actions to your page the amount is likely to generate.&nbsp;



It goes without saying that you should put a lot of thought and effort into the post. Not least because there are rules about what can be paid to be boosted. You also want it to have the maximum impact and get your money’s worth. Another factor considering here is the time at which you post the content. For example, few people are going to be interested in a breakfast deal at 3 pm in the afternoon, or a steak deal at 9 am on a Monday. Insight is key here.&nbsp;



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Conclusion</h4>



Achieving a high level of social media engagement requires a consistent <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/rock-your-restaurant-with-wifi-and-instagram/">effort at delivering content</a> that is in tune with your audience. In addition, it should also have a clear purpose so that the message is understood and your objectives are achieved. If you really want to get those likes and shares flying in, then it has to be worth people’s while.&nbsp;



Here at Stampede, we’re on a mission to make it even easier for you to obtain customer insights that will boost your marketing campaigns and <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/engaging-customers-through-wi-fi-marketing/">overall engagement</a>. Our software also allows you to boost your social media reach by redirecting them to your preferred channels once they&#8217;ve signed into your WiFi.

How to Get Higher Engagement on Social Media Channels

2023 Key Social Media Metrics To Track for Your Restaurant

Have you ever been lost in a foreign city? Ever had to send out an important text? There are moments in which we are grateful for an Internet connection on our smartphone and even more grateful for the <a class="" href="/blog/restaurant-wifi-with-tapas-blackbx-success-story" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">bars and restaurants</a> around us that allow us to access it.  

In some situations WiFi can be a lifesaver, but at other times it seems like people simply have a crave to check their newsfeed, mails and stay connected with friends. It can be argued that WiFi is indeed highly addictive, as <a class="" href="https://www.ipass.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/iPass-Mobile-Professional-Report-2017.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">a study from iPass</a> suggests that 27% of respondents indicated that WiFi is impossible to give up. 
Let’s put this in relation with other cravings humanity has &#8211; gambling is only impossible to give up for 4% of the respondents, while smoking was only slightly higher &#8211; at 6%. This connectivity-craving is leading some people to use WiFi on their smartphones even in some weird situations. 
<h3>The Toilet </h3>
I am sure you remember the last text you received, but are you aware there’s a good chance this text was composed on a toilet? Fair enough, sitting on the throne can be quite inspirational. I bet the amount of texts sent from bathrooms all around the world must be quite impressive, as 72% of us make use of a smartphone in the stall. Maybe it’s the solitary atmosphere that bathrooms provide us with that make it so likely to just grab a smartphone and explore the fascinating world wide web. We really don’t mind, but please wash your hands.
<h3>On a Date </h3>
Having used Tinder in the bathroom, some of us might be lucky enough to have a date or two. Well done! Get your favourite shirt ironed and take your crush to a nice bar around the corner. Don’t forget to be charming, interested in what your counterpart has to say and keep your phone in your pocket. Apparently none of you are listening to our old-fashioned dating advice anyway &#8211; since a shocking 36% of people use their smartphone during a date. In other words, more than every third person will have a wee look at Facebook, read some mails or sends an ‘<a class="" href="https://i.pinimg.com/736x/73/b1/a7/73b1a7bafc43a649c857984719588d1e--sweet-texts-cute-texts.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">emergency text</a>’ to the best friend during a date.
<h3>During Sex</h3>
In case the date goes well, brace yourself &#8211; 7% use their mobiles even during sex, unfortunately we weren’t able to find out exactly how they do it.
<h3>In a Meeting </h3>
Sure, meetings are boring and sometimes you might need to check your phone to bolster a fact or two in your PowerPoint. But, if you&#8217;re in a meeting, it&#8217;s usually a good idea to give the persenter your full attention. Which apparently more than half of us can&#8217;t do, as 53% of respondants reported that they had checked their smartphone during a meeting. For shame. 
<h3>At a Funeral </h3>
If you thought tweeting during a date (or an intimate encounter) would be rude or impolite, you might be shocked about the next odd situation. Some people would literally take their smartphone to the grave if they could &#8211; 11% of respondents during the research admitted they’d use their smartphone even during a funeral. Somethings are a little too much, even for us. 
<h3>Being Connected is a Good Thing</h3>
Just because some internet users lose control over their habits and might have a weird relation to their smartphone, doesn&#8217;t mean we all have to follow in their footsteps. 
Internet and smartphones have revolutionised the way we interact, the way we plan and even the way we live. The strong need to connect with others, share our experiences online and always be up to date, has brought an opportunity for businesses looking to expand their audience. 
The importance of offering an Internet access to customers is absolutely vital today. If you want to learn more about guest WiFi and how offering it will benefit both your business and your customers, click below. 
Just make sure you wash your hands first. 
<a class="eut-modal-popup" href="https://calendly.com/stampedeae/stampede-demo-request?month=2020-02">Click here to get started.</a>

THE TOP 5 WEIRDEST TIMES TO USE A SMARTPHONE

It’s hard to avoid the news headlines around the supply chain issues and the disruption they’re causing at the moment for the hospitality industry.&nbsp;There have been reports about staff travelling hundreds of miles across the country to ensure the stock is refilled, not to mention venues shutting temporarily as the undesirable alternative.&nbsp;



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<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-time-to-get-creative">Time to get creative</h4>



Sometimes, you can’t avoid running out of certain items. That’s when you have to put your creative hat on to come up with alternatives to combat supply shortages.&nbsp;



When it comes to communicating changes with your customers, rather than focusing on the negative side, i.e. sorry, we have run out of &#8230;, try and turn it into something exciting and new.&nbsp;



Instead of customers not being able to enjoy their all-time favourites, they now have the (limited) chance to try something different.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">3 ideas to tackle the supply shortage</h4>



Here’s some ideas to get you started.



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



This is the time to look beyond mass-produced supplies. Search for small producers around your place and start shopping more locally. Apart from supporting locals, this might inspire you for new menu ideas.&nbsp;



Besides, this also allows your customers to try out locally produced food and drinks they might not have come across before, such as beer from microbreweries. It also provides some great content for collaborative social media activity, which by its very nature helps spread your brand further.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">2. Promote less popular meals</h4>



Start off with what you still have available. Push hard on promotions for your less popular meals and create enticing offers around them, or create limited time, alternate versions of them.



Either way, it’s all about putting a new spin or focus on an overlooked item. Think about how beer brands like Brewdog expand their product line by doing <a href="https://twitter.com/BrewDog/status/1415272621957079041" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">slightly different versions</a> of certain beers.&nbsp;



Sell them as a daily special with limited availability. Throughout the day you might push this further by sharing a post on your socials: “Daily special selling out fast today. Only 2 left, come by to grab yours.”



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">3. Create new menu items</h4>



Apart from pushing sales on your less popular meals, you can also use the ingredients you’ve got available to create new menu items.&nbsp;



Get your customers involved at this stage. “What dishes would you like to have on our menu?” You could also turn it into a social media poll, featuring different possible dish ideas you have and make it interactive for customers.&nbsp;



Think about turning your new dishes into side sizes for your customers to taste a wider range of smaller portions. Or maybe there was an old-time favourite you’ve taken off the menu a while ago that could now have a comeback.



And why not let your customers have a say in your new creations afterwards? After all, your customers’ new favourites might become a fixed menu item.



With all that in mind, remember to keep your customers updated on a regular basis about what’s going on in your venue via your website, social media and email &amp; <a href="https://stampede.ai/how-it-works/marketing/#sms">SMS marketing</a>. This way you can prevent any disappointment when certain dishes are not available.&nbsp;



Want some help updating your customers via email or SMS marketing? <a href="mailto:contact@stampede.ai?subject=&amp;body=" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Get in touch</a> with one of our team. We&#8217;re happy to help.

3 Alternative Ways to Handle Supply Shortages

Feature Update – Improved campaigns, reporting and imports

The UK’s irrepressible hospitality sector: 2022 Industry Growth Report

Team Update

New Integration With Storekit

Mother’s Day is one of those occasions that should be boldly marked on all calendars. As a business, you don’t only want to play your role in honouring moms around the world but you also want to use the event to your advantage from a marketing perspective. So, get ready for Mother&#8217;s Day with our creative promotion ideas for your venue.







Did you know that an average of <a href="https://www.restaurantbusinessonline.com/marketing/87m-adults-visit-restaurant-mothers-day-survey-says">87 million adults take their mothers out</a> to a restaurant for Mother’s Day each year? This makes the day worthy of some strategic marketing efforts that will help you to surpass your month’s target. 



In case you are <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/free-restaurant-promotions-ideas/">short on creative promotion ideas</a> for the upcoming Mother&#8217;s Day, don’t worry, you’re in the right place! Whether you’re rustling up some Mother’s Day campaigns for the first time or you are looking for new and trendy ideas, our fun and innovative tips below will help you get off to a successful start.



8 Brilliant Ways to Engage Your Audiences This Mother’s Day:



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">1. Start by Advertising Your Mother’s Day Promotion as A Rare Event</h4>



Even though the occasion comes around once every year, it doesn’t mean that you cannot market this Mother’s Day as “THE” Mother’s Day of all mother’s days. By marketing your Mother’s Day event as a “once-off never to happen again occasion”, you’ll create a sense of urgency. This should intrigue your repeat customers as well as potential new ones.&nbsp;



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">2. Let Your Audiences Know That Moms Will Get Special Treatment</h4>



Your audiences want their moms to get extra special treatment on this very special day. So, plan a treat and let it be known to the world! Whether you hand out chocolates, flowers, or a free glass of wine, make sure your patrons know what’s going to be in store for them.&nbsp;



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">3. Create A Unique Dining Experience</h4>



Your regular patrons may look for a new venue to celebrate Mother’s Day unless you give them a reason to stick around. We suggest you spice things up a little. Instead of serving your regular lunch, why not host a high-tea, a Champaign breakfast, or a cocktail evening?



By creating a unique dining experience, you get to hold on to your regular customers and at the same time, you can encourage new ones to enter your doors.



Also, if you plan your event right, you will create a lasting impression and new guests may just visit you again to try out your regular menu.&nbsp; &nbsp;



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">4. Connect with Local Mom’s Groups</h4>



This is targeted marketing at its finest. For Mother’s Day, you want to host moms and their families galore. So, where better to find moms than at your local mom’s groups! Yup, you can plan your unique event and then send promotional flyers and emails to nearby churches, day-cares, and other organisations that are woman-focused.&nbsp;



You can also ask these groups to participate in surveys. A detailed survey will give you the info you need to plan an event that caters to “what moms want”.&nbsp;



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">5. Host a Mother’s Eve Event</h4>



By hosting a Mother’s Eve event, you can capitalise on this special occasion on more than one day. Why not hold a cocktail evening the night before where the ladies can have a fun and carefree night out before celebrating with their families? You can offer free drinks to all moms with the promise of a family brunch the next day. It’s genius!&nbsp;



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">6. Cater to the Kids</h4>



The fastest way to mom’s heart is to treat her kids lovingly. That’s why we think a Mother’s Day promotion that includes entertaining the kids at a restaurant is a brilliant idea. Mom can sip her wine in peace while you bring in the kiddie’s entertainment and childminders. Get the kids to make Mother’s Day cards while they wait for their meals to arrive and you’ll get extra brownie points!



Use social media platforms such as Facebook to create an event page where you list the family entertainment that will be available. You can then use the paid marketing option to promote this event far and wide. 



Further reading: <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/how-to-nail-customer-service-for-families/">https://stampede.ai/blog/how-to-nail-customer-service-for-families/</a>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">7. Run A Contest with Moms in Mind</h4>



A contest will allow you to capitalise from this occasion on the days leading up to the big event. For example, during the month of March, all moms who visit your venue can be entered into a draw. You can announce the winners on Mother’s Day. And to take one step further, all prizes can be used to draw customers back to your establishment (such as meal vouchers, for instance). 



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">8. Highlight Your Inclusivity</h4>



Do not alienate a subsection of mothers and families by only catering to one version of what “mom” can mean. Moms can come in all forms and the role can be filled by plenty of people from grandmothers and aunties to teachers and nannies. Families can have more than one mom too, so make sure your perspective of Mother’s Day fits this diversity.&nbsp;



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">How to Promote Your Mother’s Day Event and Promotions</h4>



<ol><li><a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/how-to-effectively-design-social-media-posts/">Use social media</a> to create a big hype and talk about how moms are going to miss out if they’re not there to be wined, dined, and treated.  </li><li>Use your <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/email-marketing-tips-for-the-hospitality-industry/">database to send out emails and SMS’s</a> to notify your customers of what they can expect. If you haven’t started compiling a database yet…now’s the time (<a href="https://calendly.com/stampedeae/stampede-demo-request?month=2020-03">contact us</a> for more info).</li><li>Hand out flyers to targeted audiences such as your local churches, schools, and mom’s groups. </li></ol>



Further reading: <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/gathering-the-right-data-for-your-restaurant-marketing/">https://stampede.ai/blog/gathering-the-right-data-for-your-restaurant-marketing/</a>



Successful busy events such as Mother’s Day can be the difference between building a loyal customer base and a bad reputation – but, with a bit of forethought and a touch of creativity, you’ll be building lasting loyalty. For more information on how you can attract customers and retain them, please contact Stampede for an innovative take on marketing technology. 



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Getting Ready for Mother’s Day – Creative Promotion Ideas

Did you know that Stampede integrates with over 200 e-commerce platforms? By connecting your e-commerce system with Stampede you will be able to access even more customer data insights, allowing you to create enticing marketing campaigns to bring customers back.



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



Here’s the&nbsp;<a href="https://zapier.com/apps/categories/ecommerce" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">full list of all 202 e-commerce apps</a>, including Shopify, Square and WooCommerce.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-to-use-transactional-e-commerce-data">How to use transactional e-commerce data</h4>



By adding more customer data sources together you&#8217;ll get a better view of the customer journey and their relationship with your brand. Those insights can then be used to create more personalised and targeted offers.



And that&#8217;s the key to getting great conversion rates.



Having all your data sources available in one place makes this easy and effective for you as well.&nbsp;Simply mix and match your data sources to create unique customer segments&nbsp;for your next email and SMS campaigns.



To get you started, we&#8217;ve put together some clever segment combination ideas and campaigns to go with them for inspiration.&nbsp;



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">8 clever segmentation &amp; campaign ideas for your e-commerce data</h4>



1.&nbsp;Customer has purchased online but has&nbsp;not&nbsp;been at venue:



<ul><li>We&#8217;d love to meet you! Why not come by and say hello? Get % off for your first visit.</li><li>Like our [product] and want to explore our full range? Come by our venue and get [freebie] for your first visit.&nbsp;</li></ul>



2.&nbsp;Regular in-venue customer but no online purchases:



<ul><li>Want to enjoy some of your most favourite items at home? Check out our online store and get % off your first order.</li><li>Did you know that we also sell gift cards and meal-kits? They will make a great gift for [e.g. Mother’s Day]. Special offer only valid until …</li></ul>



3.&nbsp;Customer has purchased the same item several times (automated message):



<ul><li>Looks like you’re a fan of our [product]. What about getting it to your doorstep every month without having to remember to re-order it?</li><li>We’ve seen you like [product] and thought you might as well like this [product].</li><li>A fan of [product]? We’ve got a much wider range available in our venue. Come by and get [freebie].</li></ul>



4.&nbsp;Customer has made several online orders and are a regular customer (loyal):



<ul><li>Thanks for sticking with us! Here’s a sneak peak of our new [product] and an exclusive early bird offer for you.</li><li>Here’s a little treat for you. Simply show your voucher code the next time you come to visit us to get [freebie].&nbsp;</li></ul>



5.&nbsp;Abandoned cart (automated message):



<ul><li>We’ve noticed you left something in your cart. Do you want to proceed? Get additional % off if you order within the next …</li><li>Here’s a free shipping to what is left in your cart. Order now.</li></ul>



6.&nbsp;No online order or in-venue visit in the past 30 days (cold):



<ul><li>Here’s % off to say we miss you! Visit us or buy online.&nbsp;</li><li>Just checking in, as we haven’t seen you in a while. Get % off your next visit/order.</li></ul>



7.&nbsp;Big online spenders and high review scores (advocate):



<ul><li>Looks like you’re enjoying [product]. Why not tell your friends and get % off your next order.&nbsp;</li><li>We want to say thank you and have [freebie] waiting for you at our venue.</li></ul>



8.&nbsp;Big online spenders and low online rating (win back):



<ul><li>We’re sorry to hear that you’re not happy with [product] and we would like to retry. Here’s % off your next visit/order</li><li>Give us another chance, we want to make up. Your next order of [product] is on us.</li></ul>



Check out this useful article on our blog&nbsp;<a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/how-to-set-up-a-successful-meal-kit-e-commerce-page/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">on how to set up a successful e-commerce page</a>.



Ready to integrate your e-commerce platform to Stampede for more data insights?&nbsp;<a href="https://stampede.ai/company/#contact" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Get in touch&nbsp;</a><a href="https://stampede.ai/company/#contact" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"></a>and our team will be happy to assist.

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What&#8217;s the first thing that comes to your mind when visiting a hospital or emergency waiting room? A clean, well lit, area to sit? Access to staff? How about WiFi?

Access to WiFi in waiting rooms is one of the recommendations in a <a class="" href="http://www.rcem.ac.uk/RCEM/News/News_2017/RCEM_asks_Emergency_Departments_to_meet_50_standards_to_ensure_quality_emergency_care.aspx">report justreleased by the Royal College of Emergency Medicine</a>. WiFi in hospitals and patient waiting rooms is categorised as a &#8220;Developmental&#8221; standard in the RCEM report. Services in this category aren&#8217;t required for patients and staff but serve as goals over and above services in the &#8220;Fundamental&#8221; category, such as access to a TV and a properly staffed waiting area.<img decoding="async" class="" style="width: 700px;" title="Stampede Hospital wifi" src="https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/2735287/Blog/hospital-wifi.jpg" alt="Stampede Hospital wifi" width="700" data-constrained="true" />
As Dr. Taj Hassan, President of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, explained when the report was released: “We have also suggested some initiatives and ideas for departments to develop for patients, that we hope will add just that little bit extra to patient experience.”
By combining their Guest WiFi experience with a <a href="https://www.stampede.ai/how-it-works#analytics">WiFi analytics tool,</a> hospitals and waiting rooms can go even farther in enhancing the patient experience. What&#8217;s the average wait time a user spends in a waiting area? What&#8217;s the gender breakdown? Are users accessing the WiFi on mobile, tablets or laptops? This last insight would further enhance the waiting room experience. For example, if a hospital noticed that more guests are <a href="https://www.stampede.ai/blog/articles/wifi-in-hospitals">accessing hospital WiFi</a> over mobile or tablets, USB sockets for recharging would be a simple and quick waiting area upgrade, leading to an enhanced patient experience. How about a quick survey on a branded splash page before users log in? Helping hospital and waiting room staff understand their patients and their families needs.
Work for a hospital and want to improve your patients experience?
Do you have any experience you would like to share? Please leave it on the comments below.
<a class="eut-modal-popup" href="https://stampede.ai/get-started">Click here to get started.</a>

WiFi in Hospitals – Improving the Patient Care Experience

Ready to start building your business through social networks?

Promotion by Recommendation
There is no better promotion than a friend referring to a business. Using the <a href="/blog/press/how-important-is-mobile-marketing">Facebook Checkin feature on Stampede</a> you can post to your clients Facebook feed endorsing your brand/venue. When a user &#8220;Checks In&#8221; that user&#8217;s friends will be notified about their presence at that venue. 
<h3>User Experience</h3>
This is a no-brainer from a user experience standpoint, they get access to Free WiFi using Facebook instantly, no input required. The user will also have the option to opt out of the check-in should they want to.
Inputting information about yourself on a mobile can sometimes be quite tricky, with Facebook Checkin on WiFi we can completely forget the login form by clicking the Checkin using Facebook button.
<a class="eut-modal-popup" href="https://calendly.com/stampedeae/stampede-demo-request?month=2020-02">Click here to get started.</a>

Facebook Checkin on WiFi

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If you logged into your Connect dashboard and noticed that things looked a bit slicker, you&#8217;ll be relieved to know that your eyes aren&#8217;t deceiving you. What you&#8217;re witnessing is the debut of our newest release: Connect V3.0!

We&#8217;ve been Beta testing the dashboard for a few weeks now. We appreciate the feedback we have gotten during this time and have made some changes based on your input.
<h2>General</h2>
First off &#8211; as we mentioned above, we&#8217;ve done a total redesign of the user interface. You&#8217;ll find all the menus you need to offer awesome Guest WiFi right at the top of the dashboard. Even better, we&#8217;ve made it even easier to get to the dashboard &#8211; you can login with Google! New notifications include network online/offline and notifications for capture connections, payments and validated emails.
<h2>Marketing Suite</h2>
We&#8217;ve included a whole raft of marketing templates so you can get started with our automated marketing features right away.
<h2>Integrations</h2>
Our bigggest integration feature is the addition of support for Cisco Meraki equipment. Here&#8217;s a quick video that shows you how to get started.
<iframe loading="lazy" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/b5pEDFzJ1J8" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
We&#8217;ve also simplified the UniFi integration so that you only have to enter your controller details once and likewise for Paypal. No matter what equipment you&#8217;re using, with Stampede you&#8217;ll be up and running in minutes.
<h2>White Label Partners</h2>
For our White Label Partners, we&#8217;ve added a support link to the dashboard so customers can reach you directly.
<h2>And We&#8217;re Not Done Yet!</h2>
We&#8217;re always looking for ways to make Connect better for you, so if you&#8217;ve got an idea or suggestion, head over to our feature page and let us know.
And start getting ready for Connect V4.0 &#8211; it&#8217;s going to be a mind-blower!
What are you waiting for?
<a class="eut-modal-popup" href="https://calendly.com/stampedeae/stampede-demo-request?month=2020-02">Click here to get started.</a>

Connect 3.0 is Here!

Why, it seems only just a few short days ago that we were writing about enabling <a class="" href="/blog/facebook-wifi-your-business" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Facebook Wifi checkin for your business</a>. As many of our readers know, the world of the internet moves fast and furious.. In just that short time, Facebook founder <a href="https://www.recode.net/2018/4/10/17216734/live-facebook-mark-zuckerberg-testimony-senate-hearing-data" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Mark Zuckerberg found himself being grilled on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC</a> over data concerns with their social media platform. Shortly afterwards, UK pub giant Wetherspoons announced that they would be <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-43781281" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">shutting down all of their social media accounts</a>.

So should hospitality owners be worried? Short answer, NO.
Although the growth in Facebook has slowed in 2018, in truth, it’s still the largest social media platform out there, used by over 2 BILLION people. That’s almost one quarter of the population of the planet. That being said, after the revelations of the past couple of weeks,  users may have some concerns with using Facebook and may start posting with less frequency. At least for a while.
What Facebook does with customer data is beyond your control. What you CAN do, however, is offer your customers a fast, safe and convenient Wifi connection so they can access their Facebook accounts. To that end,  you have a number of different ways that you can let customers connect to your networks. You can give out the password so everyone can connect freely, you can let your customers login via a social network like Facebook or Twitter, or you can ask them for certain data, like their email and/or post code, in return for unlimited Wifi.
Let’s take a look at these in light of recent concerns and see which might be best for your hospitality business.
<h2>OPEN NETWORK</h2>
This is still how many hospitality and retail businesses are running nowadays. There’s typically a password written on a wall or menu somewhere which allows users to connect. The benefits of this type of network are obvious &#8211; it’s easy for anyone to connect. The bad part about this type of network is that….it’s easy for anyone to connect. Hackers looking to steal data can easily connect to the network and, <a href="/blog/articles/data-comprimised-wifi-pineapple" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">with a Wifi hacking device like a pineapple</a>, easily intercept your data.
<h2>SOCIAL MEDIA LOGIN</h2>
In this type of connection, a user logs into a Wifi network by <a href="/blog/social/facebook-checkin-on-wifi" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">authenticating against one a social network like Facebook or Twitter</a>. The benefits of this type of connection is that, for one, it’s somewhat more secure than a network with an open password and, since nearly everyone has a social media account, it’s easy for users to connect to your Wifi network. But connections aren’t free and, in most cases, buy connecting trhough a social media network, the user then will broadcast their connections to their friends on the network.
For example, a user that connects with a Facebook login will have their location announced to their Facebook friends. Until now, this wasn&#8217;t a big deal, but, as we’ve seen with the recent Facebook news, users might be less and less willing to share their data.
Social media login is one of the ways that Wifi users can authenticate to Wifi through our Stampede platform. It&#8217;s popular with a number of our customers. But, an even more powerful and flexible way for your customers to connect to Wifi is through the use of a captive portal.
<h2>CAPTIVE PORTAL LOGIN</h2>
Here’s how it works: when a user enters your location, they connect to your Wifi. Once connected, a browser opens prompting the user for their email address. This is so the user can be verified through our Stampede platform before the Wifi allows them to connect. In addition to their email address, capitive portal solutions can ask for additional information, like sex, age and post codes.
Although this may seem intrusive, most users have no problem with providing some user data in return for free Wifi. And, if you let them know that by providing you with their email address, you’ll use the data to keep them informed of upcoming offeres or specials, they’ll be happy to give it to you.
The other benefit of a captive portal is that once a customer is logged in, they stay logged in. Even better, if you have Stampede deployed in multiple locations &#8211; let&#8217;s say a chain of pubs &#8211; they can stay connected from venue to venue (pub crawl, anyone) <a href="/blog/wifi-in-your-venue-login-once-login-forever" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">without ever having to login to the Wifi</a>!
<h2>WHICH SOLUTION IS RIGHT FOR YOU?</h2>
That depends on your business and your needs.
If you’re looking to just provide Wifi to increase dwell time at your hospitality or retail business, then you can go with an open network or social media login. These type of networks are easy to setup and require little or no upkeep. But if you’re looking to turn an expense into an asset, then providing your customers with a captive Wifi portal is the solution for you. By colletcting email and other data from your users, you can land, expand and grow your business.
What are you waiting for? Your business isn&#8217;t going to grow itself.
<a class="eut-modal-popup" href="https://calendly.com/stampedeae/stampede-demo-request?month=2020-02">Click here to get started.</a>

Facebook, Data Security, and Hospitality WiFi

This article was written by Tom Saxon. Tom is the co-founder of <a href="https://www.batchcoffee.co.uk/">Batch Coffee</a>. He has been working in the speciality coffee industry for over 10 years throughout the world and in many parts of the supply chain.



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I personally love working in the hospitality industry and can’t encourage people enough to consider a career. The workforce is typically young and energetic which coupled with constantly making customers happy is why working in hospitality is a fulfilling and rewarding career. 



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Working In Hospitality &#8211; The Coffee Shop Industry</h4>



My day does start early as you’d expect in the coffee industry. The 6 am alarm is always met shortly afterwards with a delicious coffee though &#8211; one of the many perks of working with <a href="https://www.batchcoffee.co.uk/stories/best-speciality-coffee-beans-uk">speciality coffee beans</a>.



Opening up the roastery and cafe takes about 30 minutes. It involves dialling in coffee machines and preparing for customers. As they arrive each one is met with a small conversation &#8211; especially the regulars whom I would now class as friends.&nbsp;



The morning rush comes and goes quickly and I always feel pumped afterwards. The coffee industry is great as people are so thankful for their morning coffee and especially customers who dine in, their energy after they are fully caffeinated is contagious.



My responsibilities; first and foremost customer service. It&#8217;s so important that our customers leave happy and hopefully in a better mood than when they entered. Making coffee and ensuring the place is clean and tidy, stock control and various small jobs like checking the toilets every hour or so make up the rest of the day.&nbsp;



The days are quick and finishing at 4 pm means that I still have an evening to do whatever I’d like.&nbsp;



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-tech-makes-working-in-hospitality-easier">How Tech Makes Working In Hospitality Easier&nbsp;</h4>



Working in a busy coffee shop can be occasionally stressful, especially behind the coffee machine where there is a finite number of coffees one can make per minute contrary to the odd customer&#8217;s opinion.&nbsp;



Add to this the fact that you are customer-facing, so while the orders stack up and you’re frantically trying to pull 18 shots of espresso and split a litre of steamed milk into 6 different milk-based espresso drinks you have to keep a smile on your face and appear unphased.&nbsp;



<h5 class="wp-block-heading">1. Ordering App</h5>



A really useful tool that has helped many <a href="https://baristaandco.com/">baristas</a> all over the world is an app where coffee can be ordered before a customer arrives in the coffee shop.&nbsp;



This means that the transaction takes place on the customer&#8217;s phone so there is no waiting in line and there is no time wasted serving the customer. This completely streamlines the process of ordering the coffee for the customer and the barista can immediately add the order to the queue.



<h5 class="wp-block-heading">2. Customer Loyalty App</h5>



Another useful app that we use that involves the <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/the-paid-loyalty-scheme-that-works-a-treat/">customer&#8217;s experience is a loyalty app</a>. Stamp cards are now becoming a thing of the past, although they do work as a physical representation of how many coffees you have left before you receive a free one, the practicality of them from a barista&#8217;s point of view is a bit wasteful.&nbsp;



Today when customers place an order through their app they receive an e-stamp that can be visualised as a<a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/bring-more-customers-back-with-a-loyalty-program/"> </a><a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/bring-more-customers-back-with-a-loyalty-program/">loyalty card</a> on their phone. If the customer orders in the coffee shop they are able to scan a QR code that appears after the purchase on a screen facing outwards from the register which again adds another e-stamp to their virtual loyalty card.&nbsp;



This again streamlines a process that in reality saves only a matter of seconds per customer, but when looked at on a larger scale saves not only hours of staff time but crucially frees up a staff member during peak hours so the wait time is reduced which keeps current customers happy and entices new customers into the cafe.&nbsp;



<h5 class="wp-block-heading">3. Staff Scheduling App</h5>



Technology is now used in all areas of hospitality and one of the most efficient pieces of technology from a manager&#8217;s point of view is a roster application.&nbsp;



Back in the day, weekly rosters would be stuck to the wall in the form of a piece of A4 paper with an excel style table where employees could read their shifts and see when their colleagues were also working.&nbsp;



Albeit a physical representation, it was also messy as by the end of the first day the roster was published it had already been annotated with shift swaps.&nbsp;



Today, all of the shift organisation is completed via an app where managers can publish weekly rosters months in advance if they wish.&nbsp;



Colleagues can liaise directly through the app and request shift swaps with the authorisation of a manager needed and the new roster is then automatically updated. Staff can add holidays up to a year in advance so when the manager sits down to plan the roster they know exactly who is available for the forthcoming week.&nbsp;



The app usually has a singing-in system too, so gone are the days of more A4 prints on the wall or punch cards. Just tap start and finish at either end of the shift on the app which then records each staff member&#8217;s weekly hours.

Working In Hospitality: Harnessing The Efficiency Of Tech

October Update – 3x Faster Guest WiFi and more

All Hospitality Apps Need This One Thing To Work Well

Delivery and takeaway sales have seen another strong start in 2022. Recent figures by <a href="https://www.morningadvertiser.co.uk/Article/2022/02/23/pub-delivery-and-takeaway-sales-reach-five-times-pre-pandemic-levels-in-january-2022" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CGA &amp; Slerp Hospitality At Home Tracker</a> show a sales increase of 422% compared to January 2019. Time to ramp up your e-commerce meal kit page and promotions for maximum revenue.







In <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/how-to-get-it-right-meal-kit-online-sales-success-by-hawskmoor/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">part one</a> of this series, we analysed the Hawksmoor At Home e-commerce website and promotions. This part will give you some further guidance on how you can deploy a similar strategy to your meal kit e-commerce sales to get them flying out the door.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-page-layout">Page Layout</h4>



Most website builders have a selection of&nbsp;built-in e-commerce templates and building blocks&nbsp;to choose from. To save time, use those and customise or adjust them to your branding rather than building a page entirely from scratch.



We’d recommend going minimalistic and choosing a simple grid layout made of image and text blocks. This provides customers with a straightforward overview of your different meal-kit options.



Have a look around <a href="https://www.squaremeal.co.uk/restaurants/best-for/restaurant-diy-kits_9779" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">others restaurants’ meal kit pages</a> and get some more inspiration from the gallery below.



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<figure class="wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex">
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Screenshot-2022-03-02-at-12.17.25.png"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="976" height="926" data-id="21277" src="https://stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Screenshot-2022-03-02-at-12.17.25.png" alt="" class="wp-image-21277" srcset="https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Screenshot-2022-03-02-at-12.17.25.png 976w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Screenshot-2022-03-02-at-12.17.25-300x285.png 300w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Screenshot-2022-03-02-at-12.17.25-768x729.png 768w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Screenshot-2022-03-02-at-12.17.25-150x142.png 150w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Screenshot-2022-03-02-at-12.17.25-16x16.png 16w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Screenshot-2022-03-02-at-12.17.25-592x562.png 592w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Screenshot-2022-03-02-at-12.17.25-63x60.png 63w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Screenshot-2022-03-02-at-12.17.25-95x90.png 95w" sizes="(max-width: 976px) 100vw, 976px" /></a></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Screenshot-2022-03-02-at-12.30.10.png"><img decoding="async" data-id="21278" src="https://image.stampede.ai/fill/1024/544/ce/0/aHR0cHM6Ly9zdGFtcGVkZS5haS93cC1jb250ZW50L3VwbG9hZHMvMjAyMi8wMy9TY3JlZW5zaG90LTIwMjItMDMtMDItYXQtMTIuMzAuMTAtMTAyNHg1NDQucG5n" alt="" class="wp-image-21278"/></a></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Screenshot-2022-03-02-at-12.41.15.png"><img decoding="async" data-id="21280" src="https://image.stampede.ai/fill/1024/441/ce/0/aHR0cHM6Ly9zdGFtcGVkZS5haS93cC1jb250ZW50L3VwbG9hZHMvMjAyMi8wMy9TY3JlZW5zaG90LTIwMjItMDMtMDItYXQtMTIuNDEuMTUtMTAyNHg0NDEucG5n" alt="" class="wp-image-21280"/></a></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Screenshot-2022-03-02-at-12.43.22-1.png"><img decoding="async" data-id="21279" src="https://image.stampede.ai/fill/1024/831/ce/0/aHR0cHM6Ly9zdGFtcGVkZS5haS93cC1jb250ZW50L3VwbG9hZHMvMjAyMi8wMy9TY3JlZW5zaG90LTIwMjItMDMtMDItYXQtMTIuNDMuMjItMS0xMDI0eDgzMS5wbmc=" alt="" class="wp-image-21279"/></a></figure>
</figure>



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<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Page Design</h4>



Keep the overall page design&nbsp;easy to navigate&nbsp;and use your existing brand assets to make it recognisable.



The overall focus on the page should be on the pictures of your meal kits, as they will capture your customers&#8217; attention and give them an idea of what to expect.



You can, for example, use one image showing the finished meal together with some close-ups of individual components and ingredients. Chances are that you have some high-quality shots for your social media posts already that can be re-used. This visual consistency between channels will help improve campaign effectiveness.



Always keep in mind that most of your customers will browse on their phones, so make sure your page displays well on both desktop and mobile.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Written Page Content</h4>



Again, keep the text minimal and provide a&nbsp;clear and concise description&nbsp;of your meal kits. You can use a bulleted list for this part, which makes it easier to grasp all important information at one glance.&nbsp;Strong call-to-actions&nbsp;will help you drive in more orders &#8211; “Get cooking”, “Order now”, “Create your [company] at home experience”.



Once you’ve got the key information across, you can use storytelling to give your content a personal touch. Showcase your local suppliers and their ingredients with links to their websites. And don’t forget to include customer testimonials.



A short FAQ section can give customers answers to common questions around last order date, storage, etc. You can also include more detailed step-by-step instructions here. This will help you to highlight how easy it is for customers to replicate your restaurant experience at home. 



To make your page even more engaging think about incorporating a short video on how to prepare the meal featuring your chef in action.



Check out <a href="https://garrettoden.com/analyzed-18-meal-kit-delivery-websites/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">this article</a> analysing different meal kit delivery pages and their content for some more tips and tricks. 



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">E-Commerce Promotion</h4>



Once your page is all set up, it&#8217;s time to promote your meal kit e-commerce page properly. Besides using your social channels and email marketing, you might opt for paid search ads. This will allow you to reach a much wider (national) audience.



Below are some useful resources around setting up converting Google Search Ads and further SEO tips to boost your website content.



<ul><li>Digital Restaurateur &#8211; <a href="https://www.digitalrestaurateur.com/paid-search-for-restaurants" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Paid search ads for restaurants</a></li><li>39 celsius &#8211; <a href="https://www.39celsius.com/google-ads-for-restaurants/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Google ads for restaurants</a></li><li>Search Engine Journal &#8211; <a href="https://www.searchenginejournal.com/restaurant-seo-tips/208644/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Restaurant SEO tips</a></li><li>Lightspeed &#8211; <a href="https://www.lightspeedhq.com/blog/seo-for-restaurants/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SEO for restaurants</a></li></ul>



Stampede integrates with a number of e-commerce platforms that allows you to access valuable customers data. <a href="https://calendly.com/stampedeae/stampede-demo-request" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Get in touch</a> with one of our team who are happy to run you through it.

How To Set Up A Successful Meal Kit E-Commerce Page

Happy GDPR Day Everyone!

That&#8217;s right, at 12:00 AM on May 25, 2018 GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) came into effect in the EU. <a href="/blog/offer-gdpr-compliant-wifi-with-blackbx" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The main purpose of GDPR</a> is to give EU citizens and residents control over their personal data. Which is pretty cool, if you&#8217;re an end user, but could be a bit of a minefield if you&#8217;re a business owner offering WiFi and worried about how GDPR could effect your company.
Not &#8211; however &#8211; if you&#8217;re using Stampede.
And the best part? You don&#8217;t have to do a thing. That&#8217;s because our cloud based WiFi solution takes care of all your GDPR needs for you. No new equipment to install, no forms to fill out and nothing to download to offer fast, safe, secure and, best of all, <a href="/blog/blackbx-wifi-and-gdpr" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">GDPR compliant WiFi</a>.
<h2>Stampede and GDPR Compliance</h2>
Here&#8217;s how Stampede is meeting GDPR requirements and how you show your customers data is protected:
End user access
Users will be shown the terms and conditions before they join a WiFi network, if they decline the terms; no personalised information will be collected on them
End user portal
Users will be able to view all the data we store on them. Including:
<ul>
<li>The locations they have visited</li>
<li>The amount of data they have consumed at each of these locations</li>
<li>Each device they have used at these locations</li>
<li>Every marketing campaign they may have participated in</li>
<li>Every Payment they may have made</li>
</ul>
This data can be exported via both PDF and CSV.
So, if you&#8217;re using Stampede WiFi and your customers ask if you&#8217;re in-store connection is GDPR compliant &#8211; you can answer with that magic word: &#8220;yes.&#8221;
<h2>But wait, there&#8217;s more!</h2>
Of course, everyone wants to offer <a href="/blog/offer-gdpr-compliant-wifi-with-blackbx" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">GDPR compliant WiFi</a>, but that alone isn&#8217;t going to get your business growing. That&#8217;s where the rest of Stampede comes in.
How about sending an automatic SMS or text when your customer hasn&#8217;t visited in a while, tempting them back with a coupon for 10% off? Or how about a personalized text offering your best customer a free drink on their birthday? And that&#8217;s just the beginning &#8211; the sky&#8217;s the limit with the <a href="/blog/learn-how-to-boost-your-business-with-sms-and-email-marketing" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">automated marketing</a> features of Stampede. Combine this with powerful features like <a href="/blog/connect-3.1-is-here" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">WiFi scheduling</a>, location mapping to see where your customers are coming from and much, much more!
<h2>Offer GDPR Compliant WiFi with Stampede</h2>
And if you&#8217;ve been to confused about GDPR laws, but still want to offer WiFi in your business, click on the link below to take Stampede for a free test drive!
<a class="eut-modal-popup" href="https://calendly.com/stampedeae/stampede-demo-request?month=2020-02">Click here to get started.</a>

GDPR, WiFi, Stampede and You

With barely a few days to breath, we move on from Mother’s Day to that other big March event: St. Patricks Day. So we&#8217;re going to keep it brief and get going!



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<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wednesday-17th-st-patrick-s-day">Wednesday 17th&nbsp; &#8211; St. Patrick’s Day</h4>



This will be the first (and hopefully last) St. Patrick’s Day at home. This time last year&#8230; well we all know what was going on and St. Patrick’s wasn’t really front of mind. This year, we&#8217;ve got lots of ways to celebrate!



Some ideas to engage with your customers and fans this Wednesday could include:



<ul><li>Authentic <a href="https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/collection/st-patricks-day-recipes">Irish food recipe</a> kits and cook-a-longs</li><li>St. Patrick’s Day feast-at-home boxes</li><li>Post up a variety of green drink recipes and how-tos</li><li>Takeaway/Delivery/Collection for St. Patrick’s Day desserts</li><li>Irish whiskey tasting sessions and kits</li></ul>



And don’t forget to post up some pictures of your teams dressed in green too!



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-saturday-20th-international-day-of-happiness">Saturday 20th &#8211; International Day of Happiness</h4>



It’s sometimes the simplest things in life that can bring us an extra bit of happiness. We all know how uplifting the smell of your favourite food or the first sip of a refreshing drink can be.&nbsp;



Many of you will take great pride in the pure joy that your business brings to your patrons from wonderful customer experiences. For International Day of Happiness, you could share your and/or your team’s thoughts on what happiness is to them.



For some people, happiness is simply not having to prepare food for the family that night. This is a perfect opportunity to remind them of your delivery services!



Share some happy, inspirational thoughts or some pictures of happy customers and staff, or maybe just a foodie smiley face on a plate!



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-topics-to-choose-from">More Topics to Choose From</h4>



Fri 19th March &#8211; Chocolate Caramel Day Sat 20th March &#8211; Ravioli Day Sun 21st March &#8211; French Bread Day&nbsp; Sun 21st March &#8211; World Poetry Day Sun 21st March &#8211; Vermouth Day 



If you&#8217;re looking to get your stories and promotions in front of your customers <a href="https://stampede.ai/company/#contact" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">get in touch</a> with our team. We’re here to help with your email marketing and much more.

What’s On This Week? – 15/03/2021

<h1 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-free-february-march-2023social-media-calendar">Free February &#8211; March 2023 Social Media Calendar</h1>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-no-more-last-minute-panic-brainstorming-for-your-social-media-posts">No more last-minute panic brainstorming for your social media posts.</h4>



Operating a business and at the same time staying on top of your social media content can be tough. Constantly coming up with new and engaging ideas for your next posts takes time you might not always have.



Download your free social media calendar&nbsp;for February and March 2023 now.



Featuring topical post ideas, hashtags suggestions and image inspiration for each month.

February – March 2023 Social Media Calendar

<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-clear-some-space-in-your-busy-schedule-with-these-ready-made-campaigns">Clear some space in your busy schedule with these ready-made campaigns</h4>



To simplify your marketing and save time planning campaigns at this busy time, we’ve created an Email Marketing Guide&nbsp;specifically for hospitality brands.



Download your FREE Email Marketing Guide for January 2024 now and start scheduling and promoting your campaigns.



Featuring 7 instant and seasonal campaign ideas, 3 ready-to-use templates and additional resources from our blog.



Get stuck into the New Year with a bang. There&#8217;s a range of campaign ideas from gift card pushes to January Xmas parties to explore and try in your own marketing.

January 2024 Email Marketing Guide

Home

How to Set Up a Coworking Space in Your Coffee Shop

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

5 Tips To Sell More Gift Cards This Festive Season

We now live in a world where we are beginning to rely on the offer of free <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/getting-started-with-guest-wifi/">Guest WiFi</a> networks more and more. 







Making use of WiFi on the go in order to communicate with friends and family and catch up on work, is part of our daily routines. Providing free Guest WiFi in your venue will allow you to rapidly grow <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/engaging-customers-through-wi-fi-marketing/">customer loyalty</a> and satisfaction whilst generating more income for your business. So, a win-win for you and your customers.



Here are 5 reasons why you should offer a free Guest WiFi service to your customers.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">1. Increase Your Sales</h4>



By offering a free Guest WiFi service, you are more likely to notice customers staying in your venue for a longer period of time.&nbsp;62% of&nbsp;businesses stated that customers spend more time in their venue if free Guest WiFi service is offered. Even more, 50% of these customers are likely to spend more money as well.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">2. Understand Your Customer Base</h4>



With a captive portal solution like Stampede in&nbsp;place, you can offer a legally GDPR compliant Guest WiFi service. In addition, it will ask your customers to put in data such as &#8217;email&#8217;, &#8216;location&#8217; &#8216;gender&#8217; etc before getting connected. 



All this information is then converted into a report with valuable insights. This will help you become aware of&nbsp;who your customers are, where they come from and how long they spend on average at your venue. Also, allowing for a <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/getting-customer-insights-into-your-companys-dna/">deeper understanding</a> of their behaviour that you would never have had before. This again lets you generate more sales for your business due to more personalised interaction.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">3. Meet Customer Expectations</h4>



People are now becoming more <a href="https://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/news/2019/09/26/how-small-business-owners-use-guest-wifi-to.html">accustomed to using free Guest WiFi</a> when out and about. Guest WiFi is now available almost everywhere, so providing it to your customers is a big advantage. 



Studies have shown that 1 in 10 customers admit to leaving a venue if free Guest WiFi isn&#8217;t available for them to utilise. These figures could be damaging to a venue, as it risks the loss of business to competitors.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">4. Attract New Customers</h4>



In busy major cities such as Edinburgh, London and Glasgow, offering free Guest WiFi is vital in <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/four-fab-benefits-of-free-wifi-for-coffee-shops/">increasing the number</a> of customers coming through your door. 



For example, when travelling abroad tourists are looking for free Guest WiFi when in a public space, allowing them to catch up with family and friends. Also, the appeal of internet access is becoming more important as more people are working on a self-employed basis working from public spaces.



Offering a WiFi service will make your business stand out and guarantees to boost loyalty and traffic if the system is fast and reliable.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">5. Cheap Setup Fees</h4>



<a href="https://stampede.ai/product/how-it-works/">Setting up a Stampede</a><a href="https://stampede.ai/product/how-it-works/"></a> WiFi network is extremely cheap when you think of the potential revenue you could gain from a solution like this. A common myth is that installing Guest WiFi is a costly deal, however, we are here to prove that isn&#8217;t the case. 



A one of cost for the hardware, then a recurring monthly subscription fee, similar to your Netflix account. By capturing and utilising customer information, you turn your provision of free Guest WiFi from 100% cost into something with a tangible Return on Investment (ROI) and who would not want that?



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Did We Convince You?</h4>



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





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

5 Reasons to Offer Free Guest WiFi for Your Customers

<a href="http://www.restauranttechlive.co.uk">Restaurant Tech Live 2017</a> is one of the largest gatherings of restaurant and hospitality businesses owners and runners in the UK &#8211; and Stampede will be there!

<img decoding="async" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-5551" style="width: 360px;" title="Stampede RTL17" src="https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/2735287/Imported_Blog_Media/rest_tech_0-360x90.png" alt="Stampede RTL17" width="360" data-constrained="true" />
Our team, including Eduardo Hotta (Head of Marketing), Grant Laing (Commercial Partnerships), James Tod (Head of Customer Success) and Patrick Clover (CEO and Founder), will be <a href="http://www.restauranttechlive.co.uk/exhibitors/blackbx/">manning stand 4129 at the ExCEL</a> in London during the 26th and 27th of September.
<h3>RESTAURANT TECH LIVE 2017 SEMINARS WITH Stampede</h3>
And if that wasn&#8217;t enough, Patrick Clover, founder and CEO of Stampede will be taking part in a panel session on Tuesday the 26th at 14:00 in Seminar 10, <a class="" href="http://www.restauranttechlive.co.uk/speakers/patrick-clover--1/">Customer Experience: Creating an Experience to Remember</a>. Apparently the powers that be at Restaurant Tech 2017 needed to hear even more from Stampede. So they ALSO invited James Tod, Head of Customer Success to host his own speaker session, <a href="http://www.restauranttechlive.co.uk/speakers/james-tod/">The Importance of Mobile Marketing</a>, on Tuesday the 28th at 14:00 in Seminar 7.
Why is Restaurant Tech Live 2017 so gung-ho about Stampede? We think it&#8217;s because our cloud-based software removes the hassle and expense of setting up and managing a <a class="" href="https://www.stampede.ai/wifi-in-action#hospitality">WiFi network for restaurants, cafes and pubs</a> of all sizes. Businesses benefit by gaining <a href="https://www.stampede.ai/how-it-works#insight">valuable customer insights</a>, while offering a <a href="https://www.stampede.ai/how-it-works#security">branded, seamless and secure</a> online experience to their WiFi users.
But that&#8217;s just our guess. If you&#8217;re not using Stampede yet &#8211; why not see for yourself by <a href="https://www.stampede.ai/get-started">starting a FREE trial today</a>?
Going to Restaurant Tech Live 2017? Stop by one of our speaker sessions or drop by at booth 4129 and see us in person.
<a class="eut-modal-popup" href="https://calendly.com/stampedeae/stampede-demo-request?month=2020-02">Click here to get started.</a>

Join Stampede at Restaurant Tech Live 2017!

Ready to get up and running with your Open Mesh equipment in Stampede? You&#8217;ve come to the right place! 
Here&#8217;s a short video that shows you how to quickly get going with your Open Mesh WiFi solution &#8211; no flash required!
<iframe loading="lazy" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; display: block;" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UdCxLYe32M8" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
If you need any more information, consult our <a class="" href="https://help.stampede.ai/en/collections/2622359-network-setups" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">online help guides</a> or, if you&#8217;ve hit a snag, <a href="https://get.blackbx.help/portal/newticket" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">feel free to drop us a line</a>.
Be sure to subscribe to our <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxc2sJ3nBYJhLGQr_2RM60w" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">YouTube channel</a> and other <a class="" href="https://twitter.com/blackbxwifi" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">social media networks</a> so you get instant notifications when we upload new videos or tutorials.
And, if you&#8217;re not using Stampede to offer your customers fast, safe and secure WiFi, you&#8217;re missing out on one of the best <a href="https://www.stampede.ai/blog/learn-how-to-boost-your-business-with-sms-and-email-marketing" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">automated marketing</a> and <a href="https://get.stampede.ai/loyalty-program-ebook" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">customer loyalty</a> solutions around. Or, if you&#8217;re an MSP, VAR or IT solutions reseller, and you&#8217;re looking for an additional revenue stream, why not offer <a href="https://www.stampede.ai/blog/wifi-as-a-service" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">WiFi as a Service</a> with Stampede?
In either case, we offer a free, no obligation trial, so what are you waiting for?
<a class="eut-modal-popup" href="https://stampede.ai/get-started">Click here to get started.</a>

Open Mesh Integration with Stampede

<h1 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-free-december-2023-january-2024-social-media-calendar">Free December 2023 &#8211; January 2024 Social Media Calendar</h1>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-no-more-last-minute-panic-brainstorming-for-your-social-media-posts">No more last-minute panic brainstorming for your social media posts.</h4>



Operating a business and at the same time staying on top of your social media content can be tough. Constantly coming up with new and engaging ideas for your next posts takes time you might not always have.



Download your free social media calendar for December 2023 and January 2024 now.



It features topical post ideas, hashtag suggestions and image theme inspiration for each month.

December 2023 – January 2024 Social Media Calendar

A new kind of marketplace for hospitality apps

New Features & Updates – September 2023

How To Make The Most Of Your Restaurant Outdoor Seating Space In Summer

UGC Revolution: How User-Generated Content is Reshaping Marketing Strategies

4 Ways To Optimise Your Hospitality Business With AI

The Pros And Cons Of Using AI In Hospitality

We’re pleased to launch our brand new <a href="https://stampede.ai/get-bookings/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Table Booking</a> system this week!&nbsp;



Technology should make your life easier, not more stressful. That&#8217;s why our intuitive online table reservation feature helps you get more tables booked, and manage your front-of-house operations efficiently.&nbsp;



With Stampede Bookings, businesses can close the loop from customer acquisition to retention and growth as a result, all with one platform (and one monthly subscription).



<h5 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-table-booking-features">Key Table Booking Features</h5>



Fully Branded&nbsp;



<ul><li>Branded booking experience through your website and social channels</li><li>Responsive design fits perfectly on mobile, desktop and tablets.</li></ul>



Table Management



<ul><li>Manage all table bookings in one place with a grid or list view</li><li>Complete control of table settings &#8211; cover length and number, availability, booking priority</li></ul>



Floor Plans &amp; Timelines



<ul><li>Build floor plans for your venues</li><li>Table timelines to manage and keep track of all upcoming online reservations and statuses</li><li>Real-time updates for new bookings, no refreshing needed</li></ul>



Email &amp; SMS Reminders



<ul><li>Send automated email &amp; SMS confirmations and booking reminders to reduce no shows</li></ul>



Website Widget



<ul><li>Table booking widget designed for mobile, tablet and desktop</li><li>Quick to set up on all major websites</li></ul>



In Sync



<ul><li>Also available for offline access</li></ul>



<h5 class="wp-block-heading">Benefits of Stampede Bookings</h5>



 Stampede Bookings seamlessly <a href="https://stampede.ai/">connects with other Stampede tools</a>, so that you can collect all your customer data in one place with our native CRM platform.



With our other tools, Bookings can more than pay for itself in repeat business.



<ul><li>Track your ROI and growth easily</li><li>Create powerful marketing campaigns and automated messages</li><li>Send post-booking reviews requests automatically to get real customer feedback</li><li>Boost customer loyalty with digital stamp cards</li><li>Gather and analyse your data from various sources</li></ul>



Use <a href="https://stampede.ai/get-bookings/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stampede Bookings</a> to turn your guests into loyal customers with ease. <a href="https://stampede.ai/get-bookings/#enquire-now" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Get in touch</a> with our team to set up Stampede Bookings at your venue.

New Feature – Stampede Table Booking System

New Feature – Loyalty By Stampede

This week the results of BusinessCloud&#8217;s 100 SmartTech Innovators were announced for 2020. The final rankings were decided by a combination of an independent judging panel of industry experts and more than 1,500 votes from <a href="https://www.businesscloud.co.uk/100-smarttech-innovators">BusinessCloud</a> Media readers. 



<a href="https://stampede.ai/">Stampede</a> came 49th in the overall rankings and was one of only 3 Scottish companies to appear in the top 50 of the full list. We&#8217;re really excited by this brilliant recognition by the technology publication and want to congratulate all the other companies who made this list.



The 100 SmartTech Innovators list features a diverse range of businesses covering retail, transport, environmental, agriculture and more. To rank in the top 50 for the whole U.K. and as 1 of only 8 Scottish businesses is a great achievement for us that all our team can be proud of.



As reported in Scottish Business News the other 7 Scottish companies to make the 2020 100 SmartTech Innovators list are Synaptec (Glasgow), Ecometrica (Edinburgh), arbnco (Glasgow), GSS (Cumbernauld), Beringar (Edinburgh), DeepMiner (Aberdeen), and PureLiFi (Edinburgh). Mobica took the number one spot this year overall.



Many thanks to everyone that voted for us, it&#8217;s great to see growing awareness and understanding of technology like ours in the wider scope of the industry.

Stampede ranked in top 50 SmartTech Innovators 2020

It’s easy to write off a customer who has left a negative review. However, with the right <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/the-secret-to-successful-service-recovery-in-hospitality-one-part-1/?utm_source=zoho&amp;utm_medium=email" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">service recovery strategy</a> in place, it is possible to turn unhappy customers into loyal ones.



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



A while ago, we introduced our simple&nbsp;<a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/a-5-step-recipe-that-creates-profitable-personalised-marketing-part-1/?utm_source=zoho&amp;utm_medium=email" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">5-step recipe</a>&nbsp;that helps you create profitable and personalised marketing campaigns.&nbsp;



Today, we’ve got another great example of how you can put it into practice.



Let’s take our recipe to set up a simple campaign to win back unhappy customers.



<h5 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-1-the-data">1)&nbsp;The Data</h5>



For this scenario, you’ll need to gather a list of all customers who have left you a&nbsp;recent negative review, i.e. 1 to 3-stars.



A lot of online review platforms will provide you with a contact list that you can access for this.



<h5 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-2-the-trigger-event">2) The Trigger Event</h5>



The trigger here is&nbsp;time-based&nbsp;and your timeframe should be within the last 2 days. A quick response is of the essence here to ensure a successful recovery.



This campaign can easily be&nbsp;turned into an automated&nbsp;one, so that you don’t have to update and send it manually.



<h5 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-3-the-messaging">3)&nbsp;The Messaging</h5>



First off, you should&nbsp;apologise&nbsp;that your service didn’t live up to their expectations.



Emphasise that their experience doesn’t meet your usual standards and that you’d appreciate trying again if they would&nbsp;give you a second chance.



Also, allow them to contact you directly to further handle the matter if needed.



<h5 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-4-the-offer">4)&nbsp;The Offer</h5>



An apology alone won’t be reason enough for your customer to come back. So for this campaign, you should include a voucher or an offer.



Here’s what your email could look like:



Subject line: [Name], we’re sorry … Will you give us another chance?



Thank you for your honest review. We’re sorry that your visit to [venue] wasn’t as expected.



As your experience was not up to our normal high service standards, we would like to try again.&nbsp;



Therefore, I have attached a voucher for [offer]. Will you give us another chance?



You can also reach us on [contact details] to provide any further feedback.



BOOK A TABLE NOW GET IN TOUCH



<h5 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-5-the-outcome">5)&nbsp;The Outcome</h5>



If you nail their follow-up visit, chances are high that they forget about their initial negative experience.



Don’t underestimate the knock-off effect of such a&nbsp;positive turnaround experience. It’s more than likely that customers will share your outstanding customer service with others and recommend you.



<a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/">Check out</a> the other articles of our 5-step recipe series on personalised marketing to help you drive customer loyalty and grow your business.



Need help segmenting your data for personalised email &amp; SMS campaigns?&nbsp;<a href="https://h.stampede.ai/meetings/stampede/demo/?utm_source=zoho&amp;utm_medium=email" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Get in touch</a>&nbsp;with one of our team who are happy to run you through it.

Since the introduction of the GDPR in May 2018, with its potential for <a href="https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/guide-to-data-protection/guide-to-law-enforcement-processing/penalties/">big fines</a>, it’s no surprise that hoteliers are wary of collecting and using customer data. Yet customer data is immensely powerful. It provides insights which allow your business to excel. Knowledge really is power. It is possible to legally and safely collect and use data in your hotel. You just need to know-how.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Why do hotels want to collect guest data</h4>



The availability of guest data to hotel managers is invaluable. Collected, analysed and used in the right ways, hoteliers <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/the-marketing-power-of-wifi-analytics-for-your-business/">benefit from data</a> to:



<ul><li>Create a better and more customised service and experience for guests.</li><li>Identify their strengths and weaknesses and discover what their customers love and hate.</li><li>Manage seasonal supply and demand and improve occupancy rates.</li><li>Gain a competitive edge over competition.</li><li>Retarget sales.</li><li>Understand the needs of their customers such as check-in requirements or facilities required.</li><li>Generate personalised offers and time and location-based marketing.</li><li>Segmentation for marketing allowing differentiation.</li><li>Create agility with cross-sales and last-minute promotions.</li></ul>



In short, the right data is the key to successful marketing and in turn the secret to successful growth. You need to know and understand your guests. It’s customer data which makes that possible.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">The useful customer data</h4>



Not all data is created equally. Some will be more important to you than others. Some of the most useful and valuable information to hotels, regarding their customers, includes:&nbsp;



<ul><li>Contact details: e.g. email address or mobile number, so that you can send a promotional message during their stay or keep them updated with your newsletter.</li><li>Demographics: e.g. if they are parents, or their age so that you can provide them with the relevant information about their stay.</li><li>Reason for stay: e.g. business or pleasure, so that you customise their experience such as leaving them an anniversary gift to make them feel valued.</li><li>Social media connections: e.g. where they leave a review, or whether they like your hotel’s Facebook page so that you can reach out to your customers where they hang out.</li><li>Booking history: e.g. when do guests make a repeat visit and frequency? For example, if a guest routinely stays for a business trip every 2 months, then an offer is unlikely to change that, but personalised service will ensure they stay on a regular basis.</li><li>Booking preferences: e.g. how they booked, so that you can improve marketing through the right channels.</li><li>Guest preferences: e.g. more pillows or extra towels, so that you can ensure guest satisfaction.</li><li>Services and facilities used: e.g. business centre or spa, so that you can provide relevant incentives and cross-sales.</li><li>Loyalty program use: So that you can see where the money is spent and how they like to be rewarded.</li></ul>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">How can hotels collect guest data</h4>



Hotels aren’t strangers to collecting data. With the right Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tools it is simply part of what you do. Indeed, within the EU, hotels are required to collect passport numbers to enable law enforcement agencies to run cross-checks.



But the sort of customer data we’re talking about here is slightly different. This is data that you would like, for your benefit. It’s data so that you can <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/engaging-customers-through-wi-fi-marketing/">understand your guests</a>. And with the collection of data comes risk. <a href="https://enterprise.verizon.com/resources/reports/dbir/">15%</a> of all data breaches which occurred in 2018 involved accommodation, making it the third most vulnerable industry.



For this reason, you should follow two basic rules:&nbsp;



<ol><li>Only collect data if you actually intend to use it.</li><li>Only collect data when you have appropriate security measures in place.</li></ol>



This sounds simple, but without the right technological tools, it can quickly become a minefield. You need to know and remember everything from being transparent with your guests through to data subject access requests. It’s complicated.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">The simplest solution</h4>



By far the easiest way to navigate the collection and use of guest data is to choose hotel-specific tools and software which enables you to navigate data protection legalities, safety and ethics without you having to give it a second thought.



This way you benefit from customer data but do so legally and safely.



Therefore, when choosing a vendor, always ask about the inbuilt data protection elements.



Why not give our Guest WiFi solution a try? The data you collect is fully GDPR compliant and it&#8217;s up to your customers if they want to stay connected with you. 



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





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



With the collected data, you are able to personalise your guests&#8217; experience. I.e. send out timely and targeted offers and gain insights into their customers and more. It’s proving to be an incredible boon to hotels, giving them the competitive edge by making it easy and straightforward to collect and use personal data.

How to Legally and Safely Collect and Use Customer Data in the Hotel Industry

<h3>Stampede launches “Wi-Fi Stories” to revamp outdated guest Wi-Fi and eliminates paper</h3>
<a href="https://stampede.ai/">Stampede</a>, the smart Wi-Fi and marketing analytics start-up, today announced the launch of its brand new “Wi-Fi Stories” feature – initially available on a free trial period. The Instagram-style stories feature is a unique digital channel for venue owners to display promotions, deals and events to customers, including links to encourage TripAdvisor and Google reviews. These short five second videos and landing pages, which are immediately displayed to returning customers when they go online, eliminate the need for wasteful and time-consuming paper promotions. This allows venues to create new promotions on the fly and, since detailed conversion analytics are available for all promoted Stories, lets venues experiment with different displays and track their success. Stories gives venue owners more value from their Wi-Fi, which has historically been given away for free, while also keeping customers up-to-date on relevant deals in real-time such as Happy Hour promotions, today’s specials and upcoming live music.
Stories is now available on Stampede’s Wi-Fi and data analytics platform, which is an alternative log in option for secure guest Wi-Fi that doesn’t require a password. The launch also follows Stampede market research in May 2019 revealing that the majority of British food and drink venues put little or no effort promoting new deals or attracting new customers, and that only 38% of people have left an online review for their favourite restaurant – see more in notes for editors.
“Like paying for dinner by cheque or smoking at the bar, I think that physical food &amp; drink promos and Wi-Fi passwords scrawled on blackboards will be alien concepts in the next five years,” said Stampede founder and CEO, Patrick Clover. “We’re on a mission to make Wi-Fi better for everyone and give physical venues the digital tools they need to reach their customers. Physical promotions are easily ignored, they take time to design, must be re-printed for every change and, let’s face it, paper is a poor environmental choice. For businesses that want more value from Wi-Fi or don’t know how to get started with digital marketing, our Stories feature is the ultimate in-venue promotional tool and the perfect replacement for boring paper promotions.” 
Core features of Stories include:
<ul>
<li>Stories can promote anything chosen by the venue eg. a new menu, an upcoming event, a TripAdvisor review page, or a daily promotion to help increase transactions (eg. buy-one-get-one-free cocktails, happy hour events, the weekly pub quiz)</li>
<li>Venues see detailed conversion analytics for all their Stories (eg. how many customers left a review, how many saw their latest cocktail promotion), letting them experiment with different promotions and track their success</li>
<li>No other guest Wi-Fi / captive portal provider has a solution of this kind</li>
</ul>
“High street shops and the hospitality sector at large is struggling, it can’t compete with the likes of Amazon, Airbnb and JustEat, and things are getting worse not better,” continued Clover. “We want to empower these venues with the digital tools and customer understanding that have made digital businesses so successful – helping them know their customers better, showcase everything they have to offer and be a bit more agile when it comes to communicating with customers.”
Notes for editors 
In May 2019, Stampede released <a href="https://stampede.ai/news/press-releases/research-reveals-insight-to-british-social-routines/">market research</a> on the struggles facing the hospitality sector and the significance of guest Wi-Fi. Key results from 2,000 UK respondents include:
<ul>
<li>British people only try new food and drink venues 1-2 times per year</li>
<li>78% of respondents said that their favourite food and drink venue puts little or no effort into marketing new events/promotions or attracting new customers</li>
<li>Only 36% of people have left an online review for their favourite restaurant</li>
<li>62% of respondents agreed with the statement “I feel better when connected to Wi-Fi, even if I have data remaining” This number rises to 88% for 25-34yr olds</li>
<li>53% had experienced guest Wi-Fi connectivity problems. The most common complaints were passwords not working (25%), not being able to find the password (23%) and registration processes taking too long (15%)</li>
<li>Roughly three in ten people said that they could go longer without sex or alcohol (28% and 34%) than data</li>
</ul>

Stampede launches “Wi-Fi Stories” to revamp outdated guest Wi-Fi

DEBATE: Does the Jamie’s Italian chain have only itself to blame for its demise?

Between peak times are probably the most challenging ones in the hospitality industry. What can venues do to&nbsp;fill up empty seats and keep the customer flow running&nbsp;evenly throughout the day? How can you give your off-peak times a proper boost?



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-css-opacity"/>



To bring people in during those quieter times you have to give them a stellar reason, 2 meals for £20 deals that run every week aren&#8217;t enough. You have to create some proper buzz to make those quieter times interesting again.



There are two main ways to look at that can help you&nbsp;make every time a busy time at your venue and boost your off-peak times.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-1-check-out-your-area">1. Check out your area</h4>



It is all about your location. Plus, the fact that people are out and about again. Check out your own local area to find out what is going on during the day and use this to your advantage.&nbsp;



The idea is to&nbsp;target those specific customer groups&nbsp;and get them through the door with offers tailored to their needs.



Some places to watch out for:



<ul>
<li>Theatre, concert hall&nbsp;&#8211; pre/post-show meal deals</li>



<li>Sport venue&nbsp;&#8211; pre/post-match meal deals</li>



<li>Cinema&nbsp;&#8211; movie-inspired snacks to-go</li>



<li>Gym&nbsp;&#8211; healthy snacks, shakes and smoothies</li>



<li>University, college&nbsp;&#8211; after lecture meal deals</li>



<li>Nursery&nbsp;&#8211; playgroup offers with snacks for kids</li>



<li>Hairdresser, spa&nbsp;&#8211; treat yourself after your treatment offers&nbsp;</li>
</ul>



Think about providing&nbsp;quick fixes&nbsp;for takeaway, some light snacks in the form of sliders or special meal deals during those times.&nbsp;



You can also introduce an&nbsp;early bird fixed-priced menu&nbsp;before 7 pm. This is a great offer for families that prefer to have an early dinner.&nbsp;



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">2. Check out current events</h4>



If you&#8217;re showing sports events in your venue, like the upcoming Rugby Six Nations (<a href="https://www.sixnationsrugby.com/fixtures/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">see timetable</a>), here are some ideas on how to stand out and attract more mid-day traffic.



What about a rugby-inspired afternoon tea including beer as a drink of choice and with a focus on rather carb-heavy snacks? Get some inspiration from&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/whats-on/food-drink-news/meat-heavy-afternoon-tea-designed-21926764" target="_blank">Brewski’s non-traditional afternoon tea offer</a>. In addition, you could come up with some handheld, hearty snacks and sliders that people can easily enjoy whilst watching the game.



Sports events are best enjoyed with some drinks, so introduce an&nbsp;early happy hour&nbsp;around match times. Also, consider a beer pack offer for bigger groups.



And if that’s not the style of your venue, then position yourself as the opposite. Promote your venue as the place that doesn’t have the sport on and where people can enjoy TV-free drinks and meals in a quiet atmosphere. 



Pro tip: Social events apps like <a href="http://getonbloc.com">Bloc</a> allow you to promote your venue and your offers to local customers using geolocation.



Need a hand with promoting and boosting your off-peak offerings via email and SMS?&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="mailto:contact@stampede.ai?subject=&amp;body=" target="_blank">Get in touch</a>&nbsp;with one of our team.

If you haven’t heard the news &#8211; social media is big business. In fact, <a href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/278414/number-of-worldwide-social-network-users/">the number of users is increasing year on year</a>. The average smartphone user spends over 3 hours on their device a day, predominantly checking social media sites. From following, liking, sharing, commenting and tagging. It’s completely redefined how we communicate with each other. As a business, social media interactions and campaigns now play a huge part in driving traffic to your restaurant too.&nbsp;







When it comes to creating social media campaigns, it can be tricky to get it right. Especially if you’re more used to what goes on in the kitchen, than what is happening on your Facebook page!



If you’re in need of some pointers, here are our top tips to help you become more socially savvy and get your restaurant social media campaigns up and running.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Paid Advertising</h4>



Many platforms including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram allow you to create paid advertising. This is a good way to create more awareness. Letting people out there now that you have an amazing restaurant, they shouldn&#8217;t miss out on.



The budget is entirely depending on how many people you want to reach, and you will normally be given an estimate before you pay. Here’s <a href="https://www.oberlo.co.uk/blog/facebook-advertising-cost">a good idea of what to expect in terms of CPC</a> (cost per click). This way, you have full control over how much you want to spend, also suitable for a small budget. 



Your paid advert could be a video advertising your restaurant, a competition or something completely creative and out of the box. Facebook and Instagram in particular, allow you to boost a post, allowing you to reach more people. Once you’ve specified a demographic and location, you can potentially reach hundreds of thousands of diners in your area, if not millions.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Know Your Audience</h4>



If you’re already using our software, then you’ll have a <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/the-marketing-power-of-wifi-analytics-for-your-business/">good idea of your demographic</a> already. You can also look at your insights through each social media platform too. Either way, it’s important to know who your customers are on social media, as this may differ from your regular clientele.&nbsp;



Understanding your audience will help you make better choices when it comes to your social media campaigns. The key takeaways are their age, gender and general interests.&nbsp;



For example, say your restaurant is most popular with students. Your social media campaigns could tie in deals to coincide with everything from freshers, exams to graduation. Think about posting a special deal for those students doing their freshers week. 



Not knowing or understanding this data could miss the huge swathes of your audience. Equally, if your demographic is mostly 30-50-year-olds, then targeting student nights isn’t going to work. 



However, if you understand exactly who is following your page and who you want to target with audience creation on Facebook, you have a much better chance of success.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Get People Involved</h4>



Whatever you’re trying to promote through your social media campaign, it won’t have much of an impact <a href="https://revive.social/most-shared-content/">unless people find it interesting</a>.



Social media posts work best when it’s something people can interact with. Instead of posting a boring, corporate piece of marketing onto your feeds &#8211; be a little more creative. You can devise a game or puzzle for people to solve, a caption contest, a competition or even something hilarious people can’t help but want to share.&nbsp;



By putting your customers at the heart of your social posts, you are much more likely to gain traction, in terms of likes, follows, shares and ultimately table bookings.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading"> Keep On Top Of Progress</h4>



When you’re in your restaurant, you wouldn’t leave a dish unattended for hours on end in the oven. The exact same principle should apply to your social media campaigns too.



After you’ve launched a campaign, within the first hour and throughout the day, <a href="https://buffer.com/library/social-media-analytics-tools">check how many people are interacting with it.</a> If you’ve launched a post and it’s not doing so well, you need to figure out why.



For example, is it bland, long-winded or difficult to understand? <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/vertical-the-future-of-video-content-for-digital-marketing/">Could the visuals be better</a>? Another tip is to find when your users are <a href="https://sproutsocial.com/insights/best-times-to-post-on-social-media/">most active on social media</a> so you coincide your posts to suit. Restaurants typically do well posting around mealtimes rather than first thing in the morning, so factoring in all these points can help things along.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Quality Control</h4>



It’s so easy to post content onto social media these days without a second thought, meaning quality control often goes out the window. Think about handing a dish to a customer without arranging the food on the plate, or checking that it’s properly cooked. You’d never do this, yet in many ways, people do it with their business’s social media.



The text shouldn’t be too long, and <a href="https://app.grammarly.com/">should always be spell checked</a>. Images and video should be landscape rather than portrait (unless for Instagram). You might also hire a freelance graphic designer to create your visuals so they are professional.



If you’re putting some and effort money behind a campaign, the last thing you want is for it to have glaring errors or have a poor image quality. After all, it’s a reflection of your restaurant! To make things easier you may want to create a social media plan on Google Docs. Review it regularly with your team to ensure it’s on-brand and as high quality as possible before it goes out to your viewing public. 



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Conclusion</h4>



Social media is where most of your customers hang out for a considerable time of the day, so it makes sense to launch your restaurant campaigns on there.



It’s not a simple case of throwing any old thing out there for the sake of it though &#8211; a great social media campaign takes planning, thought and effort.&nbsp;



Firstly you have to know who you’re targeting. See how our software can help you to understand customer insights and create targeted marketing campaigns.



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Get Started with Your Social Media Campaigns in Your Restaurant

GDPR uncertainty remains a year on

Oh, the good ol&#8217; days. Do you remember how easier it was to know your customers&#8217; insight and out and what their buying behaviour and preferences were? 







With a notepad and pen, you could collect customers&#8217; data like name, nickname and the days they would visit your shop. Indeed, it was easy to remember that Burt &#8220;The Burtator&#8221; would come to buy potatoes every Wednesday and coffee every Sunday.



Yeah, he also prefered to pay by check.



Well… now it&#8217;s a lot harder. These days you have so many customers coming to your shop that you can&#8217;t possibly remember everyone, even if you write their names on the coffee cup.



What&#8217;s your name again? Sorry, what&#8217;s your preference, veggie burger or bacon cheeseburger? You want to pay by debit card, credit card, Apple Pay, Monzo, PayPal… coins?! 



What the heck?! You don&#8217;t even know where they found your business because surely they don&#8217;t live in the area. It&#8217;s chaos sometimes, but thank Thor, I don&#8217;t need to know all these people&#8217;s details, right?!



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">The Importance Of Capturing Data</h4>



Try again, cowboy. Yes, you do need to know all this information. With these, let&#8217;s use a buzzword here, &#8220;data points&#8220;, you are able to know and understand your customers. Just like in the ol&#8217; days. It&#8217;s all about getting more customer insights and make positive use of those.



When you understand your customers, you can craft a unique local experience. Make it personal, create a connection and <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/jillgriffin/2019/10/15/what-happens-when-your-customers-love-you/#7a84ff425eb7">they will love you</a>. That&#8217;s just the romantic part because you can also take advantages of the &#8216;boring&#8217; but profitable stuff, such as offline analytics, customer trends analysis and&nbsp;<a rel="noopener noreferrer" class="" href="https://www.stampede.ai/blog/articles/wifi-marketing-connect-customers" target="_blank">effective marketing campaigns</a>&nbsp;that boost your revenue.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">What You Can Do With The Information</h4>



In addition, any little piece of information you capture can be used to improve your customers&#8217; in-house experience and help you create better, more personalised and relevant marketing campaigns. So the more customer insights the better!



Let&#8217;s start with the simplest of examples. <a class="" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.stampede.ai/blog/articles/wifi-data-capture" target="_blank">You capture customers names.</a> Simple as that, just their name.



With that, you can greet your customers in a friendlier way. Which is nice, but you can also:



<ul><li>Increase your email click-through rate by an average of 14% and conversion by 10%</li><li><a class="" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.monetate.com/blog/the-tipping-point-for-personalized-website-experiences/" target="_blank">Increase sales by more than 20%</a></li><li><a class="" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://rewardstream.com/blog/45-examples-personalized-marketing-really-work/" target="_blank">Increase engagement 10x</a></li></ul>



Now, let&#8217;s go a bit further… you know not only their name but how many times the person has been in your venue this week. Time to increase <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/engaging-customers-through-wi-fi-marketing/">customer loyalty</a> by simply sending a SMS or email inviting them to come back.



For example: &#8220;Hi Carolina, thank you for visiting us this week. How about you bring a friend tomorrow and get 5% off as a thank you?&#8221;



How about you run a campaign to increase the number of people that find you on a <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/how-to-respond-to-positive-and-negative-customer-reviews-online/">review site</a>? Even easier! Send a message 10 minutes after they leave, with something along the lines of: &#8220;Hola Maurice, thank you for your visit. We truly hope you enjoyed your stay, could you please spread the word and review us on TripAdvisor?&#8221;



Boom! I bet you an American dollar that you will have the <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.stampede.ai/blog/importance-of-online-reviews" target="_blank">number of reviews increased</a>.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">The Beauty Of Guest WiFi For Data Capturing</h4>



Do you offer free Guest WiFi? Come on, it&#8217;s a rhetorical question, of course, you do. Free and easy access to the Interwebs (Internet) is one of the three things all customers demand. (If not, check out our <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/getting-started-with-guest-wifi/">getting to started</a> guide now. Better later than never)



So, you ALREADY offer free Guest WiFi &#8211; then why not put it into use and make money with it? I&#8217;m not talking about charging for Internet access, as this could get your customers frustrated. (I&#8217;ve seen some dramatic reactions for paid Internet access &#8211; punch someone in the face kind of stuff).



I&#8217;m talking about capturing data to better know your customers, leading to more <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.stampede.ai/blog/good-adverts-bad-adverts" target="_blank">efficient marketing</a>, ending with more sales. I know you got it, but I&#8217;ll repeat for those people in the back row. It&#8217;s all about more customer insights.



Better yet, I&#8217;ll show it to you with an illustration:



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/2735287/Blog/Stampede-Blog-Cost_Rev@2x.png" alt="Stampede-Blog-Cost_Rev@2x"/></figure>



Why offer free WiFi if you’re not getting anything in return? Because, with a <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.stampede.ai/how-it-works#marketing" target="_blank">Guest WiFi analytics and marketing automation tool,</a> you are capturing data, improving your marketing AND generating revenue. I honestly can&#8217;t make this any simpler.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Get Them Logging In Once But Keep Capturing Their Data</h4>



&#8220;Oh wait, but I don&#8217;t want my customers to sit and spend their time on the Internet instead of appreciating and savouring my beautiful dishes.&#8221;



No problemo, amigo. What you need to do is, <a class="" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.stampede.ai/blog/wifi-in-your-venue-login-once-login-forever" target="_blank">get them to login ONCE</a>. That&#8217;s all it takes. The reason is, they DO NOT have to use your Internet all the time (we also don&#8217;t want that, do we?). When they log in for the first time, they won&#8217;t need to login ever again (unless you want them to). Meaning… in their second, third, tenth, hundredth time they visit your venue, you will know they were there and they won&#8217;t even have to take their phones out of their pockets.



You&#8217;ll also know if they are new or returning visitors, how long they stayed at your venue and so on. If you&#8217;re a metrics and analytics fan, this is online analytics applied in real offline businesses. So, all the goodies of online marketing, easily and automatically applied to brick &amp; mortar, to real-life&#8230;



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Ideas To Get Your Customer Connected For The First Time</h4>



Right, so the software can do the heavy lifting, running in the background quietly and constantly learning about your customers. That&#8217;s fantastic, but we at Stampede believe and recommend you should inject this concept, this need to learn everything about your customer to improve services, in your business&#8217; DNA.



Just common sense. Knowing your customers insight-out means you can tweak your business to better serve them. How great is when a waiter greets you by name? Or when a concierge in a hotel knows exactly the newspaper you love to read and leaves it in your room? (Yep, print. I&#8217;m old school.)



It’s all about knowing your customer. I&#8217;ve repeated this sentence so many times for a reason. Get it in your head. 



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Back to the topic, here are three ideas to get your customer connecting to your free WiFi so you can start capturing that sweet, sweet Data.



<ol><li>Have visible stickers promoting your free Guest WiFi</li><li>Get your staff to mention it at least once to the customer <ul><li>&#8216;Good morning Dorothy, here is your corn dog, please enjoy our complimentary free WiFi and have a great day. Go Pigeons!&#8217;</li><li>&#8216;Hi Frederik, your order will be here in 5 minutes, please feel free to use our free Internet and leave us a review. We&#8217;d really appreciate it&#8217;</li><li>&#8216;Howdy Ross, the doctor will call you soon, meanwhile please feel free to access our free WiFi and enjoy your wait&#8217; </li></ul></li><li>Include an online menu, voucher or <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/infographic-how-likely-are-people-to-act-on-promotions/">promotion</a> on your website</li></ol>



Three basic and simple things, that will get you to capture data, know more about your customers, have offline analytics, improve and automate your marketing campaigns and of course… sell more!



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Now What?</h4>



Easy… start your FREE trial now!



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="#schedule-demohttps://calendly.com/stampedeae/stampede-demo-request?month=2020-02">Click here to get started.</a></h2>

Getting Customer Insights into Your Company’s DNA

To speed up your productivity when moving around Stampede, we’ve built a range of clever shortcuts and quick actions.



Check out our top tips grouped by product feature.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Stampede Marketing</h2>



Save a sent campaign as a template for future use



Click on ‘view’ to open the campaign preview from an email that has been sent out.&nbsp;



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<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="754" height="109" src="https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/save-templates-Stampede-1.png" alt="" class="wp-image-23182" srcset="https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/save-templates-Stampede-1.png 754w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/save-templates-Stampede-1-300x43.png 300w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/save-templates-Stampede-1-150x22.png 150w" sizes="(max-width: 754px) 100vw, 754px" /></figure>



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Then click on &#8216;Save campaign to template&#8217; on the top right.



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<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/save-tamplates-Stampede-1.png" alt="" class="wp-image-23183" width="392" height="155" srcset="https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/save-tamplates-Stampede-1.png 522w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/save-tamplates-Stampede-1-300x119.png 300w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/save-tamplates-Stampede-1-150x59.png 150w" sizes="(max-width: 392px) 100vw, 392px" /></figure>



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<div class="wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-3 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex">
<div class="wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow">
Insert preheader text within a campaign



You can include a pre-header text to your campaign that follows your subject line.&nbsp;



When editing your campaign content click on ‘body’ and you can add your pre-header text within the email settings.
</div>



<div class="wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow">
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="387" height="556" src="https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/preheader-Stampede-1.png" alt="" class="wp-image-23184" srcset="https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/preheader-Stampede-1.png 387w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/preheader-Stampede-1-209x300.png 209w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/preheader-Stampede-1-150x216.png 150w" sizes="(max-width: 387px) 100vw, 387px" /></figure>
</div>
</div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Stampede Table Booking Platform</h2>



Selecting multiple tables for a booking combo



In the day planner view, click and drag in an available time slot to create a new table booking.



Hold Shift and click on the other tables you&#8217;d like to include in this booking.



Quickly block a table from being booked online



This quick action is handy if you want to pause your online bookings for a certain period, i.e. you have a big group walk-in.



To do this, in the day planner view click on the square on the table you&#8217;d like to block and click save.



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<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="891" height="141" src="https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/block-tables-Stampede-1.png" alt="" class="wp-image-23185" srcset="https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/block-tables-Stampede-1.png 891w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/block-tables-Stampede-1-300x47.png 300w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/block-tables-Stampede-1-768x122.png 768w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/block-tables-Stampede-1-150x24.png 150w" sizes="(max-width: 891px) 100vw, 891px" /></figure>



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<div class="wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-6 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex">
<div class="wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow">
View a cover breakdown



Within whatever view you&#8217;re on, click on ‘total covers’ on the top right.&nbsp;



This will open a covers breakdown listing all bookings by status for the day you&#8217;re currently viewing.
</div>



<div class="wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow">
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="405" height="342" src="https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/covers-breakdown-Stampede-1.png" alt="" class="wp-image-23186" srcset="https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/covers-breakdown-Stampede-1.png 405w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/covers-breakdown-Stampede-1-300x253.png 300w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/covers-breakdown-Stampede-1-150x127.png 150w" sizes="(max-width: 405px) 100vw, 405px" /></figure>
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Resend booking confirmation email



Click on the booking you would like to resend the confirmation email to



Head to ‘actions’ and ‘resend confirmation email’ at the bottom.



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<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="776" height="382" src="https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/resend-confirmation-Stampede-1.png" alt="" class="wp-image-23187" srcset="https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/resend-confirmation-Stampede-1.png 776w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/resend-confirmation-Stampede-1-300x148.png 300w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/resend-confirmation-Stampede-1-768x378.png 768w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/resend-confirmation-Stampede-1-150x74.png 150w" sizes="(max-width: 776px) 100vw, 776px" /></figure>



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We’re here to help if you have any questions and make sure to head to our&nbsp;<a href="https://help.stampede.ai/en/?utm_source=hs_email&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8FRrbhL0kZbwyJbyx1fgd600KVlKug7RnMX_qJUVB5K0Q_YzN78E_XaNKmGTKOju5gT5f-" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">support page</a>&nbsp;for more information and guidance on the Stampede features.

Become A Stampede Pro With These Hidden Features

Track and Trace is a scheme that allows the hospitality industry to keep track of potential COVID-19 cases. It requires the capturing of customer data that then needs to be stored for 21 days. If anyone who has visited reports symptoms, then the business can facilitate contact to let customers know they could be at risk of catching the virus.&nbsp;



In the age of GDPR, how such data is captured is equally as important as all the other restrictions that are in place. If you are looking to set up track and trace for your hospitality business, here’s what to look out for. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Ease of Use</h2>



When you hired your hospitality staff, their ability to get up to speed with brand new business-critical technology probably wasn’t high on your check-list. Yet, we are now in a situation where lots of new technology is being installed, very fast. If the software is complicated or glitchy to use, this leaves the whole system open to failure. So, it’s vital your track and trace app is simple and straightforward to use from the get-go. 



Typically, track and trace works by capturing customer information via a QR code as they enter the building. Staff can then check in with that person when ordering or paying the bill. When the customer leaves the building, the software should also check them out again. Doing so will give businesses an accurate view of who was in the building and when should they need to contact people. All of which needs to be easy to manage through the track and trace method you use. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">GDPR Compliance</h2>



With so much focus on the coronavirus itself, it’s easy to let GDPR catch you out. Doing so could be very costly for your business, at a time when the industry has already taken a significant hit. Paper track and trace systems are costly to implement with huge overheads and are not only encouraging unnecessary physical contact but also is vulnerable to anyone viewing that customer information. The data can even be stolen if it’s just laying on the table! 



That doesn’t mean digital track and trace is always plain sailing either. Despite its infancy, reports of <a href="https://twitter.com/roselyddon/status/1281885086347075588">track and trace data breaches</a> have cropped up on social media. So, alongside adequate GDPR training for your staff, the system you use for track and trace needs to be fully watertight. Given there are companies who have set up <a href="https://www.landmobile.co.uk/news/hospitality-track-and-trace-app-developed-in-a-day/">track and trace apps in a day</a>, it’s important to ensure the system has been fully road tested before you trust it with your customer data. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Customer Support</h2>



If the company has only been up and running a few weeks or even days, it’s important to ascertain whether there is adequate customer support in place. If there’s no contact emails, phone numbers, opening hours or even social media accounts for a track and trace app, how do you as the customer ensure that your data is safe or contact them if there is a problem? 



Given problems with the app could spell disaster for your business, the software you choose must have customer support in place. Adequate customer support is just one of the reasons it pays to go with an existing company that has a fully GDPR compliant track and trace system in place. This is especially the case if they already work with hospitality clients because they understand the demands of the business, better than someone who is only factoring in the tech side of things, and not the day to day reality of a hospitality business. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Cost</h2>



Does the solution you are looking at offer flexible, transparent pricing? Track and trace is a massively helpful tool in the fight against COVID-19 and mandated in some countries, and as such there may be companies looking to profit from this. So, it’s important to get a demo, see the people producing the app online and ask what’s included for the price. 



For example, is the software GDPR compliant? Is it easy to use for staff and customers, and does it offer support? How about <a href="https://stampede.ai/covid-19/track-and-trace/?utm_source=google&amp;utm_medium=cpc&amp;utm_campaign=track_and_trace&amp;utm_content=104637033260&amp;utm_term=%2B%20track%20and%20trace&amp;ads_cmpid=10459120507&amp;ads_adid=104637033260&amp;ads_matchtype=b&amp;ads_network=g&amp;ads_creative=446800362177&amp;utm_term=%2B%20track%20and%20trace&amp;ads_targetid=kwd-921624364049&amp;utm_campaign=&amp;utm_source=adwords&amp;utm_medium=ppc&amp;ttv=2&amp;gclid=CjwKCAjwr7X4BRA4EiwAUXjbt0BEIxdhbCwYHSIqdymzPVOMPoSPpaXc7Ow7aoU3M1e3jHhg5ES5NhoCdlUQAvD_BwE">footfall analysis</a>? Does it allow you to keep track of the number of people in the space? If the system goes down, what guarantees are in place?&nbsp; Does it automatically delete the data after 21 days? Does it differentiate between customers who want to stay on the system longer than 21 days and those that don’t? The cost can be broken down as monthly, annual or recurring. There could also be setup fees too, so it’s important to ask about those.&nbsp;



As track and trace is a new product to the market, there’s likely to be some large inconsistencies between what different companies charge. Some may offer free trials, and others can also offer <a href="https://stampede.ai/covid-19/">wider marketing services</a> as part of the package, making it cheaper overall. The key is to ensure you’re investing in a well-tested, solid product that can hopefully pay for itself, rather than a cheap option that might lay you open to fines or worse. After all, your customers aren’t getting in the building without it! 



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">To Sum Up</h3>



Track and trace is imperative in some countries, but it’s also a key part of hospitalities’ armoury in reassuring customers who want to come back but are cautious. By monitoring who is in the building and how many people are in the space, you can reopen and most importantly, keep everyone safe. What to look out for as a buyer includes a system that works well both from a customer and business perspective. It needs to store your customer information in a GDPR compliant way, including deleting the data after 21 days. 



Here at Stampede, we provide track and trace through our existing software. Your guest WiFi will automatically check people in through two clicks on their phone, with no messy paperwork or huge amounts of staff time. If there’s some reason they can’t use WiFi, or it’s a problem for your business, they can use a QR code which is fully integrated into the system. Businesses can monitor the footfall to comply with social distancing regulations. We’ll even send you a free COVID-19 readiness pack so that you can get up and running with track and trace straight away. We have customer support available too and can talk to you about your WiFi system and what’s the best solution for you. <a href="https://stampede.ai/covid-19/track-and-trace/?utm_source=google&amp;utm_medium=cpc&amp;utm_campaign=track_and_trace&amp;utm_content=104637033260&amp;utm_term=%2B%20track%20and%20trace&amp;ads_cmpid=10459120507&amp;ads_adid=104637033260&amp;ads_matchtype=b&amp;ads_network=g&amp;ads_creative=446800362177&amp;utm_term=%2B%20track%20and%20trace&amp;ads_targetid=kwd-921624364049&amp;utm_campaign=&amp;utm_source=adwords&amp;utm_medium=ppc&amp;ttv=2&amp;gclid=CjwKCAjwr7X4BRA4EiwAUXjbt0BEIxdhbCwYHSIqdymzPVOMPoSPpaXc7Ow7aoU3M1e3jHhg5ES5NhoCdlUQAvD_BwE">Click here to find out more</a>, and to watch a video of our track and trace app in action.

Buyers guide to track and trace apps for hospitality

Track and Trace Systems: A Buyer’s Guide

This blog will discuss new opportunities for retail and hospitality venues in today’s era of data capture through <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/getting-started-with-guest-wifi/">Guest WiFi</a>. Focus is on how to leverage this information to generate revenue while strengthening brand loyalty.







It will be no surprise to you to learn that WiFi has become one of the most important business assets to drive hotel loyalty and profitability. 



Indeed, WiFi is often cited as the #1 desired amenity by travellers and for hotels, restaurants and retail. Therefore, it is fast becoming the most effective way to connect with guests and increase brand loyalty and sales.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">WiFi to Build Brand Loyalty</h4>



Following, this demand creates opportunities for hotels to use the WiFi service to build <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/building-customer-loyalty-with-blackbx/">brand loyalty</a>. It’s estimated that 80% of guests won’t return to a hotel that delivers a bad technology experience. When your brand becomes synonymous with superior, hassle-free technology experience, travellers will seek you out for their next stay.



Think of WiFi as sales and mar­keting tool. It starts with your web portal, where guests first connect with your hotel and continue through to your Guest WiFi Portal. Whereas, your portal can deliver <a href="https://stampede.ai/news/press-releases/blackbx-launches-wi-fi-stories-to-revamp-outdated-guest-wi-fi/">timely information</a> such as the restaurant’s soup of the day. You are more likely to engage guests and create that important connection with your brand.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">WiFi Analytics &#8211; A Tale</h4>



All <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/wifi-marketing-how-to-connect-with-your-customers/">Information</a> coming in from your WiFi service can be invaluable in building a real interaction between your brand and guests.&nbsp; Imagine the benefit of feeding that data into marketing vehicles to <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/engaging-customers-through-wi-fi-marketing/">engage guests</a>. A use case illustrates the impact this could have:



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



Jane checks into a hotel for a sales conference and logs into the Guest WiFi service using her Facebook profile. The data from Jane’s public Facebook profile allows you to personalise her web experience to build loyalty.



Since it’s her first time with this hotel brand, Jane is forwarded to a page to sign up for the loyalty program. She receives premium WiFi free at this visit as an appreciation.



Headed to the conference, Jane receives an SMS on her smartphone welcoming her to the event and offering information about the upcoming keynote.



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



Stampede Guest WiFi can be used to send this relevant information to Jane. This is possible, as it integrates with the CRM/PMS system for ongoing marketing.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">WiFi Insights&nbsp;</h4>



Through Stampede Connect <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/the-marketing-power-of-wifi-analytics-for-your-business/">dashboard analytics</a> about WiFi data usage can be managed on a single dashboard. Even more, if you have multiple hotels, it can show data use across all hotel properties. 



Which of your hotels are the top data users per device? Also, the hotel as a brand may want to understand why hotels have very low data usage per guest or per device. Further, exporting data usage by day allows the hotel to compare numbers of guests logging in against occupancy.



In the past WiFi service management used to be a tool primarily for the IT department. Captive portals were designed to block internet access and make sure that you could charge customers before getting them online. 



All that has changed. Now, Guest WiFi is a business tool. It’s all about getting insights about your guests to better engage with them online.

Guest WiFi: A Sales & Marketing Tool?

<div class="wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-3 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex">
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<div class="wp-block-media-text alignwide is-stacked-on-mobile"><figure class="wp-block-media-text__media"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="340" height="340" src="https://stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Case-Study-Icons-3.png" alt="case study star Icon" class="wp-image-21419 size-full" srcset="https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Case-Study-Icons-3.png 340w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Case-Study-Icons-3-300x300.png 300w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Case-Study-Icons-3-150x150.png 150w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Case-Study-Icons-3-96x96.png 96w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Case-Study-Icons-3-16x16.png 16w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Case-Study-Icons-3-100x100.png 100w" sizes="(max-width: 340px) 100vw, 340px" /></figure><div class="wp-block-media-text__content">
<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-50-increase-in-repeat-customers">50% increase in repeat customers</h3>



Increasing revenue with loyal customers.
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<div class="wp-block-media-text alignwide is-stacked-on-mobile"><figure class="wp-block-media-text__media"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="340" height="340" src="https://stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Case-Study-Icons-1.png" alt="case study marketing roi icon" class="wp-image-21409 size-full" srcset="https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Case-Study-Icons-1.png 340w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Case-Study-Icons-1-300x300.png 300w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Case-Study-Icons-1-150x150.png 150w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Case-Study-Icons-1-96x96.png 96w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Case-Study-Icons-1-16x16.png 16w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Case-Study-Icons-1-100x100.png 100w" sizes="(max-width: 340px) 100vw, 340px" /></figure><div class="wp-block-media-text__content">
<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-2-400-marketing-roi">+£2,400 marketing ROI</h3>



Trackable ROI from personalised marketing campaigns.
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</div>
</div>



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<div class="wp-block-media-text alignwide is-stacked-on-mobile"><figure class="wp-block-media-text__media"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="340" height="340" src="https://stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Lane7-icon2-340x340-1.png" alt="case study icon growth graph" class="wp-image-19670 size-full" srcset="https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Lane7-icon2-340x340-1.png 340w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Lane7-icon2-340x340-1-300x300.png 300w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Lane7-icon2-340x340-1-150x150.png 150w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Lane7-icon2-340x340-1-96x96.png 96w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Lane7-icon2-340x340-1-16x16.png 16w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Lane7-icon2-340x340-1-100x100.png 100w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Lane7-icon2-340x340-1-60x60.png 60w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Lane7-icon2-340x340-1-90x90.png 90w" sizes="(max-width: 340px) 100vw, 340px" /></figure><div class="wp-block-media-text__content">
<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-over-8-300-contactable-customers">Over 8,300 contactable customers</h3>



Growing their mailing list with automated data capture.
</div></div>
</div>



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<div class="wp-block-media-text alignwide is-stacked-on-mobile"><figure class="wp-block-media-text__media"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="340" height="340" src="https://stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Case-Study-Icons.png" alt="case study GDPR Compliant" class="wp-image-20341 size-full" srcset="https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Case-Study-Icons.png 340w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Case-Study-Icons-300x300.png 300w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Case-Study-Icons-150x150.png 150w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Case-Study-Icons-96x96.png 96w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Case-Study-Icons-16x16.png 16w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Case-Study-Icons-100x100.png 100w" sizes="(max-width: 340px) 100vw, 340px" /></figure><div class="wp-block-media-text__content">
<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-95-marketing-opt-in-rate">95% marketing opt-in rate</h3>



A compliant and engaged customer mailing list to support marketing campaigns.
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</div>



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<h1 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-overview">Overview</h1>



The Coal Exchange Hotel is located in the Cardiff Bay, featuring 85 luxurious bedrooms and the on-site Culley’s Kitchen &amp; Bar. The hotel is rich in history and is also a popular venue for events, such as weddings.



The Coal Exchange uses&nbsp;<a href="https://stampede.ai">Stampede</a>&nbsp;to capture guest data to increase repeat visits through personalised marketing.
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<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Coal-Exchange-Small-I.png"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="912" height="604" src="https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Coal-Exchange-Small-I.png" alt="" class="wp-image-22144" srcset="https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Coal-Exchange-Small-I.png 912w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Coal-Exchange-Small-I-300x199.png 300w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Coal-Exchange-Small-I-768x509.png 768w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Coal-Exchange-Small-I-150x99.png 150w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Coal-Exchange-Small-I-592x392.png 592w" sizes="(max-width: 912px) 100vw, 912px" /></a></figure>
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<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Coal-Exchange-Small-III.png"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="895" height="826" src="https://stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Coal-Exchange-Small-III.png" alt="" class="wp-image-22156" srcset="https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Coal-Exchange-Small-III.png 895w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Coal-Exchange-Small-III-300x277.png 300w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Coal-Exchange-Small-III-768x709.png 768w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Coal-Exchange-Small-III-150x138.png 150w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Coal-Exchange-Small-III-16x16.png 16w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Coal-Exchange-Small-III-592x546.png 592w" sizes="(max-width: 895px) 100vw, 895px" /></a></figure>
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-challenge">The Challenge</h2>



A common challenge for hotels is to get access to guest data. Most of the time the&nbsp;data is withheld by Online Travel Agencies&nbsp;and hotels are not able to stay in touch with customers after their stay.



Until recently, The Coal Exchange was part of a hotel chain that wasn’t much invested in driving repeat customers. However, this changed when they became a stand-alone company.



The Coal Exchange wanted to market to their guests directly and turn them into loyal customers moving forward. For this, they were looking for a smart tool that allows them to&nbsp;capture and have control over their own guest data.
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<figure class="wp-block-pullquote"><blockquote>“It’s one of the easiest systems I’ve ever used. I would recommend it to anybody who needs to get started with marketing.”</blockquote></figure>



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<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">
“Stampede has helped us increase our returning guests and also our revenue. We’ve seen an increase of over 50% with guests coming back in.”
</blockquote>
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<div class="wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow" style="flex-basis:66.66%">
<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-solution">The Solution</h2>



Before signing up with Stampede, Ieuan Davies, Marketing Manager of The Coal Exchange spent some time comparing different companies that offer a data capture platform. He ultimately chose Stampede as it&nbsp;“fits our ethos more than any other company and the whole process from introduction to set up was seamless.”&nbsp;



Within 7 months, they grew their&nbsp;mailing list to over 8,200 customers&nbsp;by asking guests for their contact details when signing up for their WiFi. Ieuan says:&nbsp;“It’s a quick and easy way, exactly what we’ve needed.” From an administrative point of view, Ieuan can now manage all data coming from their various outlets in one single platform. As he acknowledges:&nbsp;“Stampede has saved me time and effort trying to put it all in one place.”
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The&nbsp;<a href="https://stampede.ai/how-it-works/marketing/">Stampede Marketing</a>&nbsp;platform makes it easy for Ieuan to segment the data to directly market to guests with personalised offers, such as their popular ‘kids eat free’ deal. So far, The Coal Exchange was able to generate over&nbsp;£2,400 in return visits&nbsp;from their email campaigns.&nbsp;



To track when customers redeem their offers, Ieuan attaches&nbsp;<a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/new-stampede-marketing-feature-unique-voucher-codes/">unique voucher codes</a>&nbsp;to the emails. These one-time-only codes&nbsp;“are also a clever tool to stop people from sending the offers to friends.”, he adds.



In addition, Ieuan has also set up an&nbsp;automated birthday email campaign&nbsp;offering customers 10% off their next stay. Another simple way they are increasing customer loyalty without any manual effort.&nbsp;



To further drive direct bookings, The Coal Exchange also uses&nbsp;<a href="https://stampede.ai/how-it-works/loyalty/">Stampede digital stamp cards</a>. Over 450 customers have already signed up for their ‘Fab Five Rewards’ loyalty program, which rewards customers with a free stay upon the 6th direct booking.



Ieuan is also a big fan of the Stampede reporting suite. As he explains: “Some reports from other platforms just give you the very basic information,&nbsp;with Stampede you can go into more depth.&nbsp;For us, this is probably one of the most valuable assets.”&nbsp;



The reports provide him with&nbsp;detailed performance results, which he can report back to the individual departments and take action if necessary.



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The Coal Exchange Hotel

The hospitality sector has overcome a fair share of crises over the past decades. But nothing has shaken this industry quite like the COVID-19 pandemic. With lockdown restrictions shutting down businesses across the globe, hotels and restaurants were forced to suddenly re-examine fundamental strategies.&nbsp;



Now, with the re-opening date for restaurants, pubs, and hotels fast approaching, the question is –



How will the hospitality industry adjust?



Hoteliers and restaurant owners are considering different ways to reopen after Coronavirus, and a great amount of thought is being put into what will happen when they do. As it stands, it seems that technology is every business’s saving grace. Knowing this, the hospitality sector is making the re-evaluation of technology strategies a top priority.&nbsp;



If you’ve found that you’re in a similar boat and need to lean on technology for a helping (or guiding) hand, then this article is for you.&nbsp;



Let’s take a look at:



The 5 Trending Technology Tools You Can Use to Safely and Successfully Reopen After Lockdown



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-1-cashless-and-contactless-payments">1. Cashless and Contactless Payments</h3>



Cashless and contactless payments have one very clear benefit in a post lockdown business: reducing the need to handle cards and cash.&nbsp;



Did you know that money can carry more germs than a household toilet?<a href="http://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1914560_1914558_1914544,00.html" target="_blank" aria-label="undefined (opens in a new tab)" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">[1]</a>.



Gross.



Using technology, such as the&nbsp;<a href="https://squareup.com/us/en/hardware/reader" target="_blank" aria-label="undefined (opens in a new tab)" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Square Reader</a>, means that businesses can accept payment via contactless cards – anywhere.&nbsp;



The benefits are threefold and this innovative system:



<ol>
<li>Enables faster payments (so you can reduce queuing time)</li>



<li>Boosts the confidence of patrons who are wary of handling cash</li>



<li>Keeps staff members safe by removing the need to handle money</li>
</ol>



At this point, you may be wondering – “how do cashless payments work, exactly”?



Currently, there are a few options to choose from. We’ll highlight the two most popular choices.&nbsp;



<ul>
<li>Mobile apps that connect to a customer’s card/s.&nbsp;To complete a transaction, one would use a smartphone to enter payment information or scan a code.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>Plug-in credit card readers.&nbsp;Here, you’ll be supplied with a tiny swiping device that plugs into a smartphone. It syncs with an app to keep track of payments and allows patrons to pay without having to handle dirty keypads. This is the perfect tool for those who will be delivering food and beverages to homes and offices.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>



As for security, you’ll be encouraged to know that most cashless applications encrypt credit card information the moment a swipe is made.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-2-ordering-and-delivery-tools">2. Ordering and Delivery Tools</h3>



COVID-19 has certainly led to an influx of food ordering and delivery software, and for good reason. Trying times have forced consumers to stay at home as much as possible and restaurants will host fewer patrons for many months post-COVID-19. Social distancing laws, as well as some customer’s desire to reduce the risk of exposure, have created a new preference for ordering meals to be delivered.&nbsp;



With this in mind, businesses should opt for software that’s going to best integrate with their current systems. Tools that have proved to work seamlessly and include added perks will also have the advantage.&nbsp;



Best to browse the internet to see what type of ordering and delivery tools are available in your region. Most applications do come with free trials and we encourage you to make use of these opportunities before subscribing to a service.&nbsp;



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-3-touchless-digital-menu-systems">3. Touchless Digital Menu Systems</h3>



Touchless digital menu systems were invented before the COVID pandemic but their need is now imperative.&nbsp;



How do they work?



Whether you use your own website or decide to use third-party software – the concept remains the same. Essentially, you will provide a link to an online version of your menu that patrons can access with their smartphones. This eliminates the need for handling actual menus that would need to be constantly sanitised or printing screeds of single-use, disposable menus. It will save a fortune on printing costs!



However, typing out a web address on a small device can be tedious and mistakes are easily made. As a suggestion, you can save your customers from frustration by using scannable QR Codes. This means that your guests can simply open the cameras on their phones, scan the code, and then have immediate access to your menu.&nbsp;



Additionally, some technology tools allow users to order meals through a digitised menu on their mobile devices. You simply select what you want to eat, and the order is sent straight through to the kitchen.&nbsp;



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-4-contactless-check-in-check-out-and-keyless-room-entry">4. Contactless Check-In/Check-Out and Keyless Room Entry</h3>



Contactless technology may be the new normal – so, embrace it now! For example, contactless check-in/check-out tools allow guests to check-in, check out, and unlock rooms using their mobile devices. This encourages social distancing and eliminates the need to handle room keys.



Two great contactless check-in/check-out and keyless mobile apps available to the hotel industry are:&nbsp;



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.fueltravel.com/digital-key/">Fuel</a> &#8211; an awesome app that can be customised with your own colour palette and logo, and;</li>



<li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.openkey.co/" rel="noreferrer noopener">OpenKey</a>&nbsp;– which can be added to your own branded app.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>



Both of these apps are subscription-based. They’re similar in price and work effectively to reduce time spent in the hotel lobby where handling social distancing may be tricky.&nbsp;



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-5-communication-tools">5. Communication Tools</h3>



Communication with customers has always been a key factor in a good relationship. But now, more than ever, you need to communicate with people so that they know that you are making every effort to guarantee their safety while proving your efficiency.&nbsp;



You can use traditional methods of social media marketing to convey your messages, you can invest in a <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/how-marketing-with-wifi-benefits-your-business/" target="_blank" aria-label="undefined (opens in a new tab)" rel="noreferrer noopener">Wi-Fi marketing tool</a> that connects you to customers, or you can take on another growing technology trend that uses chatbots.&nbsp;



Chatbots are the equivalent to a modern-day concierge. They provide a constant flow of well-timed communication to encourage a flawless customer experience.&nbsp;



For example, they can be used to check guests in and out, to make reservations, and they can even give local restaurant recommendations, etc.&nbsp;



Five current chatbot tools to research include:



<ul>
<li>LiveHelpNowSuite</li>



<li>NewBook</li>



<li>ManyChat</li>



<li>Crisp</li>
</ul>



* Once again, remember to take advantage of free trials so that you can select a ChatBot that will integrate well with your current systems and communicate effectively with your type of audiences.&nbsp;



On an end note:



Stay calm and remain flexible.



References:



<a target="_blank" href="http://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1914560_1914558_1914544,00.html" rel="noreferrer noopener">[1] Time. Top 10 Things You Didn’t Know About Money</a>



Sources:



<ol>
<li>Hospitality.Net &#8211;&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.hospitalitynet.org/opinion/4099000.html" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Importance Of Technology In Post COVID-19 Hotel Operations</a></li>
</ol>

5 Technology Tools for hospitality businesses to reopen with after lockdown

5 Technology Tools to Help Hospitality Reopen After Lockdown

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<ul>
<li>Sell gift vouchers and cards online</li>
<li>Collect data for future <a href="https://stampede.ai/how-it-works/marketing/">marketing</a></li>
<li>Customise your unique web page</li>
<li>Get paid straight away</li>
<li>Support your cash flow now, drive footfall later</li>
</ul>
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<ul>
<li>Sell gift vouchers and cards online</li>
<li>Collect data for future <a href="https://stampede.ai/how-it-works/marketing/">marketing</a></li>
<li>Customise your unique web page</li>
<li>Get paid straight away</li>
<li>Support your cash flow now, drive footfall later</li>
</ul>
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Get gift carding for your business.
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Black Friday is one of the biggest sale events in the world. Some might question its relevance in the U.K. (it’s rooted in U.S. traditions following Thanksgiving), but thousands of businesses here lean into the demand and prepare a range of strong deals and discounts to ‘launch’ the Christmas shopping season.



Despite its strong association with the retail industry, there are ways that hospitality businesses can, and are, using Black Friday promotions to gain some incremental revenue. Something which is all the more important this year for businesses.



Let’s take a look at some ideas:



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-gift-cards">GIFT CARDS</h2>



We’re going to start with some low-hanging fruit. Every hospitality business can sell gift cards and it’s something that they can sell online, promote easily and create discounts or deals for. They are a reliable source of revenue regardless of restrictions.



Selling online &#8211; Black Friday owes it’s worldwide recognition to eCommerce. This year lends itself to a perfect storm for online sales on Black Friday, including the lead up to it (Black Friday Week) and the following week (Cyber Monday).



For hospitality businesses, the best solution in the face of this is an online gift card selling system. These can be added to almost any website quickly, and some companies even offer to host a gift card transaction micro-site just for businesses using their system. This enables operators to fire up their digital marketing channels to drive traffic to the website for easy gift card sales.



The added bonus of eGift cards is that they&#8217;re totally contactless and you don&#8217;t need to print, post, design or package anything. And you get to grow your email database at the same time.



Creating discounts and deals for gift cards is remarkably simple &#8211; after all, it’s only one product! Two common ways to do this are discounts and added value.



A discount example would be: 20% off, Get a £30 gift card for £24.



An added value example would be: Buy a £50 gift card and we’ll top it up to £75



Essentially they work the same way, it’s just how customers perceive the value. For Black Friday we’d recommend a discount offer, the event is all about big savings.



A lot of people will be feeling like they’ve missed out on visiting their favourite food and drinks businesses this year. Gift cards are a great way to recapture some of that trade.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-merchandise">MERCHANDISE&nbsp;</h2>



From Hard Rock Cafe&#8217;s <a href="https://shop.hardrock.com/en-us">huge catalogue</a> of merch to independent coffee shops selling reusable cups, branded merchandise offers a few opportunities <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/turn-customers-into-fans-with-merchandise/">that we’ve covered before</a>. Black Friday is an ideal promotion to shift some extra units and make space for a fresh batch of stock and any new designed you had planned.



Thanks to lockdown(s) many venues have now got simple eCommerce shops to sell merchandise, among other things. Simple website plugins like WooCommerce for WordPress or standalone systems like Shopify can be set up quickly. These utilise online payments using Stripe or Paypal that are equally quick to wire in.



Many of these off-the-shelf eCommerce tools offer discount code mechanisms that customers can use at checkout.&nbsp;



Setting up a “BLACKFRI20” code and sending it out by email to your loyal customer database is bound to drum up sales from fans who’ve seen merchandise in store but never quite committed to it.



The above also applies if you don’t just sell merchandise. Meal kits, experience vouchers, ready-meals, anything you’re selling using an online shop is fair game for a Black Friday discount.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-takeaway-delivery-and-collection">TAKEAWAY, DELIVERY AND COLLECTION</h2>



Something that 12 months ago would be quite strange to consider in the scope of Black Friday discounts. But as things have moved online en masse, operators benefit from takeaway, delivery and collection resembling retail in the way that people buy them.



Many online ordering systems work just like online shops at the customer side of things. That includes the discount code fields we mentioned before. Apps like <a href="https://www.hungrrr.co.uk/">Hungrrr</a> (used by Brewdog) and <a href="https://www.flipdish.com/gb/">Flipdish</a> are designed to be familiar to customers. 



This familiarity is your friend. You can use it to launch a Black Friday offer in a way that customers will be able to use.&nbsp;



They’ve already bagged a new TV with a huge saving, why not put that saving to good use on a celebratory meal from their favourite places to eat and drink, with another discount too!



Maybe they just spent a bit too long shopping and forgot to start dinner…



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rounding-up">ROUNDING UP</h3>



The rapid adoption of online purchasing behaviour and technology in the hospitality industry is a portal to new opportunities. Gift cards, merchandise and even food and drink ordered online can all be put in to play to give more businesses the benefit of Black Friday. It’s not all about what you sell, simply how you sell it.&nbsp;