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Not trying to spook you, but Valentine’s Day is around the corner. Sad singles, over-enthusiastic couples and the regular madness will probably be part of the next few days. So, if you want to make sure your relationship makes it through the next year, get off the internet and buy some chocolates and roses! But in case you like to play with fire or have a passion for bizarre presents, here’s our list of carefully selected gift ideas.

<h3>Snapchat Spectacles 
</h3>
The first present is meant for people who need a subtle hint about their (probably excessive) use of the Snapchat App. Usually used to share pictures and short texts, the use of Snapchat has gotten out of hand for a lot of people. Taking pictures during lunch and when spending time with friends can be annoying for non-users. In case you know that feeling, look no further than Snapchat Spectacles. These <a class="" href="https://www.spectacles.com/uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">handy specs</a> enable the wearer to take Snaps from their perspective and send those pictures around, simply by clicking on the spectacle frame.
These glasses probably won’t stop your Snapchat-addicted friends, but at least the glasses make them look funny and you can have a good laugh at their expense.
<h3>Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder</h3>
I first discovered PicoBrew, when I read articles about the yearly <a class="" href="https://www.stampede.ai/blog/ces-2018-wpa3-smart-tattoos-and-more" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Consumer Electronics Show</a>. Since then, I think about buying one for myself about five times a day. In case you have a loved one that has a passion for beer, a brewing device might be the right thing to make his (or her!) heart skip a beat. Being able to brew your favourite drink on your kitchen counter is a dream come true for some people. The PicoBrew is able to brew five liters of the beer of your choice and the brewing process takes approximately 10 &#8211; 14 days. Furthermore, you’re able to track the brewing, fermentation and carbonation process over your smartphone and watch your own brew getting ready. As the brewing devices are quite costly, make sure you’re getting it for the right person (or the person who always hosts parties).
The PicoBrew is an expensive but rewarding device that makes German childhood dreams come true. Have a look at the latest brewing equipment <a class="" href="https://picobrew.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here </a>and become a master of mixtures.
<h3>Scavenger hunt</h3>
This little helper is the suitable present for people who tend to forget their keys, purse, backpack or any other items. The Tile is here to help your forgetful loved one through the daily struggle of not losing the keys again. Tile is basically a small device that can be attached to a keyring, a rucksack or stuffed in your wallet. Once the item is lost, you can use your phone to make it ring and help you find your lost treasure. For example if you’ve lost your phone, you can press the Tile to make the phone right &#8211; even if it’s switched to silent. Furthermore, you can use the app to track the last place your Tile was seen to find it more easily. You can even ask other Tile Community members to help you look for your missing item . 
As the gadget is pretty affordable, we advise you to <a href="https://www.thetileapp.com/en-gb/products#tiles" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">have a look</a> which one suits your or your loved one’s needs. Maaaybe it might be worth getting several ones, just in case he or she is forgetful multiple times a week.
<h3>Watching a dog is a full-time job</h3>
Is your partner thinking a bit too much about the dog being home alone while you’re out enjoying dinner? Or do you need to get a present for that crazy cat lady in your circle of friends? This present is absolutely perfect for both occasions. Let us introduce you to a gadget that might help your partner to actually enjoy date nights, the <a class="" href="https://petcube.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Petcube</a>. 
This invention enables you to stalk your pet, even if you aren’t home. Set up in your flat, the Petcube can film your pet and send real time data straight to your mobile, making it possible to watch a live stream of your furry friend. In addition, some of the cubes have a built in laser, so you can play with your dog or cat. Others have an integrated treat dispenser to train your dog. Just imagine &#8211; you can use the pet cam during lunch breaks at work to <a class="" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNqhC9o3kQI" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">check if your loyal companion at home is doing alright</a>. Furthermore, alarms will be sent out for any unusual behaviour at home or other major disturbances that the camera tracks. 
No matter whether you decide to go for one of those rather odd presents or if you stick to something a little more basic to surprise your Valentine, we hope you have a great Valentine’s Day!
In case you run a business that provides Guest WiFi, feel free to get in touch with us. We are here to make sure you provide a safe and seamlessly working WiFi experience to your customers.
Hit the button below!
<a class="eut-modal-popup" href="https://calendly.com/stampedeae/stampede-demo-request?month=2020-02">Click here to get started.</a>

post

WiFi Gifts for the Love of your Life

2019 is proving to be our busiest year for recruitment yet. Since March, no less than 10 new members of staff have joined Stampede across a variety of roles.



This growth is the beginning of big expansion plans for the company this year, which will inevitably include a new office space soon (but we&#8217;re staying in Leith!).



New team members include several Business Development team members, including an Enterprise Specialist; two new Support Team members; a new Customer Success and Marketing Manager and a new Head of Growth Marketing.



James, our COO said &#8220;It&#8217;s a really exciting time to join Stampede and the wider tech industry in Edinburgh. Our new recruits bring a wealth of experience from different industries, which really expands our capabilities and knowledge base as a whole.&#8221;



&#8220;We&#8217;ve hired tech-savvy high school leavers, people from the beer industry and from the motor trade &#8211; the range is awesome&#8221; James continued.

Team Update

Vertical: The Future of Video Content for Digital Marketing

Whether it’s in <a class="" href="https://www.stampede.ai/wifi-in-action">retail, a hotel, cafe or restaurant</a> the presence of fast and reliable <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/getting-started-with-guest-wifi/">Guest WiFi</a> at your venue is becoming a major factor for potential customers deciding where to take their business. But providing Guest WiFi does not come without potential risks to your business. 



So, you want to provide Guest WiFi at your venue? What’s wrong with handing out a password to your existing network?



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/2735287/Blog/guest-wifi-risk.jpg" alt="guest wifi risk"/></figure>







Because handing out the password to your WiFi could be as bad as handing over the keys to the building. Giving out the password to your WiFi network allows any guest with a small amount of technical knowledge to easily sniff everything on the network including point-of-sale systems (POS), printers, credit card machines and back-office systems. In addition to this, they can “see” other guest devices connected to the network. Most off-the-shelf or ISP provided WiFi equipment is not designed for guest access and hence, is extremely insecure.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-where-has-this-happened-before">Where Has This Happened Before?</h4>



The so-called &#8216;DarkHotel&#8217; group is an example of malicious individuals that take&nbsp;advantage of these weaknesses in public networks. They have been active for over a decade, with a signature brand of cybercrime that targets <a class="" href="http://www.zdnet.com/article/traveling-business-executives-targeted-through-luxury-hotel-wi-fi/">business travellers with malware attacks</a> using the WiFi in luxury hotels across the globe.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-it-can-happen-to-you-too">It Can Happen to You, Too</h4>



Renting your flat out while you&#8217;re away is a great way to make extra cash on the side with services like <a href="/blog/articles/airbnb-wifi">AirBnB</a>. But what happens when your guests don&#8217;t exactly take everything with them when they go?



By giving your house WiFi password out to AirBnBers, you&#8217;re also giving them keys to the network. A talented (and even not so talented) hacker could easily slip a trojan or listening programme onto your network before they leave. And with the recent breaches discovered in the widely used <a href="/blog/wpa2-breach-is-your-wifi-safe">WPA2 WiFi encryption</a>, your network could be even less secure than you think.&nbsp;



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-but-there-s-a-better-way">But There’s a Better Way!</h4>



By making your guests login through a <a class="" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captive_portal">captive portal</a> using their e-mail or social plugin you can gain powerful insights and value through a Guest WiFi network whilst keeping your business secure. A captive portal is a web page that the user of your network is obliged to view and interact with before they can access the internet. This is more secure than a password but will not allow malicious users to view anything else on the network. A branded login page will also make it a lot harder for hackers to imitate your network and cause customers to connect to them which will fully expose them to possible attacks.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-stampede-can-help">How Stampede Can Help</h4>



Stampede can integrate with a <a class="" href="https://www.stampede.ai/how-it-works">wide range</a> of existing hardware or we can supply our own range of routers which you can plugin and instantly start supplying better, secure Guest WiFi. It only takes 5 minutes to set up, with no technical knowledge required!



With Stampede you can create two separate networks: one for your customers and another for your back office business activity. This greatly reduces the risk of a malicious user on your guest network breaking into your critical business systems.



Instead of entering a password, guests login through a <a href="/blog/press/marketing-with-wifi">fully branded captive portal</a>&nbsp;by entering their e-mail or logging in through Facebook. You can also ask marketing questions &#8211; such as postal/zip code, age or favourite drink &#8211; turning a security risk into a value-adding part of your business with much more personalised customer experience.&nbsp;



&nbsp;So what are you waiting for?&nbsp;



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

Take the Risk Out of Your Guest WiFi

Gift cards sales in hospitality were a key revenue driver during the last year. But how many of your customers have actually redeemed their vouchers yet? They could well have bought them months ago, only for them to gather digital dust in their email inbox.



Time to unlock some hidden gift card revenue now that venues are reopening. Let’s remind those gift card holders that it’s time to redeem their cards and reap the benefits for your business.



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



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-reminders-can-get-you-more-customers-and-more-money">Why reminders can get you more customers and more money</h4>



<a href="https://enjovia.com/make-more-restaurant-profit-with-vouchers/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stats show</a> that 72% of customers actually spend more than the value of the voucher. This offers a great opportunity for you to upsell.



What’s more, 60% of customers say that they’ve been introduced to a new brand through a gift voucher. In addition, 18% of those have now become regular customers as a result.



So, don’t miss out on that extra spending and those new customers. Use this opportunity and turn those gift card customers into loyal ones.&nbsp;



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-to-send-your-reminders">How to send your reminders</h4>



<h5 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-messaging-channels">Messaging Channels</h5>



Utilise your common marketing channels to send reminders, i.e. email and SMS. Think of employing a combined campaign approach of email and SMS for a better response rate. For example, SMS is the perfect medium to promote last-minute availability.



Don’t forget your social media accounts and schedule in some reminder posts on a regular basis. Insta stories are great to boost last-minute bookings from gift cardholders. It’s likely those with gift cards are in those follower lists on social media!&nbsp;



<h5 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-who-to-send-it-to">Who to send it to</h5>



If you’re using a digital gift card solution, you can simply target your buyers as a “segment”. This way you can send your reminder campaigns to gift card buyers only.



What’s more, you can easily track the results coming from the campaign and include special promotions only relevant to this customer segment.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-reminder-message-content">Reminder message content</h4>



<h5 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-subject-line">Subject line</h5>



Your subject line should be straightforward and on point. Something along the lines of: “Reminder &#8211; don’t forget to redeem your gift card” or formulated as a question: “Have you redeemed your gift voucher yet?”.



If your gift cards come with an expiration date, you can include this in your subject line: “Only … left to redeem your gift card”.



<h5 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-message">Message</h5>



Don’t just simply send a short reminder email. You’ve got your customers’ attention, so use it wisely.



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Promote any offers or special deals</li><li>Feature upcoming events</li><li>Highlight any new menu changes and create some sense of urgency “only available for …”</li><li>Boost downtimes “last-minute bookings left for this …”</li></ul>



<h5 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-call-to-action">Call-to-action</h5>



Ideally, you’d want your customers to making a booking straight away so your CTA can simply be: “Book Now/Here”. Also, consider including more than one CTA (e.g. underneath the header image and after your main body).



<h5 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-extra-tip-last-minute-cancellations">Extra tip &#8211; last-minute cancellations</h5>



Have an email template ready for last-minute cancellations that you can send out to your gift card holders to fill in any empty spaces.&nbsp;



Have a look at our <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/3-time-saving-newsletter-tips-to-keep-people-engaged/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">3 Time-Saving Newsletter Tips</a> for more quick writing and design hacks to kick-off your gift card reminder campaign. And <a href="contact@stampede.ai" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">get in touch</a> with one of our team for support on anything email and SMS marketing related.&nbsp;

How to Unlock Hidden Revenue From Your Gift Cards

All aboard the hype-train, it’s time to take a ride into the near future and show you what we’ve got coming up in our wonderful platform. So, get excited and have a little sneak peek of our upcoming features. Here comes the&nbsp;Stampede Spring/Summer product look ahead.



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



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Stampede Digital Voucher Codes</h4>



A nicely segmented audience, a tailored offer and….what’s missing to make that campaign really sing? How about a&nbsp;unique voucher code&nbsp;for each member of that audience. Make them feel really special and drive those repeat conversions.



Our first new product feature will allow you to send voucher codes in your email and SMS campaigns. Once the voucher is redeemed in-venue it will&nbsp;automatically get logged&nbsp;to the campaign it came from.



As always with Stampede you’ll be able to track the results of those campaigns with supreme accuracy. Granular level conversion tracking will show you exactly how many people came back and whipped out their voucher.



No more matching codes and campaigns, no more rough ideas of what worked (or didn’t). Just easy digital marketing.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-stampede-bookings">Stampede Bookings</h4>



The second exciting addition we’re currently building is a&nbsp;fully integrated table booking system&nbsp;for venues.



Stampede bookings will include all the important features you’d expect:



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Manage reservations, walk-ins, waitlists and table allocation</li><li>Get notified on reservations, cancellations and dietary requirements</li><li>Send automated email and SMS booking confirmations as well as review requests post-visit</li><li>Control your cover capacity and no-shows</li></ul>



… and much more



This adds another data capture string to your bow. But it can also&nbsp;take away a lot of hassle.&nbsp;



Many hospitality operators depend on a variety of connected platforms from different providers for their technology. Our integrated bookings system will take away lots that complexity. Everything will be in one place, one tab, one login, one monthly bill.



Keep an eye out for more updates on these features over the next few weeks.



If you’d like to be an early tester of any of these new product features (with a little incentive of course) then&nbsp;<a href="https://stampede.ai/company/#contact" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">get in touch.</a>

Stampede Spring/Summer Sneak Peek – More Tools To Help You Grow

Without question, one of the most frustrating things in running a hotel is the tendency of guests to reserve a room but then cancel at the last minute. Or just fail to turn up altogether. It’s not just the annoyance factor, though; last-minute cancellations or no-shows have a real impact on the profitability of your hotel. How do you manage to reduce no-shows and cancellations in your hotel?







Independent hotels may suffer from this inconvenience more than most, due to a tendency (whether real or perceived) to have more lenient policies than multi-site corporations. While there is no solution that could promise to reduce these incidents to zero (we’re dealing with humans, after all!). There are a few simple methods you can use to greatly reduce both the likelihood and the impact of cancellations you suffer from this year. Ready to find out more? Let’s dive in!



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Method #1: Have a Fair, but Clear Cancellation Policy</h4>



As we touched on in the introduction, the key reason that independent hotels may suffer from an above-average number of no-shows or cancellations is the relative <a href="https://www.hotelminder.com/8-tips-to-reduce-last-minute-hotel-cancellations-and-no-shows">lack of a clear policy</a>. Even more patchy enforcement of the policy.&nbsp;



Review your policy now. See how it compares to those of your competitors. You can usually find these quite easily by browsing to the “terms and conditions” section of their website. Your cancellation policy needs to strike a balance of fairness for both you and the guest. All kinds of things can happen to disrupt the plans of a traveller, after all, so it’s only fair to them to allow them to cancel. 



The more notice they give, the less the impact on your hotel. So make sure your policy reflects this crucial fact. Many hotels allow free-of-charge cancellations provided there is at least 48 hours notice. Giving you some time to make the reservation available to another customer.&nbsp;



It may also be wise to consider a more stringent policy for particularly over-subscribed times of the year. For example over Christmas, or when a large event regularly takes place in your area. Again, make sure that this policy is easy to understand. All your staff have to know exactly what the special policy is and what dates it applies to. Finally that it compares favourably to the cancellation policies by your competitors for the same timeframe.&nbsp;



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Method #2: Make Sure your Cancellation Policy is Published and Enforced!</h4>



This may seem obvious, but it’s amazing how many hotels have their cancellation policy buried away where customers will only have their attention drawn to it once it’s already too late.&nbsp;



Anyone that makes a reservation, whether online, via phone, or any other method, needs to be provided with a copy of your cancellation policy so they can’t claim ignorance of it later! Ideally, they should confirm their acceptance of the policy when they make the booking. At the very least their booking confirmation should include a clear reference to it. Even if it’s just a short summary with a link to the full policy on your website.&nbsp;



Make sure all staff are trained to refer to the policy and enforce it, politely explaining the costs involved if doing so causes push-back from the customer. If you decide to allow discretion in the enforcement of the policy, you should make it very clear who is allowed to exercise this discretion. Give examples of circumstances that might allow them to do so &#8211; for example, extreme weather conditions.&nbsp;



Finally, any <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/infographic-how-likely-are-people-to-act-on-promotions/">promotions</a> that you run, whether via email marketing or other advertising, should also include a clear reference to your cancellation policy. Best to cover all the bases!



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Method #3: Encourage Guests to Communicate Changes to You&nbsp;</h4>



You should allow customers plenty of options to communicate any changes of their plans to you. Providing them with the option to submit a cancellation or re-schedule of their stay via email or live chat on your website will result in a reduction of no-show occurrences.&nbsp;



Some customers are just too embarrassed or shy to pick up the phone and have to explain to someone exactly why their plans have had to change! Give them as many options as possible to get in touch. Emphasise that you’re keen to hear from them and that you understand plans sometimes have to change at the last minute.&nbsp;



For example, if your policy states that cancellations with less than 24 hours notice have to be paid at the full rate. You could send a reminder email or text 36 hours before the reservation starts. Telling them that you are looking forward to seeing them and including all the ways they can let you know if their plans have had to change for any reason. Many <a href="https://www.hospitalitynet.org/opinion/4088497.html">hotel reservation systems</a> can be configured to send such reminders automatically. Though provided all the <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/how-to-legally-and-safely-collect-and-use-customer-data-in-the-hotel-industry/">necessary information is captured</a> when the reservation is made initially.&nbsp;



Further reading: DIRECT BOOKING



Clear and consistent communication removes the worry of the unknown!&nbsp;



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Method #4: Re-market Rooms that Become Available due to Cancellations</h4>



As we’ve covered, cancellations are a fact of life &#8211; you’ll never be able to avoid them altogether. Where many independent hotels are missing a trick is in taking advantage of the opportunity created by a cancellation. Use it to make an extra special offer available on the now vacant room.&nbsp;



A room cancellation, especially for one of your premium suites or stay options, give you a valid justification for letting someone else upgrade to. Even more book that room for a lower-than-usual cost. You will reap the rewards of a delighted guest (who will be more likely to tell others and share pictures of the room on their social media). In addition, you’ll recoup some of the monetary loss that the cancellation has caused.&nbsp;



You can advertise the cancelled room in various places. Your reception/bar, on the boards outside your property and of course on social media. Don’t forget your own database of customers, too. <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/email-marketing-tips-for-the-hospitality-industry/">Email and text (SMS) marketing </a>are a powerful way to drive more traffic to your website and ultimately secure more bookings.&nbsp;



Further reading: <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/effective-email-marketing-tips-for-hotels/">https://stampede.ai/blog/effective-email-marketing-tips-for-hotels/</a>



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



We hope these methods for managing this frustrating aspect of running a hotel have given you plenty to think about and implement in your establishment. 



Do you want to find out more about how our solution could help you stay in touch with your guests? Get in touch!



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





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

How to Reduce No-Shows and Cancellations in Your Hotel

Fliers, table-toppers, menu inserts, posters and trained staff are all well-established methods of increasing spend per head or spend per visit. However, the right technology setup&nbsp;can give you even greater control over customer purchase behaviour in the venue.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-landing-page-redirects"> Landing Page Redirects</h4>



 Many apps, including <a href="https://stampede.ai/how-it-works/wifi/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">guest WiFi</a>, offer the ability to redirect customers to a website landing page of your choice as part of normal use. These pages function as an interactive flier or poster, and are cheaper, faster and easier to update than a whole venue full of printed materials.



 A special offer only available on that page can be used as an incentive to capture more customer data or make customers feel extra special by finding a secret offer.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-email-and-sms-marketing"> Email and SMS Marketing</h4>



 With the right messaging system and guest data on hand, you can send promotions and offers to customers whilst they’re in the venue.&nbsp;



 Reward or encourage loyalty with special offers for returning customers. Certain apps will even allow you to target big spenders with marketing campaigns.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-upsell"> Upsell</h4>



 Landing pages, while useful, don’t guarantee that customers will pay attention. Stampede’s <a href="https://stampede.ai/how-it-works/marketing/#stories" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Upsell</a> feature works like Stories on social media to deliver digital fliers to return customers right on their phones. It’s fast to set up and you can change the offers as often as you need. Increase offer uptake, test new offers and save money on printed materials.



To find out more about how to increase customer spending in your venue, <a href="https://stampede.ai/company/#contact" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">get in touch</a> with one of our team.

More Touchpoints, More Sales

November – December 2024 Social Media Calendar

October – November 2024 Social Media Calendar

Free September – October 2024 Social Media Calendar

August 2024 Hospitality Email Marketing Guide

August – September 2024 Social Media Calendar

July – August 2024 Social Media Calendar

June – July 2024 Social Media Calendar

May 2024 Hospitality Email Marketing Guide

May – June 2024 Social Media Calendar

April 2024 Email Marketing Guide

April – May 2024 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

A diverse topic content week is ahead of us. It’s time to get your socials ready for Easter, no more egg-cuses! All waffle fans (anyone who doesn’t like waffles?!) will be in food heaven and we will raise awareness for global warming during Earth Hour.&nbsp;



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



Before we dive into what’s coming this week, today is #GoofOffDay. Use it as an opportunity to let go and have some fun. Take some downtime to shake things up, be silly and refresh your mind. Pass your time by the most unproductive means possible. Challenge accepted?&nbsp;



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-coming-up-easter">Coming up: #Easter</h4>



It’s time to sprinkle a little Easter over your marketing. Get your easter bunnies, eggs, chicks, chocolate, pastel colours and flowers ready! Egg-citing times are around the corner.



It&#8217;s always fascinating to compare how certain events are celebrated around the world. Some traditions are the same, others couldn&#8217;t be any different.&nbsp;



Have you seen Australia’s Easter Bilby? Adorable! Or did you know that Finland has its own Easter witches? And if you’re in the mood for an egg omelette, you should go to France where they create the world’s biggest omelette each year (more than 4,500 eggs).



Some more eggs-cellent ideas for your social media:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Crafty Eggs competition &#8211; decorate and share</li>



<li>Virtual Easter Egg Hunt (Website, Socials)</li>



<li>Share Easter brunch &amp; table setting ideas</li>



<li><a href="https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/holidays/easter-ideas/a31405240/cute-easter-puns/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Share your best easter puns</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.womansday.com/life/travel-tips/g2175/easter-traditions/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Share worldwide traditions</a></li>



<li>Promote your special Easter offers, meal boxes, meal kits etc.</li>
</ul>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-thursday-25th-waffleday">Thursday 25th &#8211; #WaffleDay </h4>



National Waffle Day is a <a href="https://visitsweden.com/what-to-do/culture-history-and-art/swedish-traditions/more-traditions/waffles-day/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Swedish inspired holiday</a>. Though, waffles probably exist in almost every country. Why not take your customers on a <a href="https://blog.musement.com/us/waffles-around-the-world/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">waffle journey around the world</a>? How does a hotdog shaped &amp; sausage stuffed waffle sound? Yum!



Traditionally, they’re eaten with jam and whipped cream but for Waffle Day anything is possible. Only one rule: ideally, you want them crispy on the outside and soft in the middle. Apart from that, waffles are certainly not limited to your breakfast time, indulge in a whole day of waffle celebrations. Now, it’s time to plug in your waffle maker.



Get your customers into the waffle mood:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Competition &#8211; get creative with your waffle shapes &amp; colours &amp; flavour</li>



<li>What’s your favourite topping? Share recipe ideas</li>



<li>Team savoury or sweet?</li>



<li>Did you know … waffles inspired Nike’s first pair of sneakers? (the sole!)</li>



<li>Did you know … a shortage of cups and surplus of waffles lead to the ice cream cone?</li>
</ul>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-saturday-27th-earthhour">Saturday 27th &#8211; #EarthHour</h4>



This year’s global Earth Hour event will take place on Saturday! People and businesses all around the world are switching off their lights for an hour (8.30 pm to 9.30 pm) to show their support.



This year is all about “Climate Change to Save Earth” and there are plenty of ways to participate digitally. Make sure to share the &#8216;Virtual Spotlight&#8217; video on your socials. 



Ideas to get your customers ready for Earth Hour:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Create an Earth Hour menu using <a href="https://www.wwf.org.uk/updates/wwf-and-knorr-launch-future-50-foods" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">local, sustainable-sourced</a> ingredients</li>



<li>Dinner in the dark or blind tasting ideas</li>



<li>Tips to minimise food waste</li>



<li>Fun ideas to brighten-up the hour without electricity</li>



<li>Recycling challenge &#8211; turn an item into something creative</li>



<li>Host virtual Earth Hour Pub Quiz</li>
</ul>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-content-ideas-for-this-week">More Content Ideas for This Week:</h4>



Monday 22nd March &#8211; #CrunchyTacoDay Thursday 25th March &#8211; #PecanDay Friday 26th March &#8211; #NougatDay Saturday 27th March &#8211; #SpanishPaellaDay Saturday 27th March &#8211; #InternationalWhiskyDay Sunday 28th March &#8211; #BlackForestCakeDay 



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? – 22/03/2021

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

Planning a coffee shop opening for 2019? Got amazing coffee and an inviting interior? Do shops, offices and potential customers surround your shop? That&#8217;s a great start. But to keep your business busy, you can&#8217;t rely on passers-by wandering in off the street. Spend time establishing your brand online and get customers to come to you.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-your-coffee-shop-brand-needs-an-online-presence">Why your coffee shop brand needs an online presence</h4>



You may have been on a fact-finding trip to South America before opening your business. You might sell the best speciality coffee for miles, but have you translated this into your brand? How will you show this knowledge and passion to your customers and use it to win you sales? Establishing your brand&#8217;s ethos and personality online will help set you apart. Be easy to find and tell your customers what&#8217;s at the heart of your business and you&#8217;ll be on the right path.&nbsp;



When customers are looking for somewhere to eat and drink they grab their smartphone. They search for cafes, look at local food bloggers on Instagram, and snoop on review platforms. These are opportunities for you to get noticed. Use them to showcase the customer experience you offer and explain what you&#8217;re about. Here&#8217;s how you align your online presence to your customer to drive footfall&#8230;



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-1-set-up-your-google-my-business-page">1) Set up your Google My Business page</h4>



If someone&#8217;s looking for somewhere to eat or drink and they search Google for a coffee shop nearby, can they find you online? Your <a href="https://www.google.com/intl/en_uk/business/">Google My Business page</a> is a free marketing tool. It can help customers find you and learn more about you.



Set up your page to display your location, opening hours and contact details. Write a summary about your establishment that speaks to your target customer. Use words that tell them if you&#8217;re a comfy spot for casual coffee drinkers. If your shop is aimed squarely at coffee aficionados, make sure they know. Your target customer should identify with your coffee shop brand when they look at this page. 



Upload photos of your food, drink and your shop interior. Give potential customers a sense of what it&#8217;s like to visit you. Want to let people know about your launch party? You can <a href="https://support.google.com/business/answer/7342169?hl=en-GB">add a post</a> to let customers know about special events. Don&#8217;t forget to link to your website so customers can learn even more about you. 



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-2-invest-in-a-coffee-shop-website">2) Invest in a coffee shop website</h4>



Do you really need a website for your coffee shop? Not always, but coffee shop owners often overlook the benefits a website provides. A branded easy-to-navigate website can enhance a customer&#8217;s online experience with you. Plus, it gives you real estate you control to set out your store. 




What should be on your website? Start with an easy to find food and drinks menu, use great photography that sets the ambience for your shop. A website blog is a great place to share photos and facts from that fact-finding trip to South America. It&#8217;ll show &#8217;em you know your stuff. A website is a platform where you can share the stories, news and events that shape your brand for customers. Don&#8217;t forget to link your site to your social media accounts. This helps Google to identify your profiles and draw them into your Google My Business page. It also encourages customers to connect with you.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-3-begin-your-social-media-story-at-the-start">3) Begin your social media story at the start</h4>



If you want customers to wake up and smell just how good your coffee is, social media can help you to waft the scent. According to <a href="https://www.nationwidecoffee.co.uk/news/coffee-news-update-2020-and-your-best-approach-for-growth">research</a>, 45% of coffee industry leaders think social media is their most effective form of marketing. Coffee quality was identified as the biggest factor behind café success, but you need to lure those coffee drinkers in to taste what you&#8217;re offering. And the experts say you should get this strategy started before your launch. 



Simon Fogal, Creative Director at Food and Drink PR firm <a href="https://chapter81.co.uk/">Chapter 81</a>, spoke to Stampede to share his tips for launching coffee brands on social media. Yes, #latteart and #pastryporn play a part. But it&#8217;s those behind-the-scenes images that shape a brand and pique social media user&#8217;s interests.&nbsp;



&#8220;Our first port of call is great photography, images that can set a scene and really get the ambience of the venue through the lens. So we do simple set-up shots, product shots. But there are also basics like opening times,&#8221; advises Simon. 




Simon spoke to us about Chapter 81&#8217;s successful launch of Leed&#8217;s coffee shop, <a href="https://archiveleeds.co.uk/">Archive</a>. Behind the scenes teasers were used to generate interest in the brand well before the baristas got busy with any beans. 



&#8220;We helped launch their Instagram and did the shop build in sets of three. We had to do several shoots as the impact dates were very tight and it was still being built. Details of the shop and machines were used to create hype and intrigue and we did the sets of three to build up a quality Instagram feed.&#8221; 




When customers hear about new business launches, they&#8217;ll often head straight to social media to find out more details. Building anticipation by sharing your story so far can help strike the right impression with your audience. 




<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-provide-reliable-and-free-wi-fi">Provide reliable and free Wi-Fi</h4>



The rise of remote workers has driven demand for free Wi-Fi in coffee shops. Yet there are extra benefits beyond promoting you as a freelance friendly spot. With a <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/the-ultimate-beginners-guide-to-wifi-jargon/">captive portal</a> your customers login via a personalised branded screen. You can collect data to help turn first visitors into valuable repeat customers. Insights help you to craft targeted marketing. You get a fuller picture of your customer.&nbsp;



Offering free Wi-Fi also makes it easier for your customers to act as <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/building-customer-loyalty-with-blackbx/">ambassadors for your brand</a>. They can tag your coffee shop&#8217;s Instagram profile in photos of their fantastic flat white or fluffy pancake stack. And a good Wi-Fi connection makes it simple for guests to submit a review before they leave your venue.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-be-proactive-with-your-review-strategy">Be proactive with your review strategy</h4>



When you&#8217;re the new coffee shop on the block, online reviews are super important for boosting business. Your Google review score sits within your Google My Business page. Potential customers can read reviews with just a few clicks. This helps them to decide whether to visit you. Reviews on platforms such as TripAdvisor and Google and responding to reviews can increase your visibility. They help to build your brand&#8217;s reputation.&nbsp;



You don&#8217;t need to be pushy in asking customers for reviews but you can say you&#8217;d appreciate one if they give a compliment. You’ll need to be mindful of how you respond to reviews. Aim to address them in a timely fashion. Thank guests for feedback and show empathy when issues arise. A genuine attitude and personal touch can go a long way in building your coffee shop&#8217;s brand online.&nbsp;



If you&#8217;re considering introducing Wi-Fi for your coffee shop customers, find further reading here:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Stampede-Factsheets-Coffee_Shops.pdf">Coffee Shop Factsheet</a></li>



<li><a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/four-fab-benefits-of-free-wifi-for-coffee-shops/">Benefits of Free Wi-Fi for coffee shops</a>&nbsp;</li>



<li><a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/brew-lab-drips-success-with-coffee-shop-wifi-blackbx-success-story/">Brew Lab coffee shop story</a></li>
</ul>



<a href="https://calendly.com/stampedeae/stampede-demo-request?month=2020-02">Schedule a chat</a> with one of our team for more advice

Establishing Your Coffee Shop Brand Online

Yesterday we published <a href="https://www.morningadvertiser.co.uk/Article/2020/06/29/How-can-pubs-collect-customer-data" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">an article in The Morning Advertiser</a> about collecting customer data, and how reopened pubs, bars and restaurants around the world have been doing it.



 If you missed it you can read the article in full <a href="https://www.morningadvertiser.co.uk/Article/2020/06/29/How-can-pubs-collect-customer-data" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>.



 We spent some time researching how other countries’ approached data collection for track and trace. Our aim was to prepare for if and when the U.K. Government asked hospitality to do something similar to the other parts of the world. What was the reception by the public and the industry in countries like New Zealand, Germany and the USA?



 Our research also gave us a view of the possible future outcomes of data collection programs. It will be interesting to see if the UK mirrors any of these effects in the next few weeks. Will there be news stories about data privacy incidents as in New Zealand?



This article also takes a look at the practical implications. What methods of data collection worked best in other countries? There’s a short review of the pros and cons of the most commonly considered methods that will hopefully clear up any issues around collecting contact details.



 If you’ve got more questions about collecting data and how it might work for your business, then <a href="https://stampede.ai/company/#contact" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">get in touch</a> and we’d be happy to talk it through.

Other Countries Have Already Done Track and Trace

<h1 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-free-august-september-2024-social-media-calendar">Free August &#8211; September 2024 Social Media Calendar</h1>



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



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



Download your free social media calendar for August and September 2024 now.



Featuring topical post ideas, hashtags suggestions and image inspiration for each month, including ideas for Cask Ale Week 2024.

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

5 Tips for Setting Up WiFi for Your Restaurant or Pub [Updated for 2022]

The <a href="https://www.campaignmonitor.com/blog/email-marketing/2019/05/shocking-truth-about-how-many-emails-sent/">average person spends 4 hours a day </a>to work through their inbox. So, how do you make sure that you get your customers’ attention when it comes to your email marketing? A well-designed email both visually and with engaging content can make the difference in <a href="https://www.copper.com/blog/sales-email-statistics">today’s noisy email inboxes</a>.  







But what if you don’t have a <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/5-useful-free-marketing-tools-that-anyone-can-use/?referrer=stampede.ai">background in marketing and design</a>? Even without the resources of a big brand, you can make an impact. It’s much easier than you think with our big 4 email design tips:



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



A uniform and memorable branding is key in today’s highly competitive business environment. Every email you send to your customers is an extension of your existing brand.



Therefore, our first tip is to stick to your overall branding when designing your emails. This includes your regular colours, the font, but also any logos or images connected to your brand. Consistency is the magic word here. By doing so, your customers will immediately recognise your company when opening the email.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Placement of Text, Buttons, Images and White Space</h4>



It’s nothing new that readers’ attention will drop the closer they come to the bottom of the email. In order to keep them going, you need to catch their interest straight away. So don’t just overload your emails with important images and call-to-actions (CTA) right at the top of it.&nbsp;



The second tip to follow is to focus on selected images with clear CTAs, placed at the beginning of your email. So in case, you lose them further down, they’ve got the important bit.



Also, make sure to include paragraphs and enough white space. This will make it easier for your customers to read through and also visually separates your content.



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



Remember those days in school when your teacher would say “your text needs to have a clear thread running through?”. Still relevant. That way you make sure that your readers don’t miss the important message in your email. This clear narrative is also highly relevant for the email design.



So here comes the third tip. Naturally, lead your customers’ attention to the most significant part within your email. Basically, storytelling via images rather than words.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Optimizing for Mobile</h4>



As a consequence of the fact that we’re in front of our phones all the time, most of your customers will open your emails on their phone. The term “mobile-friendly” is all around. Though only being mobile-friendly for your website is not enough. We want more!



This is our last tip. Specifically, design your sequences for viewing on phone screens and test them before sending them out. This way you ensure not only a <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/email-marketing-tips-for-the-hospitality-industry/?referrer=stampede.ai">mindblowing email design</a> on the laptop but also on your customers’ mobile screen.



BONUS ROUND! Have an extra one on us:



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Extra Tip &#8211; Call-to-action</h4>



<a href="https://www.campaignmonitor.com/resources/guides/10-tips-improve-email-calls-action/">CTAs are the trigger to immediate customer response</a> to your email. So you should put some thought into them as well. We think it should rather be a shout to action, than just a simple call.&nbsp;



So the ultimate tip for you. Ensure that your CTA is not missed by your readers. Make the buttons big enough in combination with an eye-catching design and strong wording&nbsp;



Overall, doesn’t sound too complicated, does it? Follow these simple and straightforward tips and you will be able to stand out from the crowd. Extraordinary email designs are your magic key to higher customer engagement. 



Did you know that our marketing software can help you to easily <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/how-to-set-up-your-first-email-campaign-guide-2019/?referrer=stampede.ai">set up your email campaigns</a>? And even better, once set-up they run automatically.



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





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

4 Tips for an Outstanding Email Design

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

Providing Guest WiFi to the Royal Highland Centre

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



As a consequence, customers lose interest quickly.



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



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



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



Here are 4 reasons for implementing gamification:&nbsp;



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Simple examples:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Online quizzes</li>



<li>Guessing games</li>



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



Advanced examples:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>DIY competition &#8211; ‘Create our new Summer cocktail’</li>



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



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



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



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



This gamification concept connects both offline and online customer interaction.



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

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

A proven way to <a href="https://stampede.ai/how-it-works/wifi">build your customer mailing list with minimal effort is using your WiFi</a>. It works, as customers want to stay connected when they’re out and about.



However, some operators might have noticed a shift in customers’ behaviour lately.&nbsp;



With going out becoming more of a treat, customers seem to spend less time on their phones, and more time focusing on the moment with their family &amp; friends.&nbsp;



So, how can you encourage your customers to use your WiFi again to keep growing your mailing list?



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-increase-visibility">Increase Visibility</h4>



Back in the day, when ‘free WiFi’ was still a novelty, businesses used to have signs and posters in their venue to encourage customers to sign-up.



Those have disappeared with more and more venues offering WiFi and customers expecting it as a given.&nbsp;



Time for a little reminder.&nbsp;



Here’re 3 quick steps to action:



<ol class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.qr-code-generator.com/">Generate a QR code</a> that links to your Guest WiFi sign-up page</li>



<li>Print posters with your QR code &#8211; distribute them in your venue</li>



<li>Add the name of your network to menus, table toppers, etc.</li>
</ol>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Offer Discounts</h4>



Discounts always work as a treat, especially to boost WiFi log-ins. They become even more effective if customers can use them instantly.



Some ideas to get you started:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Sign-up to get %-off your bill today</li>



<li>Happy Hour promotion &#8211; get 2-4-1 if you sign up now</li>



<li>Post whilst in-venue, tag us, and get a freebie or voucher for the next visit</li>
</ul>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Run Contests</h4>



Contests are not only fun and engaging but they are also an easy way to grow your customer mailing list for low costs.



Some ideas to get you started:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Prize draw &#8211; sign up and share with a friend to increase your chances to win</li>



<li>Vote for your favourite dish &#8211; enter your email to win a voucher</li>



<li>Take the quiz to find your perfect drink &#8211; enter your email to see the results and enter a prize draw</li>



<li>Photo wall competition</li>
</ul>



Start capturing your data through your <a href="https://stampede.ai/how-it-works/wifi">Guest WiFi</a> and build your mailing list with ease. Get in touch to find out more about the <a href="https://stampede.ai/how-it-works/wifi/">Stampede Captive Portal</a>.

3 Tools To Get More Customers On Your Mailing List

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

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Customer related:



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



Booking related:



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



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



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

How To Use Bookings Data To Supercharge Your CRM

If you’re responsible for managing a restaurant or hospitality business, it can be hard to stay on top of everything. To organise your daily tasks more effectively and streamline your processes, implementing a <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/what-is-a-hospitality-crm-system-a-full-guide">Customer Relationship Management (CRM) solution</a> should definitely be part of your strategy.&nbsp;



There are three different types of CRM systems:



<ol class="wp-block-list">
<li>Analytical CRM systems that gather data useful for reporting and decision-making.</li>



<li>Operational CRMs that streamline processes and communication.</li>



<li>Collaborative CRM platforms that allow departments to work together more efficiently.&nbsp;</li>
</ol>



In this blog post, we will explore these three different approaches to running an effective CRM system for your hospitality business. This will help you make the best possible decision when choosing one.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-1-analytical-crm-systems">1. Analytical CRM systems</h2>



When it comes to understanding your customers and analysing the results of your marketing campaigns, analytical CRM systems are game changers.&nbsp;



With these powerful tools, you can dive deep into customer data, uncover trends, and make informed decisions based on real numbers. No more relying on gut instincts or guesswork.&nbsp;



Analytical CRMs also make it easy to create customised reports and visualisations. Those help you track progress and hone in on areas that need improvement.



By using this technology to better understand your audience, you can improve customer satisfaction, increase retention rates, and boost your bottom line.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">2. Operational CRM systems</h2>



Operational CRMs are a vital tool for businesses to streamline their processes and improve overall customer experience.&nbsp;



They allow companies to better manage every touchpoint of the customer journey, from initial interaction to after-sales care. With automation features, operational CRMs can further enhance efficiency by reducing the amount of time spent on repetitive tasks.



Implementing an operational CRM system not only leads to <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/meet-stampede-inbox-never-miss-another-message">better communication</a> with customers but also allows businesses to make data-driven decisions for continuous improvement.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">3. Collaborative CRM systems</h2>



Collaborative CRM systems make sure that everyone in the business has access to the same data. So that teams can work together more efficiently in order to provide a complete customer experience.&nbsp;



With a collaborative CRM, every individual involved in the customer&#8217;s journey can view the full customer record with its entire history and previous interactions. This ensures that everyone is using the correct and up-to-date data to support the company&#8217;s decisions.&nbsp;



The integration between teams helps to ensure that customer needs are met, and ultimately, it results in a much-improved customer experience.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Tips on how to choose the right CRM system for your hospitality business</h2>



As businesses continue to evolve and technology advances, it&#8217;s important for hospitality businesses to keep up with the latest tools in order to stay competitive.



However, with so many options out there, it can be challenging to choose the right CRM. The operational feature is certainly the most important feature for hospitality businesses and should be prioritised. The way data can be managed more efficiently has a significant impact on daily operations. Especially with automations as they reduce the workload by removing manual and repetitive tasks.



However, ideally, a CRM system should incorporate elements of all three CRM types &#8211; analytical, operational and collaborative. As a professional in the hospitality industry, it’s crucial to have a CRM system that provides detailed insights into customer interactions and preferences. This can help you tailor your services accordingly.&nbsp;



It&#8217;s important to emphasise the significance of finding the right fit for your needs when it comes to selecting a hospitality CRM. No two businesses are the same and therefore, there can be no one-size-fits-all solution.&nbsp;



You need to identify what your hotel, restaurant or hospitality business requires and other specific goals you want your CRM system to achieve. Then you can assess which CRM can deliver on those needs. A CRM that cannot adequately cater to your requirements could end up costing you in terms of valuable time and resources



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Closing thoughts</h2>



Technology can only truly increase efficiency if it is used effectively. After all, customer experience isn&#8217;t just about having a lot of information on hand. It&#8217;s about understanding each individual guest as well as providing personalised experiences based on your insights.



By investing in the right type of <a href="https://stampede.ai/amaze">CRM system</a>, you can unlock significant potential for your business and take your customer experiences to the next level.

The 3 Different Types Of A CRM System Explained

Who would have guessed that the year 2020 would have us in lockdown? That businesses would be pressed to close their doors and that the days as we once knew them would come to a sudden halt? This is, unfortunately, our current reality and it’s a harsh one for all of us. It’s not the end, however. With some positive thinking, innovation, and strategising – you can still make a success of your hospitality business despite the current and seemingly unyielding “downtime”.



If you&#8217;re not furloughed, then the following tips are great for those who are in the hospitality industry. These ideas will keep you productive and they will help you to best prepare your business for when your doors open again.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Spring Clean</h2>



We’re starting with the most obvious and possibly most dull (for some) idea. While your venue is not seeing any foot traffic, you may as well use the opportunity to give it a thorough clean. This is especially important during this time when cleanliness and hygiene is the number one priority.&nbsp;Many readers have probably already done this. But it&#8217;s important to keep it up, as dust will gather even with no one visiting.



Disinfect the nooks and crannies that were low priority before, deep clean cupboards and shelves. Pull everything out of these storage places and get stuck in. Even the staff only areas.



At the same time, you may also want to look into creating a new schedule and cleaning tasks for staff going forward. New expectations and measures have been put in place when it comes to cleanliness and these should be added to your regimen.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Tackle Staff Training</h2>



Platforms such as Skype, Zoom, and Google Hangouts make it possible for staff members to meet and collaborate online. This means that staff training doesn’t pause if employees are furloughed &#8211; in fact getting those staff training is encouraged.



You can use the new found time on your hands to compile training material. Alternatively, you can browse the internet for information to be passed onto your staff that can improve their skills.&nbsp;



Once you have your training material ready, set a meeting date and time that everyone can commit to (giving everyone time to set-up the conference application of choice). You can then continue with your staff training online. This is also a great way to encourage a positive outlook and to keep employees in good spirits during a period of uncertainty.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Update Your Website and Social Media Pages</h2>



Now’s the time to make those changes and updates to your website that you just never get to. You can:



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Make sure all of your contact details are still correct</li><li>Test your contact form to make sure it’s still working</li><li>Add new and more recent photos to your gallery</li><li>Write blog posts for your blog (content is a key component when it comes to SEO and online marketing)</li><li>Contact your web designer for an upgrade or a new user interface design</li><li>Add an E-commerce module and create an online store</li></ul>



The same applies to all of your social media pages. You can make sure your details are correct across all of the platforms and update your “About Us” sections with recent news.&nbsp;



Downtime is also perfect for planning future social media posts. You can compile content and post ideas to schedule for the coming months.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Update and Optimise Your Directory Listings</h2>



Most hospitality businesses recognise the importance of having listings on both offline and online restaurant, travel, and entertainment directories. While you have some time on your hands, why not make sure that the information on these directories is still correct? Perhaps you can respond to customer reviews too and better your reputation across all channels.&nbsp;



You may also want to do some research to see if there are any new directories that you have not been listed on. During strenuous times for businesses, you want to make sure that your brand is advertised well and even the smaller directories could give you extra exposure.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Work on Your Marketing Approach</h2>



Just because you’re not receiving customers, it does not mean that you should stop marketing yourself. Continue with your social media campaigns and start strategising for the weeks and months ahead.&nbsp;



An event &#8211; such as the Covid-19 pandemic &#8211; can change how the world reacts to your brand and your advertising methods. Now may be a good time to strategise how you market yourself. For example, the current lockdown has emphasised how important the digital world is. It provides a portal where many businesses can continue to trade or at the very least, engage with customers. Perhaps it’s time to consider improving your email marketing and digital customer communications? Or maybe you want to make more of a prominent appearance on social media?



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Adjust Your Strategy</h2>



When a stick gets thrown in your works, then we encourage you to embrace the event as an opportunity to learn and grow. Do what you can to ensure that your business is stronger and more prepared every time something drastic and unforeseen occurs.&nbsp;



When it comes to adjusting the strategy of a restaurant or hotel, for example, we &#8216;ve got the following suggestions:&nbsp;



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>You can take your business online and create an E-commerce store where you sell your recipes, secret ingredients, cooking lessons, and vouchers.</li><li>Create a delivery service to get meals and drinks to your customers’ doorsteps.</li><li>Offer your services to those in need. If you have available hotel rooms, you can offer them to those who need to self-isolate or to those who cannot find a flight back home. If you’re a restaurant, you can use your resources to make food parcels for the hungry. This way you can continue to serve your community and you will be remembered for the role you played in giving-back.&nbsp;</li></ul>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">On an end note:</h3>



When you’re stuck at home, why not use the time to get to know your customers better? When you know your customers – you know your business. At <a href="https://stampede.ai/">Stampede</a>, we provide smart technology so that you can connect and communicate with audiences. Helping you to learn their behaviours and expectations with data driven insight. Ready to <a href="https://stampede.ai/contact/">contact us</a> for more information?

Hospitality business owner working on projects

How Your Hospitality Business Can Make the Most of Downtime

Why is Social Authentication so Important?

For travellers, few amenities rival the importance of being connected when staying in hotels, resorts or when visiting public venues, like airports or stadiums.  Good internet connectivity will always be one of the first things travellers demand.
Stampede offers social media authentication, so travellers can provide your venue with a Facebook Like, Facebook Check-In or Twitter Follow to boost your company’s social media growth and exposure.
The benefits of this are plentiful, no access codes /passwords make it easy for users to connect. Most internet users in the modern day are already familiar with common social sites, meaning connecting accounts in exchange for WiFi, is an appealing option for some. This type of authentication helps
<img decoding="async" class="wp-image-2763 alignright" style="width: 79px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; float: right;" title="Stampede Facebook" src="https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/2735287/Imported_Blog_Media/social-login-ball.png" alt="Stampede Facebook" width="79" data-constrained="true" />
build your social media following, which in turn gets your name out there to the masses. With social media in the picture, every hotel, motel, resort, airport or stadium wants guests and users to share the good times and leave positive feedback; now these users are immediately guided to your social media accounts.
<img decoding="async" class="wp-image-4478 alignleft" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left; width: 79px;" title="Stampede Twitter" src="https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/2735287/Imported_Blog_Media/Twitterbird.png" alt="Stampede Twitter" width="79" data-constrained="true" />
With social media in the picture, every hotel, motel, resort, airport or stadium wants guests and users to share a good experience and leave positive feedback, allowing a social login guides users to your accounts straight away.
Social Media Authentication through Stampede WiFi can help you and your business to boost social media exposure while providing your guests with a positive guest internet access experience.
<a class="eut-modal-popup" href="https://calendly.com/stampedeae/stampede-demo-request?month=2020-02">Click here to get started.</a>

Social Media Authentication For Guest Wi-Fi

Tammie Hurrell

Montpeliers Group

Grant Murray

CRU Holdings

Emma Luke-Ward

Lane7 Group

Steve Watson

Signature Pub Group

Nick Gregory

Society Manchester

Shivani Kenth

Zindiya Streatery & Bar

Graham Atkinson

Butta Burger

Lottie Bedford

Birdhouse London

Chris Hughes

Mele Group

Chris Aitchison

Bar Tonic

Ieuan Davis

The Coal Exchange Hotel

<h1 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-free-may-june-2024-social-media-calendar">Free May &#8211; June 2024 Social Media Calendar</h1>



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



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



Download your free social media calendar for May and June 2024 now.



It features topical post ideas, hashtag suggestions and image inspiration for each month, including the exciting start of the summer of sport!

Untrackable traffic is probably one of the biggest fears of any data-driven marketer.&nbsp;



“Dark social” is an example of such a dreaded source, which has been on the rise over the past couple of years.&nbsp;



We’ve compiled everything you need to know about dark social advocacy and how you can use it to your benefit.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-is-dark-social">What is Dark Social?</h2>



Dark social refers to any web traffic that comes from sharing links that are not trackable. They won’t be picked up by Google because they usually don’t contain any <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/3-clever-tools-that-simplify-how-you-measure-marketing-results">UTM tracking code</a>.



As a consequence the original traffic source remains unknown, instead, those leads will show up as “direct traffic” in your analytics.&nbsp;



What makes this type of sharing so dark is the fact that it happens on private messaging platforms such as chat apps or instant messengers and not on public social media platforms.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Why the Channel is Growing</h2>



Recently, there has been a shift in how much people share on social media. This is mainly linked to privacy concerns and how their data is used.&nbsp;



Contrary to social media, private messaging platforms allow for end-to-end encryption, so people can better control their personal information.&nbsp;



Up to <a href="https://www.convinceandconvert.com/social-media/what-is-dark-social/">80% of shares are in fact happening in the dark</a>, probably more than you might have expected.



This is even more so the case in the hospitality industry where people are looking for recommendations from their family and friends. So chances are high that they will share it privately.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">3 Ways Dark Social Affect Businesses</h2>



The impact of dark social on businesses can be broken down into 3 main points:



<ol class="wp-block-list">
<li>Untrackablilty</li>
</ol>



As mentioned already, the major issue is that you can’t put an exact number on this type of channel.&nbsp;



There are ways you can measure it to a certain extent, such as through Google Analytics (Source: direct traffic) or by using special tools.



<ol class="wp-block-list" start="2">
<li>Exclusion from the customer conversation</li>
</ol>



The actual content that is shared through dark social remains invisible to companies.



You don’t know what is said about your business. Also, you can’t control the conversation and whether it is in line with your brand voice and values.



<ol class="wp-block-list" start="3">
<li>Lower reach</li>
</ol>



In general, your reach might be limited on dark social. People tend to share within their network, i.e. like-minded people with the same interests and behaviours.



It’s therefore not necessarily a channel to attract a new type of customer.



However, if you look into the demographics, you can reach an older audience as younger customers still tend to share their content on social media.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">3 Actionable Tips For More Transparency</h2>



The good news, there are a couple of ways you can increase measurability. It’s all about making your content more traceable in the first place.



<ol class="wp-block-list">
<li>Encourage trackable ways of sharing: add share buttons/links to your content containing <a href="https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/what-are-utm-tracking-codes-ht">referral data</a>.</li>



<li>Chime in on the conversation: create your own community with loyal customers, i.e. a Whatsapp group.</li>



<li>Use <a href="https://free-url-shortener.rb.gy/">URL shortener</a> for social posts: shorter links with UTMs attached look cleaner and are easier to copy and paste.</li>
</ol>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Power of Dark Social</h2>



Taking all the above into account, dark social should definitely not be seen as a threat to marketers.



Even though it is a channel that is hard to control it contributes a lot to your brand awareness and engagement.&nbsp;



Think about it this way &#8211; if customers share your content privately it’s a sign of trust and loyalty. It is a form of unexpected <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/breakdown-3-ways-customers-advocate-your-hospitality-brand">brand advocacy.</a>&nbsp;



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



<a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/how-hospitality-operators-can-use-data-to-reveal-loyal-customers">Learn more</a> about how you can identify and grow your most loyal customers using data insights and our customer retention cohort report.

Shedding A Light On Dark Social And How It Increases Brand Awareness

In the last 12 months, over&nbsp;120 million emails&nbsp;have been sent through Stampede across thousands of campaigns.



From all that we learned:



A) That the number of sent emails should be a lot higher, because



B) People often avoid email campaigns because designing them is a headache, and



C) 99% of email campaigns are very similar in design and layout.



 Enter&nbsp;Quick Campaigns&nbsp;🚀 &#8211; taking you from start to sent in just a couple of minutes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-it-works">How it works</h2>



✅ Prompt the builder with your idea ✅ Use the Brand Kit to set your theme for your venue ✅ Choose your audience or segment (or make a new one) ✅ Add some text for the body of the email (you can change the main image too) ✅ Bolt-on a trackable call-to-action button Then hit Send!



It&#8217;s less effort than a social media post, and way more effective at generating bookings and conversions.



Think of it like filling in a form, instead of building a web page with a drag-and-drop designer. Most email campaigns are simple and they tend to be the best at getting the desired outcome.



For those that still want to nurture audiences with rich content, story telling and brand building you can still do all that and more in with Bulk and even Automated campaigns.



Email marketing continues to be one of the best performing channels for any business. Social media algorithms change, new trends emerge, new platforms pop-up. Marketers constantly have to adjust and redesign their approach to stay relevant and appear on feeds. You&#8217;re always renting the audience and fighting for attention.



Your email audience is yours to address as and when you like. Segementation is still your most powerful tool here, whether you send Quick or Bulk campaigns. 



<a href="https://stampede.ai/get-started/marketing/">Stampede is here to help</a> with thousands of ways to build audiences and segments so your message hits the right people at the right time, without slowing you down.







p.s. It&#8217;s never a choice between email or social media &#8211; it&#8217;s always BOTH

Introducing Quick Campaigns

Who are your customers, and what exactly do they want? The fundamentals of what makes a business either work or fail ultimately come down to this one question, which can be explored by looking at the customer journey as a whole, as well as <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/engaging-customers-through-wi-fi-marketing/">personalisation</a>.







Both the customer journey and personalisation boils down to understanding all the interactions your customers are having with your business. It can be likened to your wait staff asking “how’s your meal?”, but looking at the broader picture.&nbsp;



By knowing about every aspect of your customer journey, and how customers are interacting with your business, you can begin to build a bigger picture of what they ultimately want from you.&nbsp;



If you own a restaurant and are looking to improve the understanding between your business and your customer base, here are some of the best places to start.&nbsp;



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Understanding The Customer Journey</h4>



The customer journey is not just the time from when they walk into your restaurant until they pay and then walk out again. Instead, the customer journey covers every interaction your restaurant has with your patrons.&nbsp;



For example, searching for your website &#8211; how easy is the process, and are they able to book online? Then there’s dining in your restaurant, what type of experience are they having? Are your wait staff attentive and knowledgeable about your food? The customer journey also extends to following up with them afterwards, in the form of feedback forms or marketing.



If you really want to get into the mindset of your customers, then i<a href="https://www.salesforce.com/uk/blog/2016/03/customer-journey-mapping-explained.html">t’s important to understand their overall journey</a> and how your business fits in with each of these milestones. After all, if there’s a weak link the chain, it can pull everything else down too.&nbsp;



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Personalise The Experience</h4>



Restaurants are not simply a place to eat. From catch-ups to celebrations, they provide the backdrop to some of our most memorable events throughout our lives.&nbsp;



If a customer calls to book a table or room for a special event, it’s the perfect time to incorporate personalisation. After all, it’s a real honour to be chosen as the place to celebrate a milestone event in someone’s life.&nbsp;



As management, you should look to incorporate personal touches into the event. What steps can you take to make the experience unique, versus what a chain restaurant would do?&nbsp;



Personalisation is also about <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6OwbWcFhfM">tailoring your business to meet a particular trend or demand</a>. For example, when you walk into a coffee shop &#8211; do they simply sell tea and coffee, or have they thought about caffeine-free options too?&nbsp;



The more people are able to personalise the experience, the more your business model is able to fit into their needs. Remember, happy customers, equals return customers!&nbsp;



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Anticipating Their Needs</h4>



Starting with your restaurant, how comfortable is it for people to spend long periods of time in? If it’s a draughty old building with rigid seating, it’s probably not going to be great for spending hours catching up with friends. However, throwing some armchairs in and putting a log fire in there changes things completely. This is anticipating your customer&#8217;s needs.&nbsp;



If service is a little slow, what steps can you take to prevent customers from becoming irate? Serving free drinks or even having fresh bread on the table, can act as a natural buffer to this situation. After all, there’s nothing worse than waiting hours for food when you are hungry. Dealing with this scenario effectively before it becomes an issue, is also part of anticipating the needs of the customer.&nbsp;



In essence, <a href="https://smallbusiness.chron.com/topfive-basic-services-customer-needs-restaurant-24669.html">the more you get into the mindset of your restaurant clientele</a>, the more you can anticipate what steps need to be taken to reach them. Looking at steps that can be taken to minimise issues throughout all stages of your customer experience is what will set you apart from your competitors.&nbsp;



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Take Inspiration From Other Service Industries</h4>



Think about the experience you have on a plane, and how the airline and flight attendants anticipate your every need. For example, passengers are hungry and thirsty. So snacks, food and drinks are regularly served. On-board entertainment is provided to keep you from becoming bored or restless.&nbsp;



There’s also <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/christopherelliott/2018/07/11/these-companies-have-the-best-customer-service-heres-why/#750e6082b80a">a real emphasis on meeting the needs of the passengers</a>, provided by visible service at regular intervals. Someone has thought of all these things in advance, and as a reaction to previous feedback.



While your restaurant might be located firmly on solid ground rather than 30,000ft up, that doesn’t mean to say you can’t follow the same approach when it comes to anticipating your customer&#8217;s needs. It starts by asking what could be improved on, and what steps do you need to take to do this?



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



Customer service doesn’t stop when your patrons leave the building. By building <a href="https://stampede.ai/product/features/">a clear picture of your customer insights</a>, you can stay on top of their experiences, good and bad.&nbsp;



Getting to the heart of what your customer wants is the core of any business. At Stampede, our software has the exact same ethos. 



Start your journey to understand your customers&#8217; journey, as well as learning how to personalise your business based on <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/the-marketing-power-of-wifi-analytics-for-your-business/">real-time analytical data</a>.&nbsp;



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





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

Personalise Your Customer Journey at Your Restaurant

How often should you email your customers? According to research by <a href="https://pos.toasttab.com/resources/restaurant-guest-industry-report" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Toast</a> 34% of consumers want emails from restaurants a couple of times a month.&nbsp;



 To get those two emails in the bag, we’d recommend a newsletter style email to kick-off with a variety of topics, followed by a special offer or&nbsp;promotion email 4 &#8211; 9 days after that.



Tying that promotional email back to the newsletter content will be especially effective at converting readers into repeat customers.



 However, two emails a month can easily get swallowed up in a busy inbox. Let’s look at what else customers might want by email.



 Toast’s <a href="https://pos.toasttab.com/resources/restaurant-guest-industry-report" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">research</a>&nbsp;indicated that the most popular topics are promotions/discounts and relevant updates on COVID-19, but after that people want announcements about new menu items and then birthday coupons.



 We covered <a href="https://marketing.stampede.ai/in-browser?message_id=mkm_a9fea0f4a95da1991ec3c941f9313a32&amp;profile_id=" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">birthday offer emails</a> a few weeks ago &#8211; with the right technology this can be super high converting email with minimal effort, via <a href="https://stampede.ai/how-it-works/automations/#campaigns" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">automation</a>.



 Menu item announcements are a brilliant opportunity to get creative and experiment with new content formats, such as videos. Likewise, you can increase customer engagement by directing them straight to your social media for more details of your new menu.



Email is an immensely powerful tool to connect with your customers and build a relationship with them that leads to more repeat business.&nbsp;



To learn more about <a href="https://stampede.ai/how-it-works/marketing/#email" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stampede&#8217;s email marketing tools</a>, please <a href="https://stampede.ai/company/#contact" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">get in touch</a> with one of our team.

When & What to Send Customers

When we welcome new customers to Stampede and show them the marketing feature, there are often&nbsp;3 big questions when it comes to sending times and frequency. So, we’ve gathered these 3 common email marketing questions together and grilled our own marketing team for some answers to share with you.



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



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-1-when-is-the-best-time-to-send-an-email-campaign">1. When is the best time to send an email campaign?</h4>



No doubt, the right timing has a big impact on the success of your email campaigns.&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.marketo.com/articles/the-best-time-to-send-emails/" target="_blank">Research shows</a>&nbsp;that the best sending time for the&nbsp;hospitality industry is between 8 and 10am, whereas&nbsp;marketing emails get the highest results at 4pm. Unfortunately, there is no one size fits all time for best email performance. It’ll be specific to your industry, business and customers.



A good starting point is to look into your social media&nbsp;stats&nbsp;to find out when your customers are online and engaging with your content. Historic email data, especially your open rates, also give you a hint on which times usually work best for you.



<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.bluecorona.com/blog/mobile-marketing-statistics/" target="_blank">Around 75% of consumers will access their emails on their phones</a>. Think about when your customers might check their inbox during the day and are most likely to have time to read it. This will probably be at times before work, during their lunch break and after work/late evening. However, the right time also depends on the customer demographic, e.g. families have different daily habits than business people.&nbsp;



The&nbsp;actual email content matters&nbsp;as well. Your longer monthly newsletter is something your customers can read after work or even during the weekend. Whereas your short and punchy lunch offers will ideally land in their inbox around the time people start thinking about where to go for food.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">2. Which day is the best to send emails?</h4>



<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.marketo.com/articles/the-best-time-to-send-emails/" target="_blank">Statistics show that Tuesday and Thursday</a>&nbsp;are in general the best performing days of the week for emails.&nbsp;



However,&nbsp;always consider your content and its relevance. Are you trying to fill in empty tables due to cancellations? Or are you trying to promote any upcoming events in the next month? Regardless, you should always send time-sensitive offers based on their own timeline before considering overall industry best practices (ideally within your ideal time slots).&nbsp;



And again, dive into your own data and compare different weekdays to the weekends to see where you can get the best responses. You can also start your own A/B test and experiment with different days. Social media analytics will also provide you with the days of the week.



There’s only one golden rule for days:&nbsp;avoid public holidays&nbsp;if you can.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">3. How many times a month is considered the optimum for emailing customers?</h4>



The important bit here is to&nbsp;be consistent&nbsp;and to come up with your own schedule. If you do it randomly, you might end up sending too many or not enough. Watch out for increasing opt-out rates, this is a sign of emailing too frequently. And always bear in mind,&nbsp;only send out emails that provide value&nbsp;to your customers and not just because it&#8217;s time to send one.



Your loyal customers especially will appreciate tailored offers and updates coming through on a more regular basis. They’re highly engaged and want to hear from you.



Your schedule could be weekly, bi-weekly or only monthly. You could, for example, do a monthly newsletter recap about your company and send out emails with offers in between whenever relevant.



Need a hand with <a href="https://stampede.ai/how-it-works/marketing/#email">sending your emails</a> to your customers?&nbsp;Or got more questions around email marketing? <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="mailto:contact@stampede.ai?subject=&amp;body=" target="_blank">Get in touch</a>&nbsp;with our team.

3 Big Hospitality Email Marketing Questions Answered

The acceleration of technology over the last decade has left <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/a-guide-on-current-hotel-industry-challenges/">no industry untouched</a>. With an explosion of online travel agencies (OTAs) creating both opportunities and threats for independent hotels. The process that many customers now use to choose and book a stay away from has changed beyond all recognition. There are still ways to encourage direct bookings vs OTAs and plenty of reasons to do so, which we will explore in this article.&nbsp;







On the one hand, OTAs offer a unique channel for promotions and market access. The volume of traffic they command gives independent hotels the opportunity to get offers out in front of thousands of potential customers who might never otherwise encounter their service. 



On the other hand, competition is often ferocious. Many independent hotels find this becomes a disheartening “race to the bottom”. The only winners in this scenario are those willing to cut their profit margins to the bone. With some operators apparently willing to boost occupancy at almost any cost.&nbsp;



The obvious benefit of direct bookings is the fact you won’t have to pay a commission to a third party. It’s all between you and the customer, giving you far more scope to make a healthy profit. Also, you have full access to your customers&#8217; data, which otherwise would stay with the OTA. Allowing you to get back in touch with your guests.



With this in mind, let’s explore some tried-and-tested ways that you can boost your direct bookings and drive up profits for the months ahead. 



Further reading: <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/new-tech-friend-or-foe-for-independent-hotels/">https://stampede.ai/blog/new-tech-friend-or-foe-for-independent-hotels/</a>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">User-test your website</h4>



Did you know that <a href="https://www.edhotels.com/80-hotel-bookings-made-mobile-devices/">up to 80%</a> of hotel reservations are made from mobile devices? Despite this statistic, many hotel websites make it difficult to make an online reservation from a phone. User test yours to make sure that you can easily and quickly make a reservation from your smartphone &#8211; if you’re not getting as many direct bookings are you would expect, this could be a prime reason.&nbsp;



Customers are increasingly impatient. If your website isn’t properly optimised for mobile or lacks a touchscreen-friendly booking engine, then they will abandon their attempt to reserve a room at the first hurdle. Similarly, test that your website loads quickly. As many as <a href="https://www.pegs.com/blog/10-reasons-why-hotels-must-embrace-mobile-optimization/">49% of visitors</a> will abandon your website if it doesn’t load within 8-10 seconds.&nbsp;



Finally, the phone number on your website should be a clickable link for mobile users. So that they can call you with one touch rather than having to dial the number manually. Again, the easier you make it for people to get in touch with you, the more calls you will get. It sounds simple, and it is… But it’s surprising how many don’t take this basic step of testing their website as a customer would have to use it. 



Make sure that you check your website from a user perspective regularly. At least once per month &#8211; and it should also be the first thing you do if you notice a sudden fall in direct bookings that wasn’t expected.&nbsp;



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Make full use of Google My Business</h4>



Speaking of resources that are often not taken full advantage of. Have you registered your hotel on <a href="https://www.google.com/intl/en_uk/business/">Google My Business</a>? It’s free, and it’s packed with a host of tools that you can use to help you get more visitors to your website. Ultimately, more direct bookings as a result. Not only will visitors to your area see a full detailed listing on your business when they search for “hotels” within Google Maps, but you can also display special offers, weekly menu updates, photos, and much more.&nbsp;



Again, although this tool is available to all hotels, it’s surprising how many don’t take full advantage of it. Make your Google My Business page a “favourite” on your browser and set a weekly reminder to add new content to it. Respond to reviews that you receive; even negative ones can be turned to your advantage with a little skill.&nbsp;



Keeping your Google My Business page updated with seasonal opening times, latest menus and special offers will boost the overall traffic your website receives. As well as increasing it’s SEO ranking (increasing the likelihood of getting to that coveted front-page-of-Google result for certain keywords!)&nbsp;



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Take advantage of changing habits by using Influencer Marketing</h4>



People’s leisure habits have changed remarkably over the last decade. In 2011, traditional TV consumed over 4 hours of time per day on average, whereas social media consumed just 90 minutes. By 2021, it is estimated that this statistic will have been turned on its head. With traditional TV relegated to less than one hour per day, and social media accounting for over 3 hours!&nbsp;



You can take advantage of this change by utilising <a href="https://goatagency.com/">Influencer Marketing</a>. This method of getting your hotel’s brand in front of a new audience allows you to micro-target very specific demographics. It can often be surprisingly cost-efficient when compared to other forms of advertising. Best of all, you can tie in a special offer to your influencer marketing campaign. This allows you to accurately measure the exact return on investment.&nbsp;



This marketing route lifts you right out of the run-of-the-mill comparisons that afflict OTA websites and allows you to package a stay at your hotel as an experience in its own right, rather than just a convenient stopping-off point to grab a quick sleep before heading out again.&nbsp;



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Capture the email address of drop-in visitors &#8211; and turn them into repeat customers!&nbsp;</h4>



Did you know that a major source of direct bookings could be literally walking in (and out) of your front door as you’re reading this? Every day, people use your reception and bar/restaurant for business meetings, as a place to catch up with their emails or grab an after-work drink with colleagues. By utilising <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/how-marketing-with-wifi-benefits-your-business/">WiFi marketing</a>, you can capture their email address and entice them to return with some carefully selected offers. 



Want to learn more about WiFi Marketing? Get in touch.



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





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



These drop-in visitors could be your best source of direct bookings, as they already know the location of your hotel. They have had a chance to sample your friendly, efficient service. Thus, they are more likely to be tempted to return by an offer of a free extra night or a free room upgrade. Best of all, when you email these previous visitors, you are not competing with anyone else for their attention. You have direct access to their inbox, and a <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/email-marketing-tips-for-the-hospitality-industry/">carefully-crafted email campaign</a> can be used to woo them to return again, and again!&nbsp;



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Bringing it all together&nbsp;</h4>



We’ve explored four different methods, from basic to advanced, for helping balance the volume of direct vs. OTA bookings your hotel receives. While the proliferation of online competition might appear disheartening for independent hotel owners, there are ways you can turn the tide in your favour. Which combination will you choose to make your next year more profitable and rewarding?



Further reading: <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/10-tips-on-nurturing-customer-loyalty-in-the-hotel-industry/">https://stampede.ai/blog/10-tips-on-nurturing-customer-loyalty-in-the-hotel-industry/</a>



Stay tuned for more articles to help you grow your business. Or join our email list to make sure you never miss out.&nbsp;

Direct Vs. OTA Bookings – Getting the Right Balance for Independent Hotels

So you&#8217;ve just opened your first coffee shop. Besides awesome coffee, you wanted your business to be a place where people could meet and chat about the pressing issues of the day. Sort of a modern day salon, if you will. You did everything a good coffee shop is supposed to do &#8211; order the latest in Sumatran Dark Roast, obtain sweets from your favourite local baker and, of course, install some WiFi for your customers.

The only problem is that your coffee shop has become a haven for hipsters working on the latest draft of their screenplay. Instead of lively conversation, everyone in your shop is staring at their laptop screens and silently typing away.
So what&#8217;s the solution? How can you get your customers talking and still keep your business going?
You could do what a lot of <a href="https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/small-business/sb-managing/we-dont-want-to-be-an-office-cafe-owners-are-pulling-the-plug-on-wifi/article34859828/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">coffee shops are doing these days and turn off the WiFi</a>. This will keep your business moving but might run the risk of alienating your customers and peg you as a Luddite.
Here&#8217;s a better solution: let your customers use your WiFi for free &#8211; at first &#8211; then ask them to pay. Hey &#8211; there&#8217;s no such thing as a free lunch, right?
<h2>Setting Up a Paid or Hybrid Network</h2>
But how to go about setting one of these networks up? With Stampede, it&#8217;s as easy as flipping a virtual switch.
Using Stampede, you can setup a wholly paid network, that is, one where your customers have to pay to access the WiFi for a set period of time. The other solution is to setup what is known as a hybrid network. In this type of network, your users are free to browse the internet until they&#8217;ve used up a certain amount of data &#8211; how much is up to you. Then they&#8217;ll be asked to pay for their connection. This is a great solution for keeping those bandwidth hogs off your network and has the added bonus of not penalising the people who wanted to stop by for a coffee and to quickly check their email.
<h2>Supercharge Your Marketing</h2>
Ok, so you&#8217;ve got the bandwidth hogs under control in your coffee shop. That&#8217;s a start, but that&#8217;s not the coolest feature of Stampede. That&#8217;s right. There&#8217;s more!
See when your customers want to access your WiFi, they&#8217;ll first need to login through what is known as a captive portal. This is a splash screen that appears on their device as soon as they fire up the WiFi. Your customers will need to enter their email address on the captive portal in order to be able to access the network.
And that email address, my friend, is gold. Because you can now use it to market to your customers. How so? How about this &#8211; let&#8217;s say one of your customers hasn&#8217;t visited your shop in a while, so Stampede automatically drops them an <a href="https://www.stampede.ai/blog/learn-how-to-boost-your-business-with-sms-and-email-marketing" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">email or SMS message</a> letting them know about some of your latest creations and includes a coupon for a discount. Magic? Nope, that&#8217;s Stampede.
And it doesn&#8217;t stop there &#8211; the sky is the limit as to what you want to do. That&#8217;s because Stampede also includes Zapier integration so you can connect Stampede to your favourite marketing and productivity software like MailChimp, Slack, Trello, Dropbox and hundreds more.
<h2>Bandwidth Hog Hunter</h2>
So stop those bandwidth hogs in their tracks by setting up paid or hybrid networks in Stampede. Just click below to get started!
<a class="eut-modal-popup" href="https://calendly.com/stampedeae/stampede-demo-request?month=2020-02">Click here to get started.</a>

Paid and Hybrid WiFi Networks with Stampede

The key to running a successful business is understanding who your customers are. So you can tailor your products or services to suit them. Going beyond vague age and gender brackets, <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/the-marketing-power-of-wifi-analytics-for-your-business/">data analytics</a> can give you an accurate breakdown of exactly who is visiting your restaurant. As a result, you can make informed decisions on how to market what you do and to whom. Learn more about how you can use data analytics to get to know your customers in and out.







In the digital age, it’s never been easier to find data analytics to use to your advantage and get to know your customers. In fact, even social media can tell you the average age of your followers. Even more, when they are most active online, making it simple to build an overall picture. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BVLVFH38ps">More advanced data analytics</a> can even share how often your customers visit you, how much they spend with you and what their interests are.



Such insight matters, because it’s the best way of getting in sync with what your customers really want. By doing so, you can improve your business model and streamline your overheads too.&nbsp;



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Read minds</h4>



No crystal ball required. By having your customer data presented in a way that’s easy to toggle between, you can ensure <a href="https://www.wordstream.com/blog/ws/2017/04/06/how-to-market-a-product">your marketing hits a bullseye every time</a>. For example, if pizza is the most popular item ordered in your restaurant. You can deliver deals to your most loyal customers. When it comes to social media marketing, you could use storytelling to show your customers how your famous pizzas are made.&nbsp;



Compared with generic content you put out to try and boost your followers with no real insight behind it, this tactic is a lot more likely <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/tracking-digital-marketing-roi/">to generate ROI</a>. That’s because you are getting to the heart of what your customers come to you for. If your analytics show people are searching for ‘pizza in Edinburgh’, then you can even tailor your paid posts to pick up on these keywords too.&nbsp;



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Identify your best customers</h4>



It’s not a question of picking favourites here. Studying your <a href="https://www.towerdata.com/blog/what-is-customer-demographic-data">data analytics can paint an interesting picture</a> when it comes to your acquisition costs. In particular, who is responding best to your marketing. For example, if you are spending the most money trying to attract students. However, find out that your biggest customer base is working professionals coming in on their lunch break. This gives you a chance to reassess your marketing strategy. So that overall it’s a lot more cost-effective.&nbsp;



You can also understand who is spending the most money with you, and what are your most popular products or services. As a restaurant, this might be a particular meal deal you serve that’s popular with the lunchtime crowd. If your analytical tools are even more advanced, you can even identify what each individual customer orders most often, to <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/how-marketing-with-wifi-benefits-your-business/">create tailored marketing.</a>&nbsp;



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">Target their location</h4>



Geography is huge when it comes to marketing your business. If your customers are coming from far and wide but your marketing is only concentrated to a 1-mile radius of your restaurant, you could be missing out on vital trade. Similarly, if you advertise nationally but 90% of your customers live within 5 miles of your restaurant. This could be eating up your marketing budget providing a poor ROI.&nbsp;



The great thing about data analytics is that you can find out <a href="https://marketingland.com/getting-back-to-basics-with-location-based-marketing-256512">the towns and cities closest to you</a> that are pulling in the most customers. You will be able to access both the reach and engagement, as well as the potential reach if you were to extend your campaign from the city to the whole county.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Maintain steady business</h4>



The thing about analytics is that it shows both upwards and downwards trends. <a href="https://www.whishworks.com/blog/big-data/data-analytics-explained">By studying your data regularly</a>, you can see when certain demographics aren’t purchasing as regularly. Or when the business as a whole is receiving less traffic to its social media pages, which is impacting bookings. Going beyond simply noticing less cash in the till, the specifics of who isn’t buying from you and why can allow you to take informed action.&nbsp;



For example, you might notice fewer students are visiting because it’s the end of the summer term. You can prep for freshers week to bring in even more trade than usual, to make up for the shortfall. In addition, you could switch to marketing towards families who are more likely to be receptive in the school holidays instead. Therefore, your data analytics can assist both your business forecasting and recovery too.&nbsp;



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



Do you know who your customers are? Answering this question accurately can be really tricky for any restaurant business. After all, customers tell you their order not their date of birth or any other key information that would help you tailor your marketing strategy better. Then there’s the challenge of getting this key information in the first place, especially in the age of GDPR.&nbsp;



Our branded WiFi portal allows your customers to keep connected. While simultaneously allowing you to be more connected to your customers too.&nbsp;By monitoring the connection closely you can get insight on how your business is performing. But also how to improve it.&nbsp;On the same time, you can use data analytics to get to know your customers better and reach out to them in a <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/how-to-set-up-your-first-email-campaign-guide-2019/">more tailored way</a>.



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

Using Data Analytics to Get to Know Your Customers

With restrictions easing and working from home guidance changing across the country, a large number of people will start to return to offices soon. This means a big source of trade is starting up again with people commuting to work and back. And not forgetting all those potential customers working in offices close to your business.&nbsp;Increase your daily foot traffic with our marketing tips and tricks. 



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To make the most out of this regained foot traffic, you should rethink your offers and marketing promotions and start reaching out to this “new/old” audience.&nbsp;



People&#8217;s behaviour has changed in the last 18 months. Chances are that they might have gotten used to their new routines of preparing food at home. So, it’s up to you to remind them to re-establish their old routines.



We’ve come up with 4 promotional ideas to help you increase your daily foot traffic:



<h5 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-4-promotional-tips-to-boost-sales-from-commuters">4 Promotional Tips to Boost Sales from Commuters</h5>



<h5 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-1-get-the-messaging-right">1. Get the messaging right</h5>



Most of us have a certain morning ritual. And for many people, this used to be a quick on-the-way-to-work meal and/or coffee to go.



With working from home, those breakfast sales, which usually come with a big profit margin, have suffered a lot. A similar situation happened during lunchtimes.&nbsp;



To get people back into their old habits, you have to really tap into the benefits. How much more convenient and tasty for customers to stop by your venue instead of having to prepare it all at home. Here&#8217;s some inspiration:&nbsp;



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>“Save valuable time in the morning”</li><li>“We’ve got breakfast sorted for you, so that you can sleep in a little longer”</li><li>“Start off your working day with a proper cup of coffee”</li><li>“We’ve got you covered for lunch, no more weekly lunch planning needed”</li><li>“Same daily question, what’s for lunch today? But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Simply pop by …”</li></ul>



<h5 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-2-introduce-grab-and-go-menus">2. Introduce grab-and-go menus</h5>



<a href="https://www.restaurantware.com/blog/post/how-to-build-a-grab-and-go-menu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Grab-and-go breakfasts and lunches or snack bites</a> are great to satisfy the needs of busy workers to get an instant feed. Plus, they help you to take off some stress in your service and kitchen operations during peak times, as you can easily prepare them in advance.&nbsp;



To <a href="https://stampede.ai/how-it-works/loyalty/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">boost sales further</a>, combine them with an enticing offer or introduce a “grab and go” only daily special. Think about incorporating food &amp; dietary trends in your boxes to make them more attractive.



<h5 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-3-create-after-work-buzz">3. Create after-work buzz</h5>



Happy hours are a classic promotion to bring in after-work crowds. We all love to meet up and unwind with co-workers and friends after a long day at work.&nbsp;



Discounts on drinks (2-4-1) and appetisers, special prices for selected food and drink combos, small plates or shareable snacks are just a few ideas for your happy hour.



Those deals are known to work well to give your bottom-line a profit boost. To make your happy hour a success, create a special menu based on your most popular, high-margin items.&nbsp;



<h5 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-4-promote-office-delivery">4. Promote office delivery</h5>



You’ve probably used the past year to ramp up and optimise your delivery business. Now you only need to promote it to offices around you.



Think about offering package meal deals and discounts for group orders. You might as well start off with a “free delivery” promotion to offices close by.&nbsp;



Also, make sure your <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/get-found-by-more-customers/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Google My Business is up to date</a> so that your venue will show up in “near me “ searches.



<h5 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bonus-tip-run-a-business-of-the-day-promotion">Bonus Tip &#8211; Run a “Business of the Day” promotion</h5>



This can help you to <a href="https://stampede.ai/how-it-works/loyalty/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">turn your neighbours into regulars</a>&nbsp;and spread the word about your business.&nbsp;



Simply pick a nearby business and provide them with free/discounted food/drinks or let them test a sample lunch menu. Alternatively, you can run this as a social media competition for local businesses to take part in (&#8220;tag your co-workers and lunch buddies!&#8221;) to win a special deal.



Turn all this extra daily foot traffic into loyal customers who visit time and again with our <a href="https://stampede.ai/how-it-works/loyalty/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">digital stamp card</a> solution. <a href="contact@stampede.ai" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Reach out to our team </a>to find out more.&nbsp;

4 Promotional Tips to Increase Your Daily Foot Traffic

The Power of Reviews and Recommendations

Compared: 4 Time-Saving Social Media Scheduling Tools [Updated 2023]

Normally, a pineapple isn&#8217;t something you should be afraid of. Ok &#8211; you can be a little afraid of pineapples because they are spiky on the outside. And sometimes they contain tasty drinks that make people get a little crazy. But in this case we&#8217;re talking about an entirely different type of pineapple &#8211; a WiFi pineapple. This device allows attackers to snoop and sniff over any WiFi network, where they can <a href="https://www.news4jax.com/consumer/travel-warning-do-not-use-public-wifi-in-airports-hotels">steal passwords, information and all sorts of personal data</a>.
So, where do these pineapple attacks take place? Just about anywhere with an open, unsecured WiFi connection &#8211; like coffee shops, pubs, airports &#8211; probably most of the places where you use WiFi. And the worst part? These Pineapple devices are pretty cheap &#8211; for about $100 you can buy a Pineapple Nano, which slips right into a USB port, or, if you&#8217;ve got some hard core hacking to do, you can plop down $160 and get the Tactical Elite &#8211; complete with an antenna extension and handy carrying case. As stated in the catalog, the WiFi Pineapple will &#8220;Command the WiFi landscape and direct attacks from a live recon dashboard, passively monitoring all devices in the vicinity.&#8221;
Kinda scary, innit?
But there are steps you can take to protect yourself. First of all, never use unsecured WiFi.  That&#8217;s bad. Turn on two factor authentication for services like email and anywhere you store sensitive data. This typically involves you logging into a service, then receiving a text message or generated password through your mobile phone. This service is available in Google and most banks are using two factor authentication. Another solution is to invest in a <a style="font-size: 15px; background-color: transparent;" href="http://www.techradar.com/news/the-best-vpn-services-and-vpn-deals-of-2017">VPN (Virtual Private Network) service</a>. This encrypts your data, even on public networks, and sends it securely through a secure tunnel to its final destination.
If you&#8217;re running a business and want to ensure your customers have a secure connection available &#8211; well, you&#8217;ve come to the right place. Stampede can give your customers a <a href="https://www.stampede.ai/how-it-works#security">seamless and safe WiFi experience</a> no matter the location size. From <a href="https://www.stampede.ai/wifi-in-action#coffee">coffee shops</a>, to restaurants, to malls and <a href="https://www.stampede.ai/wifi-in-action#arenas">stadiums</a>, Stampede has you covered.
How has your WiFi experience been? Have you ever been compromised by a pineapple? Feel free to leave us a comment below. 
<a class="eut-modal-popup" href="https://calendly.com/stampedeae/stampede-demo-request?month=2020-02">Click here to get started.</a>

Has Your Data Been Compromised by a WiFi Pineapple?

Feature Update – Improved campaigns, reporting and imports

<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-3-fabulous-food-n-drink-content-topics">3 Fabulous Food ‘n’ Drink Content Topics </h3>



This week’s social media topics will make the foodies amongst your customers happy. Offering you lots of great opportunities to engage with your audience.



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<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-internationalteaday-15th">#InternationalTeaDay &#8211; 15th</h4>



Tomorrow is a celebration of the health benefits, economic importance, and cultural heritage of tea, all the while ensuring a more sustainable production from fields to our cups.&nbsp;



 Many hospitality venues have great tea selections with equally fantastic sustainability credentials. It’s worth sharing your tea selection with your customers on your socials. You might also provide them with some background information about the origin, give some tips on how to make the perfect cuppa and which food matches best.



 How you drink your tea is a matter of personal choice but definitely offers room for discussion. Whether you go for milk and/or sugar or prefer it black. There are all kinds of different tea colour shades coming with funny names like spray tan, true brit or dirty tap.



 Tip: Social Media Poll &#8211; how do you like your cuppa?



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-chocolatecoveredanything-day-16th">#ChocolateCoveredAnything Day &#8211; 16th</h4>



Chocolate addicts, this is your day! All those times when you’ve been asking yourself “How might this taste all covered in chocolate?” this is your perfect opportunity to find it out!&nbsp;



 Maybe you’re less adventurous and prefer to stick to the basics like fruits or sweets. But maybe you want to test your limits (fish fingers?) and create a new chocolaty trend dish for 2021. Anything can be covered in chocolate.&nbsp;



 Ok maybe not anything&#8230; but the festive period is usually full of sweet treats to satisfy your chocolate cravings and flex your creativity.



 Tip: Social Media Contest &#8211; get creative and create your own chocolate-covered dish to win.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-maplesyrupday-17th">#MapleSyrupDay &#8211; 17th</h4>



Nutritionists discovered it years ago as a healthier alternative for refined sugar. It’s linked to Canada the way Marmite is to the UK. I’m talking about Maple Syrup!



It’s the classic topping for pancakes and waffles as well a key ingredient for many baked treats! But it’s also a great match with savoury food, every tried maple glazed bacon? Maybe on top of your pancake? Maple Syrup is a true allrounder in the kitchen. It even works nicely in cocktails, salads and sticky sauces. There is really no limit here. Why not surprise your customers with a new Maple Syrup creation?



Tip: Video time &#8211; get those breakfast stacks ready for some slow-mo, mouthwatering pour videos for your socials.



Got some awesome content to share with your customers? Sling it in an email and get it in front of them &#8211; we all need a break from online order update emails in our inbox! <a href="https://stampede.ai/company/#contact" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Get in touch </a>with one of our team if you need any help with emails.

What’s On This Week – 14/12/2020

“Full with reduced capacity.” A statement that many hospitality venues can report on after trading again for a couple of weeks now. However, operating on a reduced capacity in combination with table-service only restrictions also means that the average revenue per day is still way below making profit again.&nbsp;



Adding to this are logistical difficulties and potential staff challenges (hygiene, social distancing, etc.) that make it difficult to cater to walk-ins, so most places have to rely on advanced bookings with dedicated time slots. 



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<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-to-increase-revenue-per-head-and-table">How to increase revenue per head and table</h4>



If venues can’t increase bookings per day, a fallback solution is to increase sales per head and table to boost revenue. What’s the best way to achieve this? Through upselling.&nbsp;



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-upselling-techniques">Upselling Techniques</h4>



Let’s have a look at three different upselling techniques that help you increase your order values:



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-1-promotions">1. Promotions</h4>



One of the most popular techniques is to make use of marketing promotions to encourage upselling.



Before customer comes to your venue:



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>You’ve got your customer booking details, so send special deals and offers via email and/or SMS in advance</li><li>You can also highlight your daily/seasonal specials or any other high-margin items you want to push</li></ul>



Whilst customer is at your venue:



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Make use of in-store marketing and display menu specials on the table, in your venue and also in front</li><li>Be clever with your menu design and place high-margin items at the top right</li><li>Host “Happy Hour” offers for slower days and times of the day</li><li>With the right <a href="https://stampede.ai/how-it-works/marketing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">WiFi marketing tools</a> you can send digital in-venue promotions whilst customers are there</li></ul>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-2-staff-training">2. Staff Training</h4>



“Would you like chips with that?” A common hospitality phrase with big potential as many of your customers will say “yes!”. Almost every customer interaction offers an opportunity for your team to impact customer spending.&nbsp;



It’s vital that staff are trained and coached properly.&nbsp;Upselling can quickly sound like a sales pitch and even turn customers off instead of being perceived as part of a good and anticipative service.



Quick tips for a successful at-the-table upselling:



<ol class="wp-block-list"><li>Consultative approach<ul><li>Your staff have the best knowledge of your menu, offering pairing recommendations is one of the easiest ways to upsell</li><li>Within this, drinks are the most straight forward pairing recommendation</li></ul></li><li>Financial approach<ul><li>Focusing on upselling high-margin items is a typical upselling method to boost sales</li><li>Always suggest the larger option first, e.g. regular-sized coffee rather than small-sized</li></ul></li><li>FOMO (fear of missing out) approach<ul><li>Highlight your daily specialities on your menu and add “only 2 left” or “very popular today”</li><li>Likewise with seasonal menu items “last chance to enjoy our …”</li></ul></li></ol>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-3-digital-upselling">3. Digital Upselling</h4>



Time to take your upselling to the next level and let technology do it for you.



<ol class="wp-block-list"><li>Increase spend with an order &amp; pay app&nbsp;<ul><li>An order app not only contributes to a safe and contactless customer experience but can also <a href="https://www.flipdish.com/resources/blog/grow-in-store-orders-restaurants" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">increase average order value by 10?–30%</a></li><li>Open a <a href="https://www.bizzon.com/en-gb/the-latest/open-tab-functionality" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">(digital) tab</a> to allow your customer to quickly add another pint to their order and increase average spend dramatically</li></ul></li><li>Make use of your POS customer data<ul><li>Offer personalised recommendations based on historical customer data&nbsp;</li><li>This will not only wow your customer but also offer you a way to upsell on previously ordered items &#8211; cappuccino as usual?</li></ul></li><li>Let your Guest WiFi do the promotions for you<ul><li>Once your customers have signed up to your Guest WiFi (working on a captive portal) you can contact them digital straight away with automated messaging</li><li>Forget about on-table displays and go for <a href="https://stampede.ai/upsell-in-action/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">real-time marketing</a> through email and/or SMS to promote special deals and offers</li></ul></li></ol>



<a href="contact@stampede.ai" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Get in touch</a> with one of our team to find out how our Guest WiFi solution can help you increase your order values through upselling immediately.

3 Quick Tips on Upselling to Increase Order Values

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="(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

What would you say if your Guest WiFi can do much more than simply offering an Internet connection to your customers? Even better, what if you could turn the cost for providing free WiFi into some sort of <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/3-powerful-ways-wifi-marketing-can-grow-your-business/">tangible return</a>? This is where WiFi Marketing and its benefits come into place.



It allows you to use the information gained through your offered WiFi to increase your revenue, footfall, customer satisfaction and <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/the-value-of-restaurant-marketing-automation/">much more</a>. But how exactly does that work? And how could your business benefit?







<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-does-wifi-marketing-work">How Does WiFi Marketing Work?</h4>



<a href="https://www.stampede.ai/blog/articles/wifi-marketing-and-your-business">WiFi Marketing</a> is perhaps one of the most useful tools for businesses looking to engage with their customers in different ways. Check out this short video to get a better understanding of what it means and how easy it is to set-up with using Stampede.



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<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="WiFi Marketing | Stampede" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uX-Vy3m0dcg?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>



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WiFi Marketing allows you to send individualised SMS and email messages to your customers, depending on their behaviour. Assuming, some customers regularly come to your venue, some only have been there once. How can you now use WiFi marketing to offer a much more personalised experience in both cases, positively <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/how-hospitality-operators-can-use-data-to-reveal-loyal-customers">affecting overall loyalty</a>?



Example campaign ideas could be sending a customer a text message after their 5th visit to your venue. This message could contain a special offer, i.e. a free drink.



This offer is an effective opportunity to reward your customers for their loyalty. Not only helping them feel more valued by your brand but also significantly increases the chances of them returning to your venue and spending more money.



Same applies for turning one-time visitors into repeat ones. What about a special deal (15% your next food bill) to encourage them to re-visit. This offer can be triggered by all customers who have not been at your venue for let&#8217;s say a month. And who would not come back for such a deal?



Even more, these campaigns, once set-up, ran automatically. Therefore, especially handy for busy business owners who don&#8217;t have much time. Also, no IT or marketing expertise required, promised. 



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-is-this-better-than-original-marketing">Why Is This Better Than Original Marketing?</h4>



This new method of marketing is disrupting common marketing methods as we know them. To top all this, its unique way of user engagement has proven to convert up to 5x more customers than the industry average. Amazing right? 



Conversation rates show that 24.68% of people who receive a personalised SMS message are likely to return, which is significantly higher than the industry average.



In addition, there is much more you can do from the data obtained through your WiFi. Another key benefit of WiFi marketing can be seen in the <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/the-marketing-power-of-wifi-analytics-for-your-business/">analytics</a> gained. These reach from valuable venue insights, such as dwell times and returning customers to average time spent. 



Based on these findings, special marketing campaigns can be used, for example, to boost quieter times.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sounds-good">Sounds Good?&nbsp;</h4>



Why not get started marketing your business with WiFi today? It&#8217;s easier than you think!&nbsp;

How WiFi Marketing Benefits Your Business

We at Stampede are on a big mission. 



We want to make the hard-to-do marketing easy and accessible for all hospitality operators. How do we do this?



It&#8217;s simple. We provide hospitality businesses with smart and innovative tech tools to help them make the best use of their customer data. So they can start building a strong mailing list and market to their customers to drive repeat visits.



We are therefore very honoured to be amongst the finalists for the “Best Use Of Data 2022” award by the <a href="https://businesstechawards.com/">UK Business Tech Awards</a>.



<h5 class="wp-block-heading">Effortless Growth Through Digital Marketing</h5>



Our award application focuses on the UK-wide rollout of the Stampede platform at the <a href="https://www.bestwestern.co.uk/">Best Western GB hotels</a>. We want to equip their hotels with the right tools to succeed with data and digital marketing.



Until now, most of Best Western GB’s guest data is withheld by Online Travel Agencies (OTA). Hotels are therefore not able to get in touch with their guests after their stay. Plus, a lot of hotel operators feel inexperienced and unsure about doing email marketing, which is holding them back from using it.



Our platform is built to make marketing easy, especially for busy operators. With Stampede, hotels can now start building their own customer mailing list through their Guest WiFi. This means, that customers who have booked via OTAs can be contacted via email marketing and turned into direct bookers moving forward. 



By using Stampede, Best Western GB hotels can easily create low-cost and high-return email campaigns. What makes those quick-to-set-up campaigns so effective is the intelligent use of guest data insights. 



In addition, our innovative reporting suite allows operators to better track their guest interaction, both online and in-venue. By linking those insights, they can create targeted and personalised campaigns to increase bookings and customer loyalty.



<h5 class="wp-block-heading">Helping Other Hospitality Operators Grow</h5>



Clever technology powered by valuable data leads to proven massive ROI. 



Our joined project with Best Western GB shows how simple it can be for hospitality businesses to strive by making the best use of their data. 



We want to share this success story with all hospitality operators, especially now as the industry faces difficult economic times.



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<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Best-West-CJF-Infographic.png"><img decoding="async" src="https://image.stampede.ai/fill/1894/4651/ce/0/aHR0cHM6Ly9zdGFtcGVkZS5haS93cC1jb250ZW50L3VwbG9hZHMvMjAyMi8wOC9CZXN0LVdlc3QtQ0pGLUluZm9ncmFwaGljLnBuZw==" alt="" class="wp-image-22099"/></a></figure>

Best Use of Data 2022 Finalist

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

Stampede announces Springo acquisition

Report – 2020 Data Insights in Hospitality.

Stampede announces global channel launch of hospitality martech platform

How Tripadvisor’s Safety Measures Are Impacting Hospitality Businesses

New service keeps spontaneous pub trips alive while supporting track and trace

In <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/how-to-thoroughly-spring-clean-your-digital-places-part-1/">Part 1 of this series</a>, we discussed how you can give your online places a good clean. In this post, our focus is going to be on wider digital spaces, with emphasis on digital devices, web and mobile applications, file storage, and software. You’ve probably put this type of detailed spring cleaning off in the past, but with COVID-19 temporarily closing the doors of hospitality businesses around the globe, now’s a good time to optimise these digital places for easier operations. 



We recommend the following activities to polish your digital places and make technology work harder for you:&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">1. Start by Weeding Out All of Your Devices</h2>



Do you have more than one digital device lying around? Your answer’s likely going to be a big “yes”. It’s time to round the lot up and organize their contents. Transfer useful files from older devices onto the devices you are currently using. Organise files so that they can be easily found, delete irrelevant files, and uninstall apps that you no longer use. This way you will have a cleaner user-interface on each device and you will have tons of space for new downloads going forward (which is important because your business is going to have to rely on new technologies and applications in the future).&nbsp;



Now, you can safely store your older devices for later use or you can donate them to a good cause and create some extra space for yourself in your physical workspace.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">2. Polish Your Apps</h2>



The future of digital marketing is going to be very much web and mobile application based. Since you’ve cleared space on your devices, you should be able to store more files and programs. You can 1.) download new helpful and innovative apps and 2.) declutter and reorganise the applications you’re already using.&nbsp;



Popular apps for the hospitality industry include:



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>OpenTable (a table reservation app)</li><li>Flypay (an app that allows patrons to choose a listed restaurant or bar location, enter their table number, and have their bill instantly retrieved)</li><li>Bamboo HR (assists with streamlining HR processes within your business)</li><li>Mind Meister (an app that assists with the planning of events, restaurant, and coffee shop marketing)</li><li>Typsy (a staff training platform for hospitality businesses)</li></ul>



Electronic Point of Sale Systems have also become an essential component of most successful hospitality businesses. You may want to use this time to get to know your current ePos system better or research other options that may better suit your niche. 



When it comes to organising your apps, you can look into removing users who are no longer with your organisation, improve your layouts to make them more user-friendly for your staff, and you make sure that everything is working systematically as it should (.i.e. get to know your apps back to front). 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">3. Just Do the Updates</h2>



Update reminders can be a thorn in the side of daily work life, but we cannot keep putting them off indefinitely. If we fail to do software updates, then we threaten the security of our digital devices. They will also run more slowly. As a result, the work we try to do on them will be completed at a reduced pace (which is no help when you’re trying to implement the best promotion techniques, for example).  



When you have downtime, then use the opportunity to prepare some non-computer work. This way you can allow your computers, tablets, and smartphones to run their hour-long (or maybe five-hour-long) update processes to optimise their systems.&nbsp;



Tip:&nbsp;don&#8217;t forget to back up your files beforehand, just in case something goes awry! Which brings us to our next point.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">4. Take Advantage of File Sharing</h2>



You probably have a plethora of work files just hanging around on your desktop. Keeping these files on your computer alone, however, can present risks to your businesses’ security and knowledge base. If your laptop is stolen or loses functionality during a power surge (for example), then all of this important information will be gone – possibly forever. And that’s where file-sharing can be your saving grace.



If your business has a shared server, you can store your files under your umbrella. Alternatively, you can look to cloud storage solutions so that you can have access to your files from anywhere at any time. For documents that are more team-beneficial than sensitive, we suggest you look to <a href="https://www.google.co.uk/drive/">Google Drive</a>, <a href="https://www.dropbox.com/">Dropbox</a>, or other file-sharing platforms for an effective solution. 



Once you have your file-sharing process set up, you can organise your information so that it’s even easier to access – and you can create some extra space on your devices at the same time!



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">4. Declutter Your Email Account</h2>



Some may refer to their email accounts as the central data hub of their business. If you receive your notifications and communications from customers and suppliers via email, then this will hold to you.&nbsp;



Now’s the time to declutter your inbox and file your emails accordingly. You can:



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Delete all the emails you no longer need</li><li>Delete and block junk mail</li><li>Store the emails you want to hold onto by using cloud storage solutions</li><li>Delete email accounts you no longer use</li></ul>



By removing important information from your email account and storing it on a safe file-storing server, you can reduce the chances of your email account being hacked for your private information. It also gives you a clean and organized account to work from going forward – think of it as room to breathe!&nbsp;



With COVID-19 (and other unforeseen events) interrupting systems as we once knew them, it’s always good to prepare for the future of marketing. So, once you’ve spring cleaned and spruced your platforms, then it’s time to research new types of marketing and what they will mean for you going forward. 



For more information on intelligent marketing tools that will help you push through tough economic times, please <a href="https://stampede.ai/contact/">contact Stampede</a>.

cleaning and updating your digital spaces and devices

How to Spring Clean Your Digital Places: Part 2

Whenever we have a question or an idea, we immediately turn to our best friend, the Internet. The easiest and fastest way to find out more about that topic that’s been keeping us up at night. Today, the world wide web is filled with information on just about every topic, probably being the most reliable way to gather facts. 







During the research process, in particular about products and companies, online <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.stampede.ai/blog/5-star-review-google-form" target="_blank">reviews will pop-up</a>. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, as they tend to help shoppers with their decision-making. Though, online reviews are one of those tricky things, can be a real blessing for your business, but can also have a major negative impact on your revenue.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">A sense of legitimacy</h4>



Before we were able to find everything on the Internet, we were still reliant on recommendations of friends and family. Just to give you an idea of how immense the impact of online reviews really is, think about this fact.



 90% of shoppers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations. In other words, the Internet replaced personal recommendations as the most powerful way of referrals. Impressive right?



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Don’t panic!</h4>



Adding this extra layer to online reviews and referrals is not necessarily the end of the world. However, being aware of its magnitude and extent is crucial for discovering new opportunities. 



Websites like TripAdvisor, Google reviews or Facebook reviews see millions of visitors every month and being present on those online review pages is an absolute must today. But presence alone might not be enough. Control is what you need.



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



<div class="wp-block-media-text" style="grid-template-columns:35% auto"><figure class="wp-block-media-text__media"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="600" height="600" src="https://stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/img-reviews_300.png" alt="" class="wp-image-12864" srcset="https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/img-reviews_300.png 600w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/img-reviews_300-300x300.png 300w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/img-reviews_300-150x150.png 150w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/img-reviews_300-96x96.png 96w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/img-reviews_300-560x560.png 560w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/img-reviews_300-16x16.png 16w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/img-reviews_300-592x592.png 592w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/img-reviews_300-100x100.png 100w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/img-reviews_300-60x60.png 60w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/img-reviews_300-90x90.png 90w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" /></figure><div class="wp-block-media-text__content">
Looking to take more control over your reviews?



<a href="https://stampede.ai/reviews/">Check out our Reviews tool.</a>
</div></div>



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<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Let’s walk through that open door</h4>



In the latest Stampede eBook we put together very interesting stats, concerning online reviews. You will learn why online reviews are important and how they directly impact your business. Download your eBook right and see how reaching your customers, building your brand presence and increasing your revenue is made easy.



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From time to time the unpreventable might happen. Someone leaves you a negative review. Good news, there are ways to deal with them in a more efficient way. 



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">How to deal with negative online reviews</h4>



As we all know, not all reviews will be positive. Even though you might have done your best to satisfy your customers during their visit. Fast service, good food and drinks, always responsive to their needs. But they&#8217;ve complained about the lack of decoration in your Cafe. 



Well, sometimes you just cannot prevent a negative review from getting online is what you might think now. I&#8217;ve done everything I could, what else am I supposed to do? We might have a <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/how-to-respond-to-positive-and-negative-customer-reviews-online/">solution.</a>



Our solution does not only help you to <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/how-wifi-can-help-boost-guest-reviews-of-your-venue/">get more reviews</a>, even better allows you to filter out the negative ones coming in. That way, you&#8217;re able to deal with them behind closed doors first. I.e. get back in touch with the customer and do some follow-up. You might even be able to turn that &#8216;lost&#8217; customer into a repeat one. 



Sounds too good to be true? Why not sign-up for a free trial today and experience it yourself?



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Alternatively, get in touch with us directly and we&#8217;ll set you up with our online Reviews Feature in no time.



<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>

The Importance of Online Reviews for Your Business

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

Snap Box – Stampede Network Application

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

A new kind of marketplace for hospitality apps

October Update – 3x Faster Guest WiFi and more

New Features & Updates – September 2023

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

Personal elements and emotions truly elevate a customer experience. They also help to better connect with your customers and to reach and attract a new audience.&nbsp;We’ve gathered 3 ideas that are inspired by wonderful emails some of our customers have sent out recently and we thought they’re worth sharing with you. They all add a more personal touch to your emails and social media and help you draw attention to your brand.



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<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-1-share-customer-case-studies">1. Share Customer Case Studies</h4>



One way of making your customers curious about your unique experiences and draw attention to your brand is by sharing some of the memorable moments you’ve created for others. Give them an idea of what they can expect and look forward to. You can compile those moments in a mini case study that you can send around and share.



Moments can be anything from a small special encounter between your staff and your customer that made their day and put a smile on their faces to sharing some of your big events that you’ve hosted at your venue.&nbsp;



Especially for those bigger events, reach out to your customers for some extra information you can put into your mini case study. For a wedding, this could be a short interview with the newlyweds (about the proposal, how they met…) and what it was like hosting their special day at your place. Why did they choose to celebrate with you? How you decorated the venue for them, what food they’ve chosen, etc.&nbsp;



And don’t shy away from asking your customers why they would recommend your venue, this will make a great testimonial.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">2. Highlight Your Local Attractions</h4>



Think about what else your customers can enjoy and do that is nearby your venue. Your location also contributes to your customers overall experience, so point them in the right direction straight away to make sure that they don’t miss out on any local highlights around you.



Come up with your team’s top 5 favourite local attractions; provide some background information and why it&#8217;s worth a visit. Maybe your team also has their own secret spots that are less known&#8230;



Have one of your team visit those places to take some pics or even record a short video that you can turn it into a nice story to share around.&nbsp;



For customers who are familiar with those places already, run a competition &#8211; #RecogniseThis? Take a close up of any of those spots and ask your customers where this could be.&nbsp;



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">3. Go Behind the Scenes</h4>



A classic content topic as such, but something your customers will love as it makes your business much more relatable and authentic.



Customers want to know who’s behind their favourite venue. Who are those people going above and beyond day by day. Your customers will probably know most of your front of house staff, but what about those behind the scenes? And what is going on behind your scenes anyways? Time to raise the curtain.



Some more ideas:



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Introduce your team &#8211; ask them some <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/70-better-get-to-know-you-questions" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">general &amp; personal questions</a></li><li>What is your team up to when they’re not working? Hobbies, etc.</li><li>Celebrate your teams special days &#8211; birthday, anniversaries</li><li>Introduce your furry friends</li><li>Fast motion video of your kitchen buzz or your daily preparations before you open your doors</li><li>Video tour behind your scenes &#8211; back of house</li><li>Sneak peek of what is coming up &#8211; new menu, events, new team member</li></ul>



Turn all those newly attracted customers into loyal ones who visit time and again with our <a href="https://stampede.ai/how-it-works/loyalty/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">digital stamp card solution</a>. <a href="mailto:contact@stampede.ai?subject=&amp;body=" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Get in touch</a> with one of our team to find out more.

3 Alternative Content Ideas to Draw Attention to Your Brand

In this digitally focussed world, the website may well be a person’s first impression of your pub. It could be argued that having a professionally designed website is just as important as <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/running-a-pub-or-bar-add-guest-wifi-to-the-menu/">delivering top-notch customer service</a> and serving the finest ales. However, we appreciate that your skills may lie in everyday bar management rather than website creation and optimisation. It’s for this reason that we’ve created this helpful guide to the building of your pub website.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Choosing The Domain Name</h4>



In the ideal scenario, you would time the selection of a suitable domain name to coincide with the naming of your pub. However, it’s more than likely that you domain name availability wasn&#8217;t top of your priorities when naming your pub. Either way, we recommend choosing a relatively short and easily memorable domain name. This will ideally tie in with your pub’s name and branding. As an example, the popular Magna Carta of Lincoln has the domain name <a href="http://www.magnacartapub.co.uk">www.magnacartapub.co.uk</a>. 



It would be worth spending some time brainstorming a few possibilities before using an online domain checker such as 123 Reg or Go Daddy.&nbsp; You will discover that .com domain names are generally the most expensive. However, you can choose from alternatives such as .co.uk or .biz. There’s even the option of <a href="https://uk.godaddy.com/help/about-pub-domain-names-9208">registering for a .pub domain</a>.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Arranging website hosting</h4>



It will be necessary to arrange hosting prior to your website going live and being accessible to anyone on the internet. Thankfully this is a pretty straightforward process, with the majority of internet service providers offering website hosting packages. The suitable choice of provider will depend on factors such as the amount of website traffic expected, the featuring of images/videos, and the need to keep your website live at all times. 



The digital marketers at UK Centric have produced a helpful beginner’s guide to <a href="https://www.ukcentric.com/hosting/beginners-guide-to-web-hosting/">web hosting</a> &#8211; well worth reading.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Developing The Pub Website</h4>



There are two main options when it comes to the development of your pub website; either do it yourself or hire somebody to do it for you. If you’re on a tight budget and have some confidence in your design skills (or someone you know) then the DIY option may be best. 



Thankfully there are a wide variety of website building tools guaranteed to simplify the process. Popular website builders such as Squarespace and Wix offer a variety of templates ideal for pubs. However, you might be frustrated by the lack of customisation options and the ability to make such a website fit your own style. Of course, it’s your choice whether to build a completely distinctive web presence. In any case, you should consider the impression made on prospective visitors.



Take a look at these bar websites for a bit of inspiration:



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li><a href="https://www.kerridgesbarandgrill.co.uk/">Kerridge’s Bar &amp; Grill</a></li><li><a href="https://felixchs.com/about-restaurant-cocktail-bar/">Felix Cocktail Bar</a></li><li><a href="https://www.badluckbar.com/">Bad Luck Bar</a></li><li><a href="https://www.burrobarboston.com/">Burro Bar</a></li></ul>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Hiring A Web Designer</h4>



There are plenty of choices when it comes to the professional development of your pub website. Hiring an independent, maybe even local expert might be the best bet if you want keep costs down. However, there is also the option of paying for agency services, which may include Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) and promotional copywriting. These are services that can make your pub website much easier to find on search engines like Google and Bing.



If you’re in any doubt as to the best professional choice then it would be worth having a look for online reviews. You might also ask friends and other local business people for their recommendations.



These factors should be considered when choosing and comparing web designers:



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Types of website design experience</li><li>Record of building successful pub websites</li><li>References and recommendations</li><li>Pricing and availability</li></ul>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Producing The Content</h4>



You should carefully consider the arrangement of content like images and text on your pub website. Details such as the location and opening hours will be essential. You should also ensure that the content matches up with your pub theme and style. This would include the colour scheme and even the written tone of voice of your pub.



Consider the types of customers that you are appealing to when making choices on everything from the featured menu design to the inclusion of pictures and videos. You might entice visitors with tantalising images of your classic pub dishes and events. Again you have the option of drawing on professional assistance when it comes to the writing and curation of content for your pub website. 



Some ideas for content on your pub website:



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Lists of upcoming events</li><li>History of the pub if it is long standing</li><li>Inspiration for the pub theme</li><li>Description of features like live sports, craft beer, whisky selection</li></ul>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Previewing &amp; Testing</h4>



It is important that you take the time to preview and test the different pages of your website before they are published for the world to see. Remember the importance of making the best possible impression, reviewing and making changes to everything from the grammar to the visual layout as necessary. 



Ensure that your website has the ideal visual quality and functions as expected on desktop computers, laptops, and handheld devices such as the smartphone. If there’s any doubt then ask for a second opinion.



Check these elements before your website goes live:



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Contact page details (easy to find and correct)</li><li>Page loading speeds (slow page loading annoys people)</li><li>Website links (no 404 error messages when clicked)</li><li>Legal terms and conditions</li><li>Security (remember to register for an <a href="https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/what-is-ssl">SSL certificate</a>)</li></ul>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Keeping Your Website Updated</h4>



If you want to attract more web visitors than other pubs in your local area and ensure the best possible experiences then you must keep your website updated. This might involve making basic changes to your contact details or featured menus as and when required. Regular blogging is also recommended for the purpose of keeping your website fresh and achieving top Google search page rankings. 



You could share reviews of your finest beverages, customer stories, and details of upcoming events for the purpose of attracting more people to your pub. You can also raise your pub profile and keep your customers involved via popular social media channels such as Facebook and Twitter.&nbsp;



Here are some <a href="https://99social.co.uk/social-media-tips-for-bars/">social media tips</a> for bar owners:



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Snap pics of dishes</li><li>Talk about drinks</li><li>Shout about events</li><li>Get people involved</li><li>Add a personal touch.</li></ul>



Additional social media recommendations can be found on the <a href="https://cask-marque.co.uk/promote-your-beer-and-pub-on-social-media/">Casque Marque</a> website.



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Need some more inspiration on how to get your Guest WiFi up and running in your Pub? 



Have a read here <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/5-tips-for-setting-up-wifi-for-your-restaurant-or-pub/">https://stampede.ai/blog/5-tips-for-setting-up-wifi-for-your-restaurant-or-pub/</a>



Or why not give our Guest WiFi solution a try in your Pub? 



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Easy Steps To Make A Great Website For Your Pub

Did you know that over&nbsp;<a href="https://www.redeye.com/resources/sms-marketing-vs-email-marketing-who-wins-the-battle-for-effectiveness/">97% of SMS messages are read within 15 minutes</a>?



Let’s assume that you’ve got a last-minute cancellation at your venue and want to fill in the empty space in the evening.



If you send an email to your customers at lunchtime, there’s only a small chance you’ll fill that cancelled booking.&nbsp;



However, if you use SMS and combine it with an enticing offer, your chances are much higher.



<h5 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-increase-sales-with-sms-marketing">Increase Sales With SMS Marketing</h5>



A while ago, we shared some SMS marketing tips and how SMS can generate a better response compared to email alone.



Read the full article <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/how-sms-marketing-drives-10x-more-revenue-than-email/">here</a>.



Here are&nbsp;5 key takeaways&nbsp;from the article:



<ol class="wp-block-list"><li>Quick set up &#8211; short text, no images</li><li>Immediate delivery and higher engagement &#8211; reach customers where there are</li><li>For best results: keep your messages simple and follow ‘what-where-when-how’ (get 10% off this Friday, simply show this CODE to our staff)</li><li>Ideal channel for promotional boosters and reminders</li><li>Always include a call-to-action and URL to a landing page, i.e. booking platform</li></ol>



<h5 class="wp-block-heading">The Combined&nbsp;Power of SMS &amp; Email Marketing</h5>



The most important takeaway, however, is that it’s not a question of email vs. SMS marketing. It’s about&nbsp;using them in tandem&nbsp;to get the best out of both channels.



There are some factors to consider when picking the right channel: the&nbsp;type of campaign, the timeline for your promotion and your audience.&nbsp;



For example, SMS campaigns are very effective for&nbsp;time-sensitive messages. Such as the last-minute availability offer that you could send to your local and regular customers.



If you want to&nbsp;keep customers updated&nbsp;about what’s going on at your venue, email, of course, is the medium to go for.



SMS can do more than just reminders and booking confirmations. Stay tuned for <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/3-clever-ways-to-use-sms-campaigns-to-scale-up-your-marketing-roi/">part two of this series</a> to get additional converting SMS campaign ideas.



In the meantime, if you want to start sending your first&nbsp;<a href="https://stampede.ai/how-it-works/marketing/#sms/?utm_source=zoho&amp;utm_medium=email" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SMS campaign</a>, our team is happy to give you a hand if needed.

Email vs. SMS Marketing – Which One To Choose?

Can A Guest WiFi Solution Step In For Your Ordering App?

Avoid These 3 Common Guest WiFi Mistakes

WiFi Marketing: 3 Powerful Ways It Can Grow Your Business

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

<h1 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-free-october-november-2024-social-media-calendar">Free October &#8211; November 2024 Social Media Calendar</h1>



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



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



Download your free social media calendar for October and November2024 now.



Featuring topical post ideas, hashtags suggestions and image inspiration for each month, including ideas around live Rugby and Darts, Movember and Christmas bookings campaigns!

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

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

WiFi as a Service and other Trends for 2018

DIY meal-kit demand has skyrocketed in the past year. Businesses have put a lot of effort into coming up with their own kits. And their customers loved it! Lots of us have discovered some unknown chef talent. Indeed, meal-kits seem to be a win-win for businesses and customers alike.



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But now that venues start to reopen again and customers are able to enjoy their meals at your venue, what will happen to your meal-kit offers? How could you further increase your meal-kit sales?



According to the recent report “A Tale of Two Tables” by <a href="https://kam-media.co.uk/resources/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">KAM Media and Slerp</a>, 89% of customers want the restaurant brand to continue delivering and 62% want their favourite restaurant brand to start selling meal boxes nationwide.&nbsp;



So is it worth keeping your meal-kit offering available to satisfy this demand, whilst also reopening for normal service?



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-reasons-why-meal-kits-are-here-to-stay">Reasons Why Meal-Kits Are Here to Stay</h4>



Our <a href="https://twitter.com/stampede_speaks" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">#PrepStartsNow</a> partner Flipdish sees meal-kits as a <a href="https://www.flipdish.com/resources/blog/why-meal-kits-are-here-to-stay-and-a-smart-new-revenue-stream-for-your-business" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">key revenue stream for restaurants in the future</a>.



Here’s why:



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>The number of bookings allowed in venues is still limited and lots of your customers might not be able to secure a booking.</li><li>They are an additional revenue stream with little additional costs.</li><li>You can reach more potential customers with your offerings. Some might not be able to travel to your physical location.</li><li>It’s convenient for your customers &#8211; no need to look for recipes and buy ingredients.&nbsp;</li></ul>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-to-create-more-meal-kit-ordering-buzz">How to Create More Meal-Kit Ordering Buzz</h4>



<a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/quick-tips-to-drive-more-sales-at-home-kits/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Customer awareness about DIY meal-kits has reached a mainstream level.</a> It’s now on to you to make the most out of this and secure more revenue from your meal-kit sales.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-1-spread-the-word">1. Spread the Word</h4>



Leverage your social channels and share regular posts about your meal-kits. Highlight the fact that customers can still order your popular kits to enjoy at home. Pin your posts and add an “order direct” button to make it as easy as possible for customers.



Don’t forget to add your meal-kit offerings to your regular newsletters to increase sales. For a little extra sales push, combine them with a promotion.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-2-come-up-with-new-meal-kit-ideas">2. Come Up With New Meal-Kit Ideas</h4>



With Summer just around the corner, customers might want to take their dining experience outdoors. What about <a href="https://lovindublin.com/lovin-home-comforts/bbq-kits-order-cook-at-home" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">BBQ</a> or picnic meal-kits? Get creative to make your offerings even more attractive.&nbsp;



Consider special event meal-kits for birthdays, anniversaries, sports events, etc. You might also offer a premium version of it with limited or high-end specials and ingredients.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-3-get-the-maximum-out-of-your-online-store">3. Get the Maximum Out Of Your Online Store</h4>



Make sure that your online store lets you upsell and cross-promote your entire product range for additional revenue.



Also, allow your customers to add special dietary restrictions during the ordering process. You might also think about making your meal-kits available in different group sizes and offering a special family version.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-4-go-the-extra-mile">4. Go the Extra Mile</h4>



Turn your DIY meal-kits into a special at-home customer experience, provide more than just food and drinks. This could be table decorations or a curated playlist of music.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-5-bonus-tip-nationwide-delivery">5. Bonus Tip &#8211; Nationwide Delivery</h4>



By offering your meal-kits nationwide you can upscale your reach and increase meal-kit sales massively. You can connect to a whole new range of customers. Plus, you can also deliver to your regular customers whilst they are on their staycations.



Several operators already offer this such as Pizza Pilgrims. The biggest challenge is packaging, but if others can solve that, so can you!



Need some assistance with spreading the word about your meal-kit offerings via email and SMS marketing campaign? <a href="contact@stampede.ai" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Reach out</a> to our team. We are happy to help.