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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.

post

AI In Hospitality Marketing: A Complete Guide

The hospitality industry is highly dependent on regular cash flow to keep their business running. High fixed costs result from rents, taxes, salaries etc. In times where people are urged to stay at home and restaurants facing temporary shut down, the industry is facing a huge impact on footfall and ultimately revenue.&nbsp;



So, how can restaurants and other hospitality businesses secure their cash flow and combat the coronavirus implications? Your loyal customers might even have asked you already how they can support you during these hard times.&nbsp;



One of our recent articles has covered one possible solution &#8211; <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/why-you-should-put-your-restaurant-on-a-delivery-app-now/">signing-up for delivery apps.</a> This way your customers can still enjoy their favourite meals whilst staying safe at their homes.



Another way to get some money into your account instantly is through boosting gift voucher sales. We’ve already seen hospitality businesses offering gift vouchers for their best customers. Find out more about why gift vouchers and cards could help you right now and how to promote them.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Why Gift Vouchers?</h4>



The idea behind gift vouchers is simple. Buy now and use later. Your business gets the money immediately and your customers can enjoy a nice meal once the situation has eased up a bit. This also provides you with more security for the future, as you know guests will come to redeem their vouchers and gift cards.&nbsp;



Even better, it might also get you potential new customers in. Encourage your existing customers to surprise their family and friends with a gift card. Did you know that <a href="https://enjovia.com/make-more-restaurant-profit-with-vouchers/">60 % of customers say they have been introduced to a new company through a gift voucher</a>? Another nice benefit, research has shown that most of the customers <a href="https://www.leebropos.com/4-reasons-your-restaurant-needs-to-offer-and-accept-gift-cards/">exceed the amount of the gift card</a> whilst in your venue by spending additional money on extras. Especially when the law in certain places (like our native Scotland) prevent offers on alcohol &#8211; meaning you’re almost guaranteed that any redeemed vouchers will exceed their value.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">How To Sell Them?</h4>



The first thing you might think of now is your website. A pop-up or landing page can help you to make it more visible for website visitors straight away. 



The next channel should be your social media accounts. Use normal posts and Instagram stories. If you want to take this one step further, <a href="https://upserve.com/restaurant-insider/restaurant-marketing-tool-boosting-facebook-post/">promoted or boosted posts</a> can help you to spread the word quicker and more widely. Don’t forget to encourage your followers to share it with their family and friends.



When it comes to your existing customers, sending out an <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/email-marketing-tips-for-the-hospitality-industry/">email newsletter</a> is the best way to reach them. Use this opportunity to thank your customers for their loyalty, but also to update them on the status of your business. Anything to keep this valuable communication to your customers up now will help you further down the line.



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



This all doesn’t sound too complicated right? Gift vouchers and cards offer various benefits for hospitality businesses right now. From getting some extra money in your till and staying in touch with your existing customers to securing footfall for the future and giving customers something to look forward too. So what are you waiting for? Get your vouchers ready and start promoting them.



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



Little extra tip &#8211; our own Gifting section. Our product team has built an easy way for businesses to offer gift cards or accept donations. Featuring a bespoke microsite that you can share with your customer database via email campaigns, social channels and as a link on your website. It’s available for all our users, alternatively if you don’t have an account with us yet, <a href="https://signup.stampede.ai/?source=gifting">sign-up here</a>.&nbsp;

Why Hospitality Businesses Should Focus On Selling Gift Vouchers Now

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

As a hospitality marketer or restaurant owner, you know that providing your customers with an excellent experience involves much more than just preparing delicious food and drinks. It’s about creating memorable experiences and building strong customer relationships.&nbsp;



However, in order to be able to consistently deliver on this promise and grow your business, you need the right tools in place &#8211; including having a top-notch <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/what-is-a-hospitality-crm-system-a-full-guide">Customer Relationship Management (CRM) solution</a> for managing all of your operations efficiently.&nbsp;



With the help of data-driven insights, CRM systems can completely transform the way you operate by helping you increase revenue opportunities while offering an optimised customer experience every time – from initial contact through to post-visit follow-ups.&nbsp;



Keep reading to find out why a CRM system is absolutely crucial for any hospitality marketer looking to maximise their ROI and exceed expectations with their guests.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What is the role of CRM in marketing</h2>



In the world of marketing, a CRM system can be a powerful tool to manage and maintain relationships with customers. Not only does it allow businesses to store essential customer information, but it also enables them to interact with their target audience directly.&nbsp;



With a CRM, businesses can increase the effectiveness of their marketing efforts while simultaneously measuring their performance. It enhances a company’s understanding of its customers and allows them to tailor their marketing strategy accordingly.&nbsp;



As a result, it can lead to more significant brand loyalty and increased revenue.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-crm-in-email-marketing">CRM in email marketing</h4>



<a href="https://stampede.ai/how-it-works/marketing">Email marketing</a> is a powerful tool for hospitality businesses looking to reach out to their customers and build long-term relationships.&nbsp;



A CRM system can significantly enhance the effectiveness of email marketing. By leveraging data gathered from previous interactions and different sources businesses can better segment their customer base. They can create highly targeted, personalised email campaigns that help them to upsell and increase repeat visits.&nbsp;



The best part is, using a CRM system in email marketing also saves valuable time, as there is no need to manually import and export contact information.&nbsp;



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-crm-in-sms-marketing">CRM in SMS marketing</h4>



SMS marketing can be a powerful tool for reaching customers on the go. With a high open rate, text messages can quickly grab a customer&#8217;s attention and deliver your message.&nbsp;



To make the most out of SMS marketing, businesses can also use their CRM data to target specific groups with promotions and offers.&nbsp;



For example, to fill in empty spaces businesses can send loyal customers a special last-minute discount code to their phone.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-crm-in-social-media-marketing">CRM in social media marketing</h4>



Social media has become essential to any business&#8217;s marketing plan, and proper social media management is critical to its success.&nbsp;



A CRM can play a pivotal role by helping companies collect and analyse important data on their customers. They can better understand how customers are engaging with their content, including what topics are most relevant and target their marketing efforts accordingly.



In addition, a CRM can help hospitality marketers to identify <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/breakdown-3-ways-customers-advocate-your-hospitality-brand">brand advocates</a>. These are customers who are highly engaged and are most likely to spread the word about your business.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Automate Your Marketing Processes with a CRM System</h2>



Marketing automation has revolutionised the way modern businesses operate, providing valuable tools and techniques that streamline workflows and enhance efficiency.&nbsp;



With a CRM system, parts of <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/easy-and-profitable-marketing-with-automations">email and SMS marketing can be automated</a>. Whether it&#8217;s an automated birthday email, a promotional offer to win-back customers or a follow-up message, a well-crafted automated campaign can make all the difference, engaging customers and driving sales.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Final Thoughts</h2>



Through the usage of CRM, hospitality marketers and operators can make their marketing efforts more effective and efficient. The ability to leverage customer data for predictive analysis gives businesses the opportunity to better understand consumer preferences and target promotions accordingly.&nbsp;



With automated processes in place, marketing resources are prioritised, saving both time and costs associated with manual labour. By understanding the power of a <a href="https://stampede.ai/amaze">CRM system</a> alongside proven strategies such as email, SMS and social media marketing, your hospitality business will gain an invaluable tool that will enable greater returns on investment while fostering stronger relationships with customers.

Why Is A CRM Solution Crucial For A Hospitality Marketer?

The need for fast and reliable guest WiFi at public venues is becoming as common as running water and electricity. Some achieve this better than others and often the reason for a negative experience is not the software being used or the method of delivery but the hardware behind it.
When we were tasked with delivering a guest WiFi solution to <a href="https://www.royalhighlandcentre.co.uk/">The Royal Highland Centre</a> in Edinburgh, I was happy to learn that <a href="https://whysettle.co.uk/">WhySettle</a> out our IT partners for this install had already fitted out the venue fully with Ubiquiti UniFi hardware all managed using an externally hosted cloud controller. The network consists of 103 access points and has a range of indoor and outdoor spaces with over 18’000 square metres of exhibition space.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone wp-image-10886 size-full" src="https://stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/RHS-map.jpg" alt="" width="2724" height="2650" srcset="https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/RHS-map.jpg 2048w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/RHS-map-300x292.jpg 300w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/RHS-map-1024x996.jpg 1024w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/RHS-map-768x747.jpg 768w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/RHS-map-1536x1494.jpg 1536w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/RHS-map-1200x1167.jpg 1200w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/RHS-map-150x146.jpg 150w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/RHS-map-1920x1868.jpg 1920w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/RHS-map-16x16.jpg 16w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/RHS-map-592x576.jpg 592w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/RHS-map-62x60.jpg 62w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/RHS-map-93x90.jpg 93w" sizes="(max-width: 2724px) 100vw, 2724px" />
The Royal Highland Centre hosts over 250 events annually and welcomes over a million visitors each year so, the guest network has to be top notch. Stampede provides a seamless login experience pointing guests to a captive portal allowing the venue to collect any data on guests that they wish. The RHS decided to collect email and postcode information; from this, we are constantly updating a large mailing list and user origin map.
Some say that data is the new oil but data without the proper software and utilisation is about as valuable as oil would be if engines were never invented. Stampede can integrate directly with the vast majority of marketing automation tools such as MailChimp, ConstantContact and Dotmailer. All opt-ins and verification happens right within our system meaning that all information captured is fully compliant with GDPR and verified to be accurate by the user themselves. 
So far, we have collected fully complaint and verified information of around 15’000 people at The Royal Highland Centre all underpinned by a solid UniFi guest network.
Interested in deploying a Stampede network in your venue? <a href="https://calendly.com/stampedeae/stampede-demo-request?month=2020-02">Find out more</a>.

Providing Guest WiFi to the Royal Highland Centre

A common struggle with loyalty programs is that it takes customers too long to earn enough points to redeem.&nbsp;



As a consequence, customers lose interest quickly.



By using gamification elements to support your loyalty schemes, you can speed up the whole process whilst keeping customers on the hook.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-gamification-works">Why gamification works</h2>



Gamification adds a fun element to a loyalty scheme. The concept behind it leans heavily into our competitive spirit and reward-seeking behaviour.&nbsp;



Here are 4 reasons for implementing gamification:&nbsp;



<ul>
<li>Keep customers engaged and interested. Customers earn extra points as a top-up, quite often these are linked to instant rewards.</li>



<li>Increase brand awareness. It encourages customers to interact with your brand more often.</li>



<li>Get more customer data. Customers spread the word when they have fun, which will lead to a snowball effect.</li>



<li>Attract a wider range of customers. Gamification is ideal if you want to bring in younger generations.</li>
</ul>



To help you get started, we’ve gathered 5 gamification ideas. These will power up your loyalty scheme to keep customers thrilled.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">5 engaging gamification ideas for your loyalty scheme</h2>



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



A limited timeframe with the chance to win something exciting hypes customers up to take part.



Monthly or seasonal challenges are probably the most cost- and time-efficient gamification tool for your loyalty scheme to boost interaction.



Simple examples:



<ul>
<li>Online quizzes</li>



<li>Guessing games</li>



<li>Tag &amp; share challenges</li>
</ul>



Advanced examples:



<ul>
<li>DIY competition &#8211; ‘Create our new Summer cocktail’</li>



<li>Creative competition &#8211; ‘Name our new [menu item]’</li>



<li>Seasonal challenges &#8211; i.e. dress up for Halloween</li>
</ul>



Tip: Online challenges are great database growth boosters so make sure to ask customers for their contact details upon entering.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">2. Online &amp; in-venue games</h4>



This gamification concept connects both offline and online customer interaction.



Treasure hunts are ideal for this, where customers have to look for clues on your socials, website as well as in-venue.



Tip: Whilst they are searching, you get the chance to introduce customers to other offerings or venues you might have.



Additionally, if you want to boost quieter times during the day, try a ‘secret code word share’ via your socials. When mentioning the code in the venue customers get a freebie or discount.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">3. Badges, awards &amp; leaderboards</h4>



The most widely used advanced gamification loyalty scheme examples are badges, awards and leaderboards.&nbsp;



Customers get awarded for different interactions or milestones reached. Rewards usually go beyond in-venue and/or online transactions. You can incentivise actions such as completing an online profile, engaging on social media or leaving a review.



What makes these types so effective is it gives customers something to work towards. Plus, they can also compare their performance to others.



<a href="https://www.brewdog.com/uk/beer-visa">Brew Dog’s Beer Visa</a> is a great example of this type of gamification. Customers get a stamp for visiting every bar in one location, once completed they receive a special pin badge.



Tip: Leaderboards make it easy to spot your most loyal and engaged customers.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">4. Tiered membership levels</h4>



A tiered membership scheme encourages customers to spend and engage more with your business in order to move up the rank.



Each tier comes with benefits that increase in value to make the whole brand experience more exclusive and personalised.&nbsp;



Another big benefit of tiered loyalty is that you can build highly targeted segments from those tiers and use them for personalised email campaigns.



Well-known industry examples are <a href="https://www.starbucks.co.uk/rewards">Starbucks</a> and <a href="https://www.pizzaexpress.com/club">PizzaExpress</a>.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">5. Mini online games</h4>



No doubt, online arcade-style games are highly engaging and addictive but they also require some sort of app integration. This ultimately places them at the higher end when it comes to implementing gamification.



A successful example is KFC’s recently launched new loyalty app <a href="https://www.kfc.co.uk/kfc-rewards-arcade">“Rewards Arcade”</a>. Customers get the chance to play after each purchase and get instant ‘free food’ rewards.



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



Make sure to check out our <a href="https://stampede.ai/downloads/8-tactics-to-increase-customer-spend">FREE Loyalty Guide</a> to learn more about the different types of loyalty programs and how they can help you to increase customer spend.

5 Gamification Ideas To Take Your Loyalty Scheme To The Next Level

Social Media, blogging and emails are the predominant tools that help build a marketing strategy, we use them ourselves for personal purposes and know that they work. But how does a <a class="" href="http://www.thedrum.com/opinion/2017/10/27/how-many-people-see-your-content-each-digital-channel" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">98% open rate</a> sound to you?

Yes, <a class="" href="http://info.dynmark.com/hs-fs/hub/307137/file-650880813-pdf/whitepapers/Intelligence_Review_Edition2.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">you heard right, 98%!</a> This is only one of the convincing <a class="" href="https://www.textlocal.com/blog/2017/06/16/5-stats-that-prove-2017-is-the-year-for-sms-marketing/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">benefits that SMS Marketing</a> brings to the table. The straightforward and intimate nature of SMS were other reasons for Stampede to make it part of the <a class="" href="https://www.stampede.ai/how-it-works#marketing" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">marketing approach</a> we offer with our software.
<h3>GDPR Changes</h3>
As you must have heard by now, changes concerning data privacy are ahead in form of the General Data Protection Regulation (known as GDPR), which will be implemented in May 2018. For email and SMS marketing, that means an opt-out or unsubscribe option must be included in every communication you send out.
SMS messages sent through Stampede were previously limited to 160 characters, but due to the GDPR changes and the necessity of an unsubscribe option in SMS, the new maximum number of characters you&#8217;ll be able to use to promote your brand and services will be decreased to around 133 characters. It is quite difficult to send long links to your customers that allow them to unsubscribe. 
Don’t worry, as usual, we have the solution for you.
<h3>URL Shorteners</h3>
Long URLs can be easily shortened with free tools like <a class="" href="https://bitly.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://bitly.com/</a> and <a class="" href="https://goo.gl" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://goo.gl</a>. All you have to do is copy the link you want to shorten to one of the tools and you’ll receive a neat looking, short link right away! Using the short link in SMS will now save characters, which you can use to promote your business instead.
<h3>Way more than just a link</h3>
Links enable us to quickly visit a site on the Internet, save helpful resources and share cute cat videos with our friends. They are used in every channel for every conceivable purpose and shortening them is not the only thing you can do.
<h3>Link Branding</h3>
You can brand your shortened link to give some context to the click and let others know what they are about to see before they even click the link. You&#8217;ve probably seen this on sites like YouTube &#8211; like so &#8211; <a class="" href="https://youtu.be/rNSnfXl1ZjU" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://youtu.be/rNSnfXl1ZjU</a>.
A branded short domain is where the true experience starts for your customer.
<h3>Link Insight</h3>
Another decisive benefit you can get from URL shortening is insight. We here at Stampede have always been convinced that <a class="" href="https://www.stampede.ai/how-it-works#insight" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">understanding your customers</a> is the key to success. With our software we enable you to track new and returning visitors to your venue. To track link clicks, shortened links can be used. They give you the opportunity to measure your performance with link analytics. Insights are a powerful tool to not only track your marketing efforts but also to adapt them continuously.
<h3>Let&#8217;s be honest</h3>
Wouldn’t you like to find out how many of your friends secretly click your cute cat video? 
<iframe loading="lazy" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/rNSnfXl1ZjU" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
If you crave more powerful insights into your customer&#8217;s online behviour through awesome guest WiFi, there&#8217;s no reason to wait- click the button below and find out how Stampede can help you boost your business!
<a class="eut-modal-popup" href="https://calendly.com/stampedeae/stampede-demo-request?month=2020-02">Click here to get started.</a>

Shorter is Better! The 133 Character Limit

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.



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



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

It’s now been just over a week since the U.K. government set lock-down in place to prevent coronavirus spread. At Stampede we were already fully stuck in our work from home setup and up to speed again. We were really thankful to be able to do this. It allowed us to get on with some really important projects quickly.



Here’s a roundup of what we’ve been doing to help out our customers and the sector overall:



<ul><li>Built and launched a <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/new-feature-alert-gift-cards/">free digital gift card</a> generator</li><li>Made the Marketing features free to all</li><li>Built a database CSV import system for Marketing</li><li>Designed and added multiple new email marketing templates</li></ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Free Digital Gift Card</h2>



Something we’d had in the pipeline for a while, but seeing the immediate need for pay-it-forward systems as lock-down commenced meant we brought this to the top of the pile.



In roughly 3 days our product team pulled it all together and we had a working <a href="https://product.stampede.ai/gifting">digital gift card system</a> for anyone to use, for free.



Interest is already picking up and feedback from users so far has been positive. We look forward to seeing this getting plenty of use.



We’re now adding extra functionality and polish to the system but anyone can start using it right away



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



There were two stages to this decision. First &#8211; we wanted to make sure any and all businesses using Stampede had an easy way to talk to their customers and give them critical updates. And so, <a href="https://stampede.ai/how-it-works/marketing/">email and SMS marketing</a> is now available to everyone regardless of their plan.



Second &#8211; if it was free for all customers, there’s no reason it shouldn’t be free to other businesses like them. They needed to send critical updates too and we wanted to help with what we can.



This pushed us to:



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Database Upload with CSV</h2>



It was a necessary addition to make sure businesses could make full use of the Marketing features. Like Gift Cards it was moved up to highest priority for the product team.



This is live now too, enabling any business with a CSV database of their customers to upload to Stampede and start sending emails.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">New Email Templates&nbsp;</h2>



After seeing what sorts of activities our customers were turning to in order to keep operating, our marketing success team built some brand new email templates inside the Stampede Marketing system. 



To help businesses promote these new activities faster there’s now a template for “We Deliver” with logos of popular delivery apps included; “Takeaway Available” for those offering takeaway; and “Gift Cards” to help promote the new digital gift cards businesses would set up, also within Stampede. 



As part of the Marketing feature, these are all free to use as part of the updates covered above. 



It’s been a fairly hectic week (and a bit) for everyone but as time marches on we hope that the new activities and processes become the new norm for people, and the businesses are able to find their feet in new and successful ways.



If you&#8217;re not an existing Stampede user you can sign up for access to Gift Cards and Marketing <a href="https://signup.stampede.ai/?source=marketing">HERE</a>.

Weekly update from Stampede featuring Gift Cards and Marketing

Last Week at Stampede

Your&nbsp;table booking data&nbsp;is a treasure trove of customer insights.&nbsp;That’s the place where customers tell you about their individual needs and preferences when it comes to dining out. Though to use your data effectively it’s best to&nbsp;link your booking system to a Customer Relationship Management&nbsp;(CRM) platform. 



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



This creates a&nbsp;single customer view&nbsp;where all information on that particular customer is gathered together. Use those insights to&nbsp;personalise your customer experience&nbsp;and turn them into regulars.



<h5 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-generate-more-sales-with-connected-bookings-and-crm-data">Generate More Sales With Connected Bookings And CRM Data</h5>



The key to&nbsp;high conversion rates&nbsp;and increased sales is personalisation. You can power your&nbsp;personalised campaigns&nbsp;with all the data you gather together in your CRM. Also access data sources such as loyalty schemes, e-commerce,&nbsp;<a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/the-revenue-boosting-combo-of-wifi-and-bookings-data/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">guest WiFi</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/3-ways-to-improve-customer-experience-with-bookings-reviews/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">online reviews</a>, etc. for this.



Ideally, you opt for an&nbsp;all-in-one solution. The data sync will happen automatically and your database will grow and be kept updated for you.



As a fallback, you can integrate your systems but there are risks, such as duplicate creation, transmission errors and added costs.



<h5 class="wp-block-heading">How To Build A Strong Customer Profile From Your Bookings Data</h5>



Here’s what you should include in your customer profile.



Customer related:



<ul><li>Basic contact details, including birthday if possible</li><li>Demographics &#8211; family, couple</li><li>Preferences &#8211; favourite table, food &amp; drink</li><li>Dietary requirements</li></ul>



Booking related:



<ul><li>Frequency &#8211; loyal customer vs. first-time visitor, last booking</li><li>Behaviour &#8211; day of the week and times</li><li>Type &#8211; one table or group, events</li><li>Special occasions &#8211; birthdays and other anniversaries</li><li>Customer satisfaction based on reviews</li><li>Check size &#8211; big vs low spender</li><li>Previous no-shows</li></ul>



All these can be used to feed your&nbsp;<a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/a-5-step-recipe-that-creates-profitable-personalised-marketing-part-1/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">personalised marketing campaigns</a>. E.g. a special deal for your customer’s favourite drink, a simple birthday offer or a win-back campaign&nbsp;if it&#8217;s been a while since the last booking.



Looking for a smart hospitality growth platform that combines CRM, bookings, marketing and much more?&nbsp;<a href="https://calendly.com/stampedeae/stampede-demo-request" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Book a demo</a>&nbsp;with our team to find out more about Stampede.

How To Use Bookings Data To Supercharge Your CRM

Euan Campbell

A lot of hospitality venues are offering ‘low-cost’ meal deals at the moment as a way to attract customers when budgets are tight.&nbsp;



Discounting is one option to keep your cash flow up, however, there are other tools you could use.&nbsp;



Think about how you can increase the actual value of what customers get from their experience.



Here are two ways to better retain cost-conscious customers.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-1-customer-loyalty-program">1) Customer Loyalty Program</h2>



The past years have clearly shown how valuable loyal customers are as a reliable revenue source for businesses.



In fact, one-third of customers will spend more to secure loyalty points. So, a customer <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/making-a-success-of-loyalty-programs-part-ii">loyalty program</a> not only helps you bring customers back, but it also increases their spending.&nbsp;



To make your loyalty program a <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/making-a-success-of-loyalty-programs-part-ii">proper success</a> consider additional benefits aside from monetary incentives or freebies.&nbsp;



This could be a priority booking option or special member-only events. It’s all about adding more value to your customer&#8217;s experience and setting yourself apart from others.



Tip: Make sure to check out our <a href="https://stampede.ai/downloads/8-tactics-to-increase-customer-spend">free loyalty guide</a>, featuring 8 tactics to increase your customer spend and a breakdown of different loyalty programs.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">2) Exclusive Community</h2>



Whilst your customer loyalty program is open to all your customers, an exclusive community only targets certain customer groups. Adding this extra exclusivity feeling to your loyalty program will further elevate customer engagement.



Plus, such a niche customer community also allows you to really personalise your perks and better tailor your marketing messaging.



Potential segmentations ideas:



<ul><li>Students</li><li>Families</li><li>Gender &#8211; ladie’s/men&#8217;s club</li><li>Neighbourhood customers &#8211; based on postcodes</li><li>Emergency Services/Military workers</li><li>Early birds / Night owls (first visitors, last visitors)</li></ul>



One great example is <a href="https://noodleunion.wagamama.com/">Wagamama’s Noddle Union</a>. Their program is aimed at students and includes monthly giveaways and prizes on top of regular deals to make signing up more attractive.



Learn more about our Loyalty feature <a href="https://stampede.ai/get-loyalty/">here</a>. Or get in touch with one of our team who are happy to run you through it.

2 Ways To Keep Your Footfall Up With Customer Loyalty

Our New Integration with Airship CRM Software

What is Real-Time Marketing in Retail?

3 Steps to transforming the customer experience in retail

Guest WiFi in the Retail Industry

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

When it comes to growing a tech business, recurring revenue is the key. Finding a profitable monthly service that you can resell to your customers can prove the difference between your incidental revenue and jumping from project to project. So what’s there left to offer your customers? Have you thought about WiFi as a service?







<h4 class="wp-block-heading">A Typical Networking Client</h4>



Offering WaaS (WiFi as a Service) even makes more sense when revisiting the services you’re already providing to your customers. 



Let’s take a look at a typical scenario. One where you’re managing the IT of a hospitality business. Your client probably has a server and a few workstations, or, more likely nowadays, a few workstations storing everything in the cloud. Then there’s the POS stations and their attendant networks. Last, but not least, let’s not forget the free (unsecured) WiFi connection the business offers for their customers.



On the backend side, you’ve got everything all tightened and secure&#8230;and on the frontend side, you’ve got an open WiFi network with a <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/take-the-risk-out-of-guest-wifi/">password written</a> on a chalkboard for all the world to see.



Not an ideal situation.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Enter WiFi as A Service and Captive Portal</h4>



You’re already servicing the hospitality business as an IT guy, so why not take on the customer WiFi as well? 



That’s where we come in. Instead of an open connection, Stampede verifies WiFi users through what is known as a <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="/blog/wifi-in-your-venue-login-once-login-forever" target="_blank">captive portal</a>. 



In order to access the network, users have to enter and validate their email address. Once the email has been checked, users are free to roam the internet at will. The cool part &#8211; at least for your hospitality customers &#8211; comes in capturing that customer data. In addition to email addresses, the captive portal can ask for information like first and last names, gender, location and even custom questions. The choice is yours. But all these valuable customer insights can help you to get a better understanding of who they are and what they like.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Managed from One Central Dashboard</h4>



You’re the IT guy &#8211; that’s what your customers are paying for. They don’t want to be bothered with checking their networks for security, which is another great reason where Wifi As a Service comes into play. 



From <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="one centralised dashboard (opens in a new tab)" href="https://stampede.ai/blog/the-advantages-of-managed-wifi-for-your-hospitality-chain/" target="_blank">one centralised dashboard</a> in Stampede &#8211; accessible from any computer, laptop or tablet with internet access &#8211; you’ll be able to manage your client’s WiFi network. 



Someone abusing the network and sucking down bittorrents? You’ll get an automatic alert to let you know so you can nip this sort of nonsense in the bud. Nogoodniks hanging out in the street in front of your customer’s location sneakily signing in to use the network? Use the dashboard to schedule WiFi on and off times. &nbsp;And <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="/blog/offer-gdpr-compliant-wifi-with-blackbx" target="_blank">GDPR compliance</a>? Yep, we got that covered, too.



Oh yeah, and as an IT professional, here’s something you’ll really appreciate: because Stampede operates in the cloud, there’s nothing to update or patch. Ever.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Bringing Automated Marketing to Your Customers</h4>



Here’s where our&nbsp;captive portal solution goes one step further. With access to a wealth of customer data, you can take your customers business to the next level. Take patron email data and import it into mail marketing software like MailChimp so they can send out a newsletter to an email list. 



Even cooler, what about creating <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="/blog/learn-how-to-boost-your-business-with-sms-and-email-marketing" target="_blank">automated marketing messages with SMS or emails</a>? It’s easy. For example, set a rule that sends a patron an automated message 30 minutes after they’ve left the venue, asking them to <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="/blog/press/how-wifi-can-help-boost-guest-reviews-of-your-venue" target="_blank">provide a review on TripAdvisor</a>. Or to post their pictures of their visit (or let&#8217;s be honest, their food) on Instagram.



But you’re a busy IT guy, you say. You don’t have time to do marketing for your customers. No worries. With Stampede, you can hand the reins over to your customer or their hospitality marketing agency to let them send their own automated messages. Don’t worry, with the granular user controls in the dashboard, they won’t be able to mess up any settings.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Bringing Hospitality Marketing Agencies into the Mix</h4>



Speaking of hospitality marketing, here’s another business opportunity with WiFi&nbsp;as a Service: offer a WaaS package to hospitality marketing agencies and see what kind of business you can do together. This, in turn, could lead to even more opportunities. 



For example, if a pub or restaurant sees you offering them exceptional WiFi service, your name is going to be first and foremost in their minds when their IT equipment starts acting up.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Ready to Start Offering WiFi as a Service?</h4>



No matter what you call yourself &#8211; Managed Service Provider, IT Solutions Provider, Computer Dude. We hope this article has shown you some of the benefits of offering WiFi as a Service. 



We&#8217;ve used the example of the hospitality industry in this article, but we&#8217;re sure you can see how this service model could apply to just about any industry as well.



If you&#8217;re not already offering WiFi as a Service and want to take the leap, we hope you give us&nbsp;a try. And if you want to kick our tires before you drive us off the lot, we won&#8217;t take offence.



Just click the link below to get started with a no-obligation, free trial.&nbsp;



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





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



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

Why Offer WiFi as a Service?

<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

Team Update

New Features & Updates – September 2023

Feature Update – Improved campaigns, reporting and imports

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

4 Revenue-Driving AI Tools For Hospitality Operators

3 Restaurant-Specific AI Tools That Drive Sales

According to Tech Jury, <a href="https://techjury.net/stats-about/live-streaming/#gref">87% of businesses now use video as a marketing tool</a>. Despite this eye-watering statistic, not all restaurants create either live or pre-recorded video content. If you are yet to grasp video marketing through your website or social media channels, it can seem quite daunting. After all, you are in the business of creating food &#8211; not movies!&nbsp;







That being said, video marketing continues to create a tangible experience for customers of brands all over the world. Instead of reading about your restaurant on a poster or in a magazine, viewers can see in real-time your dishes being prepared, or even your patrons having a good time experiencing your hospitality. It can give a flavour of what to expect when people dine or hold events with you.&nbsp;



Further read: <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/how-video-marketing-can-boost-your-restaurant/">https://stampede.ai/blog/how-video-marketing-can-boost-your-restaurant/</a>



If you’re ready to embrace live video as an effective marketing tool for your restaurant. Here’s everything you need to know about why video matters and how to get started.&nbsp;



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Why Video is a Gamechanger</h4>



<a href="https://www.smallbizgenius.net/by-the-numbers/video-marketing-statistics/#gref">Over 500 million hours of videos are being watched</a> every single day on YouTube alone. That’s a staggering level of audience retention that cannot be ignored, especially when you are looking to market your business.&nbsp;



In the old days, you’d need to watch tv or rent a video (remember those?!) to view such content, but now video is everywhere we turn. In fact, it’s within just a couple of swipes or clicks. Before you know it, you’ve fallen down the video black hole and are watching something completely unrelated to what you first clicked on. Normally involving cats!&nbsp;



Video is not just a fad, and our addiction to watching hours of content means it’s the perfect place to market your business. Like live videos or even pre-recorded video ads that run before the video is played. Either way, it’s completely changed the way we consume content and is here to stay. If you’ve ignored live video up to now, it’s time to sit up and listen.&nbsp;



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">How to Go Live</h4>



There are many ways you can create live video content in your restaurant. With the likes of Facebook and <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/how-hospitality-businesses-can-use-instagram-stories-more-effectively/">Instagram live</a>, it’s never been easier to shoot rolling content that goes out to all of your followers without the need for a professional film crew.&nbsp;



First things first, you should make sure the orientation is correct. Landscape works best! Choose a location that has good lighting and isn’t too noisy, so that your viewers can hear the audio and see your content properly. It’s also possible to buy an external mic or even headphones with a mic. If either the lighting or sound isn’t up to scratch, it’s worth picking up a cheap solution on Amazon that will make your broadcast shine, <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Selfie-Supplementary-Lighting-Enhancing-Smartphones/dp/B01E3NSBFA?ref_=fsclp_pl_dp_1">such as this selfie ring light</a>.



Before you hit the ‘go live’ button, it’s also a good idea to practice what you’re going to say, and have an idea of what you are going to show your viewers. For example, a quick kitchen tour that involves a demonstration of your latest dishes by your head chef. As a quick side note, always check that everyone is happy to be on camera before you start!&nbsp;



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Remember It’s an Advertisement</h4>



Whatever tone you take with your live video, whether it’s laid back or ultra-formal, remember that the content should reflect the character of your restaurant. Although you might be streaming through a social media channel, it’s not the same as posting on your personal account.&nbsp;



With video, it needs to be constantly engaging so avoid long talking headshots. One of the biggest mistakes video content creators make is assuming people will hang around for hours. With a live broadcast, people might not have time or they might have even joined a few minutes after you went live, so remember to keep this in mind. A good idea is to re-iterate every few minutes who you are and what you are showing people.&nbsp;



On social media especially, your followers will all be notified once you go live, so this can swell your audience up quite quickly. <a href="https://sproutsocial.com/insights/facebook-live-tips/">Make it worth their while, and let your restaurant really shine as you do so</a>. Why should people watch and ultimately book a table with you? Now is the time to tell everyone!&nbsp;



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



While live video is a marketing tool for your business, that doesn’t mean to say <a href="https://medium.com/@matchthebar/3-easy-live-video-ideas-for-your-restaurant-150bca376ef8">the video you create has to feel like it</a>. Remember that food is a really engaging topic, not least because we all have to eat it several times a day. Aside from showing them the interior of your restaurant, what else can your team literally bring to the table?



Perhaps you want to educate your followers on how to create the perfect pasta. You could even launch a competition, whereby someone who tunes in and correctly guesses a question relating to your business wins a free meal for two.&nbsp;



You might even have a themed night coming up. Live video is the perfect way to show your customers what they can expect if they book with you. And by asking them to tag a friend to bring along in the comments this will up the viewer count even more. Eating is a sociable, fun experience so make sure your live video content reflects this.&nbsp;



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



One of the best ways video creators can <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/engaging-customers-through-wi-fi-marketing/">connect with their audience</a>, is to tailor the content directly to them. As a restaurant, you might struggle to understand exactly who your key demographic is, so what’s the solution? Here at Stampede, our software can help collate customer information through a <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/how-marketing-with-wifi-benefits-your-business/">customised portal</a>. Allowing you to understand and stay in touch with your customers through insightful marketing data.&nbsp;



Ready to make your restaurant centre stage? <a href="https://signup.stampede.ai/">Sign up for your free trial today</a> and discover how Stampede can skyrocket your marketing potential. Our technology is simple to set up and use and will allow you to increase your sales and customer loyalty. <a href="https://stampede.ai/product/captive-portal/">From live video to email marketing</a> &#8211; staying clued up about who your audience is could not be a bigger advantage when it comes to filling tables at your restaurant.&nbsp;



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





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

How to Make Live Video Work For Your Restaurant – Lights, Cooking, Action!

Transactional data plays an important role in getting to know your customers via digital touchpoints.



Through our integration with the order-and-pay provider<a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/new-integration-with-storekit"> Storekit</a> you can harness the power of this transactional data in your marketing.



From this you can gain two major insights:



<ol><li>How much did your customers spend? To identify high vs. low spenders</li><li>When was their last interaction with the app? To determine visitor frequency</li></ol>



Combine these with data from Stampede and you’ll be well on your way to a whole range of <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/how-to-bring-customers-back-using-customer-data-and-personalisation-part-ii">personalised campaign</a> ideas.



Get inspired by our clever customer segmentation combinations and drive more repeat visits.



<h5 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-9-customer-segmentation-ideas-to-mix-and-match">9 Customer Segmentation Ideas To Mix And Match</h5>



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





 <table style="width:100%; overflow margin: 0px auto; border: 3px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);border-collapse: collapse;" align="center" vertical-align="middle">

 <tbody>
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 <td width="33%" style="width: 33%; padding: 7px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(255, 58, 155); border-collapse: collapse; border: 1px solid rgb(128, 128, 128);">
 Stampede Data

 </td>
 <td width="33%" style="width: 33%; padding: 7px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(255, 58, 155); border-collapse: collapse; border: 1px solid rgb(128, 128, 128);">
 Storekit Data
 </td>
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 Campaign Idea</td>
 
 </tr>

 <tr>
 <td width="33%" style="width: 33%; padding: 7px; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; border-collapse: collapse; border: 1px solid rgb(128, 128, 128);">
 Reviews &#8211; filtered by less than 3 stars
 </td>
 <td width="33%" style="width: 33%; padding: 7px; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; border-collapse: collapse; border: 1px solid rgb(128, 128, 128);">
 High spender
 </td>
 <td width="33%" style="width: 33%; padding: 7px; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; border-collapse: collapse; border: 1px solid rgb(128, 128, 128);">
 Win-back campaign
 </td>
 </tr>

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 <td width="33%" style="width: 33%; padding: 7px; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(255, 232, 233); border-collapse: collapse; border: 1px solid rgb(128, 128, 128);">
 Reviews &#8211; filtered by 4 and 5 stars
 </td>
 <td width="33%" style="width: 33%; padding: 7px; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(255, 232, 233); border-collapse: collapse; border: 1px solid rgb(128, 128, 128);">
 High spender
 </td>
 <td width="33%" style="width: 33%; padding: 7px; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;background-color: rgb(255, 232, 233); border-collapse: collapse; border: 1px solid rgb(128, 128, 128);">
 Thank you offer or referral deal
 </td>
 </tr>

 <tr>
 <td width="33%" style="width: 33%; padding: 7px; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; border-collapse: collapse; border: 1px solid rgb(128, 128, 128);">
 Reviews &#8211; not left one yet
 </td>
 <td width="33%" style="width: 33%; padding: 7px; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; border-collapse: collapse; border: 1px solid rgb(128, 128, 128);">
 Last visit = yesterday
 </td>
 <td width="33%" style="width: 33%; padding: 7px; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; border-collapse: collapse; border: 1px solid rgb(128, 128, 128);">
 Review request
 </td>
 </tr>

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 <td width="33%" style="width: 33%; padding: 7px; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(255, 232, 233); border-collapse: collapse; border: 1px solid rgb(128, 128, 128);">
 Not a stamp card user
 </td>
 <td width="33%" style="width: 33%; padding: 7px; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(255, 232, 233); border-collapse: collapse; border: 1px solid rgb(128, 128, 128);">
 High spender or frequent visitor
 </td>
 <td width="33%" style="width: 33%; padding: 7px; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;background-color: rgb(255, 232, 233); border-collapse: collapse; border: 1px solid rgb(128, 128, 128);">
 Sign-up deal &#8211; double stamps
 </td>
 </tr>

 <tr>
 <td width="33%" style="width: 33%; padding: 7px; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; border-collapse: collapse; border: 1px solid rgb(128, 128, 128);">
 Active stamp card user
 </td>
 <td width="33%" style="width: 33%; padding: 7px; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; border-collapse: collapse; border: 1px solid rgb(128, 128, 128);">
 High spender or frequent visitor
 </td>
 <td width="33%" style="width: 33%; padding: 7px; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; border-collapse: collapse; border: 1px solid rgb(128, 128, 128);">
 Thank you offer or referral deal
 </td>
 </tr>

 <tr>
 <td width="33%" style="width: 33%; padding: 7px; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(255, 232, 233); border-collapse: collapse; border: 1px solid rgb(128, 128, 128);">
 Upcoming booking
 </td>
 <td width="33%" style="width: 33%; padding: 7px; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(255, 232, 233); border-collapse: collapse; border: 1px solid rgb(128, 128, 128);">
 Not used order and pay app yet
 </td>
 <td width="33%" style="width: 33%; padding: 7px; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;background-color: rgb(255, 232, 233); border-collapse: collapse; border: 1px solid rgb(128, 128, 128);">
 Sign-up deal &#8211; % off your first order
 </td>
 </tr>

 <tr>
 <td width="33%" style="width: 33%; padding: 7px; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; border-collapse: collapse; border: 1px solid rgb(128, 128, 128);">
 Frequent booker
 </td>
 <td width="33%" style="width: 33%; padding: 7px; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; border-collapse: collapse; border: 1px solid rgb(128, 128, 128);">
 High spender
 </td>
 <td width="33%" style="width: 33%; padding: 7px; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; border-collapse: collapse; border: 1px solid rgb(128, 128, 128);">
 Thank you offer or referral deal
 </td>
 </tr>

 <tr>
 <td width="33%" style="width: 33%; padding: 7px; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(255, 232, 233); border-collapse: collapse; border: 1px solid rgb(128, 128, 128);">
 Upcoming birthday with Guest WiFi data
 </td>
 <td width="33%" style="width: 33%; padding: 7px; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(255, 232, 233); border-collapse: collapse; border: 1px solid rgb(128, 128, 128);">
 Frequent visitor
 </td>
 <td width="33%" style="width: 33%; padding: 7px; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;background-color: rgb(255, 232, 233); border-collapse: collapse; border: 1px solid rgb(128, 128, 128);">
 Birthday discount
 </td>
 </tr>

 <tr>
 <td width="33%" style="width: 33%; padding: 7px; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; border-collapse: collapse; border: 1px solid rgb(128, 128, 128);">
 Upcoming birthday with Guest WiFi data
 </td>
 <td width="33%" style="width: 33%; padding: 7px; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; border-collapse: collapse; border: 1px solid rgb(128, 128, 128);">
 High spender</td>
 <td width="33%" style="width: 33%; padding: 7px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; border-collapse: collapse; border: 1px solid rgb(128, 128, 128);">
 Birthday discount or party booking offer
 </td>
 </tr>
 </tbody>
 </table>









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<a href="https://stampede.ai/how-it-works/analytics">Stampede Analytics</a> allows for detailed reporting and ROI tracking on your campaigns, so you know exactly when customers came back and what they spent. Completing the loop to show you how effective your campaigns are!



If you have both Stampede and Storekit already set up, integrating the systems takes only a couple of minutes. To get started use our <a href="https://help.stampede.ai/en/articles/5778183-how-to-link-up-your-storekit-integration">quick guide</a> or talk to our team.

9 Ways To Retain Customers With Clever Segmentation

New Feature – Loyalty By Stampede

4 Types Of Customer Loyalty: How Loyal Are Yours?

Breakdown: 3 Ways Customers Advocate Your Hospitality Brand

Making a Success of Loyalty Programs [Part II]

Making Sense of Loyalty Programs [Part I]

Can Your Customer Database Help With Recruitment?

How to Maximise Revenue from Your Loyalty Stamp Cards

How to Unlock Hidden Revenue From Your Gift Cards

Creating more video content for social media will be a big focus for many brands this year. However, with different platforms come different video formats to choose from, all with a slightly different purpose. Let’s take Instagram as an example. What is the difference between Reels and Stories? 



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



Is one maybe better than the other to grow your account and increase engagement? Should you use both or just opt for one?



 We’ve compared the main differences between Instagram Stories and Reels in the table below.



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table class="has-background has-fixed-layout" style="background-color:#ffe8ec"><thead><tr><th class="has-text-align-right" data-align="right"></th><th>STORIES</th><th>REELS</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td class="has-text-align-right" data-align="right">Format</td><td>Video, image, posts from your feed</td><td>Video only</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-right" data-align="right">Length</td><td>Up to 15 seconds</td><td>Up to 30 seconds</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-right" data-align="right">Lifespan</td><td>24 hours</td><td>Unlimited</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-right" data-align="right">Caption</td><td>No</td><td>Full captions available</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-right" data-align="right">Placement</td><td>Shared to followers</td><td>Explore tabs, own Reels and as Story</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-right" data-align="right">Audience &amp; reach</td><td>Engage with followers</td><td>Reach out to new customers and engage with followers</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-right" data-align="right">Marketing objective</td><td>Engagement &amp; sales</td><td>Awareness &amp; growth</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-right" data-align="right">User can save?</td><td>No</td><td>Yes</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-right" data-align="right">Re-share</td><td>Only via private message</td><td>Via own story or private message</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



To make the best use of Instagram Reels and Stories, here are 30 ideas to help you increase engagement and grow your audience.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">15 Instagram Reel Ideas For Hospitality</h4>



Reels are great to widen your reach and attract new customers. Use them as a medium to introduce people to your business and to give them an idea of what they can expect.



Introduce your business Reels ideas:



<ol>
<li>Venue tour</li>



<li>Tell your brand story</li>



<li>Staff intro</li>



<li>Showcase your bestsellers</li>



<li>Highlights of a recent event</li>



<li>Customer spotlight/testimonial</li>



<li>Product spotlight &#8211; merchandise</li>



<li>Seasonal event promotions</li>
</ol>



Reels are meant to be fun to watch and engaging and therefore often also have the potential to go viral.



Go viral Reels ideas:



<ol>
<li>How to … prepare a dish/drink</li>



<li>Chef hacks &#8211; cooking tutorials</li>



<li>Before and after &#8211; kitchen before and after service&nbsp;</li>



<li>Your twist on a current (food) trend</li>



<li>Making of &#8211; new dish creation …&nbsp;</li>



<li>Ingredient spotlight &#8211; 5 things you can do with …</li>



<li>Promote newsletter sign-ups &#8211; receive exclusive offers</li>
</ol>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-15-instagram-stories-ideas-for-hospitality">15 Instagram Stories Ideas For Hospitality</h4>



Engaging and trust-building content is what your should aim for in your Stories. Also, as customers are already familiar with your brand, any promotional content will perform particularly well here.&nbsp;



<ol>
<li>Daily/weekly specials</li>



<li>Last-minute offers or free tables due to cancellations</li>



<li>Upcoming events &#8211; countdown and reminder on the day</li>



<li>Employee spotlight</li>



<li>Supplier spotlight</li>



<li>Showcase your new menu items</li>



<li>Go behind the scenes&nbsp;</li>



<li>A day in the life of …</li>



<li>This or that? Your favourite dish on our menu</li>



<li>Poll &#8211; new menu item, re-introduce popular dish, name for new dish …</li>



<li>Promote e-commerce products &#8211; gift cards, meal kits …</li>



<li>Re-share customer content</li>



<li>Share customer feedback</li>



<li>Sneak peek &#8211; teaser, coming up</li>



<li>Celebrate internal events &#8211; birthdays, anniversaries …&nbsp;</li>
</ol>



If your social channels are already running on autopilot, take the time to explore other, more profitable marketing channels like Email and SMS. Check out our <a href="https://stampede.ai/how-it-works/marketing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Marketing tool</a> or <a href="https://stampede.ai/company/#contact" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">get in touch</a> with our team to find out more.

Instagram Stories vs. Reels. Here’s how and when to use them

Getting up early has never been easy. Luckily, we&#8217;re blessed with coffee and people who have a passion for preparing good coffee. While enjoying a cup of java, we met Tom Hyde, co- founder of Brew Lab Coffee, at his shop on South College Street in Edinburgh.
Brew Lab Coffee opened about five years ago and is now a crucial part of many people’s daily routine. Instead of simply supplying Edinburgh with good quality coffee, Tom decided to go a step further and diversify the business. Opening a training lab beneath the shop was adding the “Lab” to Brew Lab . It&#8217;s used to train professionals and coffee lovers to brew their favourite drink to perfection. Furthermore, Brew Lab started selling their homemade Cold Brew last year (which we tried and it was delicious!).
<iframe loading="lazy" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/tuFYIzShg8s" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
<h2>It&#8217;s all about customer experience&#8230;</h2>
For Tom it is always crucial to provide the best possible customer experience to guests and not only provide them with great coffee, but also with great atmosphere and the best WiFi experience. From day one, Brew Lab Coffee was providing WiFi to its guests &#8211; but encountered problems with the login, the number of allowed users and other restrictions.
“We used to have a WiFi password in a picture frame on the wall and we used to change that every five days. It was a real headache to manage”, Tom mentions. 
And who doesn’t know the hassle of walking over to the counter and asking for the password? 
<h3>&#8230;and your Brand!</h3>
As one of our first customers, we reached out to Tom and introduced him to Stampede Guest WiFi. He is now welcoming customers with a uniquely branded login screen and making it as easy as possible for them to use the WiFi in a fast and secure manner.
“I think delivering something like WiFi has an effect on your brand. We are quite a brand led business. We take a lot of care and time to make sure we project the image we want to and delivering a safe and secure WiFi network is part of that. It’s not going to be at the forefront of any customer’s mind but it should be something that works seamlessly in the background, so they don’t have to think about it.“
<h3>How our Guest WiFi Software Helped Brew Lab</h3>
Another advantage that Tom gets out of Stampede WiFi are the <a class="" href="https://www.stampede.ai/how-it-works#insight" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">powerful insights</a>. Even though Tom knows the shop inside-out and spends a lot of time at his business, he admits that it is very helpful to have an actual data source to rely on. 
Gaining insights into customer behaviour is very valuable for every business, as the data can be used to get to know your customers better and approach them on a personal level. Stampede helps you to setup automated marketing campaigns and reach out to customers that connected to your WiFi earlier. 
<h3>Want to Provide Awesome WiFi and an Epic Experience to your customers?</h3>
If you crave a fantastic cup of coffee, find Brew Lab right <a class="" href="http://www.brewlabcoffee.co.uk/the-cafe/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>. 
And if you crave the best WiFi solution for your business, then don’t miss your chance and start a free trial by clicking the button below or contact Stampede today!
<a class="eut-modal-popup" href="https://calendly.com/stampedeae/stampede-demo-request?month=2020-02">Click here to get started.</a>

Brew Lab Drips Success with Coffee Shop WiFi – Stampede SUCCESS STORY

Just in time for the busy festive period our engineering team have put together a brand new level of reporting on the Stampede software: Multi-site reporting.



As we begin working with more and more multi-site clients, the need to provide this level of detail for their marketing and management teams became a big priority. The new reporting suite allows users to compare all their locations working with Stampede, side-by-side across our numerous metrics.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">How Does It Work?</h4>



At a glance, users can now compare metrics like customer dwell time between their top performing venues, which venues have the highest review scores or easily spot which venue has the most return visitors. Likewise, the reporting can be used to spot potential issues such as a venue with lower than normal new customer numbers. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="420" src="https://stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Total-Customers-1024x420.png" alt="" class="wp-image-13656" srcset="https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Total-Customers-1024x420.png 1024w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Total-Customers-300x123.png 300w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Total-Customers-768x315.png 768w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Total-Customers-1200x492.png 1200w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Total-Customers-150x62.png 150w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Total-Customers-592x243.png 592w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Total-Customers-146x60.png 146w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Total-Customers-219x90.png 219w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Total-Customers.png 1226w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>Each location displayed as a bar on the graph</figcaption></figure>



Managers responsible for looking after multiple separate locations will find this time saving, but also incredibly insightful to help spot new trends and opportunities with their venues. You&#8217;ll be able to clearly identify the impact of your other marketing and advertising activities on your venues. Running an event for the first time at one site? You can see the business uplift versus other sites and getting planning for your next event, building on the success.



If you&#8217;re using our Reviews feature you&#8217;ll be able to compare all your locations review scores side by side. Using this info you can then make extra efforts to improve those sites with weaker scores. Dive in to the Reviews section of that site and read your customers&#8217; feedback. In our experience, there&#8217;s always a few easily identified trends that can make for a quick win.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="419" src="https://stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/New-Customers-1024x419.png" alt="" class="wp-image-13652" srcset="https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/New-Customers-1024x419.png 1024w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/New-Customers-300x123.png 300w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/New-Customers-768x315.png 768w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/New-Customers-1200x492.png 1200w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/New-Customers-150x61.png 150w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/New-Customers-592x242.png 592w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/New-Customers-146x60.png 146w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/New-Customers-220x90.png 220w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/New-Customers.png 1228w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>Total across all venues is displayed top-left</figcaption></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="420" src="https://stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Return-Customers--1024x420.png" alt="" class="wp-image-13653" srcset="https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Return-Customers--1024x420.png 1024w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Return-Customers--300x123.png 300w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Return-Customers--768x315.png 768w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Return-Customers--1200x493.png 1200w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Return-Customers--150x62.png 150w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Return-Customers--592x243.png 592w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Return-Customers--146x60.png 146w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Return-Customers--219x90.png 219w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Return-Customers-.png 1228w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Accessing the reports</h4>



To find Multi-Site reporting in the Stampede system head to Analytics -&gt; Multisite. You can change the date ranges and sort the columns by the stats you want to compare. Below the table you&#8217;ll find charts for each of the metrics with all your venues lined up

New Product Feature: Multi-site Reporting

Retaining a customer is up to <a href="https://www.raven360.com/blog/customer-loyalty-vs-customer-retention">25x cheaper</a> than gaining a new one.&nbsp;



Make sure to keep your existing customers happy, it’s worth the effort.



Customer retention, loyalty and advocacy are three very popular and successful ways of growing your business.



However, for those concepts to work in your favour they all need to be powered by one thing: customer data.&nbsp;



We came up with a simple 4-step approach to help you <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/how-to-drive-footfall-into-your-restaurant-patrick-clover">turn one-time visitors into loyal ones using data</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-step-1-grow-your-database">Step 1: Grow your database</h2>



It’s important that you collect customers&#8217; data as early in the customer journey as possible.



You can then gather all your data sources, e.g. <a href="https://stampede.ai/how-it-works/wifi">Guest WiFi</a>, <a href="https://stampede.ai/get-bookings">Table Booking System</a>, <a href="https://storekit.com/">Order &amp; Pay App</a>, into one centralised database like a CRM.



This allows you to easily segment your data to create targeted marketing campaigns and retain customers.



Real-World Scenario:



Phil and his wife Laura are local to your venue and just had dinner at your restaurant for the first time.&nbsp;



Whilst at your venue, Laura has signed up for your WiFi and you captured her contact details, including her date of birth.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Step 2: Make customers come back</h2>



Now it’s up to you to retain them and your key lies in the gathered data.



Set up an automated post-visit email to thank them and inform them about the midweek offer you run at the moment.



Real-World Scenario:



Phil and Laura are planning their weekly date night and remembered the offer. As they had a really good time, they decide to pay you a second visit and also to pre-book a table.&nbsp;



Phil wants to surprise his wife and asks you to prepare Laura’s favourite drink for their aperitif.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Step 3: Foster lasting customer loyalty</h2>



The next step is to make customers come back on a regular basis and build long-term relationships.



Again, data is your guiding light here. But this time, you want to dig deeper to make your marketing more personalised.



Real-World Scenario:



You noticed that Laura’s birthday is coming up soon and you want to invite her to mark this day at your restaurant. Her favourite drink will of course go on the house.



Laura is delighted by your personalised email and decides to celebrate her special occasion with her family and friends at your restaurant.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Step 4: Boost customer advocacy</h2>



Fact is, loyal customers not only tend to spend more at your venue, but they also happily recommend you.



Real-World Scenario:



The day after the big party, Phil tells his workmates all about your restaurant as you did a great job for Laura’s birthday. They will soon pay you a visit.



Extra tip: You can further encourage customer advocacy by sending out an email to your most loyal customers. Offer them a voucher or discount if they refer you.



By the way, steps 3 &amp; 4 come with a great opportunity to further build and strengthen your database with new contacts. Starting the customer loyalty loop all over again for more revenue.



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Make sure to stay tuned. We will provide you with more time-saving and effective marketing tips on customer retention, loyalty and advocacy over the following weeks.&nbsp;

4 Steps To Master Customer Retention and Loyalty With Data-Driven Marketing

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<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 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.
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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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<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 <a href="https://stampede.ai">Stampede</a> 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://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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“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.”
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<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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#2019

Team Update