Connect with your customers and enhance your marketing

Stampede

Products

Table Management

Guest Wi-Fi

Marketing & CRM

Reviews

Loyalty & Rewards

Gift Cards

Analytics & Reports

Industries

Restaurants

Hotels

Pubs & Bars

Resources

Learn

Marketing Scorecard

Free Downloads

Email Campaign Templates

Automation Ideas

Blog

About

People and Promise

Careers - We're Hiring!

Success Stories

Testimonials

User Resources

Supported Hardware

Knowledge Base

Partners

Pricing

In order to turn your followers into actual customers, you have to get them to know and trust your brand. As a restaurant business owner, you know that selling the benefits and value of what you do is how you attract customers. Since the beginning of time, storytelling has been a way that humans have communicated with each other. How can you use storytelling for your social media posts for your restaurant?







Storytelling through social media allows your customers to form that all-important digital connection with your brand. Instead of simply posting bland marketing material, <a href="https://sproutsocial.com/insights/social-media-tactics/">storytelling interacts with your customers on a much more personal level</a>. In turn, this helps create familiarity and loyalty with your brand. This will make your customers a lot more likely to do business with you in the long run.



So, if you are new to the concept of storytelling or want the best ways to implement it within your social strategy. Here are our top tips. 



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-storytelling-doesn-t-have-to-be-personal">Storytelling doesn&#8217;t have to be personal</h4>



We&#8217;re not all natural storytellers, and for some people, they can struggle to share personal stories through lack of experience or wanting to keep things private. When it comes to connecting with your customers, it&#8217;s not necessarily about sharing personal stories. Rather <a href="https://www.social4retail.com/the-importance-of-storytelling-on-social-media.html">sharing stories that mean something to us personally</a>.



Stories can come from customer interactions, casual conversations or experiences. For example, if your produce is grown locally and you’re proud of it. Why not take pictures of the farm and talk about the growers? Or, perhaps you have a dish that your restaurant is most famous for. Why not share the secret of how it’s made? In many cases, storytelling simply conveys the culture of the brand, in an easy to digest format.&nbsp;



There’s no set formula when it comes to your storytelling. The key is keeping in mind the details that are likely to strike a chord with the person reading it. Social media is a sociable place after all, so imagine it almost like a real conversation.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-share-behind-the-scenes-action">Share behind the scenes action</h4>



We’ve established that storytelling is about building a connection with your audience. One of the easiest ways to do this as a company <a href="https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/15-behind-the-scenes-content-ideas-to-share-on-instagram-infographic/623452/">is to share some behind-the-scenes info.</a> Perhaps you have a new chef starting at your restaurant. Why not upload a picture and a few lines about them, and what they are looking forward to in their new role? 



Or, say Valentine’s day is coming up. Why not share a sneak preview of the dishes or special event you will be putting on, to perk interest among your followers? You could even share news about an expansion or other news related to your company. If your followers are likely to be interested, then it helps build a more personal relationship with your restaurant, that goes far beyond them just coming in to eat.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-user-generated-content">User-generated content</h4>



As a social media account owner for your business, you likely see countless positive reviews, pictures and videos left across your feeds. <a href="https://wedevs.com/141859/user-generated-content-campaigns/">User-generated content is a powerful marketing tool</a>. It is perceived as being more genuine than if a brand toots its own horn instead. If someone is tweeting you to say they had the best meal out they’ve ever had, why not share this with your audience too?



You can use user-generated content in your social media storytelling too. For example, say a customer has their engagement party in your restaurant, and tags you in the photos saying what a wonderful event you created. With their permission, you can then use this across your feed. Maybe add a comment saying how it was your pleasure etc, as well as leaving contact information about how other people can book the same. It’s quite a simple strategy, but one which connects with people on a really effective level.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-save-the-waffles-for-your-dessert-menu">Save the waffles for your dessert menu</h4>



When writing a caption for your social media, it&#8217;s easy to go off on a tangent. While there&#8217;s no real crime against lengthy posts, it&#8217;s important that each sentence moves the story forward. Wordy or unnecessary sentences are unlikely to be read by your followers. And for some, it could even appear as spam.



In some cases, storytelling can literally be done in just a couple of sentences. Wherever possible, allow the <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/4-tips-for-an-outstanding-email-design/">image or video to do most of the storytelling</a> for you. As this is much easier to react with versus reams of text. The key is always to engage the viewer and provoke an emotive response, that allows them to get to know your brand in a way they haven’t before.&nbsp;



If you’re stuck for ideas, <a href="https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/3-brands-who-sell-their-culture-through-social-media-storytelling/518335/">there are a lot of resources you can access for free</a>. Showing some of the most successful examples of brands using storytelling within their social media. The more you educate yourself on this, the easier it will be to pick up and implement within your restaurant campaigns.



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



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



Storytelling is a method of communicating with your customers. When done effectively will strengthen the bond between them and your brand. It goes far beyond general marketing and instead paints a picture of the kind of experience they are likely to have when dining in your restaurant, and the unique story behind it. 



However, to be able to story-tell with your customers effectively, you need the story of who your customers actually are. Here at Stampede, our software allows you to capture your customer data in a way that’s GDPR compliant. As a result, you can create <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/how-marketing-with-wifi-benefits-your-business/">tailored and highly personalised marketing campaigns</a> that speak to your customer directly.



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





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



By combining storytelling within your social media alongside intuitive marketing campaigns, you can communicate with your customers on a truly insightful level.

post

How Restaurants Can Use Storytelling for Social Media

So you’ve just signed up for Stampede. Congratulations! Now you’re collecting marketing data from all of the customers that visit your venue and use your WiFi. The problem is, now you’ve got all this valuable data collected and don’t quite know what to do with it. No worries, we’re here to help. Here are some tips that will help you increase conversion rates with the Stampede <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/how-to-set-up-your-first-email-campaign-guide-2019/">automated marketing feature</a>.







<h4 class="wp-block-heading">SMS vs Email</h4>



A common question that business owners have is ‘Shall I send out SMS texts or emails to my customers?’ and we have to admit &#8211; good question. 



Both methods are widely used by businesses around the globe and both methods work perfectly fine. The reason for the popularity of these marketing methods is easily justified with the fact that customers can be reached easily on their phone, as they are online and available 24/7. 



Whereas emails are more strongly associated with spam and obvious advertising, SMS texts are more personal and feel like a friend sending a message. That doesn&#8217;t necessarily make SMS superior to emails, as mails can include pictures or links.



In order to improve your marketing conversion rate and get the most out of the two methods, we recommend you to make use of them both, depending on the content you want to convey to your customers.



If you want to find out which of the two methods is more suitable for your business, click right here and have a look at our <a rel="noopener noreferrer" class="" href="http://get.stampede.ai/sms-vs-email-marketing-ebook" target="_blank">eBook.</a>



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





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



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Schedules &amp; Timing</h4>



The first question we need to answer here is ‘How often should I reach out to my customers and send them promotional material?’ 



Studies revealed that 61% of interviewees preferred to receive <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/infographic-how-likely-are-people-to-act-on-promotions/">promotional material</a> at least once a month. Therefore, we’d recommend you to stick to that rule of thumb. Of course, it’s difficult to come up with a general rule for this, and we are convinced that you have a better understanding of your business, your customers and their expectations.



Another important aspect to consider is the local time of recipients. Try and schedule your campaigns depending on the local time of the people who are the ones reading your message. Nobody wants to be woken up in the middle of the night by a promotional text message.&nbsp;



Timing also comes into play when asking your customers to <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/the-power-of-reviews-and-recommendations/">leave reviews</a>. The best time to ask someone to leave a review is just after they’ve visited your business. Use the automated marketing feature of Stampede to send an email or SMS asking your customer for a <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/how-to-respond-to-positive-and-negative-customer-reviews-online/">review on TripAdvisor</a> or simply to remind them of the good time they had with you. 



Timing can be considered crucial to increase marketing conversion rates for your business.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Segmenting the list</h4>



Using the Stampede&nbsp;software will supply you with powerful customer insights in the form of data. And the best part of data gathering in Stampede is that it’s all automatic. 



We understand that you’re excited to make use of all this data, but remember that some content is more relevant for certain segments of your customer base. Therefore, we advise you to segment your customer list in order to send out specifically targeted messages. 



To give you a quick example, customers can be asked to choose their favourite sports in the splash screen when they login to your WiFi. Depending on which sporting event is coming up next, invite the Rugby/ Football/ Hockey fans to your pub to enjoy the match and a cold pint. As easy as that!



Segmenting a list and putting it to work, basically aims at approaching customers in the most personal manner. This personal approach can help your business improve marketing conversion rates. Remember &#8211; nobody wants to miss a message from an old friend. Also, the more personal you are in making the customer experience memorable, the greater the likelihood of them <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/engaging-customers-through-wi-fi-marketing/">coming back</a>.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Never stop testing</h4>



To improve your marketing conversion rates, it is important to keep track of how successful your campaigns are. 



Easily <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/the-marketing-power-of-wifi-analytics-for-your-business/">check your reports</a> on the Stampede dashboard and learn which campaigns are successful and which ones need improvement. Unfortunately, we can’t give you the perfect tailored message, as every customer group is unique and different. Therefore, we recommend you to send out different messages for each customer group and test them against each other. Some will fail, others will be successful- the important thing is that you try and take as much as you can from the reports and keep on testing and improving.



In case you want to grow your business with a smart Guest WiFi solution, you shouldn’t waste another day. Hit the link below and let us introduce you to an easy-to-use software that can make all the difference. Getting you the highest marketing conversion rates you have ever seen.



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

Improving Conversion Rates in Marketing

Searches for “staycation” are at their highest level since trends began according to <a href="https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&amp;geo=GB&amp;q=Staycation">Google Trends.</a> 



Many of you may have seen advertising and articles from district councils promoting local sights and experiences to the local population. And with foreign tourism at an all-time low, there’s some serious slack to pick up.



What can you do to make the most of this opportunity?



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Get your SEO hat on.&nbsp;</h2>



Make sure that your website and social media has some written content regarding staycations. Likewise with your online listing in Tripadvisor and other third-party sites. You can really help your business and website’s search engine optimisation making sure the right words are in the right place for starters.



Make sure to include the location of your venue in any “staycation” content as this will help with <a href="https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/local-seo">local searches</a> i.e. staycations in East Anglia



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Postcode offers.&nbsp;</h2>



By offering a discount or special upgrades for people within certain postcode areas (either the same as yours or adjoining) you’re sure to capture the interest of people nearby looking for staycations without having to go far. It will also contribute in a small way of restricting too much nationwide travel. You can see a full map of all UK postcodes <a href="https://www.gbmaps.com/mcs/map4-ui-test5.php?mapType=area&amp;mapRegion=uk&amp;mapOrientation=portrait">HERE</a> to find out what’s nearest to you.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Targeted Facebook Ads.</h2>



One of Facebook Ads most powerful tools is the ability to target very precise geographic locations. This makes it very cost-effective for small and local businesses, especially when the advert is something with high relevance like a staycation. Facebook ads aren’t for everyone, but there are plenty of local agencies and specialist freelancers who can help set things up correctly.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/how-to-choose-the-right-hashtags-for-your-restaurant-posts/">Hashtags.</a></h2>



&nbsp;If Twitter and Instagram are big hitters in your marketing activities then getting the #staycation hashtag featuring in posts more regularly will increase your visibility on the topic. Be careful not to get too specific though with #StaycationEastAnglia though as these will have minimal traffic compared to broader terms.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Research local activities.</h2>



&nbsp;By cross-promoting other things to see and do near your venue, you’ll give people more of a reason to come to where you are. This could go further if there was an opportunity for partnership between local attractions and your venue, with joint discounts or package offers aimed specifically at the staycation market.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Contact local bloggers.&nbsp;</h2>



Food, travel and lifestyle bloggers are a great way to reach very targeted audiences. Many of them get started by covering topics in their local area and growing from there, meaning their audience could be exactly the kind of people you want to reach. Bloggers are very tuned in to on-trend topics &#8211; such as staycations &#8211; so approaching them to feature you as part of a staycation promotion would go down well.



People are more eager than ever to support local businesses in the wake of coronavirus, and still enjoy their holidays at the same time. Getting your business in front of those people is a great way to give your business a boost during this opportune time.

Staycations: 6 Ways To Get Your Business Noticed

April & May 2025 Social Media Calendar

January & February 2025 Social Media Calendar

December 2024 & January 2025 Social Media Calendar

F&B Event Promo HTML Email Template

eCommerce Shop HTML Email Template

Delivery Promo HTML Email Template

Loyalty App Download HTML Email Template

New Menu HTML Email Template

Sports Fixture HTML Email Template

Hospitality Newsletter HTML Email Template

Group Bookings HTML Email Template

Shortcut Your Way To 6x Higher Conversion Rates

February – March 2023 Social Media Calendar

January – February 2023 Social Media Calendar

Hospitality Hashtag Cheat Sheet

8 Tactics to Increase Customer Spend

The Direct Booking Checklist for Hotel Operators

The Reviews Toolkit

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

Since its invention, the internet has expanded into every part of our lives. This includes educational institutions like schools and universities. Students have come to rely on the vast amount of information they can gather online for research purposes. Thinking of my own education, especially at university, it is clear that the internet made things a lot easier.

Offering WiFi in education is a must. Without the internet, students would actually have to read books and remember everything they’ve ever read &#8211; unthinkable!
<h2>Content Filtering</h2>
Since the internet is open 24/7, procrastinating is easier than ever before (clearly a student speaking here). People who blame certain websites for distracting students and pupils, clearly have a point. Whereas some pages are helpful and informative, other websites are just going to steal your time. Especially in education, content filtering can support students and pupils to fully focus while on a school supplied network. Making certain websites inaccessible does not only prevent distraction, it is also protection, especially for younger pupils. Just think of all the harmful content that’s out there in cyberspace. Content filtering is not only helpful for students to focus better on the actual important information on the web, it is also a simple way for schools to filter harmful and offensive content to <a href="/blog/safer-internet-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">protect younger pupils</a>.
<h2>Security</h2>
If an educational institution offers a single accessible network, it can clearly be considered a security threat. Storing teacher or management material on the same network that is shared with students, can lead to security breaches quite easily and can lead to sensitive data falling into the wrong hands. Which student wouldn’t love a copy of that really hard exam that’s coming up next week? Therefore, two separate networks are absolutely essential to prevent a breach from happening &#8211; one for sensitive back office information and another for student access.
A network breach is not the only security threat that educational institutions might face. Giving out passwords to students for accessing a wireless network  might seem a good solution at first &#8211; but, sorry to disappoint here- it’s are not. In order to provide the institution and the students with the safest way to connect, we recommend using a splash page that supports data encryption and therefore ensures the safest connection. Plus, you can put the University’s logo there and brand it accordingly.
<h2>Whitelisting/ Blacklisting</h2>
Another useful tool to manage educational networks better is blacklisting. Simply <a class="" href="/blog/kicking-people-off-your-wifi" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">ban unwanted network users</a> and make sure only the people who are supposed to use it, are actually on the network. A whitelist, on the other hand, can make it easier for authorised staff to connect.  Teachers on the whitelist can login instantly and without any effort and on a daily basis.
To provide a seamless and secure WiFi experience in education, Stampede created a unique set of tools that help institutions to manage networks better. If you want to find out more on how to provide safe internet to pupils and students, click below or feel free to get in touch with us.
<a class="eut-modal-popup" href="https://calendly.com/stampedeae/stampede-demo-request?month=2020-02">Click here to get started.</a>

WiFi in Education

The popularity of order and pay solutions has grown massively over the last year. Lots of hospitality businesses looked into implementing (or already have) a similar solution at their venue.&nbsp;



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



If you’re still swaying about adding order &amp; pay to your business, and need more advice keep reading. Our <a href="https://stampede.ai/prep-start-now/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">#PrepStartsNow</a> partners <a href="https://storekit.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">StoreKit</a> and Pour provide a closer look into the benefits of using such a system.



Here’s a quick summary of the main points:



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-does-order-pay-work">How does Order &amp; Pay work?</h4>



An order and pay solution lets your customers view your digital menu, place their order and pay all from their mobile device. It, therefore, allows for a contactless and safe interaction between your customer and staff, without the need for full table service.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-benefits-of-using-an-order-pay-solution">Benefits of using an order &amp; pay solution&nbsp;</h4>



Some might argue that an order &amp; pay app has negative impacts on your customer experience as it removes the personal service which is what the hospitality industry is all about. However, research by Pour shows quite the contrary: 82 % of customers want to have the opportunity to order through an app. Your staff will still be at your venue to welcome and serve your customers.



The main benefits for your business:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Increased sales (up to 63%) &#8211; upsell/cross-sales opportunities, promotions</li>



<li>Higher flexibility &#8211; make quick changes to your digital menu</li>



<li>Increased order accuracy</li>



<li>Improved customer experience &#8211; quicker service</li>



<li>Get data your on customers&#8217; preferences</li>



<li>Create a more branded and personalised digital experience</li>
</ul>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-to-choose-the-right-system-for-your-venue">How to choose the right system for your venue?</h4>



Two main factors come into account when choosing the right order &amp; pay solution for your business.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-1-speed-and-ease-of-use">1. Speed and ease of use</h4>



One of the main purposes of implementing an order &amp; pay solution is to help you streamline your processes and increase operational efficiency. Hence, the app has to be straightforward to use for your and your customers to avoid complaints.



In general, they come as a downloadable app or progressive web app. The latter is quicker to use as there is no need for a download and it can be used without creating an account. But keep in mind that strong customer WiFi will remove any unwanted friction from using the web app.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-2-integration">2. Integration</h4>



Integration allows for your systems to communicate and share data. Being able to collate data from various different systems into one place is crucial. So make sure the solution you want to use integrates with your POS, accounting, inventory management etc. for that all-important single customer view.



There are many <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/5-technology-tools-to-help-hospitality-reopen-after-lockdown/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">other technology tools</a> that can support your successful reopening right now. <a href="https://stampede.ai/company/#contact" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Reach out</a> to our team for some more information and guidance to get you started.

Get More Revenue Using An Order & Pay Solution

These Automations Can Help When Short-Staffed

I got <a href="https://s3.amazonaws.com/unroll-images-production/projects%2F2586%2F1606485256135-Screenshot+2020-11-27+at+12.28.57.png" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">this email</a> from a local fine dining restaurant a few weeks ago, and thought it was too good not share with you.



 <a href="https://www.wedgwoodtherestaurant.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Wedgwood The Restaurant</a> is one of Edinburgh’s top restaurants from Chef Paul Wedgwood. They were one of the first fine dining venues in Edinburgh to launch an “at home” service during the first lockdown.&nbsp;



 A choice of dishes in a 3-course menu, with heat and serve instructions included, delivered to your home at a reasonable price. Ideal for big celebrations at home.



 This recent <a href="https://s3.amazonaws.com/unroll-images-production/projects%2F2586%2F1606485256135-Screenshot+2020-11-27+at+12.28.57.png" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">email</a> was a promotion to celebrate 30 weeks of Wedgwood at Home. It’s a wonderful email marketing campaign. They shared how many meals have been ordered in that time (10,000!!), said a thank you all their supporting customers and threw in a special offer:



<h5 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-as-a-thank-you-to-all-our-wonderful-customers-we-re-offering-a-free-wedgwood-shortbread-and-tablet-with-every-order-this-week-a-complimentary-deciding-time-once-the-restaurant-is-allowed-to-open-again">&#8220;As a thank you to all our wonderful customers, we’re offering a free Wedgwood Shortbread and Tablet with every order this week. + a complimentary ‘Deciding Time’ once the restaurant is allowed to open again.&#8221;</h5>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-it-works">Why It Works</h4>



The 30-week celebrations and the 10,000 meals stat send a powerful message: they’re experienced at doing fine dining home delivery and it’s very popular. Having ordered it myself back in April &#8211; I can confirm it’s an excellent way to mix up the usual home delivery scenario.



 Everything from the subject line &#8211; &#8220;30th Celebrations!&#8221; &#8211; that engages readers curiosity to the clean design of the email and the gentle incentive (see above) all work brilliantly together. <a href="https://s3.amazonaws.com/unroll-images-production/projects%2F2586%2F1606485256135-Screenshot+2020-11-27+at+12.28.57.png" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The email</a> also tells readers how to learn more about the weekly changing menu by connecting with Wedgwood on social media.



 It’s important to mention that Wedgwood sends fairly regular emails which keep their database warmed up and open to promos like this. The whole email strategy contributes to the effectiveness of individual messages like this one.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-putting-it-to-use">Putting It To Use</h4>



 This milestone promotion style is very versatile. It could be the owner’s birthday, the founding date of your business, a year since a big rebrand, the list goes on. And it certainly stands out against another round of “reopening special offers”.&nbsp;



Using a celebration or milestone unique to your business to run a promotion is a surefire way to increase sales in quieter periods. There&#8217;s no need to wait on the calendar and you&#8217;ll get more attention when customers aren&#8217;t bombarded with seasonal emails from everyone else.



 Got some great ideas for promotions? <a href="https://stampede.ai/company/#contact" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Get in touch</a> with one of our team and we’ll help you get them in front of your customers.

How To Celebrate A Milestone

The Ultimate Beginners Guide to WiFi Jargon

Gone are the days when having a website was a “big deal” and creating a business Facebook page was an advanced social media strategy. Now, social media marketing has become far more complex and there are countless platforms to choose from.&nbsp;The strategy of marketing one’s business online has also evolved. Where we once communicated messages that were “salesy” and persuasive, today’s consumers prefer a more conversational and down-to-earth tone.&nbsp;In fact, this is why many companies have completely adapted their entire <a href="https://creativeclickmedia.com/company-culture-social-media/">company culture to fit in with the new social media-oriented world</a>.&nbsp;



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">What Is Company Culture?</h4>



Company culture can be defined as the personality of a company. In essence, a company’s culture creates the entire environment in which work takes place. It consists of many elements, including the work environment, a company’s mission, values, ethics, expectations, and goals.



For example, some organisations prefer teamwork and endorse casual attire. While others have a more traditional and formal management style where a suit and tie are still a requirement.&nbsp;



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Why Does Company Culture Matter?</h4>



Company culture is one way of keeping employees happy. A happy business is generally a thriving one. If candidates know what your company culture is like before they apply for an open position, then they are going to be more willing to embrace it and stick around.&nbsp;



Also, workers tend to enjoy work more when their opinions and values are consistent with those of the workplace. This forms a great foundation for productivity and team spirit.&nbsp;



When an employee appreciates a company’s culture and feels akin to it, then they are more likely to be proud ambassadors of their workplace. Having such team players on your workforce is a very important component of a successful modern-day social media campaign.&nbsp;



The next section delves into why.&nbsp;



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">The Importance of Reflecting Your Company Culture in Your Social Media Strategy</h4>



When it comes to social media, you can use your <a href="https://www.toprankblog.com/2017/05/company-culture-instagram/">company’s culture to send engaging messages</a> to your audiences to let them know who you are, what you have to offer, and why! It adds a personal touch to your marketing – a personal touch that consumers have come to appreciate and acknowledge.&nbsp;



The characters your employees, the core values of your business, and the moments of euphoria that are experienced when goals are reached. All this contributes to the giant tapestry of your workplace.



But, while your culture may be fun and positive, if you haven’t found a way to show this energy that your company radiates, then social media is the place where you need to turn your focus. &nbsp;



One thing that social media captures is the personification of an organisation’s culture. Whether you are a retailer or are in the hospitality industry. Portraying the positivity and happiness of your workforce on social media not only fosters further positivity, but another bonus is that it’s great for recruiting other employees whose values are the same.



If you’re not sure how to incorporate your company culture into your social media marketing. Here are five ways to make it happen.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Get Employees to Participate</h4>



If your company culture is one that embraces new ideas and encourages employees to be team players, then you will have no problem including your employees into your social media marketing strategies. Ask workers to share the company’s posts to their personal pages. Emphasise how important it is to engage with audiences who respond to posts.&nbsp;



You could even set challenges for your team where employees get points for the posts they like, share or comment on. The one with the most points could win a prize, perhaps?



Once you have your employees participating in your social media campaigns, then the next suggestions will easily fall into place.&nbsp;



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Be Human</h4>



We understand that you are trying to promote your business and sell a product or service. Audiences, however, respond much better to messages that contain a human element. The more casual you are (as opposed to being formal and corporate-like), the more likely you will put your company in the limelight to get the exposure it needs.&nbsp;



You can humanise your posts by:



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Including faces in your posts. Feature your team leaders and employees and remember to tag them.&nbsp;</li><li>Adding positive emotions to your social media content. Posts that include humour, intrigue, pride, warmth, hope and curiosity are more likely to be shared.&nbsp;</li><li>Making audiences feel like they are a part of your team and the fun company culture you have created. Use terms like “let us” and “join us” in your content.</li></ul>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Celebrate Employees. Give Them the Limelight</h4>



Share the achievements of your employees on social media and give them praise for their accomplishments. When you let your followers and customers know you’re proud of your team, then it leaves the impression that you are a company that cares about its staff as well one who works hard to deliver an excellent product or service. &nbsp;



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Tell Stories and Give Sneak Peeks into What Happens “Behind the Scenes”</h4>



Share your company’s culture with the world. Tell them stories about your day and give them sneak peeks into “what’s to come”. Keep them engaged by keeping stories real and personal. 



For example, if your hotel has just received a new shipment of luxury bathroom amenities, share a picture of your staff eagerly adding them to guest bathroom shelves. Or what about a <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/how-video-marketing-can-boost-your-restaurant/">live video</a> of your busy kitchen team preparing Sunday lunch?



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Engage and Respond</h4>



If your company’s culture is one that takes the consumer seriously, then responding to inquiries and comments is key.&nbsp; Remember, <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/the-importance-of-digital-word-of-mouth/">social media is meant to be a two-way street</a> (with emphasis on the word “social”)! This means that you need to engage with followers and respond to any messages promptly.&nbsp;



Audiences will appreciate your friendly responses and your business’s culture will be kept positive. When a social media strategy reflects the core essence of a company (it’s culture), then it’s more likely to attract the attention of readers.



Want to further increase your engagement and interaction on social media channels? Get in touch with us.



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





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

Reflecting Your Company Culture in Your Social Media Strategy

Service Recovery In The Hospitality Industry [Updated 2023]

When you&#8217;re running a brick and mortar retail business, you know that every customer counts. Whether you&#8217;re selling the latest in urban streetwear or titanium-reinforced avocado smashers, your customers are what keeps your businesses worthwhile. So what if we were to tell you that you&#8217;re alienating over 3/4 of your retail customers? Not very pretty, is it? That&#8217;s because 78% of shoppers prefer to use in-store WiFi when it&#8217;s available.



So why aren&#8217;t you offering it? Get started with your Retail WiFi today.







<h4 class="wp-block-heading">KNOW YOUR CUSTOMERS</h4>



You can&#8217;t love your customers if you don&#8217;t know them. That&#8217;s why offering them free in-store WiFi through a captive portal solution, like Stampede, makes sense. So how exactly does this work? Easy. Once enabled your customers&#8217; login through a splash screen, branded with your store name and logo, with their email address in order to access the WiFi. But it doesn&#8217;t stop there &#8211; in addition to an email address, you can ask information like age, gender, post/zip code and more! Most customers don&#8217;t mind giving out a few marketing details in return for free WiFi.



Sound too good to be true? It&#8217;s not. Here are a few more <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.networkworld.com/article/3230377/wi-fi/wi-fi-analytics-saas-can-make-retail-cool.html" target="_blank">Retail WiFi stats courtesy of Network World</a>:



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>82% of shoppers research products online before setting foot in a store.</li><li>60% of retail shoppers want to receive real-time promotions and offers in-store.</li><li>17% of Millennials think being reminded of items they need while they’re shopping is “cool.”</li><li>27% of Millennials think it’s “cool” to be told which foods they should buy, based on their dietary restrictions.</li></ul>



Not only do your customers want free in-store WiFi at your retail business, they want to be &#8220;cool&#8221; as well.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">AUTOMATED MARKETING</h4>



Ok, great, so what can you do with all this information? Well, really, the sky is the limit. One option is to import email addresses into your favourite mail marketing program like Mailchimp. Send out an email blast with your latest offers to tempt customers. Or, even better, use Stampede automated marketing to send out <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="/blog/learn-how-to-boost-your-business-with-sms-and-email-marketing" target="_blank">laser targeted SMS or email messages</a> to your most loyal customers (or even the ones you haven&#8217;t seen in a while). Imagine this &#8211; a customer who hasn&#8217;t visited your shop in a set period of time &#8211; say a month &#8211; gets an automated message encouraging them to come back to your shop with a special discount. Who could resist?



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">BUYERS CLUBS</h4>



How about this? Once your customer accesses your store&#8217;s WiFi through your captive portal, they&#8217;re automatically enrolled into your buyer&#8217;s club ALONG WITH a 20% discount off anything they buy today. The best part? Once registered, customers are automatically connected to your WiFi every time they enter your store. That&#8217;s instant tracking and analysis of your customers &#8211; in real-time. <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://get.stampede.ai/loyalty-program-ebook" target="_blank">Build your customer loyalty</a> &#8211; automatically.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">BEATING THE ONLINE SHOPS</h4>



The internet has revolutionised the retail industry with online reviews and discounts. Savvy shoppers search online for discount codes to help them get the best deal and use what they read online, such as reviews and blogs, to inform their purchases. 



As a matter of fact, 30% of shoppers won&#8217;t purchase a product if they can&#8217;t research it online first. What better way to empower your shoppers than offering them awesome WiFi where a mobile signal might be weak? Your customers can use bar code scanners and other cool apps to look up product information.



Want to get into more detail? Here&#8217;s a nice video put out by the good folks at Cisco about how to implement and get the most return out of WiFi in retail:



<figure><iframe loading="lazy" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/V4pEC4ukRu8" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">OFFER AWESOME IN-STORE&nbsp;RETAIL WIFI TODAY!</h4>



Avoid customers leaving your shop without buying anything, offer great WiFi and send vouchers by SMS or email to entice them to do an impulse purchase.



So &#8211; what are you waiting for? Get started offering awesome WiFi in your retail store today! Just click the link below to get started.



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

Guest WiFi in the Retail Industry

The Easter countdown is officially on. Time to get your digital assets and marketing promotions Easter ready to&nbsp;bring in some extra revenue.



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



Many businesses will opt for a traditional brunch or roast lunch offer. Take a twist this year with a new approach to some traditional dishes. What about <a href="https://www.deliciousmagazine.co.uk/recipes/hot-cross-scones/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">hot cross scones</a> for your brunch menu? Or introducing customers to some <a href="https://www.thespruceeats.com/traditional-easter-foods-from-around-the-world-4161077" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dishes from other countries</a>?



But there is more you can do to create an Easter experience your customers will remember&#8230;



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-easter-marketing-elements">Easter marketing elements</h4>



Sprinkle some&nbsp;Easter themes on your digital assets&nbsp;to build your customers&#8217; excitement.&nbsp;Seasonal elements, illustrations and images&nbsp;are the quickest way to get started.



Easter and Spring is all about vibrant and cheerful colours, so focus on using <a href="https://icolorpalette.com/palette-by-themes/easter" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pastel colours,</a> including pinks and yellows, to make your Easter marketing instantly recognisable.



Ready-made <a href="https://unlayer.com/email-templates/easter" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Easter templates </a>can help you save lots of time when it comes to designing email campaigns too



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">8 Easter social media ideas</h4>



Easter offers lot of great opportunities for fun and engaging social media campaigns too.&nbsp;Mix and match different formats&nbsp;(posts, stories and reels) to reach a wider audience.



<ol class="wp-block-list"><li>Caption this &#8211; use&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.countryliving.com/life/a30717299/easter-puns/" target="_blank">Easter egg puns</a></li><li>Share fun Easter memes</li><li>Host a virtual egg hunt across your socials and website</li><li>Share your staffs’ Easter traditions, favourite meals …</li><li>What’s on your Easter brunch table</li><li>Short video/reel &#8211; make your own DIY Easter decoration</li><li>Easter sneak peak &#8211; coming up at your venue</li><li>DIY bunny ears competition</li></ol>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">8 Easter in-venue event ideas</h4>



Easter-related activities are not exclusively for kids, grown-ups can have a lot of fun as well. Get the whole family involved:



<ol class="wp-block-list"><li>Egg hunt or scavenger egg hunt</li><li>Egg and a spoon race</li><li>Competition &#8211; egg decorating</li><li>Guessing game &#8211; jar filled with easter eggs</li><li>Host an <a href="https://quiz-questions.uk/easter-quiz-questions/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Easter-inspired pub quiz</a></li><li>Easter baking class</li><li>Team up with a local florist for a wreath-making workshop</li><li>How to set your Easter table &#8211; decoration ideas</li></ol>



Easter marketing content ready but not sure how to set up your email campaign? <a href="https://stampede.ai/company/#contact" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Get in touch</a> with our team who are happy to help.

16 Rapid Ideas For Successful Easter Marketing Campaigns

250 no shows on the first weekend of outdoor trading. That’s the sad outcome one pub has reported, and they’re only one of many.&nbsp; Pre-booking is now an essential part of the eating out experience. With those and customers reserving at multiple venues comes a high rate of no shows, customers simply not turning up for a variety of reasons.&nbsp;



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



This, of course, means turning down other customers who weren’t able to secure a table. No shows cost the industry up to £16bn each year, which is further exacerbated by the pandemic.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-4-ways-to-combat-no-shows">4 Ways to Combat No Shows</h4>



The good news is, there are ways to reduce no shows in your venue. Your customers’ plans may change but they don’t have to affect your business.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-1-raise-awareness">1. Raise Awareness</h4>



Make customers aware of the damage no shows create, using your socials, email marketing and your website. Implement a “honour your reservation or cancel in advance” culture. Also, offer different ways for your customers to cancel their bookings so that if they have to cancel, they can do so easily.&nbsp;



In addition, amend your policy and release booked tables after 15 minutes if they turn into a no show.&nbsp;



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-2-communication">2. Communication</h4>



Many bookings are made in advance. So besides from sending your regular booking confirmation via email &amp; SMS, you should also send a reminder 24-48h before.&nbsp;



Be clever here and use this as a way to scale up your customer experience and ask if they have any additional requirements or wishes. And, of course leave them the option to cancel if necessary.&nbsp;



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-3-deposit">3. Deposit</h4>



Probably the most straightforward solution, ask for a deposit. For many years especially smaller, independent businesses have hesitated to do so. The fear being that it might impact bookings and discourage customers.&nbsp;



But circumstances have changed and so has your customers’ attitude. According to recent research by HGEM, <a href="https://www.hgem.com/opinion/consumer-sentiment-reopening" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">63% of customers are happy to pay a deposit</a>&nbsp;to secure a table at their favourite venue. Asking for credit card details is also an option to reduce no shows.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-4-for-outdoor">4. For Outdoor</h4>



Outdoor trading is highly weather dependent, which can be an additional reason for customers not to show up. Weather can’t be changed, but the way you deal with it certainly can.&nbsp;



Many businesses already provide umbrellas and blankets for their tables. Take it one step further. Check the weather forecast. Is rain coming up? Use your reminder message to offer customers an alternative. “Instead of not showing up or cancelling, make use of our takeout and/or delivery and simply enjoy our food in the comfort of your own home.”



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-best-practice-from-the-industry">Best Practice from the Industry</h4>



The industry has reacted with several campaigns running on social media and businesses have joined forces to fight and reduce no shows.



<a href="https://www.instagram.com/sixty_eight_people/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">#NoMoreNowShows</a> created by Sixty Eight People is an example widely used on Instagram. Another campaign has been launched by The Foursquare group <a href="https://www.bighospitality.co.uk/Article/2021/04/14/Campaign-launched-to-encourage-deposits-as-restaurant-no-shows-return" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">#SaveMySeat</a>, with the aim to normalise deposits.&nbsp;



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bonus-tip-double-check-your-automations">Bonus Tip: Double-Check Your Automations</h4>



You’ve probably set up an automation for your confirmation and reminder messages. Make sure that they’re all running flawlessly.



Quick Checklist:



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Content still up-to-date? &#8211; i.e. include new policy</li><li>Preview and test send</li><li>Displayed fine on multiple devices?</li><li>Check everything is working on a regular basis</li></ul>



If you need a hand giving your automated emails and SMS campaigns a make-over, get in touch with us on <a href="mailto:contact@stampede.ai?subject=&amp;body=" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">contact@stampede.ai</a> or <a href="tel:0131 510 7008" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">0131 510 7008.</a>&nbsp;We&#8217;re happy to help.

4 Reliable Ways to Reduce No Shows by 30%

Are you ready for the first item on your Stampede Christmas shopping list? Let’s talk about&nbsp;<a href="https://stampede.ai/how-it-works/gift-cards/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Gift Cards</a>.



We all know that gift card sales always spike massively in December. Gift cards make for a&nbsp;great source of extra sales&nbsp;around the holiday season, which carries into the new year.



No need to wait until December though, the earlier you start promoting, the more time you have to generate revenue.



<h5 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-increase-revenue-with-digital-gift-cards">Increase Revenue With Digital Gift Cards</h5>



There are many reasons why you should opt for digital gift cards this year.



One of the biggest benefits for businesses, however, is that digital gift cards&nbsp;integrate with your marketing platform. So you can use the data to stay in touch with the customer long after they’ve redeemed their card.



Plus, they are easier to buy and use for customers and they can&nbsp;personalise&nbsp;them.



<h5 class="wp-block-heading">5 Tips To Make Your Gift Card Sales A Success</h5>



So, here’s how you can make the most out of this year’s gift cards sales:



<h6 class="wp-block-heading">1) Add-ons</h6>



Everyone sells gift cards. Pimp up yours to make them more attractive and turn them into a&nbsp;special experience&nbsp;by adding some add-ons.



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Tasting menu</li>



<li>Free amenities, i.e. dessert, a bottle of sparkling wine …&nbsp;</li>



<li>Drink package</li>



<li>Christmas hamper, i.e. cheese selection</li>



<li>Top-up option, i.e. double value gift cards</li>
</ul>



<h6 class="wp-block-heading">2) Omni-channel promotions</h6>



Your gift cards should be&nbsp;highly visible across all your channels.



Website:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Seasonal homepage banner and/or popup</li>



<li>Make it straightforward to buy with clear terms &amp; conditions</li>
</ul>



Email &amp; SMS:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Send an email to your entire database</li>



<li>Make sure to include previous buyers</li>



<li>Use SMS for last-minute promotions</li>
</ul>



Social media:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Add links to your gift cards on your Instagram bio</li>



<li>Change your Facebook Page button to&nbsp;“Shop Now”</li>



<li>Pin a post to your feeds</li>



<li>Showcase your seasonal menu &amp; venue decoration to entice customers (include a gift card call-to-action)</li>
</ul>



<h6 class="wp-block-heading">3) Reminders</h6>



Keep promoting your gift cards in the run-down to Christmas through regular reminders across your channels.&nbsp;



Make sure to&nbsp;keep your mailing list updated&nbsp;and exclude those who have already purchased.



<h6 class="wp-block-heading">4) Promotional push</h6>



Simple but effective. Give your gift card sales an additional push and come up with a special deal around Black Friday (24th of November).



<h6 class="wp-block-heading">5) Flash-promotion</h6>



There are always those who leave their Christmas shopping to the last minute.&nbsp;



A&nbsp;last-minute flash sale&nbsp;in the week before the holidays, including Christmas Day and Boxing Day will help you to attract those.



Are you looking for an easy-to-use&nbsp;digital solution that allows you to sell more gift cards?&nbsp;<a href="https://h.stampede.ai/meetings/stampede/demo" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Reach out</a>&nbsp;to get started with&nbsp;<a href="https://stampede.ai/how-it-works/gift-cards/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stampede Gift Cards</a>.

5 Tips To Sell More Gift Cards This Festive Season

Online reviews have always been used to help people make a final judgment on where they eat, drink or stay.



 In the post-lockdown world, customers will be paying special attention to the latest reviews, and looking specifically for safety and cleanliness content within them to inform their choice of venue.&nbsp;



Even if they aren&#8217;t looking for that detail, they&#8217;ll see it as review styles change.



 We’re already starting to see reviews with content such as “&#8230;the online ordering app was hard to use&#8230;” or “&#8230;a table reservation system would have been better&#8230;” and “&#8230;excellent service and planned out and H&amp;S / covid precautions”.



These types of things are going to be front and centre of the customer experience and bear the brunt of any criticism or praise.



 If you are running a hospitality business, it will be compared to others on the basis of how well the new measures work for customers.



 We recently installed an upgrade to our <a href="https://stampede.ai/how-it-works/automations/#reviews" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Reviews</a>&nbsp;system that can help untangle these new reviews for owners: sentiment analysis.



 It analyses the content of all your reviews and provides a summary of repeated themes and whether those themes are used in a positive, negative or neutral context.



With a quick glance, you can see if your ordering app is clunky or if your new menu items are going down a treat.



With this info in hand you can make any adjustments using real feedback, or reliably pump up the marketing on your new menu for example.



While stars and scores are useful, the words within the review are what can really make a difference.



To find out more about <a href="https://stampede.ai/how-it-works/automations/#reviews" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Reviews</a> and sentiment analysis, get in touch with one of our team.

Handling The ‘New Review’

It&#8217;s Burns night here in Scotland and that can only mean one thing: haggis. Ok, maybe two things: haggis and whisky. No, wait &#8211; we&#8217;re forgetting the most important part of Burns night &#8211; poetry.&nbsp;

So in that spirit, we&#8217;ve prepared our very own Burns poem. Enjoy.&nbsp;
ODE TO A WIFI ROUTER&nbsp;
O my Router&#8217;s lights blink like a red, red rose, 
That&#8217;s newly sprung in June.&nbsp; 
O my Router opens up &nbsp;the wide, wide internet, 
That I unboxed at noon.&nbsp;
As beautiful as you are, my bonnie Router, 
So deep in luve am I. 
And I will reboot you as needed, 
Till a&#8217; the seas gang dry.&nbsp;
Till a&#8217; the seas gang dry, my Router, 
And Grumpy Cat melt wi&#8217; the sun; 
And I will luve the still, my dear, 
While my connection TTL shall run.&nbsp;
And fare-thee-weel, my only Router!&nbsp; 
And fare-thee-weel, a while!&nbsp; 
And I will come again, my Router. 
Tho&#8217; &#8217;twere a ping with a latency over 25 ms.&nbsp;
And if that wasn&#8217;t enough Burns for you, here&#8217;s everything you need to about the poet in a two minute animation:&nbsp;
<iframe loading="lazy" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/qMxIBqpryG0" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
&nbsp;
As you can see, we&#8217;re a little nuts about good WiFi here. So if you&#8217;re running a retail, hospitality or any other small business, Stampede is here to help. You can even take us for a free spin by clicking the button below.
And no more poetry, we promise.&nbsp;
{{cta(&#8216;67766406-fcf4-4f6e-b2b4-900631ed085d&#8217;)}}

Burns Night Poem – Ode to a WiFi Router

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 class="wp-block-list">
<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 class="wp-block-list">
<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

<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-stampede-announces-springo-acquisition-as-part-of-post-lockdown-growth-plans">Stampede announces Springo acquisition as part of post-lockdown growth plans &nbsp;</h2>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-marketing-software-businesses-combine-forces-to-target-new-it-channel-partners">Marketing software businesses combine forces to target new IT channel partners</h3>



Edinburgh, UK, 5th July 2021&nbsp;–<a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__stampede.ai_&amp;d=DwMFaQ&amp;c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&amp;r=G04Hl4mHwuXumE4aLNQwjtCNczRSFK_l5Aipin3BtgA&amp;m=f1O2zrmhKcO9y6J2mqnPsZqLjonrR764RHtxnzOpLCE&amp;s=zsSreC1usrxjVNVUD7fAXZnVkKCq7vOSaKp3lWFxoIA&amp;e=">&nbsp;Stampede</a> has today announced its acquisition of fellow hospitality software startup, Springo, in a bid to strengthen the business and reach new hospitality customers worldwide. Stampede launched its first global reseller programme in November 2020, and has purchased Springo for its IP, notable channel customer-base, and ICT experience – which will help Stampede expand throughout the UK and beyond via new IT resellers.&nbsp;



Springo, like Stampede, is a data capture, digital marketing and customer engagement software business specialising in the hospitality sector. Both specialise in giving brick-and-mortar businesses access to the digital tools and services of big online brands. They have helped hundreds of hospitality businesses bounce back after COVID, and it is hoped that their combined forces will allow Stampede to reach even more venues. As part of the deal, Springo founder and director, Jay Ball will join Stampede as a non-executive director and minority shareholder. Springo’s employees will also join Stampede’s team. Jay brings a wealth of ICT, channel and business leadership experience to Stampede, having founded his first business, DataKom, in 2007 – which he sold in 2019 for a multi-million pound exit.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;



For existing channel partners like Invisinet and 7Hospitality, the Stampede platform represents a quick and easy way to increase monthly recurring revenues, while adding high demand products to their line of business.&nbsp;Following the Springo deal, Stampede is actively seeking new reseller partners, especially those with a high volume of clients in the retail and hospitality industries, as well as clients struggling to digitise multiple sites quickly/remotely.



“Jay has a wealth of experience in the telecoms space and we’re delighted to bring him and the rest of the Springo team on board with Stampede,” said Patrick Clover, Stampede founder and CEO. “Like Stampede, Springo has been helping hospitality businesses bounce back after an extremely difficult 16 months. By combining our technology, resources, expertise and customer-base, we believe we can reach even more businesses that need our support. Post-lockdown, I expect a lot of hospitality businesses to maintain some of the digital elements of the customer experience that were adopted this year out of necessity. There is a real opportunity for channel partners working in this space to make the digital hospitality experience as seamless as possible for customers and venues alike, which is exactly what our platform delivers.”&nbsp;



“We built a brilliant platform that was very successful, and combining our software means we can now offer far more to Springo and Stampede customers and resellers,” said Jay Ball, Stampede’s new non-executive director. Stampede is one of the UK’s leading hospitality software businesses, and we want to bolster their efforts to bring digital tools to the physical businesses that need them most. Springo has great experience selling to the channel, we understand their pain points and what they expect from their software partners. We bring this expertise to Stampede and believe it will give them the extra firepower needed to be successful in this industry.”



Resellers that want a demonstration on how&nbsp;Stampede&nbsp;and its partner programme works should contact Owen Rees Channel Development Manager <a href="mailto:owen.rees@stampede.ai">owen.rees@stampede.ai</a> <a href="tel:+447519390920">07519 380 920</a>



Benefits of the&nbsp;Stampede&nbsp;platform for hospitality customers include:&nbsp;



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Capture customer data instantly when customers connect to guest Wi-Fi or register via QR code</li><li>Track repeat customers with connection data and build new loyalty schemes and promotions (the success of which can be tracked in real time)</li><li>Generate more reviews across platforms like Google and TripAdvisor (customers can be contacted within an hour of leaving a physical venue encouraging them to leave a review)</li><li>Introduce digital stamp card schemes and let customers earn rewards</li></ul>



About&nbsp;Stampede



Stampede&nbsp;was founded by software developer and tech entrepreneur, Patrick Clover, to enable physical venues to engage with their customers more easily and effectively, and understand them better. From the independent coffee shop to global brands with thousands of sites &#8211;&nbsp;Stampede&nbsp;provides a level of customer insight previously only available to large corporations. It offers business owners better information on their customers through improved engagement and insights into consumer habits.

Stampede announces Springo acquisition

You run a business and you like to think you know your customers &#8211; but do you really?

Sure, you probably know your audience demographic breakdowns and probably some of your peak times, but are you doing anything with this information other than plugging it into a spreadsheet and playing with pivot tables? (not that there&#8217;s anything wrong with that &#8211; we love pivot tables).
<h3>Automatic WiFi Marketing to Your Customers</h3>
But instead of just letting that data sit in cells, here&#8217;s an example of how you could be using it to reach out to your customers.  How about sending an email or SMS message to your customers on their birthday, enticing them with a free drink or starter? Who could resist? And &#8211; since it&#8217;s a birthday &#8211; naturally they&#8217;ll be bringing along their friends as well. More people = more orders = more business for you.<img decoding="async" class="" style="width: 320px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; float: right;" title="Stampede Marketing" src="https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/2735287/Blog/wifi-marketing.jpg" alt="Stampede Marketing" width="320" data-constrained="true" />
Even better &#8211; what if all this was done automatically?
And &#8211; hold on &#8211; we&#8217;re not done yet &#8211; what about if you were then able to add your customers email to your marketing list (automatically, of course) so that you could continue to send them promotions and specials in the future.
<a href="https://www.stampede.ai/how-it-works#marketing">All that marketing power</a> &#8211; and more &#8211; is ready and waiting for you just inside the Stampede Connect dashboard. And getting started with WiFi marketing in Stampede is even easier than you think.
<h3>WiFi Marketing with Stampede</h3>
Just take a look at this short video that shows you &#8211; in two minutes, believe it or not, how you can setup Stampede to automagically send your customers an SMS message the first time they connect.
<iframe loading="lazy" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uX-Vy3m0dcg?rel=0" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
Pretty darn easy, right?
So what are you waiting for? <a href="https://connect.stampede.ai">Login to your Connect dashboard</a> so you can get started right away. And if you&#8217;re not using Stampede yet (we won&#8217;t judge), sign up for a <a href="https://www.stampede.ai/get-started">FREE trial</a> so you can see how you can start laser targeting your customers.
How are you using Stampede with your business? Feel free to leave a comment below. Also, be sure to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxc2sJ3nBYJhLGQr_2RM60w">subscribe to our YouTube channel</a> so you get notified of the latest videos and if you&#8217;ve got something you want to see us do a video demo or explainer for &#8211; be sure to drop us a line.
<a class="eut-modal-popup" href="https://calendly.com/stampedeae/stampede-demo-request?month=2020-02">Click here to get started.</a>

WiFi Marketing and Your Business: More Than Pivot Tables

We’re in an era where individuals expect free, fast, secure WiFi wherever they go. This demand has created a gap in the market where small business owners can harness the power of a secure WiFi network to engage customers. It’s an opportunity to subtly nudge individuals into your store or restaurant without “obviously” selling to them. And let’s face it – “obvious” sales should be left back in the 20th century. 







When looking at <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/the-future-of-restaurant-marketing/">recent marketing trends</a>, people tend to stay loyal to businesses that offer a personal service. They also prefer supporting services that are proactive when it comes to social responsibility. Add this to a stable and effective WiFi marketing campaign and there you have the perfect all-round customer engagement solution. 



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">A Recap on What WiFi Marketing Is</h4>



Perhaps we’re jumping the gun and you’re not yet familiar with the new buzz-phrase “WiFi Marketing”. Let’s quickly recap and take a look at the concept. 



WiFi marketing is the process where visitors provide certain important details. I.e. email addresses and phone numbers in exchange for the free use of your business’s WiFi network. Individuals enter these details by accessing a login area on their smartphones. 



Once a business has these details, an opportunity is created where they can communicate with potential customers on a more specific level. Individuals can now be reached via text message, email, or through <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/rock-your-restaurant-with-wifi-and-instagram/">social media channels</a>. 



Think of it as a way to tap people on the shoulder through their mobile devices and say, “Hey, we’re still here and we have something great to offer!”



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Why Is WiFi Marketing Important?</h4>



According to <a href="https://www.brickandmobile.com/mobile-stats/">Brick &amp; Mobile</a>, 84% of small businesses have reported that using mobile marketing methods increased their customer loyalty base. 



At the same time, <a href="http://www.devicescape.com/press-release/survey-quantifies-business-benefits-of-amenity-wi-fi/">62% of local consumers</a> spend more time in a store if WiFi is available.



It’s just a win-win situation!



<a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/how-marketing-with-wifi-benefits-your-business/">WiFi marketing</a> gives customers access to your wireless network and you get access to their information. This information is invaluable when it comes to creating a personal service and effective targeted marketing campaigns that truly engage people and their wants and needs. 



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Engaging Your Customers</h4>



One of the best things about WiFi marketing is that it gives you an <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/the-marketing-power-of-wifi-analytics-for-your-business/">in-depth insight</a> into the buying trends of consumers. The platform allows you to <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/the-marketing-power-of-wifi-analytics-for-your-business/">keep track of the customers</a> who have signed-up to your network by storing their following information:



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>How often they enter your establishment and how long they stay on average</li><li>Which promotional material they engage with</li><li>What they generally purchase</li><li>How often they make purchases</li></ul>



And so on…



Now, you have a better idea of who your customers are and when and how often they visit your location. This data can be added to your CRM and other online engagement tools.&nbsp;



WiFi marketing also gives you the power to automate and personalise your messages based on customer demographics and frequency of their visits. 



It allows you to engage with your customers by implementing the following communication strategies:



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Proximity Marketing</h4>



Proximity marketing refers to the act of delivering targeted messages based on your customers’ behaviour while they were visiting your establishment. You can send out targeted promotional offers based on demographics, frequency of visit, and buying preferences.



For example, John Smith frequents your deli to purchase your famous chicken and avocado sandwich. So, you can send him a personalised message when this sandwich is on promotion – or you can simply remind him that “hey, it’s lunchtime and chickens on the menu”. 



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



<a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/a-complete-guide-to-marketing-automation/">SMS, email, and push-notification campaigns</a> can be created to engage with customers who might visit you regularly. These portals can be used to send promotional messages, to invite individuals to participate in a competition you might be hosting. Or to simply remind them that you exist and that your doors are always open to them. 



By sending out subtle messages, you remind individuals that you are eager for their business. Also, that you are willing to provide them with the things that they want. 



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Social Marketing</h4>



When you ask customers to provide their details, you can do so by providing them with a splash page that features your branding information. Your guests are then given an option to share this information or to post a message on their social network profiles. This helps to increase social visibility for your brand.&nbsp;



Essentially, when one customer signs-up to your network, you can potentially reach out to their friends on social networks too.&nbsp;



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Wrapping it up…</h4>



WiFi marketing creates a bridge that allows information to flow in both directions. In the future, the extent of this information will broaden and businesses will have access to endless marketing opportunities. You will be able to engage with customers on an extremely personal level. This allows them to indulge in your loyalty programmes and constantly inviting them back to your venue for another visit. 



Returning customers spend on <a href="https://www.bain.com/">average 67% more than first-time customers</a>. This means that you want to do everything you can to retain the customers you have while improving their experience with every visit. WiFi engagement is one such solution. 



Why not give it a go with our WiFi Marketing software?



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





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

Engaging Customers Through WiFi Marketing

We are witnessing a video revolution. The traditional 16:9 landscape format can move aside, (outside of TV and movies). The new 9:16 vertical format is here to replace it on your mobile device.&nbsp;



This format is rapidly becoming the standard for video creation and consumption. And why, might you ask? The answer is mobile phones. While they are constantly developing and improving, they are designed to work in portrait. So much so, that mobile phone users hold their phone vertically 94% of the time.



With social media platforms such as Instagram becoming increasingly popular for digital marketing, vertical is soon going to be the way to advertise. Stories are growing at an incredible rate and are estimated to be growing 15 times faster than the feed – and to be far more powerful when it comes to persuasion.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Why is Vertical the future of video?</h4>



With the increasing dominance of mobile phones, which experts predict will generate 95% of mobile traffic by 2023, compared to today’s 85%, and the 9:16 format, it was only natural for them to become a great marketing tool. Furthermore, stories were made to fit with our bodies. They are here to tell personal stories and share moments that resonate with those watching. Marketing is, in essence, a form of storytelling. So, with videos being such an important marketing tool, and the videos evolving into the vertical format, it doesn’t take much to see why they are the future.



Businesses are being more aware of how society uses their mobile phones.&nbsp;And this why at <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/introducing-stories/">Stampede</a> we now offer vertical video services in the form of stories.



We use our phones to scroll through all forms of social media. Having to turn it on its side to watch a video, seems like too much effort. We live in an era of comfort, were people are naturally lazy. More people will watch a video if it is in a vertical format. Put into numbers, 65% of consumers consider companies and brands who use vertical video formats “more innovative” and 79% of new consumers prefer this format. If you are a new company or brand, those new consumers are really the area you want to target. Also, they are a large share of the general viewers.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Where to go next?</h4>



For many digital marketing gurus, Instagram is considered the holy grail. With such high numbers of people on the platform, it opens the door to hundreds of new customers. According to leading social media authorities, such as Zuckerberg and Chris Cox, Facebook’s Chief Product Officer, the future of sharing news, information and other things is Stories, which are in Vertical format, which, by the rules of logic, makes vertical videos the future of digital marketing. So, adding Stories to your WiFi service is a great way to get yourself noticed, promote yourself to new customers and expand your brand name.&nbsp;



Get in touch with us to discover how WiFi Stories can help your business.

Vertical: The Future of Video Content for Digital Marketing

<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-s-on-this-week">What’s on This Week</h4>



It’s a doubleheader Monday this week, closely followed by the opening of the first advent calendar door on Tuesday.



Let’s dive into this week’s ideas.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mon-30th-nov-cyber-monday"> Mon 30th Nov &#8211; Cyber Monday</h4>



Black Friday’s lesser-known sibling is an extension of the sales event that kicks off Christmas shopping season. Use it to keep the momentum up your Black Friday promotions or as a chance to switch things up a bit with a variation of last week&#8217;s offer.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mon-30th-nov-st-andrews-day">Mon 30th Nov &#8211; St Andrews Day</h4>



Scotland’s National Day and a chance to celebrate all things Scottish. When it comes to food and drink there is a myriad of choices: Haggis, whisky, smoked salmon, Stornoway black pudding, stovies, tablet and we only deep fry two of those&#8230;



 If Cyber Monday isn’t for your brand, some visual content about the diverse Scottish larder will go down well today on social media. 



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tues-1st-december">Tues 1st December</h4>



The start of December is the start of Christmas for many. Use it as a chance to remind customers and fans of Christmas offers and booking availability, or implement a Christmas social media theme such as an advent calendar or 12 days of Christmas with topics relevant to your business.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fri-4th-dec-bartender-appreciation-day">Fri 4th Dec &#8211; Bartender Appreciation Day</h4>



Falling on the first Friday of December, this a day to say thanks to all the bartenders out there. Thanks for all the extra tasks they’ve undoubtedly taken on this year, all the time and effort they’ve taken to keep customers safe and happy in a difficult working environment.&nbsp;



 Grab a picture of your bar team, or dig one out of the archive for social media this Friday, giving your fans a chance to say thanks or share stories of great experiences they’ve had thanks to the bartending team.



That&#8217;s all for this week, time for a Tunnocks Tea Cake and a glass of Irn-Bru.



 If you need any help with setting up Christmas promotions and campaigns, please <a href="https://stampede.ai/company/#contact" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">get in touch</a> with one of our team.

Fresh Content Ideas To Fuel Your Marketing

With the hospitality restrictions still ongoing, many businesses have gone back to a reduced level of service or are only offering takeaway and delivery. Once more, they have to tap into other sources to drive customer engagement and increase revenue. We’ve had a closer look at&nbsp;gift cards and email marketing, two profitable tools&nbsp;businesses should make use of right now.



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



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Boost Your Gift Card Sales</h4>



Income now, footfall later. Plus, increased spending when being redeemed and free advertising for your business. Gift cards aren’t just a great source of extra sales around the holiday season. They actually are a valuable revenue source all year round.



Get creative and&nbsp;give your gift cards a shake-up&nbsp;for the new year. You can customise your gift card offers with certain bonuses added to them to make them stand out. Why not include a tasting menu or wine package?&nbsp;



Take your gift cards to the next level and use digital&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://stampede.ai/how-it-works/gift-cards/#gifting" target="_blank">Gift Cards by Stampede</a>. It’s not only easy to use for your customers but also integrates seamlessly with our marketing platform.



This makes it simple to&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://stampede.ai/blog/how-to-unlock-hidden-revenue-from-your-gift-cards/" target="_blank">get more value from your gift card sales</a>. For example, contacting customers who have purchased a card but have not yet redeemed it to encourage bookings.



Learn more about our digital Gift Cards made for hospitality&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://stampede.ai/how-it-works/gift-cards/#gifting" target="_blank">here</a>.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-leverage-email-marketing">Leverage Email Marketing</h4>



You can use our Marketing platform to further&nbsp;engage with your customers via email and promote your offers.



To get started with your email marketing:



<ol class="wp-block-list"><li>Gather together customer data from your digital tools, e.g. order &amp; pay, loyalty program into a mailing list.</li><li>Simply upload all customer contacts via a CSV import to Stampede.</li><li>You can further segment your list into specific customer groups, e.g. upcoming birthday this month or loyal customer.</li><li>Now, you can start creating targeted campaigns that are sure to drive some extra revenue.</li></ol>



Some campaign ideas&nbsp;for the new year:



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>New year gift card offer &#8211; “redeem/book now to get extra …”&nbsp;</li><li>Special gift card deal for your big order takeaway/delivery customers</li><li>New menu 2022 promotion</li><li>Delivery, takeout or meal kit offer, e.g. for those who have cancelled a booking recently&nbsp;</li><li>Upcoming event highlights for 2022 with early bird promotion</li><li>Customer survey &#8211; your menu favourites of last year</li><li>Coming up &#8211; Valentines Day offers for meal kits and dine-in</li></ul>



Extra tip &#8211; We’ve got some&nbsp;ready-to-use email templates and pre-made audience grouping&nbsp;ideas&nbsp;in our marketing platform. This will save you a lot of time and allow you to send out your first campaigns much quicker.



We also&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://stampede.ai/blog/new-integration-with-storekit/" target="_blank">integrate with the order &amp; pay provider Storekit</a>&nbsp;so you can use your transaction data to target those regular customers with your best offers.



Find out more about our Marketing platform&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://stampede.ai/how-it-works/marketing/" target="_blank">here</a>.



If you would like some help with setting up Gift Cards or Email Marketing&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://calendly.com/stampedeae/stampede-demo-request" target="_blank">get in touch</a>. We’re happy to&nbsp;help to get you started.

2 Easy Ways To Drive Sales With Gift Cards and Marketing

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







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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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





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

A Guide On Current Hotel Industry Challenges

Personalisation is an ultra-hot topic in HORECA. There’s no denying hospitality is a human art. The word describes the relationship between guest and host. We know that technology can put the ‘person’ into personalisation. Wait staff ask customers how they like their steak and coffee shops now offer a world of variation on the humble cup of coffee. But should businesses like yours adopt an even more personalised approach? What are the actual benefits of personalisation?







<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Bolster your marketing efforts</h4>



When you need to <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/tracking-digital-marketing-roi/">increase the ROI of your marketing</a>, targeting through personalisation gives you the edge. Tailoring your marketing makes your money work harder. We’ve covered the basics of how to get started with personalisation in Useful data for restaurant marketing. It’s most important to realise that personalisation can help at each stage of the customer journey. It informs campaigns so you use the right tactics to reach and <a href="http://www.hemingwayapp.com/#_msocom_1">influence your audience and boost your engagement</a>. Plus, you can serve your paid social ads, email offers and stories in a personalised way too.&nbsp;



Your personalised marketing efforts shouldn’t stop once a prospect becomes a customer either. By building up a profile of your guests, you know which special email offers will tempt them to visit you. Additional benefit to make it even more personalised, with Stampede, you can even choose to present your guests&#8217; different offers while they’re on site. Our stories feature gives an easy way to entice customers with the right offer.&nbsp;



You may be lucky enough to have great wait staff that get to know your customers, what they like and how to upsell them. But the reality of the hospitality industry is that you lose information when staff members leave. They move onto a new role and take that important customer rapport with them. <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/how-marketing-with-wifi-benefits-your-business/">By collecting the right data</a> to feed into your CRM, you can use personalisation to give all your staff a confident starting point. This makes connections easier to build and maintain.



Further reading: <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/personalise-your-customer-journey-at-your-restaurant/">https://stampede.ai/blog/personalise-your-customer-journey-at-your-restaurant/</a>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Standout customer service</h4>



We recently wrote about personalisation as an important factor in <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/how-to-nail-customer-service-for-families/">customer service for families.</a> There are obvious benefits to offering picky-eating kids exactly what appeals to them. But why restrict such choices to children only? You could opt to provide personalisation at the ordering stage, like McDonald&#8217;s. They reported a <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/how-marketing-with-wifi-benefits-your-business/">30% rise in order values in US trials of self-ordering screens</a> and these screens have now made their way to the UK. The evidence suggests that when people are able to order something exactly how they like it with less fuss, they spend more. And isn’t smooth service good customer service?&nbsp;



To elevate service through personalisation, businesses can use technology to anticipate and meet customer preferences. This needn’t apply to the menu only. By incorporating order ahead or takeaway options, we give customers more control over their journey. It will be interesting to see if service levels become even more personalised in the future beyond the world of fast food. 



Could you offer customers a cheaper price for ordering via technology at the table? And would this encourage shy customers to order or visit you more? How about giving any noise-averse customers the option to book during a ‘quiet hour’ in the same way travellers can book a quiet coach?&nbsp;



Offering countless variations on every aspect of your menu or service is unlikely to be practical. But simply knowing some preferences are catered for can make choosing your venue simpler for individuals as well as groups. It’s not necessarily about offering overwhelming levels of choice. Customers want to feel listened to and valued. Whether that’s auto-filtering a menu for allergy sufferers or helping those with decision fatigue to make a faster choice. Like the ideal burger, ideal customer service differs between individuals, are you catering to your customer’s needs?&nbsp;



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Personalisation’s business lessons</h4>



You need to have some idea of your customer’s needs and preferences to cater to their personalisation want. But in doing so, you have the potential to gain further valuable information. Offer your burgers with or without gherkins and you may discover most of your customers don’t like them. This will allow you to save on stock and rethink your recipe.&nbsp;



Marketing can also be supercharged when you know what tempts individual and segments of visitors to visit you. You might even choose to use a guest’s previous ordering history to target marketing specifically to them before and during a visit. And you can be sure your message is delivered to them according to their preferences for a better response rate. 



Offer and analyse points of differentiation to see what makes your customers tick. In turn, this should improve your marketing reach, lead to more visits and higher sales. Personalisation can fuel everything from customer acquisition to more effective customer loyalty programmes.



If this sounds a little far-fetched, let us show you how bringing together this information together can be easier than you think. Our solution also integrates with CRM systems to help you better understand each customer journey. Are you ready to create tailored experiences that build loyalty for your business?



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





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

The Benefits of Personalisation for HORECA Businesses

Give your customers the royal treatment for the long Jubilee weekend ahead and drive some extra revenue for your business.



Recent research by <a href="https://kam-media.co.uk/project/jubilee-weekend-infographic/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">KAM Media</a> has shown that 4 in 5 people will celebrate the Jubilee weekend (2nd to 5th June) in some way, with 35% planning to visit a pub and 31% a restaurant. On top of this, pubs are allowed to stay open until 1:00 AM for the period.



With less than 4 weeks to go, time to lean hard on your marketing comms to ensure your venue is buzzing. Email campaigns should be your go-to here to spread the word about your events and urge customers to book ahead.&nbsp;



Here’s what your 5-part Jubilee marketing campaign could look like:



<h5 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-jubilee-email-campaign">Jubilee Email Campaign</h5>



Email 1 &#8211; Let’s celebrate &#8211; Book your spot for our Jubilee weekend



Audience: All customers



Sending time: 19th/20th May



Content ideas:



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Entertainment program &#8211; Live music, Jubilee event broadcasts</li><li>In-venue events &#8211; Traditional games, raffles, royal pub quiz</li><li>Food &amp; drink highlights &#8211; Great British Menu, showstoppers, royal cocktails</li><li>Meal kits &#8211; Jubilee picnic hamper with classic staples, coronation afternoon tea box</li><li>Early bird booking offer</li></ul>



Email 2 &#8211; Have you secured your Jubilee table yet?



Audience: All customers, excluding bookers



Sending time: 23rd/24th May



Content ideas:



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Shorter version of Email 1 as a reminder</li><li>Highlight your main events, ie. ‘don’t miss our giant cake stand’</li><li>Create a sense of urgency &#8211; ‘book now’, ‘only limited availability</li><li>Special afternoon tea offer if you book this week, including free drinks</li></ul>



Email 3 &#8211; One week to go &#8211; are you ready to celebrate?



Audience: All customers



Sending time: 26th/27th May



Content ideas:



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>What to look forward to on the weekend</li><li>Sneak peek &#8211; “we’re already busy prepping the venue”</li><li>Head to our socials to stay updated and get involved in competitions</li></ul>



Email 4 &#8211; Last-minute availability for this Jubilee weekend



Audience: All customers, excluding bookers



Sending time: 31st May/1st June



Content ideas:



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Why you should celebrate with us &#8211; event highlights</li><li>Last sales push to fill in empty spaces &#8211; include a special deal</li></ul>



Email 5 &#8211; Your upcoming Jubilee booking



Audience: Bookers only



Sending time: Day before the booking



Content ideas:



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>We can’t wait to celebrate the big Jubilee with you</li><li>Your table on the [date] at [time] for [people] is waiting for you</li><li>Get excited about &#8211; menu highlights, events</li><li>Include upsell offers &#8211; bottomless drinks&nbsp;</li></ul>



Tip &#8211; Make sure to automate this email.



<h5 class="wp-block-heading">Social Media Post Ideas</h5>



 All national events are usually a trending topic across all social channels. Plan about&nbsp;2 posts per week&nbsp;and&nbsp;2-3 stories&nbsp;to get customers excited and hyped up.&nbsp;



And don’t forget to use <a href="https://stampede.ai/resources/hospitality-hashtag-cheat-sheet/">relevant hashtags</a> to give your posts maximum exposure &#8211; #PlatinumJubilee #Jubilee #JubileeParty #JubileeCelebrations #LetsCelebrate.



Some inspiration for your social channels:



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Competition &#8211; create a royal drink, kids/pets royal dress up</li><li>Short video sneak peeks &#8211; kitchen prep, decoration</li><li>Royal-themed quiz</li><li>Giveaway &#8211; share, tag and win</li><li>Introduce entertainment acts, menu highlights</li><li>Booking reminder posts/stories</li></ul>



Jubilee marketing content ready but not sure how to set up your campaign? <a href="https://h.stampede.ai/meetings/stampede/demo" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Get in touch</a> with our team who are happy to help.

Increase Your Footfall With This 5 Part Jubilee Marketing Booster Campaign

As the internet gets “bigger” there’s a constant need for how we interact with it to keep up in performance. People want more, and they want it faster than ever.



Keeping that in mind &#8211; plus a few prickly real-world experiences &#8211; our teams have just completed upgrades to our guest WiFi service.&nbsp;



A great WiFi login is butter smooth, lightning fast, beautifully branded and tastefully personalised. Our latest update levels up all these areas.



Many of you reading this will know that <a href="https://stampede.ai/how-it-works/wifi/">guest WiFi</a> was where <a href="https://stampede.ai/company/">we started back in 2015</a>. Our founder Patrick knew there was a better way to get customers online in hospitality venues. We’ve grown since then, but that mentality is still our driving force.



The other driving force is time. We’ve done this update now (Oct ‘23) so that Stampede users and their customers get the most from the upcoming “golden period” of Christmas.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-highlights">The Highlights</h2>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-speed">Speed</h4>



Three times faster. Or 320% faster to be more accurate. That is the headline result of our recent performance improvements. Customers get online quicker, even in low bandwidth areas.&nbsp;



This results in fewer complaints to staff and less time spent dealing with IT companies. It also means more customers will opt-in to your marketing &#8211; an ideal way to grow your mailing list. <a href="#technicals">Read on</a> to dive into the technical details.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-branding-and-design">Branding and Design</h4>



Consistent branding for your business across all pages with our <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/updates-september-2023">newly released brand kits</a> &#8211; you can read up on them here. Loading, welcome and email validation screens all support brand kits too.&nbsp;



This makes the entire experience more brand-focused, increasing customer recall and making your retention marketing more effective.



A lot of you ask about custom fonts &#8211; this update makes them now available on your WiFi portal and other screens, as per the brand kits.



Lastly &#8211; we’ve made the WiFi service more easily accessible for international customers without the need for them to choose language manually. Using the devices’ locale we automatically change the language in the portal. It’s a nice touch for those of you with regular international customers.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-note-on-paid-wifi">A Note on Paid WiFi</h3>



We’re still supporting many businesses who offer a paid WiFi service, and have dedicated a large amount of effort in this update to improving that side of our guest WiFi.



Using paid access we have supported £1.28m for customers across 59,600 unique payments since starting.



To improve the user experience, the updated paid access now looks and feels like a modern e-commerce shop. The goal is to make it easy for more users to get online in these use cases.



Behind the scenes, we have completely refactored the integrations between PayPal and Stripe to give the whole system a fresh start.



Device management on paid access has historically been problematic for some businesses and users. This has also been reconfigured to make it easier for guests/users to share paid access between accounts.



<code>&lt;a name="technical</code>s&#8221;&gt;&lt;/a&gt;



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-getting-technical">Getting Technical</h3>



If you’re here then it’s time to get into the details. How have we taken world-class guest WiFi and made it even better?



Pre-generated everything



We are now pre-rendering every splash page before guests’ devices to speed up loading times. This is also done in all supported languages (14) which means &#8211; at the time of writing &#8211; we’re generating ~80,000 WiFi login pages before people even log in through them.



Bundle size&nbsp;



As all page generation is pre-generated the bundle size of our WiFi feature has decreased. To load a full page now requires ~140 KB of bandwidth &#8211; it used to be 430kb minimum. This means that WiFi portals will load quickly even in the most challenging connectivity environments.



Event-based



The WiFi feature has been moved into its own dedicated infrastructure which means API calls are entirely independent of other Stampede services. Interconnection between this service and Stampede still happens. This dedicated resource simply acts like a unique power source so it no longer shares power with other Stampede functions.



Client authentication



For true cloud-first WiFi hardware vendors &#8211; like TP-Link and Ubiquiti &#8211; we are now authenticating the guests server-to-server, previously done via client-to-server. This drastically speeds up authentication time, getting users online faster.



Streaming components



Components that affect page load speed like the phone number input, Apple Sign-in and Stripe checkout, are now being <a href="https://nextjs.org/docs/app/building-your-application/routing/loading-ui-and-streaming#what-is-streaming">streamed into the application</a>.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-signing-off">Signing off</h3>



There’s no doubt that this is a significant update. It wouldn’t have been possible without the feedback and input from our customers and partners, so a massive thanks to them.



The depth and detail of this update tell us that even the best always have room to improve. Don’t get too comfortable with the status quo, someone else will be moving the needle elsewhere.



If you want to explore any of these updated features in <a href="https://product.stampede.ai">your Stampede account</a>, or to upgrade your existing guest WiFi, <a href="https://stampede.ai/get-started">our team is here to help.</a>

October Update – 3x Faster Guest WiFi and more

The use of social media to market hospitality businesses has been gaining traction over the past few years, and with good reason. According to <a href="https://blog.hootsuite.com/simon-kemp-social-media/">Hootsuite</a>, 2019 set the record for signing up 3.48 billion social media users (that’s 9% more than the previous year). With a figure such as this, it’s no wonder that businesses are flocking to present themselves to the massive audiences found on social media platforms.&nbsp;But which is the right social media channel for your hospitality business?







The first step towards a successful social media marketing campaign, however, is to choose the correct channels for your business. To kickstart this article, we will raise a few questions that will help you to determine which platforms will benefit your venue. Thereafter, we’ll delve into mentioning our favourite platforms and how they can work for you. &nbsp;



Questions That Will Help You to Find the Best Social Media Channels for Your Hospitality Business:



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Who Is Your Target Audience?</h4>



The first step in any marketing campaign is to determine who you want to connect with. For instance, is your hotel family-friendly? Or does it prefer to host corporates? Does your venue feature a restaurant? Does it welcome day visitors? When you know who you need to reach out to, then its easier to find the right audience.&nbsp;



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Where Are Your Competitors Investing Their Time?</h4>



It never hurts to do a quick investigation into where your competitors spend their time. Do your research and see which social media platforms you can find them on as well as where they are receiving the best type of engagement. This may help you to refine your own social media channel choices. &nbsp;



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">How Seriously Do You Take Your Business’s Photography?</h4>



Are you taking quality photos of your hotel or restaurant? Hi-res and professional images are important if you plan on using image-focused channels such as Instagram and Pinterest.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">How Much Time Are You Willing to Invest in Your Campaigns?</h4>



Whilst any type of successful marketing takes a huge investment of time, the nature of certain channels may require more dedication than others. For example, to maintain engagement, you will need to post more often on a platform such as Twitter than you would on Facebook (where one daily post is repurposed).&nbsp;



Remember, an inactive and unattended social profile gives a cold first impression. And we’re sure that you do not want this to be a reflection of your customer services. &nbsp;



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">What Is Your End Goal?</h4>



This is quite possibly the most important question. Let’s add a sub-question here too: Why do you feel it’s necessary for your hospitality business to have a social media presence?&nbsp;



From communicating with your customers effectively to putting yourself “out there” so that people know you exist, social media provides a hive of activities that could benefit your business.&nbsp;



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Favourable Social Media Platforms for the Hospitality Industry</h4>



Now that you have a good idea of who your audiences are and what you expect from your social media presence, the next step is to select the social media channels that you feel will be most favourable for your hospitality venue.



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



In this section, we will mention a few of the most popular social media platforms. We will give a brief insight into how each one works as well as how it could promote your hospitality business.&nbsp;



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



A good Facebook marketing campaign will help you to solidify your brand. By creating a page for your hotel or restaurant, you can post images, videos, and polls – giving you a variety of fun marketing strategies to work with. You also have the option to boost posts and run paid ads, which means you can increase your levels of engagement.&nbsp; Facebook is a great place to build a community of customers or “fans”. Within this community, you can build trust, encourage “shares” and referrals, and work on your online reviews.&nbsp;



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



Tweets may have a short shelf life but it’s a great way to get your messages, company news and promotions out to the masses. You can also use this channel to chat with guests, handle queries, and attend any complaints. Many hotels use Twitter to connect with travellers whilst building a brand presence.&nbsp;



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



Corporates love LinkedIn and if you if your venue is a great place for businessmen to congregate, then an active page on LinkedIn could be to your benefit. You can use this platform to share achievements, make new announcements, and highlight good reviews. Use this medium to establish your hotel’s leadership within the hospitality industry.&nbsp;



But bear in mind, LinkedIn is representing your company from the professional side, so plan your posts accordingly. It&#8217;s also always a good way to attract new employees.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Google+&nbsp;</h4>



Having a profile on Google+ will get you onto the ultimate map i.e. Google Maps! Apart from increasing your chances of being found on search engines, this channel ensures that any comments from guests or patrons will also appear in search results defined on Google Maps.



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



Remember we asked if you are willing to put effort into your photos? If your answer is “yes’, then Instagram is a great place to showcase your venue. This channel is a <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/how-to-take-perfect-food-image-for-instagram/">visual paradise</a> and for the best effect, images must be accompanied with appropriate hashtags. <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/rock-your-restaurant-with-wifi-and-instagram/">Instagram is one of the fastest-growing social media marketing channels</a> for businesses because it keeps things simple and appealing.&nbsp;



Instagram stories are another quick way of showing off your venue and boosting interaction. You could give your guests a sneak behind the scenes. Or why not use it to promote short-term deals to create a sense of urgency. 



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



Like Instagram, excellent photos are a must for Pinterest accounts. The aim is to get your images re-pinned by other users and to gain a fan following.&nbsp; This channel requires a little less maintenance – although the audiences are not as huge as some of the other platforms. &nbsp;



When a hotel or restaurant’s social media strategy is refined, it can give a massive boost to revenue and brand presence. Here at Stampede, we use <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/how-marketing-with-wifi-benefits-your-business/">WiFi marketing</a> as a strategy to redirect customers to your social media pages, thus increasing engagement and brand awareness.&nbsp;



 To increase your effectiveness on your social media channels, get in touch with us.



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





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

How To Find the Right Social Media Channel for Your Hospitality Business

One prominent trend in the hospitality industry is the rising&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://mailchi.mp/exp101/good-morning-ring-an-old-friend-today?e=68c993fe11" target="_blank">customer demand for personalisation</a>. Personalisation is your key ingredient to creating a&nbsp;memorable customer experience. An experience that makes customers come back and spread the word about you.



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



 Simply put, personalisation is an easy and straightforward way to stand out, increase your sales and grow your business.&nbsp;



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-you-should-focus-more-on-personalisation">Why you should focus more on personalisation</h4>



<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.revinate.com/blog/infographic-personalization-struggle-hotel-marketing/" target="_blank">62% of customers say they have recommended, chosen, or paid more for a brand that provides personalised service</a>.



It’s time to move away from the one-size-fits-all approach many businesses still rely on. Customers want to be understood as individuals and served according to their needs.



Data helps you to unlock the huge potential&nbsp;for a personalised experience. However, gathering data often raises concerns around security and the assumption that customers would not want to give their details away.



Despite that, recent studies have shown that&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.fsrmagazine.com/expert-takes/diners-crave-personalized-experiences-are-you-delivering?fbclid=IwAR3vB4e9iY0arMVdccpQQjmj99MSe0_HZn087oYLY-7vbAyxKtEZ0kApFvA" target="_blank">84% of customers say they trust restaurants with their personal data if it translates to a better, more personalised experience</a>.&nbsp;



So, make sure to use the data and derive real value from it to create targeted and relevant offers.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="how-to-grow-your-business-with-personalisation">How to grow your business with personalisation</h4>



Personalisation is not only about satisfying your customers&#8217; needs. There is more it can do to grow your businesses.



<h5 class="wp-block-heading" id="foster-customer-loyalty">Foster customer loyalty</h5>



Personalisation is the foundation of your relationship building. If you greet your customers by name whilst already preparing their favourite coffee it might not be a big deal for you. But will definitely be remembered by your customers. Think of how Starbucks is applying this principle by calling customers by their first name when their order is ready.



The same applies to keeping track of dietary requirements and food preferences to adjust your personalised menu recommendations accordingly.



<h5 class="wp-block-heading" id="increase-revenue">Increase revenue</h5>



In addition, remembering customer preferences based on past purchases gives you an easy&nbsp;opportunity to upsell. You know what they like, so why not proactively offer it to them when taking their order.&nbsp;



Also, email campaigns that include&nbsp;personalised offers and deals come with a much higher conversion rate (up to 6x). Start building customer mailing list segments based on transactional behaviour, interactions and demographics to better tailor your campaigns.



<h5 class="wp-block-heading" id="boost-word-of-mouth">Boost word of mouth</h5>



We all like to share special moments with others. So whenever you exceed your customers’ expectations chances are that they will recommend you, post about you and leave a positive review. This will, of course, bring in new customers.



<h5 class="wp-block-heading" id="improve-operational-efficiency">Improve operational efficiency</h5>



 If you know what customers want and like you can&nbsp;better predict trends. Give them more of what they like and take unpopular items off your menu. This will also help you towards better inventory management and further reduce costs.



 Watch out for <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/how-to-bring-customers-back-using-customer-data-and-personalisation-part-ii/">Part II of this blog article</a>, about what is needed to create a personalised experience, including some inspiring ideas.



Need help sending out <a href="https://stampede.ai/how-it-works/">tailored email &amp; SMS campaigns</a>?&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://calendly.com/stampedeae/stampede-demo-request" target="_blank">Get in touch</a>&nbsp;with one of our&nbsp;team who are happy to run you through it.

Drive Revenue And Loyalty With Personalisation [Part I]

Data from the <a href="https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/employmentandemployeetypes/articles/ishybridworkingheretostay/2022-05-23#:~:text=More%20than%20three%2Dquarters%20(78,had%20fewer%20distractions%20(53%25).">Office of National Statistics</a> suggest that the number of people who regularly work from home has doubled since pre-pandemic times.



As the novelty of working from home wears off, demand for public spaces that offer a social yet productive working environment will grow.



If you own a coffee shop with plenty of space then you are in a prime position to take advantage of this demand. You already have many pieces in place to set up a good coworking space.&nbsp;



With <a href="https://drinkycoffee.com/coffee-statistics/">coffee shop revenues still below pre-pandemic numbers</a>, this could be an excellent opportunity for coffee shop owners to recover and diversify their income.



Here we will go through the necessary steps to accommodate paid coworking customers in your coffee shop.



<h5 class="wp-block-heading">1. Assess Demand for Coworking Space</h5>



Before you plough time and money into setting up your coffee shop for coworking, you should first try to find out how likely it is people in your local area would be willing to pay to work at your premises.



There are a few ways of doing this. They include:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Look online if there are any coworking spaces in your area. If there are some then it&#8217;s very likely that there is demand for these types of spaces in your local area.</li>
</ul>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Take note of how regularly people work at your coffee shop. Many of these people would be willing to pay a small fee to work there if you can provide a more productive space.</li>
</ul>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Put up a comments and suggestions box in your shop with a sign above it saying &#8211; “We are thinking of offering coworking with ergonomic furniture and high-speed internet. Would any of you be interested in this?” Check how many people have expressed interest over a four-week period</li>
</ul>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>If you have some sort of online access to your customers (active social media account or <a href="https://stampede.ai/how-it-works/marketing">email list</a>) then simply ask your customers on there.</li>
</ul>



It&#8217;s really important that you get some sort of interest in coworking before you make any moves to implement it in your business.



Do not assume that a lack of competition in your local area means that you have found an underserved market. In ninety-nine per cent of cases, a lack of competition means a lack of demand.



<h5 class="wp-block-heading">2. Designating a Space for Coworking</h5>



Once you have decided that you are going to offer coworking at your premises, the next step is to decide which part of your coffee shop you are going to set up a coworking space. And how much of your premises will be designated for coworkers.



When it comes to deciding where in your shop you want to have your coworkers, you should remember that one of the biggest needs of working people is for their environment to be quiet.&nbsp;



Therefore you should try to select a space that is as far away from any of the noisiest areas of your shop as possible.&nbsp;



If you have the means to have a physical barrier between the coworking space and other areas of your shop (say an upstairs area, for example) then this is ideal.&nbsp;



It may also be worth investing in a sound system that allows you to exclude music from your designated coworking space while still having it piped into other areas of your premises.



You also need a dedicated space big enough to meet your demand from coworkers.



I’ve found that during working hours, about one-fifth of your customers will be coworkers. So try to dedicate around that proportion of your seated area to coworking.



<h5 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-3-deciding-on-pricing-and-terms">3. Deciding on Pricing and Terms</h5>



Coworking is usually either priced as an individual fee per day, or as a monthly fee that covers a certain number of hours per month.



You are also going to have to decide what is included in this fee. Are coworkers entitled to unlimited food and drinks as part of their fee, or will this be sold separately?



In my experience, the best way of pricing out coworking at a coffee shop is to offer a monthly fee for a certain number of hours. Allow one meal, unlimited drinks and a selection of unlimited snacks as part of this.



Offering free food and drinks as part of your terms gives you a real competitive advantage over coworking spaces. While many coworking spaces do offer complimentary snacks and drinks, these won’t be of the same quality as ones freshly prepared by you.



While you may not be able to offer meeting rooms and private phone booths at your coffee shops, your ability to offer superior food and drinks should make you more appealing to freelancers and solo workers.



When it comes to pricing, current rates (2022) for coworking tend to be around £75 &#8211; £100 for part-time (2-3 days a week) and £125 &#8211; £180 for full-time (5 days a week).



The main variable for this cost is location. So if you are based in London then it&#8217;s likely you will be at the top end of this scale.



Of course, you will have to experiment with pricing and find the sweet spot between profitability per head and demand.



<h5 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-4-getting-the-required-infrastructure-in-place">4. Getting the Required Infrastructure in Place</h5>



To have any chance of being competitive in the coworking market you will need to offer customers:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Ergonomic padded chairs with armrests</li>



<li>Tables of a suitable height to work at&nbsp;</li>



<li>High-speed, reliable <a href="https://stampede.ai/how-it-works/wifi/">guest WiFi</a> that can handle multiple users at the same time</li>



<li>A quiet environment</li>



<li>A means of <a href="https://stampede.ai/how-it-works/marketing">communicating with existing</a> customers</li>



<li>Opening hours during regular office hours (and ideally longer)</li>
</ul>



Many coffee shops are unlikely to have the required table and chairs, or the internet.&nbsp;



It is imperative that you invest in these things before you offer coworking.&nbsp;



Offering a bad coworking experience due to insufficient infrastructure can damage your reputation and ruin your chances of being seen as a viable coworking option by local people going forward.



<h5 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-5-marketing-yourselves-as-a-coworking-space">5. Marketing Yourselves as a Coworking Space</h5>



In my experience, the best way of marketing yourself as a coworking space is to try and rank for the term: “coworking space in [your location]” on Google.



So long as you narrow this down to your really local area, say “coworking space in Hackney” rather than “coworking space in London”, then you have a decent chance of ranking due to a lack of competing coworking spaces in this area.



To optimise your website for this keyword, just do the following:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Set up a dedicated page on your website for your coworking where you talk about your offering and terms. Make sure this is titled with your target keyword.</li>



<li>Add that you offer coworking in your business description and services in your Google My Business account</li>



<li>Add that you offer coworking on some areas of your website’s homepage</li>



<li>Look around if there are any online directories dedicated to coworking spaces and sign yourself up for these.</li>
</ul>



You will not rank for coworking-related keywords immediately. However, if you follow these steps you should be appearing in these searches within a couple of months.



Other ways that you can market yourself as a coworking space include:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Having a sign outside your premises</li>



<li>Making social media posts about it and asking your followers to share it</li>



<li>Emailing existing customers on your email list</li>



<li>Taking out an advertisement in the local newspaper (this is always cheaper and more effective than you expect it to be)</li>
</ul>



<h5 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-final-thoughts">Final Thoughts</h5>



The rise of remote working after the pandemic has meant that the part-time coworking space market will certainly grow in the next few years.



Coffee shops are in a prime position to take advantage of this as they can set up a coworking space without core changes to their business operations. All they need are a few tweaks to be able to compete with (often overpriced) dedicated coworking spaces.



If you have a large premise, then this could be an excellent opportunity for you to increase and diversify your income.



This article was written by Oli Baise. Oli helps run London-based coffee shop The Coffee Traveller. He writes about all things coffee and the coffee industry in his blog <a href="https://drinkycoffee.com/">Drinky Coffee</a>.

How to Set Up a Coworking Space in Your Coffee Shop

Patrick Clover

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

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

WiFi in Hospitals – Improving the Patient Care Experience

In March 2021, Google has launched a new, exciting feature called ‘<a href="https://support.google.com/hotelprices/answer/10472393?hl=en&amp;ref_topic=10468394" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">free booking links</a>’ made for hotels and vacation rental properties. The idea is to get more free, organic traffic to the hotel’s website through better visibility on Google Search and Maps. This will ultimately&nbsp;increase direct bookings.



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



So, can this feature be a game-changer for online hotel bookings?



We had a closer look into how it works and how you can get the most out of it for your business.



<h5 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-it-works">How It Works</h5>



The booking link can be added to your Google profile and acts as a&nbsp;free listing of your rates and availabilities. The link appears alongside the paid ads in the booking module (see example below).



To use this feature you have to be registered at the&nbsp;<a href="https://support.google.com/hotelprices/answer/10123427" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Google Hotel Centre</a>&nbsp;or using Google Ads.



Hotels can choose which landing page they want their link to go to and Google will extract room availability and room rates from there.



When customers then search for a hotel, they can see the hotel’s own prices as well as any OTA offers. This way, they can quickly compare prices but also book directly from there.



As shown in the Best Western Hotel example below, the listing includes:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>The hotel/property name</li>



<li>The room rate for the selected date</li>



<li>‘Official site’ badge and logo</li>



<li>Any additional amenities, such as free cancellation, special offers, etc.</li>
</ul>



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



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><a href="https://stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Screenshot-2022-05-11-at-07.12.18.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://image.stampede.ai/fill/703/1005/ce/0/aHR0cHM6Ly9zdGFtcGVkZS5haS93cC1jb250ZW50L3VwbG9hZHMvMjAyMi8wNS9TY3JlZW5zaG90LTIwMjItMDUtMTEtYXQtMDcuMTIuMTgucG5n" alt="Google Booking Link Example" class="wp-image-21616" width="527" height="754"/></a></figure>



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



<h5 class="wp-block-heading">Tips For A Higher Ranking</h5>



As those links are unpaid, they’re ranked according to the utility to users, which makes it a bit tricky to manage.



Some tips to&nbsp;rank higher on the listing:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Offer the best rate when guests book direct</li>



<li>Check that the prices on the listing match to those on your landing page</li>



<li>Keep enough availability for your direct bookings</li>



<li>Make sure your My Business listing on Google is updated and as detailed as it can be with reviews, high-quality imagery, amenities, etc.</li>



<li>Provide a user-friendly landing page experience</li>
</ul>



Also, check out the dedicated&nbsp;reporting feature&nbsp;in the Google Hotel Centre. You can see how many people have clicked on your link, as well as impressions and average booking value.



Use those insights to further&nbsp;optimise for direct bookings. Such as improving your landing page experience, reviewing your pricing strategy and comparing against local competitors.&nbsp;



What is the conclusion, are those free booking links as good as they sound?



The biggest bonus certainly is that the&nbsp;feature comes at no cost.&nbsp;It doesn’t involve much work to be set up but can certainly help to increase direct bookings.



It allows hotels to convert guests at an early point in their search and purchasing process. Plus, you get&nbsp;access to the guest data&nbsp;which you can use for future marketing purposes to boost guest loyalty. So, it is definitely worth setting it up.&nbsp;



<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://calendly.com/stampedeae/stampede-demo-request" target="_blank">Reach out</a>&nbsp;to find out how you can use your collected guest data to create personalised marketing campaigns that convert.

This Free Google Tool Can Increase Direct Bookings With Ease

Getting Started with Guest WiFi in your Venue Today

Providing Guest WiFi to the Royal Highland Centre

GDPR, WiFi, Stampede and You

Stampede WiFi and GDPR

Stampede at EIE Scotland

Why Offer WiFi as a Service?

Good Adverts, Bad Adverts

Shorter is Better! The 133 Character Limit

Offer GDPR Compliant WiFi with Stampede

As a hospitality operator, it&#8217;s essential to efficiently manage your customer relationships which helps you provide the best customer experience. After all, this is what builds the foundation for sustainable and long-term success.&nbsp;



Putting a profound customer relationship management (CRM) strategy in place should be part of your overall game plan.&nbsp;



In this article, we&#8217;ll have a look at the role your CRM system plays in creating and executing an effective strategy that drives growth.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-is-a-crm-strategy">What is a CRM strategy?</h2>



Put simply, a CRM strategy is a plan that outlines how a company will engage with its customers and use data to foster long-term loyalty and growth.&nbsp;



It usually consists of a mixture of company-wide processes and planned actions, which are often executed and managed with the help of technology. The overall aim is to reduce acquisition costs and increase customer lifetime value.&nbsp;



With a well-defined strategy established, companies can streamline their processes, efficiency as well as operations and also gain a better understanding of their customers&#8217; needs.&nbsp;



To accomplish the set goals, it’s vital to leverage the insights and capabilities of your tech tools. Your <a href="https://stampede.ai/amaze">CRM system</a> is most important here as it stores all the relevant customer information.



This will help you to turn your strategy into tangible action that can be tracked. You can also better analyse your data to inform your marketing and sales decisions.



However, there is no one-size-fits-all solution here, as businesses of different sizes and industries will ultimately require different approaches. 



So, before you get started, it’s important to understand what components go into a CRM strategy.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-3-key-hospitality-crm-strategy-components">3 key hospitality CRM strategy components</h2>



A successful hospitality CRM strategy is centred around your unique business needs and your customers.&nbsp;



The following three steps will guide operators in coming up with their own CRM strategy.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Step 1 &#8211; Define your goals</h4>



The first step is to lay out clear goals that align with your business&#8217;s overall objectives and that your team can follow.&nbsp;



For example, a small restaurant might be looking to quickly grow its mailing list. A large hotel chain, on the other hand, might be seeking to increase direct bookings and get access to customer data.



Tip: Make use of the <a href="https://asana.com/resources/smart-goals">SMART goal-setting formula</a> here. Goals should always be specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound. And don’t forget to regularly check your goals to make sure they are still up to date.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Step 2 &#8211; Describe your customer journey</h4>



The next step is to map out your full customer journey.



This involves taking into account every single touchpoint, both online and offline, that a customer encounters when engaging with you. Consider online reservations, WiFi sign-ups, and loyalty scheme usage but also physical in-venue visits.&nbsp;



By identifying these touchpoints, you can develop action points and define goals to improve the customer experience.&nbsp;



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Step 3 &#8211; Build a target customer profile</h4>



It&#8217;s also important to define who your customers are in order to better target your audiences.



For this step, you need to segment all your customers into distinct categories.&nbsp;



Think about the different personas that come to your venue. Include basic background information such as demographics, profession, etc. In addition, consider why they’ve chosen your venue and what they expect from you.



For a coffee shop, their main customer base is probably workers of all ages stopping by to pick up their morning coffee. But there are also social drinkers who come to meet with their family and friends and who stay in your venue for longer.&nbsp;



For a hotel, this will look totally different. Their focus might be on families and/or couples with a certain budget. Or maybe their main clientele is business travellers. All these come with different amenity expectations.&nbsp;&nbsp;



Your CRM system will be a great supporter in this step. It helps you get a deep understanding of your customers and tailor your marketing strategies accordingly for maximum impact.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-crm-dashboard-management">CRM dashboard management</h2>



One key feature of your <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/crm-dashboard-definition-and-benefits-for-the-hospitality-industry">CRM solution is the dashboard</a>. With its ability to provide insights and data about your operations, you can make more informed and strategic decisions. Whilst also keeping track of the progress towards your goals. 



But to truly harness the power of this tool, <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/how-to-build-a-customisable-hospitality-crm-dashboard">customisation is necessary</a>. For hospitality businesses in particular, key performance indicators (KPIs) may vary greatly compared to other industries. So to have the ability to tailor your dashboard to your specific needs is vital.



Some KPIs that are relevant to hospitality businesses include:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Customer retention rate</li>



<li>Average spend per customer</li>



<li>Number of direct bookings /online reservations made</li>



<li>Guest satisfaction ratings</li>



<li>Number of loyalty program signups</li>
</ul>



Many CRMs come with pre-made dashboards that you can adapt or even the option to create ones from scratch using different graphs and reports.



However, it’s important not to overload your dashboard. Keep it simple and focus on the most important metrics. This way, it’s easier for staff to spot trends at one glance and act upon them immediately.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-drive-sales-with-your-crm-system">Drive sales with your CRM system</h2>



With the insights and data that a CRM system provides, hospitality marketers can <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/increase-sales-with-your-crm-and-marketing-automation">level up their sales strategy</a> and grow their customer base more effectively.&nbsp;



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



One of the most effective marketing strategies is <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/how-to-create-personalised-marketing-campaigns-with-your-crm">personalised campaigns</a> that speak to the specific needs and interests of the individual customer.&nbsp;



This is where a CRM shines. It collects and collates data on each customer&#8217;s interactions, purchases, and preferences, which can be further segmented into categories.



Some example categories for hospitality operators could be:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>First-time visitors</li>



<li>Loyalty program users</li>



<li>Demographical &#8211; students, families, male/female</li>



<li>Geographical &#8211; locals</li>



<li>Upcoming birthday</li>



<li>Customers who have left a review</li>



<li>Customers who have made an online purchase</li>



<li>Customers who have not been at your venue for a certain period of time</li>
</ul>



By using this input to tailor marketing messages, businesses can significantly increase their chances of conversion and repeat business.&nbsp;



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



Additionally, setting up marketing automation for email and SMS campaigns can save time and ensure that every customer receives targeted and relevant messages. When CRM data insights and marketing automation are used together, businesses can create a truly powerful marketing strategy.



Automated welcome emails are one common marketing automation used by hospitality businesses. These are triggered when customers make their first booking or sign up for the newsletter. The goal is to stay in touch and turn them into loyal customers.



Additionally, you could set up automated booking reminders and confirmations via email and/or SMS. This helps hospitality operators reduce no-shows and also provides an opportunity to upsell.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-4-quick-crm-tips-for-hospitality-operators">4 Quick CRM tips for hospitality operators</h2>



Here are some quick tips to help you maximise your marketing strategy using the power of your CRM platform:



<ol class="wp-block-list">
<li>Invest time in proper staff CRM training</li>



<li>Collate data from various tech tools to build a full customer profile</li>



<li>Keep your data clean and regularly updated your customer records</li>



<li>Use customer history and interaction to upsell</li>
</ol>



We’ve got some more tips and tricks for you <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/8-quick-tips-to-maximise-your-hospitality-crm">in this blog post</a>.



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



Any CRM strategy development for hospitality businesses should begin with defining goals that are in line with your overall strategy and values. It is therefore highly individual to each company.



Companies also need to understand and map out the customer journey as well as their customer personas to see how it fits into the overall sales, marketing and growth strategy.



Once all that is in place, operators should use their <a href="https://stampede.ai/">CRM system</a> to monitor, manage, and optimise each customer touchpoint. This can easily be done through the integrated dashboard feature, which should also be customised to only show relevant metrics.

How To Create A Hospitality CRM Strategy That Drives Results

This week’s social media topics are great to boost engagement with your customers in a funny way and also to do something good.&nbsp;



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



 Here are our top picks for this week.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-8th-of-december-pretendtobeatimetravelerday">8th of December &#8211; #PretendToBeATimeTravelerDay</h4>



Calling all those Doctor Who fans out there, this is your day! Time travelling has captured our imagination for centuries. It’s about getting an answer to the “What if?” question, learning more about the past or finding out what the future holds.



 Choose a time period you want to be in. Get dressed accordingly and start acting as a time traveller. Get creative here, you might use words from the past and regard everything with curiosity and fascination. Technology, what’s that?



 Tip: Ask your customers &#8211; If you could travel back when/where would you go?



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-9th-of-december-christmascardday">9th of December &#8211; #ChristmasCardDay</h4>



Are your team “I love sending greeting cards to everyone” or rather “Nah, can’t be bothered”?&nbsp;



 Each year approximately 2 billion Christmas cards are sent in the US, with 900 million in the UK. That’s a lot! On average, people in the UK sent 16 cards. Despite the trend moving towards e-cards and greetings via social media, paper cards are still preferred by the majority.



 No matter if you go for paper or digital, the tradition of sending a card to loved ones has been upheld. It is always nice to receive a personalised card, someone is thinking of you and spent some time writing a card.&nbsp;



Tip: Newsletter time &#8211; start preparing your holiday wishes to your customers. Think of the content and images you want to use. You might use a quote or share a story of your venue.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-11th-of-december-christmasjumperday">11th of December &#8211; #ChristmasJumperDay</h4>



Christmas jumpers are a substantial part of Christmas! Who’s got the silliest one? Once a tradition, now definitely a trend. But how did the knitwear become so popular? It was in 2001 when two Canadians organised the first “Ugly Christmas Sweater Party”.&nbsp;



 But did you know that Christmas Jumper Day is a cheerful and festive event to raise funds for the Save the Children charity? Get your team involved and don’t forget to share it with your customers. <a href="https://www.savethechildren.org.uk/christmas-jumper-day" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Find out more here</a>



Tip: Share a pic of your staff proudly wearing their jumpers. Also a great opportunity for a social media competition &#8211; post a pic of you in your favourite jumper and tag a friend to win.&nbsp;



 If you&#8217;ve got your email holiday greetings ready to go and could do with a little helping hand, <a href="https://stampede.ai/company/#contact" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">get in touch</a> with our team. We&#8217;ll support you getting the word out to your customers.

What’s On This Week – 7/12/2020

Chris Wilkie

We’re excited to announce a new integration between Stampede and <a href="https://www.tp-link.com/uk/omada/">TP-Link’s Omada controller</a>.



<a href="https://www.tp-link.com/uk/">TP-Link</a> was founded in 1996 and has become a recognised global provider of networking devices and accessories. 



The Omada ecosystem (formerly Auranet) is a business wireless solution that includes hardware and software. It enables easy management of networks in one centralised platform. The system has been set up with scalability in mind. Perfect for businesses looking to expand their number of locations or improve connectivity in current venues.



As Stampede now integrates with this solution, TP-Link hardware is now another one of the many hardware suppliers that can host our <a href="https://stampede.ai/how-it-works/wifi/">Guest WiFi solution</a>. And of course, the numerous other features that dovetail from it, including <a href="https://stampede.ai/how-it-works/automations/">Reviews</a> and <a href="https://stampede.ai/how-it-works/marketing/">Stories</a>.



With scalability and growth as shared values, this is a brilliant opportunity for more businesses to benefit.



Find out more about the TP-Link Omada controller and how it could work for your venue – <a href="https://www.tp-link.com/uk/omada/">https://www.tp-link.com/uk/omada/</a>



Already using TP-Link in your venues?



Get started with our Guest WiFi captive portal <a href="https://signup.stampede.ai?vendor=tplink">here</a>.

Stampede now integrates with TP-Link and their Omada controller

New Integration with TP-Link Omada

Halloween is coming up end of this week! Despite celebrations being a bit different this year, it&#8217;s not too late to ramp up a virtual trick and treat.



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



Here are some ideas:



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Leverage your social media channels for spooktacular last-minute deals and contests</li><li>Halloweenise your food and drink offerings and showcase them online</li><li>If you&#8217;re offering takeaway or delivery: sneak a nasty little surprise into the box</li></ul>



Apart from Halloween, this week is all about #food. Here&#8217;s three inspirations for your social media and email marketing:



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wednesday-28th-national-chocolate-day"> Wednesday 28th &#8211; National Chocolate Day</h4>



We kick off with National Chocolate Day. Who can resist a (big) piece of chocolate now and then. Proven to raise our endorphin levels and make people happy, what&#8217;s not to like? And as we all know, Chocolate grows on trees, which makes it a plant after all &#8230;&nbsp;



Tip: <a href="https://zapier.com/blog/best-poll-apps/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Social Media Poll</a> Question (including a prize to win) &#8211; What&#8217;s your favourite chocolate dish?



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-thursday-29th-national-oatmeal-day"> Thursday 29th &nbsp;&#8211; National Oatmeal Day</h4>



Love it or hate it. Oatmeal. Coming from humble beginnings, it used to be the food for the poor, but today the ancient grain is praised by nutritionists around the world and is a staple of our breakfast bowls.



Tip: Breakfast bowls are very photogenic. A great opportunity to showcase all the healthy ingredients it contains. Check-out this instagram feed from <a href="https://www.instagram.com/hulajuicebar/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hula Juice Bar</a> to get some inspiration.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-vegetarian-month">Vegetarian Month</h4>



October is also Vegetarian Month. And thinking of Halloween, <a href="https://www.delish.com/cooking/g1770/best-pumpkin-recipes/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pumpkin</a>&nbsp;comes straight to mind.



From mouth-watering pumpkin pie, creamy pumpkin pasta to exotic pumpkin spiced cocktails. There are lot of yummy food &amp; drinks you can create here.



Tip: Share your chef&#8217;s favourite pumpkin recipe with your customers, and encourage them to share their own creations with you. Don&#8217;t forget the hashtags!



If you&#8217;ve got a spooky story to tell or offer to promote and could do with a little helping hand, <a href="https://stampede.ai/company/#contact" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">get in touch</a> with our team. We&#8217;ll support you getting the word out to your customers.

What’s On This Week? – 26/10/2020

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

What’s On This Week? – 15/03/2021

Earlier this year Tripadvisor launched Travel Safe. A series of updates to the Tripadvisor website that added safety measure related features for both consumers and businesses using the site. It affects the visibility of businesses in search results. But also how customers will search for restaurants, hotels, bars and other hospitality venues.



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



Today, we&#8217;re going to take a look at an example of the <a href="http://ir.tripadvisor.com/news-releases/news-release-details/tripadvisor-launches-travel-safe-tools-making-it-easy-travelers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Travel Safe updates</a> in action and walk through how to make the best use of this latest feature set.



We recently shared <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/safety-measure-transparency-on-tripadvisor/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">how less than 2%</a> of venues in the U.K.&#8217;s 30 biggest cities have included details of their new safety measures. In our research, we saw good and not-so-good ways of providing this information for customers.



It&#8217;s free to update your Tripadvisor listing with safety measure information, and it can provide increased visibility for your business.



First, take a look at the example below (We&#8217;ve anonymised this):



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" src="https://unroll-images-production.s3.amazonaws.com/projects/2586/1596554875210-blob" alt="Tripadvisor travel safe update whole section"/></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bullet-points">Bullet Points</h3>



The bullet point list is created from a checklist that Tripadvisor has built based on instructions from leading authorities. In your <a href="https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Owners" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tripadvisor Management Center</a>, you can select which items from the health &amp; safety checklist you have in place to add them to your bullet point list.



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="alignright size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/tripadvisor-travel-safe.png" alt="tripadvisor travel safe" class="wp-image-19138" width="377" height="276" srcset="https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/tripadvisor-travel-safe.png 754w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/tripadvisor-travel-safe-300x220.png 300w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/tripadvisor-travel-safe-150x110.png 150w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/tripadvisor-travel-safe-592x433.png 592w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/tripadvisor-travel-safe-82x60.png 82w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/tripadvisor-travel-safe-123x90.png 123w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 377px) 100vw, 377px" /></figure></div>



The top 5 items appear on the search results screen when people interact with the safety measures badge (see right). You can&#8217;t reorder this list, unfortunately. Tripadvisor have chosen which items take priority. These include face-coverings for staff, hand sanitiser availability, social distancing and hand washing. 



Within your listing, you can show the full list of all safety measures in place. This is a prime opportunity to boost consumer confidence.&nbsp;



To appear in the Tripadvisor &#8220;safety measures&#8221; search filter and get the badge (as seen above) you need to add some items to this list at the very least.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-text-block">The Text Block</h3>



Alongside the bullet point list is an optional text box for venue owners to add additional details. If there are safety measures not included on the checklist/bullet points, this is where to include them.



You could include details of any accreditations for safety you might have, changes to how customers enter and exit the building, any menu changes in place or what your specific headcount limits may be, and so on.



Another nice touch we&#8217;ve seen is a personal note, such as a thank you to those who supported the venue during lockdown.



Lastly, this text box also allows you to include web links to your website or even a video showcasing the new customer experience.



This is a very useful, flexible space where you can drive home your key messages for customers.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-contact-details">Contact Details</h3>



Finally, there is the contact info section. If customers still have questions they can find answers by emailing, phoning or asking other Tripadvisor users. The &#8220;Ask a question&#8221; button links to your venue&#8217;s FAQ section on Tripadvisor.



Check that contact details are correct so that the questions come through to the right people.



If you want to read more about our recent research, and why making these updates to your profile matters so much, check out our <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/safety-measure-transparency-on-tripadvisor/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">blog article.</a>

How to Update Your Tripadvisor with Safety Measures

It all started a few years ago &#8211; every single coffee shop, restaurant or retail shop offered free WiFi to customers.

The reason for the explosive growth of WiFi in restaurants, cafes and bars is simple: making the customer feel comfortable at the venue eventually will result in customers staying longer and spending more. Usually we agree, free Guest WiFi is fundamental today and the opportunities that WiFi brings to a shop are too valuable to ignore them. At the same time, it must be said that offering a free Guest Network has resulted in problems for some shop owners.
<h3>The Problem with Unlimited WiFi</h3>
When WiFi became available in businesses, loads of people used the opportunity and started working from cafés or restaurants. Working remotely became a trend as many cafés became crowded with students, remote workers and their laptops. The problem many shop owners faced was that people entered the venue, got one cup of coffee and occupied the tables for the rest of the day. Not very lucrative, as cafés and restaurants make a living by serving a large number of visitors throughout the day. Shop owners rely on people entering the shop, having a coffee and leaving again- that’s the natural coffee shop cycle. With laptops and remote work, this natural time cycle is extended and the concept of coffee shops is not as profitable anymore.
<h3>Managed Guest WiFi</h3>
So, what can you do to prevent people from abusing the free guest network at shops and hospitality venues? There are several ways to tackle that problem. First of all, we recommend shop owners to actively manage their WiFi network. There’s absolutely no point in simply sharing an open network and letting every guest hop on to use however they please. To establish a set of basic rules, we advice shop owners to set a bandwidth limit for guests. This is a very simple and basic step to take but it ensures that every user of the network gets a fair share of the WiFi. Otherwise, some people could be downloading whole movies, while leaving the rest of customers with a slow connection and a tainted experience at the venue.
<h3>Defeating the Bandwidth Hogs</h3>
Managing your guest WiFi is made incredibly easy with a suitable piece of software, like ours, Stampede. What it helps you to do, is spot network abuse very easily. Network abusers, so called “Bandwidth Hogs”, appear on the list of people who are logged into the network. You can spot them easily by looking out for people with the highest amount of downloaded data. These Bandwidth Hogs’ access to the network can be revoked in seconds and you can make sure no one is abusing your WiFi.
<h3>Scheduling</h3>
Another useful function of a managed WiFi network, is to schedule it according to the opening times of the shop. There’s no reason to keep the network up all night, right? Therefore, we suggest scheduling the network to make it turn on in the morning, when the shop opens and make it switch off again when you lock the doors and go home, as simple as that.
<h3>Hybrid WiFi Networks</h3>
For cafés and restaurants that struggle to keep their business profitable due to students and remote workers camping in the venue, we have a great solution, too. Before you kick them out immediately, why not provide a hybrid network? What this type of network does is offers free WiFi for the first 500 MegaByte (could be more or less) of data. When the free data is used, guests are asked to pay for additional data. This is a useful tool because walk-in customer still enjoy the amenity of free Guest WiFi for the duration of a cup of coffee AND the business can establish another source of income from people who stay at the venue for work and pay for any extra data they require.
<h3>Reach Out With Automated Marketing</h3>
Talking about generating more income, did you know a smart guest wifi can send out automated messages to customers? Imagine a customer orders a coffee, sits down and starts working. A smart network will realize the customer spent an hour on the network and can send out an email or an SMS to the guest and suggest him or her to get a refill. An easy way to remind customers to have another cup or to have a cupcake with their coffee.
<h3>We Can Help You Defeat the Hogs</h3>
As you can see, learning about who is using your network in what manner can be very helpful for business owners. Steps to measure, track and control what guests do on a guest network can be taken very easily with the right Software. If you are interested in spotting the Bandwidth Hogs, setting speed limits or monetizing your guest WiFi, we are happy to help you out. Simply hit the button below and get in touch!
<a class="eut-modal-popup" href="https://calendly.com/stampedeae/stampede-demo-request?month=2020-02">Click here to get started.</a>

Kicking People off Your WiFi

Introducing AI Segments for Marketing

A more effective ways to run Meta ads for hospitality

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

How to Use Segmentation to Increase Guest Engagement in Hospitality

Introducing Quick Campaigns

Snap Box – Stampede Network Application

Stampede-Meta Audience Connect: Simplifying multi-channel marketing strategies

A new kind of marketplace for hospitality apps

New Features & Updates – September 2023

When business picked up after lockdown, the popular western US brand&nbsp;<a href="http://ribandchophouse/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rib &amp; Chop House</a>&nbsp;decided to elevate their loyalty program to a paid scheme to reward their most dedicated customers.&nbsp;



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



Since implementing their&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fsrmagazine.com/expert-takes/rib-chop-houses-loyalty-membership-turns-guests-brand-evangelists" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">exclusive pay-to-join, limited membership ‘Royalty Program’</a>&nbsp;they have reported great results and have now shared their success story.



<h5 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-customer-loyalty-vs-royalty">Customer Loyalty Vs Royalty</h5>



A royalty program allows you to reward your most loyal customers with&nbsp;unparalleled benefits&nbsp;on every visit. This way you can turn your top-tier customers into brand fanatics.



But what makes Rib &amp; Chop House&#8217;s program so successful? We had a closer look.



<h5 class="wp-block-heading">Finding Your Royal Customers</h5>



First things first, how do you spot your royal customers? It’s simple,&nbsp;check the analytics from your tech tools&nbsp;to get customers’ insights.



Here are the&nbsp;3 metrics&nbsp;Rib &amp; Chop House took into account:



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Top-tier users of their existing loyalty program</li><li>Big spenders&nbsp;&#8211;&nbsp;on average their royal customers had a 14% higher spend than non-royalty</li><li>High visit frequency&nbsp;&#8211;&nbsp;up to 5 times per month compared to 1-3 for loyal customers</li></ul>



In addition, Rib &amp; Chop House noticed another common characteristic: Royal customers really want to&nbsp;experience the venue. Their prime motivation is not collecting points to get a freebie or discount.



<h5 class="wp-block-heading">6 Royalty Club Best Practice Tips</h5>



Rib &amp; Chop House also shared some&nbsp;details of how their paid loyalty scheme benefits their customers:



<ol class="wp-block-list"><li>$600 in gift cards annually&nbsp;&#8211;&nbsp;equals the cost of the royalty program membership</li><li>Limited the number of members&nbsp;&#8211;&nbsp;to make it really exclusive</li><li>Offer priority seating&nbsp;&#8211;&nbsp;a secured table with no pre-booking required</li><li>Allow for anytime cancellation</li><li>Host member-only events&nbsp;</li><li>Additional amenities&nbsp;&#8211;&nbsp;10% off every bill, free birthday entrée, a complementary set of branded steak knives</li></ol>



Stay tuned to find out more about how to identify your royal customers.

The Paid Loyalty Scheme That Works A Treat

If you&#8217;re not offering WiFi for your Airbnb guests. You&#8217;re already losing out. According to a recent survey in <a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/TripAdvisorInsights/n2670/6-key-travel-trends-2016">TripBarometer</a>, nearly half of all travellers &#8211; 46% &#8211; considered in-room WiFi a &#8220;must-have.&#8221; So if you don&#8217;t have WiFi in your property, your listing isn&#8217;t even going to show up when Millennials and Digital Nomads click the &#8220;On-site WiFi&#8221; box in Airbnb searches. But how do you ensure your offered WiFi is secure?







Even if you already have WiFi in your Airbnb places, you could still be leaving yourself open to hackers and those bent on stealing your data. 



You know that router sitting in the living room you use to connect to the internet? You know &#8211; the one out in plain sight. Yeah &#8211; that one &#8211; the router provided by your internet company that is still protected with the default password. The <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/take-the-risk-out-of-guest-wifi/">default password</a> that is probably on a sticker on the bottom of the router somewhere.&nbsp;I think you can see where this is going.



But what to do? You want to give your Airbnb guests an <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/how-marketing-with-wifi-benefits-your-business/">awesome experience,</a> so you can gather those <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/the-power-of-reviews-and-recommendations/">positive reviews</a> and keep your place at the top of the listings. All this without leaving your data and valuable computer systems open up to evil-doers.



Don&#8217;t worry. There are a few simple precautions you can take to keep both you and your guests secure.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Keeping your Airbnb WiFi Secure</h4>



CHANGE YOUR ROUTER PASSWORD&nbsp;&#8211; Let&#8217;s start out simple. CHANGE THE DEFAULT ROUTER PASSWORD. You big dummy. Interesting trivia bit &#8211; one of the first tricks a hacker will try is checking default passwords. This is detailed in the 1989 computer security classic <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cuckoo%27s_Egg">The Cuckoo&#8217;s Egg</a>.



INSTALL A GUEST WIFI DEVICE &#8211; If you don&#8217;t want to bother with changing passwords, <a class="" href="https://www.stampede.ai/blog/press/guest-wifi-the-fourth-emergency-service">Guest WiFi </a>allows you to set up a separate, more secure WiFii network exclusively for your Airbnbers. 



This keeps things secure by keeping them off your WiFi network. Simply take the guest Airbnb WiFi device, plug it into the router, adjust a few settings, and you&#8217;re good to go. Setup the Guest WiFi so users can register with their email address or even use a social login like Facebook. 



If you&#8217;re running a high volume Airbnb with a lot of turnover, you can even use the <a class="" href="https://www.stampede.ai/how-it-works#marketing">built-in marketing capabilities</a> of Guest WiFi devices. They allow you to gather valuable customer data and start building a mailing list or use the built-in SMS/Email messaging to alert previous guests to special offers or discounts.



These devices are typically pretty inexpensive and can be <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.stampede.ai/blog/setting-up-your-airbnb-for-guest-wifi" target="_blank">setup in just a few minutes</a>. Don&#8217;t believe us? Just check out the video.&nbsp;



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



<figure><iframe loading="lazy" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/VhXYSfzX_8s" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure>



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



If you&#8217;d like to read a little more in depth on how you can use WiFi marketing to help keep your AirBnB full. <a rel="noopener noreferrer" class="" href="https://www.stampede.ai/blog/tips-on-using-wifi-with-your-airbnb-during-the-holidays" target="_blank">Have a look at this article</a>.&nbsp;



In addition, check out one of our free eBooks with useful tips on how to avoid common WiFi mistakes in your venue.



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





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



INSTALL A VPN ROUTER &#8211; This is probably the most technically challenging of the bunch. A VPN (Virtual Private Network) encrypts your data and tunnels it to another network location. What&#8217;s the point of this? Thanks for asking &#8211; few of reasons here. 



Number one, this protects all your data, which is always a good thing. Your Airbnb guests can surf to their hearts content, knowing that they&#8217;re protected from the bad guys. Last, but not least, your ISP can&#8217;t see where the traffic is going on a VPN. So, if your visitors decide to get on your WiFi and download the latest Hollywood releases from the newest Pirate Cove site &#8211; you won&#8217;t be left holding the bag when the lawyers come calling.&nbsp;



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Ready to Offer Secure WiFi in Your AirBnB?</h4>



Then why not take Stampede for a spin? We offer a free trial so you can see how fast and easy it is to offer safe and secure WiFi in your AirBnB property.&nbsp;&nbsp;



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





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

Airbnb WiFi: Offering Your Guests Safe and Secure Wireless

For decades, hospitality businesses have trusted in the power of human labour to keep their venues running. Artificial Intelligence (AI) promises more efficient operations and better-personalised experiences for their customers.&nbsp;



But while AI has comes with huge benefits &#8211; from automating mundane tasks to better understanding customers’ needs &#8211; it also poses potential drawbacks.&nbsp;



Before you decide whether or not integrating AI into your hospitality operations is right for you, take some time to consider both the pros and cons we lay down in this blog article.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-ai-is-used-in-the-hospitality-industry">How AI is used in the hospitality industry</h2>



AI is being used in a variety of ways in the hospitality industry, from chatbots that assist with reservations to orders to automated systems that streamline check-in and check-out processes and marketing and sales automation.



It also comes with the ability to predict customer needs and preferences, which can help with recommendations, personalised service and upsell.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-advantages-of-using-ai-in-hospitality">Key advantages of using AI in hospitality</h2>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">1. Increased operational efficiency and productivity</h4>



With AI, businesses are able to streamline their operational and administrative processes and automate tasks. This allows for a significant increase in productivity and better resource management.



Moreover, with less manual handling required, there is a reduced chance of human error. Especially when dealing with customer data or uploading and updating spreadsheets, which can be prone to mistakes.



Marketing teams can massively improve their efforts with AI. For example, use data insights to build defined customer segments. The foundation for email and SMS campaigns that really resonate with customers and drive them back to their venue.&nbsp;



With clever <a href="https://stampede.ai/downloads/hospitality-marketing-automation-playbook">campaign automation</a>, operators can additionally save valuable time and staff can focus on more crucial tasks.



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



With the rise of AI, there are new opportunities for hospitality businesses to cut costs.



Routine and repetitive tasks can easily be automated, saving on labour costs. Besides, by implementing AI, operators can bypass ongoing staff shortages.



It also allows for more efficient and accurate decision-making backed by real data insights. So without relying on guesswork, operators can ultimately reduce unnecessary costs in the long run.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">3. Improved customer experience</h4>



The key to retaining customers is to ensure that they have a memorable experience when interacting with your brand. This is where the use of AI comes in.&nbsp;



Businesses can create a much more personalised and tailored experience that is based on customers’ preferences and behaviours.



Moreover, AI can help to connect all of a customer&#8217;s interactions with a brand across various digital channels. This contributes towards a more unified and seamless online experience.&nbsp;



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



In today&#8217;s fast-paced environment, having accurate and timely forecasts can mean the difference between success and failure.&nbsp;



AI has the ability to analyse vast amounts of customer data in a second and provide insights into revenue opportunities that may have otherwise been missed.&nbsp;



Perhaps even more importantly, AI can predict market trends, giving businesses an edge in their strategic planning. By leveraging the preciseness of forecasting, businesses can make smarter decisions, allocate resources more effectively, and ultimately, increase their bottom line.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-main-disadvantages-of-using-ai-in-hospitality">Main disadvantages of using AI in hospitality</h2>



Although AI has the potential to take business operations to the next level, it comes with its share of disadvantages that should also be considered.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">&nbsp;1. Impersonal service</h4>



One major issue with AI is the loss of the human touch. Whether it&#8217;s automated customer service systems or self-checkout kiosks, these rather impersonal experiences can negatively affect customer satisfaction.



AI systems can never fully replace human intuition and judgement, which can also lead to errors and inaccuracies in service.&nbsp;



No doubt, the human element is vital to creating a warm and welcoming environment. It&#8217;s through genuine connections with staff that customers feel valued and it&#8217;s those connections that keep them coming back time and time again.



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



Running a hospitality business is a complex task that requires a lot of moving parts to function well. The success of operations depends heavily on all of the systems working properly.



Unfortunately, when these systems fail, they can cause serious disruption to the entire operation. Rooms may be double-booked, orders may be lost or misplaced and customers may be left waiting for extended periods of time.



As a result, unsatisfied customers and negative reviews can quickly pile up, causing lasting damage to the business.&nbsp;



To mitigate the risk of system failure, it’s important for hospitality operators to have a plan in place in case their AI tool breaks down. By being proactive and prepared, they can ensure a seamless experience for their customers.



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



The hospitality industry requires technology tools that cater to their particular needs. Customer interactions happen both online and offline. Generic AI tools might not align with their specific requirements and might therefore create more work than taking off the workload if not set up properly.



Even with the right technology tools to hand the various systems used need to interact and talk to each other. Without those <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/5-common-data-integration-flaws-in-hospitality-tech">integrations</a>, the data flow is disconnected and operators are not able to generate a single customer view.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">4. High implementation costs</h4>



The implementation of these tools often comes at a high cost, making them unaffordable for smaller venues. This situation has forced operators to carefully weigh the pros and cons before deciding if it is worth investing in AI tools.&nbsp;



While AI can bring about significant returns, it may not be a worthwhile investment for all businesses. However, as technology continues to advance, we may see a rise in more cost-effective solutions that cater to a range of budgets.



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



In conclusion, there are pros and cons of using AI in the hospitality industry that should be taken into account.&nbsp;



Technology can be used to save money, increase efficiency, improve customer experience and enable more precise forecasting. However, many operators are still struggling with the lack of human element when it comes to dealing with customers and their needs.&nbsp;



Furthermore, technological limitations should not be disregarded as they might also cause certain problems when it comes to adapting AI to existing processes.&nbsp;



Finally, before making any investments in AI, operators should evaluate the costs associated with them as this could highly affect their financial situation.&nbsp;



All factors taken into consideration, applying AI technology correctly can prove extremely beneficial for restaurants and the hospitality industry in general.



Make sure to <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/ai-in-hospitality-marketing-a-complete-guide">check out our full guide</a> exploring AI for hospitality marketing.

The Pros And Cons Of Using AI In Hospitality

5 Tips to Make Your Restaurant More Instagrammable

3 Time-Saving Newsletter Tips to Keep People Engaged

Social Media Trends 2021 – Snackable Content

We&#8217;re excited to announce a new integration! D-Link Nuclias Cloud Network now integrates with Stampede. 



D-Link started off as a small company in 1986 with developing networking and connectivity products for all kind of business types and sizes. In the meanwhile, they&#8217;re a global leader in their industry. 



Nuclias Cloud Network especially provides hospitality businesses with a straight-forward and centralised cloud-network management solution. This way it is ideal for smaller businesses or those not having their own IT team.



By connecting this award-winning networking hardware with our smart Guest WiFi solution, we&#8217;re able to add more value to our customers. Allowing for even better communication with their customers to reach the right people at the right time to further grow their business.



Find out more about the D-Link Nuclias Cloud Network and how it could work for your venue &#8211; <a href="https://www.dlink.com/en/business/nuclias/nuclias-cloud">https://www.dlink.com/en/business/nuclias/nuclias-cloud</a>

Stampede's new integration with D-Link Nuclias cloud

New Integration with D-Link Nuclias Cloud Network

The Internet is a great place, full of valuable information, shared experiences and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXtC0jOVZNs" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">cute animal videos</a>. 

In 2018, more than 4 billion people are expected to make use of mankind’s greatest invention. Keeping this number in mind, the problems that can arise are obvious. The anonymity we all have on the Internet often times results in people behaving rudely and sharing their (sometimes very questionable) view on things. It’s easy to see why opinions clash with so many strange people meeting each other online.
In order to inspire a conversation about safety and respect online, especially for children and young people, today we&#8217;re celebrating <a href="https://www.saferinternet.org.uk/safer-internet-day/2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Safer Internet Day</a>!
 The Internet is a free place, which means it can be wonderful and fascinating place, but it also means that it’s easy to encounter content that is sometimes not suitable for children and youngsters.
<h3>Create, Connect &amp; Share Respect</h3>
It’s a fact- children need to try everything- just think of the hand on the stove, a real classic. Their natural curiosity helps them to understand the world and make sense of their environment, but it can be dangerous, especially when we think about exploring the internet. The most basic example are videos from battle zones that we see in the news everyday (and this is still a rather mild example). The web reflects our human nature and, to be honest, it’s not always pretty. Guns, drugs and pornography (not even mentioning Trump’s hair here) is nothing a child should be able to find easily on the world wide web. If you don’t believe me what a weird place the internet can be, <a href="http://weirdorconfusing.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">simply click here</a>.
Protecting youngsters from cruel and unsuitable content is only one aspect of the Safer Internet Approach. The other major topic that Safer Internet Day touches on is the way people communicate with each other and behave while online. I&#8217;m sure you&#8217;ve encountered rude comments on YouTube or people insulting each other in a forum. One of the factors that enhance the questionable way some people treat each other is the anonymity we have on the Internet. Let’s take the Safer Internet Day as a reminder to act as role-models in the way we treat each other online (and even offline) and make the Internet even more beautiful.
Stampede supports Safer Internet Day and the idea of making the Internet a safer environment for children. That’s why one of the amazing <a class="" href="https://www.stampede.ai/how-it-works#security" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">security features</a> we offer is the web filter that helps businesses to be sure everyone can use Guest Wifi in the venue without having to worry about what might pop up on their browser. Let’s make sure we all create, connect &amp; share respect. 
If you want to learn more about how a proper Guest WiFi can help businesses to grow, click the button below and find out.
<a class="eut-modal-popup" href="https://calendly.com/stampedeae/stampede-demo-request?month=2020-02">Click here to get started.</a>

Safer Internet Day

How To Speed Up Content Creation With AI In Hospitality

3 Clever AI Tools To Support Your Hotel Operations

Become A Stampede Pro With These Hidden Features

4 Types Of Customer Loyalty: How Loyal Are Yours?

What Makes A Hospitality CRM?

How To Build A Customisable Hospitality CRM Dashboard

CRM Dashboard – Definition And Benefits For The Hospitality Industry

8 Quick Tips To Maximise Your Hospitality CRM

Increase Sales With Your CRM And Marketing Automation

If you’re looking for an easy win when it comes to social media, we’ve got a classic trick to share with you today.



Before we get into it, a little thought experiment: How many of your social media followers do you think are also on your email marketing list? It’s not easy to tell, but how do the numbers compare?



 Getting the two audiences to synchronise is a worthwhile exercise &#8211; more touchpoints = more sales after all &#8211; but it’s not the easiest thing to do.



Turning email subscribers into social media fans is the path of least resistance, but what if your social media following is where the big volume exists? There could be hundreds or thousands of those followers who miss your content thanks to the algorithms. If they get your emails though, they are more likely to interact with your marketing efforts.



 Celebrity chef and restauranteur Tom Kerridge reminded us of a great way to cross-pollinate your social media following and your email marketing list: fear of missing out.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Screenshot-2020-12-16-at-17.14.05.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="550" height="1024" src="https://stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Screenshot-2020-12-16-at-17.14.05-550x1024.png" alt="" class="wp-image-19425" srcset="https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Screenshot-2020-12-16-at-17.14.05-550x1024.png 550w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Screenshot-2020-12-16-at-17.14.05-161x300.png 161w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Screenshot-2020-12-16-at-17.14.05-150x279.png 150w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Screenshot-2020-12-16-at-17.14.05-592x1103.png 592w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Screenshot-2020-12-16-at-17.14.05-32x60.png 32w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Screenshot-2020-12-16-at-17.14.05-48x90.png 48w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Screenshot-2020-12-16-at-17.14.05.png 598w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 550px) 100vw, 550px" /></a></figure>



In this post on Instagram, he reminds followers that his e-Newsletter will be sent the following day. He addresses this post to his “Pirates” &#8211; those who are on his mailing list. Some followers who see this will feel a bit left out, but luckily there’s a link in his bio to join his mailing list (and become a Pirate).



 Simple and effective but it harnesses that emotional response at the core of so much social media: fear of missing out.



To do something similar on your own feed:



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Identify an exclusive feature of your newsletters that only subscribers can access</li><li>Leverage that exclusive feature in your social media posts, regularly. Give them a taste of what they’re missing out on.</li><li>Make sure it’s easy for people to sign up to your email list</li><li>Post reminders on social media before the regular send date of your newsletters</li></ul>



Posting reminders of newsletters arrival will increase your open rate too &#8211; bonus!



 Some brands will run competitions to drive newsletter sign-ups as Tom has done above, but it’s not imperative if you are offering something valuable in every email.&nbsp;



 A regular routine of newsletter recruitment in your social media can do the same job, more often, without the costs of a giveaway competition.



 For all things email, from website subscription forms to newsletter templates, <a href="https://stampede.ai/company/#contact" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">get in touch</a> with one of our team.

Expand Your Mailing List For Free

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

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

Join Stampede at Restaurant Tech Live 2017!

Feature Update – Improved campaigns, reporting and imports

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

AI In Hospitality Marketing: A Complete Guide

4 Ways To Optimise Your Hospitality Business With AI

4 Revenue-Driving AI Tools For Hospitality Operators

3 Restaurant-Specific AI Tools That Drive Sales

How AI Can Facilitate Reviews Management For Hospitality Operators

<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-power-up-your-social-media-posts-with-an-informed-approach-to-hashtags">Power up your social media posts with an informed approach to hashtags</h4>



Hashtags are arguably one of the most powerful, yet untapped, resources on social media. Getting them right can dramatically increase the reach of your posts and help the social media platforms work for you, rather than against.



But where do you start?



Download your free hashtag cheat sheet now.



To make it easier for hospitality businesses, we’ve compiled a huge list of hashtags for quick reference. With over 250 ideas covering 14 relevant categories from meal and drink themes to travel and competitions, plus handy tips and advice on hashtag use this cheat sheet will provide a structured approach to hashtags.

Tripadvisor recently rolled out their <a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/travel-safe">TravelSafe</a> updates for businesses and travellers. The update focuses on bringing safety measures implemented in response to COVID-19 to the forefront.&nbsp;



These changes have the potential to really shake things up in terms of ratings and rankings on the platform as consumer interests change and adapt to life after lockdown. Our research has discovered that less than 1 in 100 restaurants in the UK has added their safety measures to Tripadvisor following the update.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What does Travel Safe do?</h2>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="alignright size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Screenshot-2020-07-28-at-16.12.21.png" alt="" class="wp-image-18924" width="471" height="121" srcset="https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Screenshot-2020-07-28-at-16.12.21.png 942w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Screenshot-2020-07-28-at-16.12.21-300x77.png 300w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Screenshot-2020-07-28-at-16.12.21-768x197.png 768w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Screenshot-2020-07-28-at-16.12.21-150x39.png 150w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Screenshot-2020-07-28-at-16.12.21-592x152.png 592w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Screenshot-2020-07-28-at-16.12.21-190x49.png 190w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Screenshot-2020-07-28-at-16.12.21-350x90.png 350w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 471px) 100vw, 471px" /></figure></div>



For business listing owners, there are new sections available to provide details of safety measures in place. Businesses with this information get a badge on their listing preview.



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="alignleft size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Screenshot-2020-07-28-at-16.02.04.png" alt="" class="wp-image-18923" width="215" height="314"/></figure></div>



<div style="height:20px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



For customers, there’s a new filter in the search results for “Venues with safety measures in place&#8221; (which takes the top spot) and there is also safety measure specific questions for those travels and customers writing reviews.



<div style="height:143px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



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



<h6 class="wp-block-heading">Related Article: <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/guest-review-management/">Guest Review Management</a></h6>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Research Process</h2>



To get a better understanding of the impact this update has for businesses, we’ve gone through the results for hotels, restaurants and food and drink businesses in the UK’s 30 biggest cities (by population), from the point of view of a customer. We’ve gathered the results <a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1RluNwd94iCgJtc-lLKAsR2rZ3nslfqiWwOrIm-pTM9o/edit?usp=sharing">in a table </a>to compare hospitality industry segments and geographic areas.



We looked up the number of hotels and restaurants in each city, then applied the “Properties taking safety measures” filter in the left-hand column of the search results.



This was carried out for Restaurants, Bars and Pubs, Tea and Coffee and Hotels.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1RluNwd94iCgJtc-lLKAsR2rZ3nslfqiWwOrIm-pTM9o/edit?usp=sharing">The Results</a></h2>



The numbers are striking. Out of 48,000 Restaurants in those 30 cities, only 406 venues showed up with the “Safety Measures” filter applied. That’s less than 1%.&nbsp;



For hotels, there was a marked increase in results showing up with the filter applied. From 9,000 properties, 625 included details of the safety measures they had put in place. A sturdy 6.9% across the nation.



London has the most restaurants with new COVID safety measures in the UK (134) but this is only 0.69% of London restaurants listed by Tripadvisor.



The southern cities of Bournemouth, Southampton and Portsmouth all feature highly on the list for restaurants with measures listed (3.93%, 1.77% and 1.63%). This is expected given their reputation as staycation hotspots on the south coast.



Nottingham and Glasgow top the list for the highest proportion of hotels with safety measures detailed at 12.5% and 11.5% respectively.



The full data for Restaurants and Hotels is below and you can view all the results of the research <a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1RluNwd94iCgJtc-lLKAsR2rZ3nslfqiWwOrIm-pTM9o/edit?usp=sharing">HERE.</a>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Restaurants-Tripadvisor-Table.png" alt="Restaurant results for tripadvisor safety measures" class="wp-image-18932" width="579" height="629" srcset="https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Restaurants-Tripadvisor-Table.png 772w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Restaurants-Tripadvisor-Table-276x300.png 276w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Restaurants-Tripadvisor-Table-768x834.png 768w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Restaurants-Tripadvisor-Table-150x163.png 150w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Restaurants-Tripadvisor-Table-16x16.png 16w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Restaurants-Tripadvisor-Table-592x643.png 592w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Restaurants-Tripadvisor-Table-55x60.png 55w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Restaurants-Tripadvisor-Table-83x90.png 83w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 579px) 100vw, 579px" /></figure></div>



<div style="height:37px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Hotel-Tripadvisor-list-2.png" alt="Hotel results for tripadvisor safety measures research" class="wp-image-18934" width="537" height="611" srcset="https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Hotel-Tripadvisor-list-2.png 716w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Hotel-Tripadvisor-list-2-264x300.png 264w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Hotel-Tripadvisor-list-2-150x171.png 150w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Hotel-Tripadvisor-list-2-592x673.png 592w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Hotel-Tripadvisor-list-2-53x60.png 53w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Hotel-Tripadvisor-list-2-79x90.png 79w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 537px) 100vw, 537px" /></figure></div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Food For Thought</h2>



As one of the go-to sites when searching for places to eat and drink it’s surprising that so few venues have managed to get their Tripadvisor listings updated. Especially after going to so much effort to implement their safety measures and the consumer desire to be well informed of precautions.&nbsp;



According to <a href="https://www.cga.co.uk/2020/07/20/cga-and-ukhospitality-set-out-the-industrys-road-to-recovery">CGA researc</a>h under a quarter (23%) of consumers are only returning to venues with caution and a third (33%) only doing so if they are sure that added precautions were in place.



Safety Culture says ‘while ‘Super Saturday’ saw millions flock to pubs and bars, just a quarter (26%) of the British public feel safe going back to pubs and bars and only 37% feel safe going back to restaurants and cafes.’ It says there is an ‘urgent need for business to be transparent about new measures for customer and employee safety.’



At the time of writing, only about 60% of hospitality venues have reopened. It follows that as more reopen, the number with measures listed on there will climb and competition within that filtered search view will increase.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Advice For Owners</h2>



First, head to Tripadvisor and carry out a search in your local area using the same process we laid out above, or check out the results for the nearest big city. Have a look at what others near you have done.



Here’s a great example of one we found to take inspiration from:



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" src="https://stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Steakhouse-safety-measures-tripadvisor-1024x343.png" alt="steakhouse safety measures on tripadvisor" class="wp-image-18938"/></figure>



The Tripadvisor platform allows you to give a bullet point list of measures in place, provide contact details for any further questions and provide a short written note which allows for a more personal touch too.



With this information in place, a business will be significantly more visible to those concerned and cautious customers who want to be reassured before venturing out.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Wrapping Up</h2>



Whilst we are still in early stages of reopening, it’s a critical time to act on this. The numbers were quite startingly given the struggles already faced and the need to come back strong. The updates look eye-catching to customers on Tripadvisor and they themselves have put a lot of weight behind showing off safety measures.



It’s well worth taking a few minutes to update your listing after all the effort gone into making the venue safe and those who get to it sooner will be better for it. There’s a huge opportunity out there for those businesses able to reassure customers and increase their footfall as a result.



If you&#8217;d like any more information on our research please <a href="https://stampede.ai/company#contact">contact us.</a>

How Tripadvisor’s Safety Measures Are Impacting Hospitality Businesses

Product Update – SMS Verification

Open Mesh Integration

Mapping: How we did it

Facebook Checkin on WiFi

Cate Triendl

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

[vc_row bg_type=&#8221;color&#8221; padding_top_multiplier=&#8221;5x&#8221; padding_bottom_multiplier=&#8221;&#8221; bg_color=&#8221;#edf2f7&#8243;][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;Ready To Grow?&#8221; font_container=&#8221;tag:h2|font_size:60|text_align:center|line_height:1.2&#8243; use_theme_fonts=&#8221;yes&#8221; el_class=&#8221;fw-solid&#8221;][vc_column_text]
<h5 style="text-align: center;">Bring More customers back</h5>
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row bg_type=&#8221;color&#8221; columns_gap=&#8221;none&#8221; equal_column_height=&#8221;middle-content&#8221; tablet_visibility=&#8221;hide&#8221; tablet_sm_visibility=&#8221;hide&#8221; mobile_visibility=&#8221;hide&#8221; bg_color=&#8221;#edf2f7&#8243; el_wrapper_class=&#8221;row-wrapper&#8221;][vc_column width=&#8221;1/4&#8243; tablet_sm_width=&#8221;hide&#8221; mobile_width=&#8221;hide&#8221; text_align=&#8221;center&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1661966838497{border-top-width: 0px !important;border-right-width: 0px !important;border-bottom-width: 0px !important;border-left-width: 0px !important;padding-top: 25px !important;padding-right: 25px !important;padding-bottom: 25px !important;padding-left: 25px !important;background-color: #ffffff !important;border-left-color: #1f2888 !important;border-right-color: #1f2888 !important;border-top-color: #1f2888 !important;border-bottom-color: #1f2888 !important;border-radius: 10px !important;}&#8221; el_class=&#8221;action-box&#8221;][fildisi_single_image image_type=&#8221;image-link&#8221; image_mode=&#8221;medium&#8221; image=&#8221;22089&#8243; image_shape=&#8221;extra-round&#8221; link=&#8221;url:https%3A%2F%2Fstampede.ai%2Frequest-quote%2F|title:Get%20a%20Quote&#8221; el_class=&#8221;zoom&#8221;][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;Get a Quote&#8221; font_container=&#8221;tag:h2|text_align:center&#8221; use_theme_fonts=&#8221;yes&#8221; el_class=&#8221;text&#8221; link=&#8221;url:https%3A%2F%2Fstampede.ai%2Frequest-quote%2F|title:Get%20a%20Quote&#8221;][vc_column_text]Fill in a quick form to build your ideal Stampede package and we&#8217;ll put together a custom quote for you.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1/12&#8243;][vc_column_text]
Or
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1/4&#8243; tablet_sm_width=&#8221;hide&#8221; mobile_width=&#8221;hide&#8221; text_align=&#8221;center&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1661966964378{border-top-width: 0px !important;border-right-width: 0px !important;border-bottom-width: 0px !important;border-left-width: 0px !important;padding-top: 25px !important;padding-right: 25px !important;padding-bottom: 25px !important;padding-left: 25px !important;background-color: #ffffff !important;border-left-color: #ffffff !important;border-right-color: #ffffff !important;border-top-color: #ffffff !important;border-bottom-color: #ffffff !important;border-radius: 10px !important;}&#8221; el_class=&#8221;action-box&#8221;][fildisi_single_image image_type=&#8221;image-link&#8221; image_mode=&#8221;square&#8221; image=&#8221;22088&#8243; link=&#8221;url:https%3A%2F%2Fstampede.ai%2Fcreate-account%2F|title:Create%20Account&#8221;][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;Create an Account&#8221; font_container=&#8221;tag:h2|text_align:center&#8221; use_theme_fonts=&#8221;yes&#8221; el_class=&#8221;text&#8221; link=&#8221;url:https%3A%2F%2Fstart.stampede.ai%2Fweb|title:Create%20Account&#8221;][vc_column_text]Want to dive in and look around for yourself? Create your Stampede account in just a couple of minutes and our team will be here to support you.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1/12&#8243;][vc_column_text]
Or
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1/4&#8243; tablet_sm_width=&#8221;hide&#8221; mobile_width=&#8221;hide&#8221; text_align=&#8221;center&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1661448606408{border-top-width: 0px !important;border-right-width: 0px !important;border-bottom-width: 0px !important;border-left-width: 0px !important;padding-top: 25px !important;padding-right: 25px !important;padding-bottom: 25px !important;padding-left: 25px !important;background-color: #ffffff !important;border-left-color: #1f2888 !important;border-right-color: #1f2888 !important;border-top-color: #1f2888 !important;border-bottom-color: #1f2888 !important;border-radius: 10px !important;}&#8221; el_class=&#8221;action-box&#8221;][fildisi_single_image image_type=&#8221;image-link&#8221; image_mode=&#8221;square&#8221; image=&#8221;22087&#8243; link=&#8221;url:https%3A%2F%2Fcalendly.com%2Fstampede-web%2Fnew-customer&#8221;][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;Book a Demo&#8221; font_container=&#8221;tag:h2|text_align:center&#8221; use_theme_fonts=&#8221;yes&#8221; el_class=&#8221;text&#8221; link=&#8221;url:https%3A%2F%2Fcalendly.com%2Fstampede-web%2Fnew-customer&#8221;][vc_column_text]Book a screen-share demo at a time to suit you with one of our specialists to learn more about Stampede and see how it works in real-time.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row bg_type=&#8221;color&#8221; padding_top_multiplier=&#8221;2x&#8221; padding_bottom_multiplier=&#8221;2x&#8221; columns_gap=&#8221;15&#8243; equal_column_height=&#8221;middle-content&#8221; desktop_visibility=&#8221;hide&#8221; tablet_visibility=&#8221;hide&#8221; bg_color=&#8221;#edf2f7&#8243;][vc_column css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1661434797657{border-top-width: 3px !important;border-right-width: 3px !important;border-bottom-width: 3px !important;border-left-width: 3px !important;padding-top: 25px !important;padding-right: 25px !important;padding-bottom: 25px !important;padding-left: 25px !important;background-color: #ffffff !important;border-left-color: #1f2888 !important;border-left-style: solid !important;border-right-color: #1f2888 !important;border-right-style: solid !important;border-top-color: #1f2888 !important;border-top-style: solid !important;border-bottom-color: #1f2888 !important;border-bottom-style: solid !important;border-radius: 25px !important;}&#8221;][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;1/2&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;2-5&#8243;][fildisi_single_image image_type=&#8221;image-link&#8221; image_mode=&#8221;medium&#8221; image=&#8221;22089&#8243; image_shape=&#8221;extra-round&#8221; link=&#8221;url:https%3A%2F%2Fstampede.ai%2Frequest-quote%2F|title:Get%20a%20Quote&#8221; el_class=&#8221;zoom&#8221;][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;1/2&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;3-5&#8243;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1661436164898{padding-top: 5px !important;padding-right: 5px !important;padding-bottom: 5px !important;padding-left: 5px !important;}&#8221;]
<h2><a style="color: #ff3a9b;" href="https://stampede.ai/request-quote/">Get a Quote</a></h2>
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1661435955246{padding-top: 5px !important;padding-right: 5px !important;padding-bottom: 5px !important;padding-left: 5px !important;}&#8221;]
Fill in a quick form to build your ideal Stampede package and we&#8217;ll put together a custom quote for you.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row bg_type=&#8221;color&#8221; padding_top_multiplier=&#8221;2x&#8221; padding_bottom_multiplier=&#8221;2x&#8221; columns_gap=&#8221;15&#8243; equal_column_height=&#8221;middle-content&#8221; desktop_visibility=&#8221;hide&#8221; tablet_visibility=&#8221;hide&#8221; bg_color=&#8221;#edf2f7&#8243;][vc_column css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1661436284533{border-top-width: 3px !important;border-right-width: 3px !important;border-bottom-width: 3px !important;border-left-width: 3px !important;padding-top: 25px !important;padding-right: 25px !important;padding-bottom: 25px !important;padding-left: 25px !important;background-color: #ffffff !important;border-left-color: #ff3a9b !important;border-left-style: solid !important;border-right-color: #ff3a9b !important;border-right-style: solid !important;border-top-color: #ff3a9b !important;border-top-style: solid !important;border-bottom-color: #ff3a9b !important;border-bottom-style: solid !important;border-radius: 25px !important;}&#8221;][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;1/2&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;2-5&#8243;][fildisi_single_image image_type=&#8221;image-link&#8221; image_mode=&#8221;square&#8221; image=&#8221;22088&#8243; link=&#8221;url:https%3A%2F%2Fstampede.ai%2Fcreate-account%2F|title:Create%20Account&#8221;][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;1/2&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;3-5&#8243;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1661436179696{padding-top: 5px !important;padding-right: 5px !important;padding-bottom: 5px !important;padding-left: 5px !important;}&#8221;]
<h2><a style="color: #ff3a9b;" href="https://stampede.ai/create-account/">Create an Account</a></h2>
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1661436064862{padding-top: 5px !important;padding-right: 5px !important;padding-bottom: 5px !important;padding-left: 5px !important;}&#8221;]
Want to dive in and look around for yourself? Create your Stampede account in just a couple of minutes and our team will be here to support you.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row bg_type=&#8221;color&#8221; padding_top_multiplier=&#8221;2x&#8221; padding_bottom_multiplier=&#8221;2x&#8221; columns_gap=&#8221;15&#8243; equal_column_height=&#8221;middle-content&#8221; desktop_visibility=&#8221;hide&#8221; tablet_visibility=&#8221;hide&#8221; bg_color=&#8221;#edf2f7&#8243;][vc_column css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1661434797657{border-top-width: 3px !important;border-right-width: 3px !important;border-bottom-width: 3px !important;border-left-width: 3px !important;padding-top: 25px !important;padding-right: 25px !important;padding-bottom: 25px !important;padding-left: 25px !important;background-color: #ffffff !important;border-left-color: #1f2888 !important;border-left-style: solid !important;border-right-color: #1f2888 !important;border-right-style: solid !important;border-top-color: #1f2888 !important;border-top-style: solid !important;border-bottom-color: #1f2888 !important;border-bottom-style: solid !important;border-radius: 25px !important;}&#8221;][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;1/2&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;1-2&#8243;][fildisi_single_image image_type=&#8221;image-link&#8221; image_mode=&#8221;square&#8221; image=&#8221;22087&#8243; link=&#8221;url:https%3A%2F%2Fcalendly.com%2Fstampede-web%2Fnew-customer&#8221;][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;1/2&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;1-2&#8243;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1661436193144{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-right: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;padding-left: 20px !important;}&#8221;]
<h2><a style="color: #ff3a9b;" href="https://h.stampede.ai/meetings/stampede/demo">Book a Demo</a></h2>
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1661436113271{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-right: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;padding-left: 20px !important;}&#8221;]
Book a screen-share demo at a time to suit you with one of our specialists to learn more about Stampede and see how it works in real-time.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row bg_type=&#8221;color&#8221; bg_color=&#8221;#edf2f7&#8243;][vc_column text_align=&#8221;center&#8221;][vc_column_text]For anything else please <a href="https://stampede.ai/contact/">contact us:</a>
contact@stampede.ai 
(+44) 0131 510 7008[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][fildisi_flexible_carousel items_per_page=&#8221;1&#8243; items_tablet_landscape=&#8221;1&#8243; items_tablet_portrait=&#8221;1&#8243;][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;1/4&#8243;][vc_single_image image=&#8221;22146&#8243; style=&#8221;vc_box_rounded&#8221;][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;3/4&#8243;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1663848770854{padding-bottom: 35px !important;}&#8221;]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.
Ieuan Davis &#8211; Marketing Manager, The Coal Exchange Hotel[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;1/3&#8243;][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;10px&#8221;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1663848869886{border-top-width: 3px !important;border-right-width: 3px !important;border-bottom-width: 3px !important;border-left-width: 3px !important;padding-top: 25px !important;padding-right: 25px !important;padding-bottom: 25px !important;padding-left: 25px !important;background-color: #edf2f7 !important;border-left-color: #ff3a9b !important;border-left-style: solid !important;border-right-color: #ff3a9b !important;border-right-style: solid !important;border-top-color: #ff3a9b !important;border-top-style: solid !important;border-bottom-color: #ff3a9b !important;border-bottom-style: solid !important;border-radius: 25px !important;}&#8221;]+ 8,500 
Contactable Customers[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;1/3&#8243;][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;10px&#8221;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1663848876929{border-top-width: 3px !important;border-right-width: 3px !important;border-bottom-width: 3px !important;border-left-width: 3px !important;padding-top: 25px !important;padding-right: 25px !important;padding-bottom: 25px !important;padding-left: 25px !important;background-color: #edf2f7 !important;border-left-color: #ff3a9b !important;border-left-style: solid !important;border-right-color: #ff3a9b !important;border-right-style: solid !important;border-top-color: #ff3a9b !important;border-top-style: solid !important;border-bottom-color: #ff3a9b !important;border-bottom-style: solid !important;border-radius: 25px !important;}&#8221;]+ £2,500 
Return On Investment[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;1/4&#8243;][vc_single_image image=&#8221;22072&#8243; style=&#8221;vc_box_rounded&#8221;][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;3/4&#8243;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1663848764231{padding-bottom: 35px !important;}&#8221;]Stampede became a part of our recipe for success. It has been an integral part of our marketing to retain customers.
Graham Atkinson &#8211; Director, Butta Burger[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;1/3&#8243;][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;10px&#8221;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1663848853847{border-top-width: 3px !important;border-right-width: 3px !important;border-bottom-width: 3px !important;border-left-width: 3px !important;padding-top: 25px !important;padding-right: 25px !important;padding-bottom: 25px !important;padding-left: 25px !important;background-color: #edf2f7 !important;border-left-color: #ff3a9b !important;border-left-style: solid !important;border-right-color: #ff3a9b !important;border-right-style: solid !important;border-top-color: #ff3a9b !important;border-top-style: solid !important;border-bottom-color: #ff3a9b !important;border-bottom-style: solid !important;border-radius: 25px !important;}&#8221;]+ 8,000 
Contactable Customers[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;1/3&#8243;][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;10px&#8221;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1663848862097{border-top-width: 3px !important;border-right-width: 3px !important;border-bottom-width: 3px !important;border-left-width: 3px !important;padding-top: 25px !important;padding-right: 25px !important;padding-bottom: 25px !important;padding-left: 25px !important;background-color: #edf2f7 !important;border-left-color: #ff3a9b !important;border-left-style: solid !important;border-right-color: #ff3a9b !important;border-right-style: solid !important;border-top-color: #ff3a9b !important;border-top-style: solid !important;border-bottom-color: #ff3a9b !important;border-bottom-style: solid !important;border-radius: 25px !important;}&#8221;]+ £26,000 
Return on Investment[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;1/4&#8243;][vc_single_image image=&#8221;22202&#8243;][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;3/4&#8243;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1663848778895{padding-bottom: 35px !important;}&#8221;]The platform is really easy to navigate around, helping us to work intuitively without having to constantly ask for help. It took us no time at all to find our feet!
Emma Luke-Ward &#8211; Digital Marketing Manager, Lane 7[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;1/3&#8243;][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;10px&#8221;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1663848784644{border-top-width: 3px !important;border-right-width: 3px !important;border-bottom-width: 3px !important;border-left-width: 3px !important;padding-top: 25px !important;padding-right: 25px !important;padding-bottom: 25px !important;padding-left: 25px !important;background-color: #edf2f7 !important;border-left-color: #ff3a9b !important;border-left-style: solid !important;border-right-color: #ff3a9b !important;border-right-style: solid !important;border-top-color: #ff3a9b !important;border-top-style: solid !important;border-bottom-color: #ff3a9b !important;border-bottom-style: solid !important;border-radius: 25px !important;}&#8221;]+ 100,000 
Contactable Customers[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;1/3&#8243;][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;10px&#8221;][vc_column_text css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1663848791101{border-top-width: 3px !important;border-right-width: 3px !important;border-bottom-width: 3px !important;border-left-width: 3px !important;padding-top: 25px !important;padding-right: 25px !important;padding-bottom: 25px !important;padding-left: 25px !important;background-color: #edf2f7 !important;border-left-color: #ff3a9b !important;border-left-style: solid !important;border-right-color: #ff3a9b !important;border-right-style: solid !important;border-top-color: #ff3a9b !important;border-top-style: solid !important;border-bottom-color: #ff3a9b !important;border-bottom-style: solid !important;border-radius: 25px !important;}&#8221;]+ £91,000 
Return on Investment[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/fildisi_flexible_carousel][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Speak to 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!

We&#8217;re pleased to announce that signature Connect software solution now integrates with the <a href="https://www.engeniustech.com/ezmaster-network-management-software.html">EnGenius Tech</a> ezMaster network management software making our software even faster and easier to set up within their products.



Many hotel outlets are making the most of EnGenius Tech&#8217;s software and hardware offering. In fact, on their <a href="https://www.engeniustech.com/hospitality-voice-communications-hotel-wifi.html">website</a> there are a number of useful resources for hotel managers and operators on the many uses of wireless technology.



Between their ideal hardware solutions and our intelligent marketing software for captive portals and guest wifi, this new integration is guaranteed to offer numous benefits to many hotels and accommodation businesses



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Looking for more info on technology integrations? <a href="https://calendly.com/stampedeae/stampede-demo-request?month=2020-02">Get in touch!</a></h4>

EnGenius Tech now a Stampede technology partner

New Feature – Loyalty By Stampede

What&#8217;s even better than customer loyalty?&nbsp;Customer Advocacy, A.K.A. word-of-mouth. The best way to get new customers is through existing ones. In general,&nbsp;customer <a href="https://upserve.com/restaurant-insider/benefits-restaurant-referral-program/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">referral marketing</a>&nbsp;creates customers with a&nbsp;higher lifetime value&nbsp;thanks to increased loyalty and overall spending.



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



A successful customer referral scheme doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive though. Your&nbsp;loyal customers&nbsp;certainly are one reliable source for customer referrals. However, there are other sources you can use.



Let’s take our 5 step recipe to&nbsp;set up a simple customer referral campaign.



<h5 class="wp-block-heading">1) The Data</h5>



For this referral campaign, you need to access a list of those customers who have&nbsp;given you feedback or have left a review. Ideally positive feedback at that! Many online review systems will have a contact list stored that you can access.



If you don’t have access to that, then seek out your customers who exhibit loyalty with their&nbsp;visit or booking frequency. It goes without saying that if they visit and spend a lot, they can be considered loyal.



<h5 class="wp-block-heading">2) The Trigger Event</h5>



The trigger event in this case will be&nbsp;time-based. This means you have to segment your reviews by ‘customer who has left a positive review within the last … days.’



You can choose a timeframe that works best for you. However, customer memory and engagement will be higher with less time in between. You can also set this up as an immediate trigger and your campaign will be sent straight after someone has left a review.&nbsp;



If you’re basing it on loyalty, then the trigger is ‘total number of visits is greater than [number]’.



You can easily turn this campaign into an automated one so that you don’t have to update it and send it manually.



<h5 class="wp-block-heading">3) The Messaging</h5>



The first part of your messaging should focus on acknowledging your customers’ feedback and/or experience they had at your venue.



The second part is all about giving them the opportunity to be rewarded when they bring back a friend and spread the word.



Make sure it’s&nbsp;easy for customers to understand how a referral works&nbsp;and what they need to do. And more importantly,&nbsp;what&#8217;s in it for them.



<h5 class="wp-block-heading">4) The Offer</h5>



For this campaign, you should include a&nbsp;special deal or time-limited offer&nbsp;that customers can claim at your venue.



Here’s what your email could look like:



Subject line: [Name], spread the word and bring a friend to get [offer]



We’re glad to hear that you’ve enjoyed your time at [venue]. Why not share your great experience with your family and friends?



The best bit, if you bring a friend you’ll get [offer]. What are you waiting for?



REFER NOW



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



The effect of this customer referral campaign is pretty straightforward. You’ll get new customers through your door, plus your existing customer will pay you another visit to claim the reward.&nbsp;



To get the ball rolling,&nbsp;<a href="https://stampede.ai/how-it-works/automations/#reviews" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">automate your review requests</a>&nbsp;to gather more reviews for your campaign without the hassle of manually asking for them.&nbsp;<a href="https://calendly.com/stampedeae/stampede-demo-request" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Reach out</a>&nbsp;to one of our team to find out how you can set this up in your venue.



Also, don’t forget to&nbsp;<a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">head to our blog</a>&nbsp;to check out all articles of this 5 part series on personalised marketing as a means to drive customer loyalty faster and grow your business.