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Keeping on top of your marketing whilst running a hospitality business can be tough. Let marketing automations do the heavy lifting for you. 



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They&nbsp;make your&nbsp;marketing easy and free up your time&nbsp;to focus on driving sales.



Check out our most popular marketing automations that you can send via email and SMS.



<h5 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-4-quick-win-marketing-automations-campaigns">4 Quick-Win Marketing Automations Campaigns</h5>



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Drive repeat visits



Want to send out personalised campaigns that drive sales?



Send customers a&nbsp;birthday offer&nbsp;via SMS.



Data: Date of birth



<a href="https://stampede.ai/customer/bar-tonic">Read Success Story</a>
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Retain your customers



Haven’t seen some of your customers for a while?



Create a&nbsp;win-back email&nbsp;campaign to bring them back to your venue.



Data: Last in-venue visit or booking



<a href="https://stampede.ai/customer/cocktail-embassy">Read Success Story</a>
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Get more and better reviews



Need to boost your reputation online?&nbsp;



Activate the&nbsp;reviews automation&nbsp;to start pushing those numbers up.



Data: Recent in-venue visitor



<a href="https://stampede.ai/customer/montpeliers-group">Read Success Story</a>
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Nurture your loyal customers



Want to build a loyal customer base?



Reward your loyal customers with a&nbsp;‘thank you’ voucher&nbsp;and turn them into fans.



Data: Frequent loyalty card user or customer



<a href="https://stampede.ai/customer/atis">Read Success Story</a>
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<h5 class="wp-block-heading">5 Reasons Why Our Customers Love Marketing Automations</h5>



<ol class="wp-block-list">
<li>They are fast to set up, tip: create and re-use templates</li>



<li>They run on autopilot and leave you time to focus on other tasks</li>



<li>They drive sales &#8211;&nbsp;<a href="https://moosend.com/blog/10-marketing-automation-statistics-need-know/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">75% of email revenue</a>&nbsp;comes from personalised campaigns</li>



<li>They are personalised and relevant to your customers which means high conversion rates</li>



<li>They keep customers engaged and coming back to your venues</li>
</ol>



Also, have a look at our&nbsp;<a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/a-5-step-recipe-that-creates-profitable-personalised-marketing-part-1/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">simple&nbsp;5-step recipe&nbsp;</a>that will help you set-up more personalised marketing campaigns.



Let us make marketing easier for you. Get started with <a href="https://stampede.ai/how-it-works/marketing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stampede marketing automations</a> to free up your time.

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Easy And Profitable Marketing With Automations

June & July 2025 Hospitality Content Calendar

May & June 2025 Social Media Calendar

F&B Event Promo HTML Email Template

eCommerce Shop HTML Email Template

Delivery Promo HTML Email Template

Loyalty App Download HTML Email Template

New Menu HTML Email Template

Sports Fixture HTML Email Template

Hospitality Newsletter HTML Email Template

Group Bookings HTML Email Template

Shortcut Your Way To 6x Higher Conversion Rates

February – March 2023 Social Media Calendar

January – February 2023 Social Media Calendar

Hospitality Hashtag Cheat Sheet

8 Tactics to Increase Customer Spend

The Direct Booking Checklist for Hotel Operators

The Reviews Toolkit

Some of you may remember an article from earlier this year in which we looked at what made <a href="https://youtu.be/lTcesqUPu9U" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">this video</a> by Wagamama’s Executive Chef Steve Mangleshot so good. (You can catch up on <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/a-recipe-for-video-showcase-success/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">that article here.</a>) It’s still a great example, and like many others, Steve has kept going with the series.&nbsp;



 Since those early examples, video content from hospitality businesses has gone from strength to strength.



 We recently discovered <a href="https://www.restaurantbusinessonline.com/operations/transforming-restaurant-kitchen-video-studio" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">this article in Restaurant Business</a> discussing the success of video campaigns by various US operators and chefs over the past few months, as they iterated on the process and made it work better for them.



 The article has some fantastic technical detail on setup, devices, people involved and their role in the production. As with many others, the featured businesses started with simple cooking demos or meal kits, which then evolved into live events, and interactive cooking classes.



 Now that more people are well adjusted to using video software &#8211; having done so for several months &#8211; getting a sizeable audience to engage is far easier now than ever before.



 As a result of the iterations and lessons learned, businesses like those in the article are now able to generate some additional revenue from something that started as a bit of free content.



 It’s a short article but full of inspiration, and well worth a read.



 If you’ve been making videos, we’d love to see them, so send us your links!



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Sharing Success and Inspiration

“Yelp gave it 4.5 stars, but Sarah said the soup was bland, but John raves about the atmosphere…” We are living in an era where the age of information has made decision-making processes just a tad more complex. Back in the day, patrons would trust newspaper reviews to guide them to the most elite and fascinating restaurants. Today, there are a bunch more factors that come into play.&nbsp;But how do customers actually choose their next restaurant to go for?







We know that getting customers through the door is half the battle of running a thriving restaurant business. So, we decided to do some deep research into how today’s restaurant-goers choose the places they dine at.&nbsp;



Below we have listed the factors that our current generations base many of their dining decisions on.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-quality-and-innovation-of-food">Quality and Innovation of Food</h4>



According to a census run by <a href="https://www.touchbistro.com/blog/how-diners-choose-restaurants/">TouchBistro</a>, 70% of the participants agreed that they would re-visit a restaurant that made great food even if the customer service was bad.



Now, this is certainly no excuse to let good customer care fall to the wayside. But if you focus on creating quality meals that come with a touch of “je ne sais quoi”, then you are likely to retain a loyal customer base who appreciates your attention to detail.&nbsp;



You will also find that many diners are becoming a little picky with what they eat and they tend to be on the hunt for innovative meals that they can’t make at home – so, why not oblige them?



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-google-search-rankings-and-google-maps">Google Search Rankings and Google Maps</h4>



These days, hardly any serious foodie will make a “what’s for dinner” decision without checking for Google’s suggestions first. This means that you need to take your online presence quite seriously. Treat your website to a professional SEO campaign so that you can boost your rankings and land on the very first pages of search engines. If you’re on that first page, then audiences will automatically assume you have something good to offer.&nbsp;



And, if you are not already on Google maps, get yourself there! Log in to your Google account and follow the steps and get yourself listed. If you are already listed, make sure all the information included in your “tag” is correct.&nbsp;



Restaurant goers, like all consumers, feed off of convenience (no pun intended), and if they can see that your establishment is listed nearby, then apart from discovering that you actually exist – they’ll also visit you because of your nearby location.&nbsp;



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-recommendations-from-friends">Recommendations from Friends</h4>



Despite our dependence on technology for guidance, as humans, we still depend on word-of-mouth reviews. These reviews are taken seriously when they come from someone who we trust, such as friends and family.&nbsp;



So, keep your patrons happy and they will spread the word!&nbsp;



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-online-reviews">Online Reviews</h4>



Current restaurant-goers turn to <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/how-to-respond-to-positive-and-negative-customer-reviews-online/">online reviews </a>when choosing a new restaurant to visit. In fact, Google and social media reviews have become the most trusted source for those seeking advice on which restaurant to choose from.



Did you know that <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/jaysondemers/2015/12/28/how-important-are-customer-reviews-for-online-marketing/#4a1232711928">88% of consumers trust online reviews</a> as much as a personal recommendation?



One negative review can instantly persuade a potential customer to move on to the next restaurant listed in their search. This makes customer service more important than ever before and social media engagement is key. &nbsp;



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-discounts-and-promotions">Discounts and Promotions</h4>



Throughout the decades, diners have always supported restaurants that offer <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/how-to-use-pricing-and-promotions-to-make-customers-happy/">continuous discounts and promotions</a>. This trend still stands and loyalty reward programmes have proven to be an important element of any successful business.&nbsp;



We all live in a world where we need to try and save a dime or two where we can!



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lively-entertainment">Lively Entertainment</h4>



A lively atmosphere with a touch of entertainment has the potential to draw in the crowds on even the dreariest of days. Live and local bands will attract fans and a cosy and serene atmosphere will appeal to couples who are looking for an intimate night out.&nbsp;



Whilst most patrons will dine out for the food, many choose a restaurant that will give them a great dining experience with entertainment to boot.&nbsp;



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-technology">Technology</h4>



From providing consumers with access to a <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/5-tips-for-setting-up-wifi-for-your-restaurant-or-pub/">free WiFi connection</a> to treating them to digital menus that make ordering a fun experience, technology is certainly something that appeals to modern-day patrons. 



According to a <a href="https://pos.toasttab.com/blog/on-the-line/restaurant-management-statistics">recent survey</a>, the most important tech features are table bookings and access to free WiFi. Plus, 73% of customers think that restaurant tech can really improve their guest experience.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-eco-friendly-dining">Eco-friendly Dining</h4>



We are entering a time where consumers are starting to make more conscious purchases. This means that they are thinking about the earth just as much as they are thinking about their palates.&nbsp;



Many diners are opting to eat at establishments that have eco-friendly practices. From serving vegan-friendly meals to ditching single-use plastics, a restaurant that’s eco-conscious is likely to get more support from the eco-friendly crowds.&nbsp;



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-social-media-engagement">Social Media Engagement</h4>



With more than 200 million posts tagged #food and 23 million with #drinks, we can confidently say that social media is the number one spot for restaurant businesses to be. Patrons use social media platforms to look for new places to go to and you want to make sure that you are going to be right in their line of vision.&nbsp;



Restaurants that put effort into their social media presence and continue to engage with their audiences are more likely to hold on to loyal customers whilst encouraging (and intriguing) new audiences to visit their joint.&nbsp;



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You are now best prepared to become your customers&#8217; first choice restaurant. Want some more?



With our unique take on reaching out to audiences, we can connect you to new customers while you <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/engaging-customers-through-wi-fi-marketing/">retain a loyal support base</a>.

How Customers Choose a Restaurant

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

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

WiFi in Education

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

16 Rapid Ideas For Successful Easter Marketing Campaigns

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

The importance of powerful photos has grown dramatically as brick-and-mortar businesses lean on more online interactions with customers. High-quality images can help to attract more followers to your accounts and even to gain new customers. That’s the theme running through <a href="https://www.fsrmagazine.com/expert-takes/taking-perfect-restaurant-photo-leigh-loftus" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">this interview</a> in FSR Magazine with food and drink photography expert Leigh Loftus. 



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Through her Chef Shots organisation, Leigh aims to improve the&nbsp;photography skills of those in the food and beverage industry. The best part, it&#8217;s all based on smartphone cameras. You don&#8217;t even need expensive equipment to get it right.



In general, food and drink photography is a vast subject. However, a few quick improvements can make photos much more eye-catching on busy social media feeds.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-3-easy-photography-tips">3 Easy Photography Tips</h4>



Here’s the top phone photography tips we’ve picked up already:



<ol class="wp-block-list">
<li>Clean your lens to prevent blurry photos. The lens will pick up dirt, grime and fingerprints from being handled day-to-day. </li>



<li>Turn on the grid. Most cameras will have a grid option in the settings. This helps with the framing of pictures and making sure things are lined up. It also gets you started using the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMjvvltQpmw" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">rule of thirds.</a> </li>



<li>Tap and hold to focus. With the camera open, tap and hold on the item in the photo you want to show off most. This will focus the camera on that point and lock it in until the picture is taken, ensuring crisp and clear images of your subject.</li>
</ol>



There are even more quick lessons for food and drink photography on The Chef Shot Youtube channel. Including guides on photo editing and lighting. Worth checking them out!



With better pictures comes better stories for your fans and followers. The connection between your brand and them will grow, as will the power of your social media and email content to drive more business.



Want to turn your followers into loyal customers? Reach out to learn more about our <a href="https://stampede.ai/how-it-works/loyalty/">digital stamp card solution</a>.

Better Photos = More Followers [Food and Drink Photography Tips]

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

2023 Key Social Media Metrics To Track for Your Restaurant

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

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4 Revenue-Driving AI Tools For Hospitality Operators

3 Restaurant-Specific AI Tools That Drive Sales

How AI Can Facilitate Reviews Management For Hospitality Operators

How To Speed Up Content Creation With AI In Hospitality

3 Clever AI Tools To Support Your Hotel Operations

Become A Stampede Pro With These Hidden Features

Many Stampede users are looking for ways to connect the tech they use and simplify things. Data imports means our customers have the opportunity to cut down on their use of various systems, and use fewer systems to do more of the work.



It’s also great for consistency. With more customer data in one place you’ll know that the messaging and offers that you’re promoting are all going to the same people. Less confusion for staff processing orders and more clarity for customers.



As we write this the U.K. hospitality industry is struggling with the impact of coronavirus. In response, we brought forward the development of this feature to enable more hospitality business to contact and connect with their customers &#8211; without the need for guest WiFi as a data source.



We&#8217;ve opened up <a href="https://product.stampede.ai/marketing/campaigns">Marketing</a> and made it free to use for everyone. Data import means that even businesses not using Stampede before can start doing so immediately. Promotions about delivery service, takeaway offers or <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/new-feature-alert-gift-cards/">gift cards</a> can be set up and sent in minutes.



Data import is really simple &#8211; just head to <a href="https://product.stampede.ai/data-sources">Data Sources</a>, choose .CSV Import, select the file from your computer, map the fields and hit Upload.



For a full run through &#8211; check out this super quick how-to video



<figure class="wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Importing Data by CSV | Stampede" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/umendihZy6Q?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>

Data import product update to Stampede features

Product Update – Importing Data

Hannah Morgan

Great British Inns

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

Chris Hughes

Mele Group

Chris Aitchison

Bar Tonic

Ieuan Davis

The Coal Exchange Hotel

Is your kids&#8217; menu beige, boring and mainly consisting of chicken nuggets and chips? <a href="https://kam-media.co.uk/family-dining-opportunity/">65% of parents think that restaurants should be more inventive when it comes to their special children&#8217;s offerings</a>. After all, those kids will be the customer of the future, so better get things right early on. We&#8217;ve got some insight to share on what restaurants can do to appeal to families.



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



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-standing-out-in-a-crowded-sector">Standing Out In A Crowded Sector</h4>



As mid-market restaurant brands fall by the wayside, many have accused chains of being too samey. There&#8217;s no denying that plenty of brands share similar menus and price points. So how can those targeting the family market differentiate and win family diners away from competitors? 



The obvious answer is to take the time to understand and serve customers better. The little things really do make a difference. 



According to recent research by <a href="https://kam-media.co.uk/family-dining-opportunity/">KAM Media</a>, families make up 57% of restaurants&#8217; revenue. With children playing an important part in deciding where to eat out for over half of the families. Cater well for kids and their parents will reward you with their loyalty. 



We spoke to Lisa O&#8217;Keeffe, Senior Brand and Content Manager at <a href="https://www.dayoutwiththekids.co.uk/">Day Out with The Kids</a> to find out what families look for when dining out in the UK. She confirmed that nailing customer service is the key to unlocking loyalty for family diners.



She told us: &#8220;Dining out together is something our families do together up to four times a month, with a large percentage regularly heading back to tried and tested favourites for one simple reason: the service. There&#8217;s nothing more stressful for parents than heading to a restaurant with the kids that simply isn&#8217;t geared up for the real and honest side of family dining, even if they advertise themselves as family-friendly.&#8221;



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-making-children-your-focus">Making Children Your Focus</h4>



You can do kids eat for a £1 or even boast &#8216;kids eat free&#8217; to get customers through the door. But as Lisa explains it&#8217;s not all about money. Gearing up properly to serve child visitors and putting parents at ease makes it easier for them to spend their cash with you.



&#8220;Our families tell us they&#8217;re often worried about their kids being too noisy, or too messy,&#8221; said Lisa. &#8220;Any restaurant that can help to put parents’ minds at ease and be totally accepting of both these things is certainly likely to be a hit.&#8221;



&#8220;Play areas, activity packs, bringing the kids&#8217; meals out first and space around the table for things like pushchairs are all simple things to implement, but are so often overlooked.&#8221; In fact, <a href="https://www.bighospitality.co.uk/Article/2015/10/30/75-of-families-eating-out-in-restaurants-more-regularly">63% of parents prefer restaurants that offer activity packs</a> for their kids.



A pushchair friendly floor layout, plenty of high chairs and kid-friendly cutlery and cups, are practical ways to serve this group of customers before anyone sits down. These initial moments before your guests even browse a menu are crucial in reassuring families that they are in the right place. 



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-using-wifi-marketing">Using WiFi Marketing</h4>



At Stampede we work with businesses to ensure their <a href="https://stampede.ai/how-it-works/wifi/">Guest WiFi</a> is set up to help them serve their family customers better. Context is everything when it comes to understanding customers&#8217; dining priorities. 



If someone signs into WiFi you can ask if they are visiting with children and show them relevant offers. You can add this information into your wider service strategy and use your insights to create <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/drive-revenue-and-loyalty-with-personalisation-part-i/">personalised marketing campaigns</a>. Knowing what proportion of custom comes from families and when they visit can help you to make informed decisions and grow your business. 



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-employees-that-make-a-visit-special">Employees That Make A Visit Special</h4>



You&#8217;re all set up for family-friendly service thanks to the great floor design, menu and entertainment, but to really nail things you need to excel with customer service training. Your employees need to understand the context and priorities behind guests&#8217; visits. 



Is a family looking for a quick and convenient bite to eat after school? Perhaps they&#8217;re hoping for a stress-free trip to celebrate a family member&#8217;s birthday? Encourage waiting staff to build personalisation into their service approach for great table service. They should be able to signpost useful information quickly. 



This means doing things like:



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Asking about the reason behind the visit</li><li>Asking about/providing high chairs</li><li>Offering activity packs, crayons or information on your WiFi</li><li>Asking parents if they&#8217;d like children&#8217;s food brought out first and letting them know how long food will take, updating if necessary</li><li>Letting parents know where toilets, baby change, play areas are</li></ul>



It can also be helpful to let parents know if the kitchen can pack food to go. This may prompt parents to order dessert to eat at home later. It can also provide reassurance if a tired toddler meltdown means they want to head home earlier than expected. Omit, the key is to be attentive and offer fast efficient service without rushing diners. 



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-make-your-menu-malleable">Make Your Menu Malleable</h4>



A kid’s menu that offers good value signals that you&#8217;re set up for younger guests. However, despite what the adverts would have you believe, not every kid likes to eat chicken nuggets or spaghetti in tomato sauce. Some do. But others like to have exactly what&#8217;s on Mummy and Daddy&#8217;s plate. And while it&#8217;s great to have a balanced menu that encourages little ones to try new things, it&#8217;s also pretty smart to cater to what kids want to eat. This is something many restaurants are starting to pick up on. 



Lisa told us: &#8220;When it comes to the menu, we&#8217;re also seeing a growing number of chain restaurants implementing a &#8216;pick your own&#8217; approach to help meet the needs of fussier eaters.&#8221;



&#8220;The ability to create your own pairings makes it much more likely you can rustle up a meal for every child. But it&#8217;s also great when kitchens can be really flexible or even something as simple as plating up. Carrots stood in hummus rather than on the side can, and has, been the difference between a meal a kid will or won&#8217;t eat!&#8221;



Do you let diners mix and match starters and sides to keep kids happy? Do your serving staff know what type of requests your kitchen can accommodate? If you can magic up their real family favourites and keep kids munching long enough, parents could snatch extra moments of conversation. They might even order dessert.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-are-you-ready-to-step-up-your-customer-service-for-families">Are You Ready To Step Up Your Customer Service For Families?</h4>



As families’ disposable income continues to be squeezed in line with market pressure on restaurants, now&#8217;s the time to consider: is your establishment truly family-friendly?&nbsp;



<a href="https://h.stampede.ai/meetings/stampede/demo">Get in touch</a> to find out more about how Stampede can help you succeed with your customer service for families.

How to Nail Customer Service for Families [Updated 2022]

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







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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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The Benefits of Personalisation for HORECA Businesses

There’s no doubt that the hospitality industry is going through a bit of a digital revolution. Data collection is high on the list, for obvious reasons, but what else can be done with a customer database?&nbsp;



One of the best ways to make a customer database generate extra revenue is with emails. And the primary email we recommend is always the newsletter.&nbsp;



Here’s our top tips to making a fantastic newsletter:



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Consistent branding. Make sure it has the same logo and colours as they appear on your website and any other branded materials. It builds recognition and trust in your digital communications. </li><li>Consistent timing. Sending the newsletter on a specific day of the week or month gives you a schedule to keep to, and regularity will improve the number of customers opening and reading the email.&nbsp; </li><li>Make it visual. Use a mixture of images and short pieces of text to cover a variety of topics. For the layout, think like a newspaper with different columns and sections.&nbsp; </li><li>Give the audience stories, not just offers. Everyone has offers, but your business has it&#8217;s own tales to tell. Keep customers interested with topics such as:<ul><li>Stories from behind the scenes</li><li>New menu items and their design process.</li><li>New staff members</li><li>The latest news from any charities or local sports teams that you’re involved with.</li></ul></li></ul>



A quick final note: make sure you have an <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/can-you-market-to-track-and-trace-customers/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">opted-in list of contacts</a> before sending newsletters.



 A regular email newsletter is the gateway to increased customer interaction.&nbsp;



As a routine part of your advertising and marketing it will deliver more repeat bookings and covers as it builds loyalty to your business and keeps you at the front of customers&#8217; minds.



 To learn more about emails, newsletters and how they can deliver more revenue, <a href="https://stampede.ai/company/#contact" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">get in touch</a> with one of our team.

Newsletters Are The Foundation

<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-get-the-knowledge-you-need-to-boost-your-sales-with-automated-email-campaigns">Get the knowledge you need to boost your sales with automated email campaigns</h4>



Between our customers and ourselves, we&#8217;ve worked on hundreds of automation campaigns that send millions of emails every year and generate tons of extra revenue for hospitality businesses.



So, we know a thing or two about the value of automation, and we wanted to share the best practice.



Download your free playbook&nbsp;to get started with easy and profitable marketing automation.



Featuring our easy-to-follow 5-step recipe to build campaigns that increase sales without an increased workload, plus 5 in-depth examples following the recipe.

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

This week&#8217;s email from KAM-Media put a strong focus on the continued growth of &#8220;hospitality-at-home&#8221; such as meal kits, ingredient boxes and cocktail kits.&nbsp;



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



It&#8217;s all go with this trend at the moment, so let&#8217;s crack on with:



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-5-fast-tips-for-hospitality-at-home-marketing">5 Fast Tips for Hospitality-At-Home Marketing</h3>



<ol class="wp-block-list"><li>Add as much detail as possible to your website about the kit(s) </li><li>Make the instructions / tasting notes readily available in multiple locations (website, confirmation email, printed copy in box etc.) </li><li>Create and upload a how-to video as well </li><li>Use a unique hashtag when promoting it on social media &#8211; encourage customers to share pictures using the hashtag </li><li>Utilise all the tools your eCommerce platform has to offer i.e. cross-sell, upsell, abandon cart email automation etc.</li></ol>



And to give you a quick insight on the state of the &#8220;Hospitality-At-Home&#8221; market:



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-5-findings-from-kam-media-s-consumer-poll">5 Findings from <a href="https://tx.contacta.io/email/601be16d808fe3f1685e675c/recipients/601d2d6714f18881ecba3414/viewonline" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">KAM-Media&#8217;s Consumer Poll</a></h3>



Awareness of what&#8217;s available out there is strong, of those surveyed:



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>63% know about cook at home meal kits</li><li>40% have either bought or would consider buying a cook at home meal kit</li><li>44% have bought or would consider a finish at home meal kit</li><li>38% for cocktails at home</li><li>35% for min kegs from a pub</li></ul>



Take a look at the infographic below and head over to their latest email <a href="https://tx.contacta.io/email/601be16d808fe3f1685e675c/recipients/601d2d6714f18881ecba3414/viewonline" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">HERE</a> for additional insight.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Screenshot-2021-02-11-at-17.18.30.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Screenshot-2021-02-11-at-17.18.30-1024x575.png" alt="" class="wp-image-19608" width="979" height="549" srcset="https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Screenshot-2021-02-11-at-17.18.30-1024x575.png 1024w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Screenshot-2021-02-11-at-17.18.30-300x169.png 300w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Screenshot-2021-02-11-at-17.18.30-768x431.png 768w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Screenshot-2021-02-11-at-17.18.30-1536x863.png 1536w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Screenshot-2021-02-11-at-17.18.30-1200x674.png 1200w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Screenshot-2021-02-11-at-17.18.30-150x84.png 150w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Screenshot-2021-02-11-at-17.18.30-592x333.png 592w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Screenshot-2021-02-11-at-17.18.30-107x60.png 107w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Screenshot-2021-02-11-at-17.18.30-160x90.png 160w, https://website-backend.stampede.ai/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Screenshot-2021-02-11-at-17.18.30.png 1700w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 979px) 100vw, 979px" /></a></figure>

Quick Tips To Drive More Sales – At-Home Kits

In case you haven&#8217;t heard, <a class="" href="https://www.android.com/versions/oreo-8-0/">this week Android released Oreo, the latest version of their operating system</a> (Version 8.0 for those of you keeping score at home).
The new version of the world&#8217;s most popular operating system introduces a number of visual tweaks to make phone and tablet displays smoother and more fluid and some behind the scenes updates to keep Android devices running at peak performance.

One of these new features is the ability to turn on WiFi when close to a known access point. This will be a lifesaver for device battery life. Sure, you could just turn the WiFi on and off on your Android as you go about your daily life. But that&#8217;s kind of a pain. And how about those times you&#8217;ve turned off your WiFi to save battery power, then, when you think you&#8217;ve connected to <a href="https://www.stampede.ai/wifi-in-action#coffee">WiFi at your favourite Cafe or Pub</a>, wind up using a month&#8217;s worth of data streaming the <a href="http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/game-of-thrones/feature/a795227/game-of-thrones-incredible-easter-eggs-you-might-have-missed/">latest GoT episode</a> because you thought you were connected to the free WiFi.
And let&#8217;s not forget about security &#8211; keeping your WiFi off when you don&#8217;t need it is one of the best ways of keeping your beloved phone or tablet protected from the <a href="https://www.stampede.ai/blog/articles/data-comprimised-wifi-pineapple">hackers who love to spy on unsecured public networks</a>.
Like we said &#8211; a lifesaver.
Here&#8217;s the way it works: each time you connect to WiFi, Android will remember the location (provided you have location services enabled, of course). Every time you return to that known location, Android will automagically turn on the WiFi and connect you to the network.
<h3>Enabling Automatic Wifi in Android Oreo</h3>
Right &#8211; enough with the pregame show &#8211; here&#8217;s how to turn on this nifty feature in Android:
<ol>
<li>Open Settings</li>
<li>Tap on Network &amp; Internet</li>
<li>Select the WiFi Connection where you want to enable an automatic connection</li>
<li>Select WiFi Preferences from the bottom of the screen</li>
<li>Enable &#8220;Turn on WiFi Automatically&#8221;</li>
</ol>
That&#8217;s it!
<h3>Need More Cookie?</h3>
Like we were saying &#8211; automatic WiFi connections are just the tip of the iceberg of new features in Oreo. There&#8217;s also improved Picture-in-Picture, built in Google Fonts, and improved second screen displays.
But don&#8217;t just take our word for it. Here&#8217;s a quick roundup of some of the other cool new features:
<iframe loading="lazy" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Fn57JS9WnAQ?rel=0" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
What are some of the favourite features you&#8217;ve discovered in Oreo? Feel free to leave a comment below!
<h3>Get Connected</h3>
And if you&#8217;re running a pub, restaurant or other retail business, and you&#8217;re looking to provide awesome Wifi for your customers to connect their Android (and iPhones and tablets and&#8230;.you get the idea), why not give us a shot?
We integrate with most leading Wifi manufacturers like Cisco, Unifi and more and setup is a breeze.
What are you waiting for?
<a class="eut-modal-popup" href="https://calendly.com/stampedeae/stampede-demo-request?month=2020-02">Click here to get started.</a>

Save Your Battery By Enabling Automatic WiFi Connections in Android Oreo

While we’re in the midst of spring with plenty of time on our hands due to lockdown, now’s a good time for business owners to pull up their sleeves and do a bit of spring cleaning. But while it’s great to dust cobwebs and polish the silver, giving your digital house (your digital presence) a clean is also essential. Spring cleaning your digital places is probably something you’ve been putting off for a while, but with more hours at your disposal, the best thing you can do for your hospitality business during downtime is to prepare it for the months ahead. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">1. Polish and Refine Your Website</h2>



According to seo.com <a href="https://www.seo.com/blog/spring-clean-your-website/">[1]</a>, it’s important to constantly polish and refine your website since it is often the first interaction customers have with your entity. During your website spring clean, they suggest you:



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Update your contact details and include any icons that may lead to new social media pages.</li><li>Add new blog posts (and continue to do so on a regular basis) – if you don’t have a blog, now’s the time to add one!</li><li>Test all internal and external links to make sure they are not outdated or broken. Use a Chrome Plugin like <a href="https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/check-my-links/ojkcdipcgfaekbeaelaapakgnjflfglf?hl=en">Check My Links</a> to do this in one click on your site &#8211; we do.</li><li>Make sure that your contact form is working and goes to the right people.</li><li>Use Google Analytics to see how much traffic your website draws and which pages your audiences favor or avoid – and why. </li></ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">2. Update and Clean Your Social Media Pages</h2>



Your social media presence plays an important role in marketing your brand and maintaining its good reputation. Keeping your pages clean, accurate, and up to date is vital to the online health of your business. A digital spring clean here should involve:



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Update your profile and cover photos. Refreshing and rejuvenating your visual presence will show your fans you are active and wanting to interact.  You can keep your logo but upload new cover photos for your pages. You can also update your bio across your pages and add new photos of your products or services to your galleries. </li></ul>



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Audit your posts and who you follow. Depending on how long you’ve had your social media business pages, there may be some posts that you no longer want to showcase. A good idea is to browse your older posts and review any that underperformed. As for what/who you follow, perhaps there are suppliers or other local businesses you could connect with (or disconnect from) to help improve your feed and how it inspires you.</li></ul>



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Check your privacy settings. Don&#8217;t neglect the security settings on social media platforms. Sometimes, more settings are added with updates and it may be worth your while to tweak old and additional settings to your liking. It’s important that your business profiles are secure and protected so that unwanted eyes cannot access your information. There could be former team members with admin access to your pages. Regularly updating passwords is a wise security move too.</li></ul>



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Take a quick peek at what your competitors are doing. Use your free time to browse the pages of your competitors and are other local businesses. See if they’re doing anything that you should be doing. While we are not encouraging you to replicate their material, their innovation may inspire you with some new ideas of your own.</li></ul>



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>While you’re at it, you can also refresh your social media content calendar. Use your analytics tools to get insight into what has and hasn’t been working for you social media-wise. Then, revamp your strategy so that you can reach and engage with a broader audience.&nbsp;</li></ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">3. Spruce Up Your Appearance on Google</h2>



Don’t forget the important role Google plays when it comes to the reputation of your business. You may want to:&nbsp;



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Google search your business. Are you listed on the first page? Is the information Google delivers about you accurate? Edit outdated information so that your brand remains consistent throughout all digital platforms and improves Search Engine Optimisation efforts so that you are found easily. Try searching as potential customers do like &#8220;healthy food restaurant Birmingham&#8221; rather than for the business name exactly. Tip: make sure you log out of Google or use an Incognito browser window before you do your search. This avoids personalised search results. </li></ul>



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Claim your pages. During your Google search, you might find some MyBusiness pages you didn’t know belonged to you. These pages add value to your online brand, and you can claim them and update them accordingly. There may even be some reviews you can respond to and you can build some new relationships. The same applies to other directory listings – see if you’re indexed correctly and bulk up your newfound listing with some fresh and encouraging content. </li></ul>



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Put some elbow grease into removing content you’re not happy with. If there is any content online that you do not want your brand’s name associated with, now’s a good time to take a proactive approach. Contact website administrators and request that the content is removed (politely, of course). If they refuse to do so, it’s in your right to seek legal action. </li></ul>



Spring is a great time to bring new life to your business – even if you are restricted by lockdowns and impossible regulations. You can use your time constructively to refresh your outlook, your business, and your strategy going forward.



Stay tuned for “How to Thoroughly Test and Spring Clean Your Digital Places: Part 2”. Here we’ll suggest how you can clean out other digital “nooks and crannies”. 



For more information on more ways to use digital technology to help your business, please <a href="https://stampede.ai/company/#contact">contact us</a> here at Stampede. 



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">References:</h3>



<a href="https://www.seo.com/blog/spring-clean-your-website/">[1] seo.com – Spring Clean Your Website</a>

Digital Spring cleaning of your social, website and other spaces

How to Thoroughly Spring Clean Your Digital Places: Part 1

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







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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Short-form video is one of the big social media trends&nbsp;for this year. If done right, this sort of content is one of the most engaging ones and certainly delivers high results. We’ve put together a&nbsp;selection of various online resources that will help you create high-performing video content.



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Here’s all you need to know from the setup to the editing and the content to get you started.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-1-the-setup">1) The Setup</h4>



Before you kick-off, make sure you consider the format of your video. Most short-form videos are filmed&nbsp;<a href="https://youtu.be/BYqbcqqhCVo" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">vertically</a>&nbsp;to make them fit to Instagram Reels and TikTok.



Also, short-form can be any video length between&nbsp;30 seconds and 2 minutes. So, make sure to keep it short and sweet when creating video content.



<h5 class="wp-block-heading" id="how-to-get-the-lighting-right">How to get the lighting right</h5>



This popular&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.dexerto.com/entertainment/how-to-do-tiktoks-viral-photo-editing-hack-1622171/" target="_blank">TikTok photo hack</a>&nbsp;will help you get your image settings on spot for the perfect shot.



A more&nbsp;detailed lighting guide&nbsp;on food filming can be found&nbsp;<a href="https://www.deadpixelfilms.com/blog/lighting-food-video-in-a-busy-working-restaurant" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>. It will give you some more tips and tricks on how different settings could work for you.



If you want to showcase individual dishes and avoid distracting shadows a light box is what you need. Get instructions for a handy<a href="https://www.flaxandtwine.com/2013/02/diy-photo-light-box-a-finish-fifty-project/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">&nbsp;DIY light box&nbsp;here</a>,&nbsp;build from a cardboard box.



<h5 class="wp-block-heading" id="how-to-best-present-food">How to best present food</h5>



It is all about putting your dishes in the right spotlight and making your customers’ mouths watery.



In essence, you can apply the same principles that work for food photography to filming. Watch this&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMGqeBuI1T0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">short video</a>&nbsp;with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/andrewscrivani/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Andrew Scrivani</a>, a well-known food photographer, sharing his ultimate best practices.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="2-the-editing">2) The Editing</h4>



You want to stand out on your customers’ feeds, so get creative when editing. You can also try and stick to a&nbsp;theme&nbsp;that will make your videos recognisable. Find some free and ready-to-use&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.canva.com/tiktok-videos/templates/" target="_blank">TikTok</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.canva.com/templates/?query=instagram-reels-videos" target="_blank">Instagram</a>&nbsp;templates on Canva.



Also, make sure to check out this easy to follow&nbsp;<a href="https://blog.hootsuite.com/instagram-reels-tutorial/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tutorial to get your reel editing on point.</a>&nbsp;Everything you need to know from adding music, filters, green screens to making time-lapses and remixing.



<h5 class="wp-block-heading" id="how-to-use-filters-effects">How to use filters &amp; effects</h5>



??The choice of filters and effects seems to be endless. Have a look at these tips on&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.bustle.com/life/how-to-search-tiktok-filters" target="_blank">finding and saving high-performing filters</a>.



Besides, the green screen effect can be really useful. It lets you change your background into literally anything you like.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enmKA97eIuQ" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Here’s how you use it</a>.



<h5 class="wp-block-heading" id="how-to-add-sound-effects">How to add sound effects</h5>



Just missing the perfect background music for your video? Get inspired by the&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://thepreviewapp.com/trending-instagram-reels-songs-audio/" target="_blank">90 most popular Instagram Reel songs</a>. Or have a look at this useful article on how to choose the right&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://later.com/blog/tiktok-sounds/" target="_blank">TikTok sound</a>&nbsp;alongside your video.



<h5 class="wp-block-heading" id="free-editing-apps">Free editing apps</h5>



Make editing your videos a lot easier and quicker with an editing app. Here’re the 3 most popular ones. The best part is they’re for free!



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li><a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.capcut.net/" target="_blank">CapCut</a>&#8211;&nbsp;TikTok’s own tool</li><li><a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://inshot.com/" target="_blank">InShot</a>&nbsp;&#8211; all-in-one tool</li><li><a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.zoomerang.app/" target="_blank">Zoomerang</a>&nbsp;&#8211; including tutorials</li></ul>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="3-the-content">3) The Content</h4>



When looking for content ideas, the most important part is to stay authentic and true to your brand. This is what makes videos such a powerful and engaging tool.



Get inspired by some great industry examples:



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li><a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CUcZg95o6tt" target="_blank">Introduce your venue</a></li><li>Showcase a&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CZS-375hr-Z" target="_blank">dish</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@urbantandoorbristol/video/7038657441826884869?is_from_webapp=1&amp;sender_device=pc&amp;web_id6918430262649947653" target="_blank">menu</a>&nbsp;highlights</li><li>Highlight&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CW8Uis8jigD/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link" target="_blank">seasonal&nbsp;</a>events or&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CSSCL-AATqV/" target="_blank">promote</a>&nbsp;events</li><li>How to&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CWD-FrgtbRF" target="_blank">make your favourite dish</a>&nbsp;(<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hyz0C7i3ysU" target="_blank">cooking video tips</a>)</li><li>Go&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CWbelgjI_ew" target="_blank">behind the scenes</a></li><li>A&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CS_d6kYgeI1" target="_blank">day in the life</a>&nbsp;of &#8230;</li><li>Share&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CYcLDAFB4CG" target="_blank">customer stories</a></li><li><a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@poppycooks/video/6927752424480345350?is_from_webapp=1&amp;sender_device=pc&amp;web_id6918430262649947653" target="_blank">Kitchen</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CUXnp_vDY_W" target="_blank">cocktail mixing</a>&nbsp;hack</li><li>Introducing your&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CTmACnAIiJc" target="_blank">loyalty program</a></li></ul>



Want to start turning social media fans in to loyal customers, check out our&nbsp;<a href="https://stampede.ai/get-loyalty/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">digital stamp card system</a>. Or&nbsp;<a href="https://calendly.com/stampedeae/stampede-demo-request" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">get in touch</a>&nbsp;to find out more.

How To Create Engaging Video Content [25+ Free Resources]

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

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







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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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Getting Ready for Mother’s Day – Creative Promotion Ideas

<h1 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-free-may-amp-june-2025-social-media-calendar">Free May &amp; June 2025 Social Media Calendar</h1>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fire-up-your-social-feeds-for-the-new-year-grab-60-days-worth-of-content-inspiration">Fire up your social feeds for the new year: grab 60 days&#8217; worth of content inspiration! </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 2025 now.



Featuring topical post ideas, hashtags suggestions and image inspiration for each month, including Star Wars Day, Royal Ascot, Father&#8217;s Day and BBQ week among others.

Having a change in scenery and getting out of your own four walls is only one reason why many people want to work from hospitality venues.&nbsp;It is also about the mixture of having some sort of office buzz with the convenience of being taken care of. There is no need to worry about what’s for lunch and having to prepare it. And even better free flow (high-quality) coffee and tea throughout the day.&nbsp;



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<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-create-and-promote-your-remote-work-space-packages">Create and Promote Your Remote Work Space Packages</h4>



To make your place more attractive and to set yourself apart from other venues, it’s worth creating dedicated “remote work packages”.&nbsp;



Think of what a remote worker might need apart from <a href="https://stampede.ai/how-it-works/wifi/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fast and secure WiFi</a> and what they can’t get at home. Just relying on your coffee offers alone might not be enough to get people through your door.&nbsp;



Also, consider offering hourly packages alongside half-or full-day packages or even a monthly subscription. And don’t forget to encourage pre-booking.



Here’s some inspiration for your packages, as well as a couple of examples from other hospitality venues.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Package Item Ideas for Restaurants/Pubs/Cafes/Bars</h4>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Unlimited / high-speed WiFi &amp; charging points</li>



<li>Coffee/tea subscription</li>



<li>Soft drinks offers</li>



<li>Free breakfast item upon arrival</li>



<li>Lunch time offers</li>



<li>After work dinner/drink offers</li>



<li>Offer for private rooms hire</li>
</ul>



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



Have a look at what the <a href="https://www.youngs.co.uk/work-from-pub" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Youngs Pub Group</a> and the <a href="https://www.pubswithmore.co.uk/work-from-a-pub" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stonegate Group</a> have come up with across their venues.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Package Item Ideas for Hotels</h4>



Hotels are great for all those who want a more private space to work from, so they’re ideal for hosting virtual meetings or calls.



It might be worth considering expanding your day passes to overnight ones or even several days (with special weekend deals) for customers who are looking for a longer escape from their homes.



Your remote work package could include:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Early check-in, late check-out</li>



<li>Unlimited WiFi &amp; charging points</li>



<li>HDMI cable to connect laptop to TV</li>



<li>Access to business centre (printer)</li>



<li>F&amp;B voucher</li>



<li>Selection of coffee/tee in the room</li>



<li>Add breakfast, snack, lunch or dinner option</li>



<li>Offer for leisure facilities &#8211; gym, spa</li>



<li>Free parking</li>
</ul>



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



A great example for hotels is <a href="https://www.bestwestern.co.uk/work-from-hotels" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Best Western</a>.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Bonus Tip &#8211; Ramp Up Your Remote Working Space Promotions</h4>



There are other ways for businesses to promote their venue as a remote working space, besides through Google searches, social media and on the website.



One of those examples is <a href="https://swurf.co" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SWURF</a>, a work surfing app. SWURF connects remote workers to places where they are welcomed to work from. Venues can list and promote their properties on the app. SWURF started off as an Edinburgh based project and is now fast expanding to major UK cities. 



Head to <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/how-to-turn-your-venue-into-the-1-remote-working-place-part-i/">Part I of this article</a> to get a quick checklist on how to set up your venue as a remote working space.



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

[Part II] How to Promote Your Venue as the #1 Remote Working Space

Ready to start building your business through social networks?

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

Facebook Checkin on WiFi

TechRound Interview with Patrick Clover

So, you’ve followed your dream and opened a restaurant. Serving up some of the tastiest meals in your local area. You’ve worked hard on the design, creating a stunning dining area where your customers can relax and enjoy the freshly prepared dishes. However, there are a few issues playing on your mind. How are you going to lure the customers and keep the orders coming in the face of competition from other local restaurants? We’ll answer these questions and suggest some tried and tested marketing methods for your restaurant in this helpful blog.







But how and where to get started with your restaurant marketing? There are a couple of easy and straight forward methods available. 



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Customer Research</h4>



There are a number of steps that you can take to build the profile of your restaurant to make sure the customers keep coming back for more. 



It’s best to start off with a bit of research. Finding out about the people who are most likely to spend their hard-earned money in your restaurant. You should also find out as much as possible about the competition. Focussing on how they are managing to entice the crowds. Should you be following their example or market your restaurant as an exclusive dining venue?



The research should then continue with some focus on the people who are already visiting your restaurant. Most importantly, you should take time to talk. Try to find out why these customers are visiting and how satisfied they are with the service. 



In addition, ask questions about everything from the reasons for visiting to thoughts about the restaurant decor. <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/the-marketing-power-of-wifi-analytics-for-your-business/">Such data</a> could be put to use in the creation of targeted marketing campaigns. But also general improvement of your restaurant. You can also find out the busiest times within your restaurant and make staffing decisions accordingly. &nbsp;



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



Your customers might like to spend their time reading the latest tweets, chatting on Facebook, or looking at the pretty pictures on <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/rock-your-restaurant-with-wifi-and-instagram/">Instagram</a>. It’s important that you get to grips with marketing on the preferred social media channels. 



Further, you should keep your communications on brand and consistent no matter where your customers are engaging. Competitions could be set up and live updates posted about special events and discounts. You might even post pictures of the mouth-watering meals prepared by your kitchen staff. <a href="https://www.instagram.com/avagenes/">Ava Gene’s Instagram</a> account provides a bit of inspiration on this front.&nbsp;



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



Another popular restaurant marketing method can be seen in direct <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/how-marketing-with-wifi-benefits-your-business/">email marketing campaigns</a>. This method makes use of all the valuable customer data collected. To get the data, customers may be prompted to give their email addresses, Facebook profile, or Twitter handles in exchange for access to the free WiFi. From there, you can then create targeted communications which can be sent out at opportune moments for customer engagement. 



Even better, emails can be automated for the successful retention and reward of your loyal restaurant customers. Such emails may be sent out a few days after customers have visited your restaurant. This will ensure that the positive experience remains top of their minds. You could also distribute emails to customers who haven’t visited for some time (e.g. over 30 days) to boost the levels of retention.



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



You should have plenty of information to use in the digital marketing of your restaurant. Therefore, advertisements could be built around visitor characteristics such as age, gender, and location. 



Also, you should take the time to make sure that your restaurant can be found by local customers. Create content including targeted keywords and focussed on the interests of people in your community. In addition, register for local listings and take every effort to build a stand-out online profile. Within this, advertisements could be set up focussing on people under the age of 30, who are looking for ‘Tapas in Brighton’ or ‘Chinese Restaurants in Lincoln’.



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



We told you about some of the best ways of earning repeat business in our <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/building-customer-loyalty-with-blackbx/https://stampede.ai/blog/building-customer-loyalty-with-blackbx/">recent blog on customer loyalty</a>. As mentioned, you can use the offer of free WiFi to collect some really valuable information about the good folks who visit your venue. Use this information for more targeted campaigns. You might take the opportunity to arrange special holiday discounts. Or schedule messages after the achievement of set milestones. 



There is also the option of setting up a points-based system, which the customers can track via their digital devices. As an example, you could offer a free meal for every ten points earned by a customer. However, ensure a quick and easy point redemption process. 



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



Organise social payment events to ensure that positive word is spread about your restaurant. These events will involve customers paying for outstanding service and top-notch food in the form of social media updates and reviews. 



For example, offer free drink in exchange for the addition of a set number of Twitter followers for your restaurant and discount coupons in return for Facebook likes. You can then share details of positive customer experiences on your website and across social media. This will effectively set you apart from the rest.&nbsp;



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Blog Writing / Outreach</h4>



There are plenty of popular bloggers and social media influencers who could help out in the marketing of your restaurant. Some of these online experts have reader and viewer numbers running into the tens of thousands. You can encourage them to spread the word by arranging free or discount meals and delivering on your promise of the first-rate service. 



The positive reviews are sure to be read by large numbers of people particularly likely to visit your restaurant. Have a read of the <a href="https://www.forketers.com/how-to-invite-food-bloggers-to-your-restaurant/">Forketeers blog</a> for some handy tips on how to reach out and build positive relationships with the foodie bloggers.



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



To get the most out of these restaurant marketing methods, you can use the <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/getting-started-with-guest-wifi/">Stampede WiFi system</a>. Most customers will be more than happy to exchange their email or mobile phone numbers for free internet access. You can use your customer information to create personalised messages encouraging restaurant reviews and social media posts. You could even have regular news pieces sent out with details of menu updates and exciting events. Have a read of some of <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/">other blogs</a> for further information about the prospects of WiFi marketing.



If you make use of the proven restaurant marketing methods highlighted in this blog, you can expect the levels of customer engagement and loyalty to increase. You’ll find that the positive word spreads and that you enjoy increased popularity. Maximise the prospects of further marketing success through the adoption of other tricks and tactics covered by Stampede.



Why not give it a go with a free trial of our software?



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Must-Have Marketing Methods For Your Restaurant

Customer data is the key&nbsp;to feeding your marketing campaigns, driving repeat visits and increasing revenue. The more data and customer insights you can get, the bigger the knock-on effect.



There are many touch points along the digital and physical customer journey that allow hospitality businesses to collect data. But two stand out above the others. 



<h5 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-2-ways-to-collect-customer-data">2 ways to collect customer data</h5>



One popular data source is a&nbsp;<a href="https://stampede.ai/get-bookings/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">table booking system</a>. The data you get from those lets you to send reminders (reduce no-shows) and special offers in advance as a way to increase sales per booking.



Another common method is using a&nbsp;<a href="https://stampede.ai/how-it-works/wifi/#portal" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">captive portal solution</a>&nbsp;to gather data through Guest WiFi. The real-time, in-venue data brings huge potential to increase spend per head, i.e. through&nbsp;<a href="https://stampede.ai/how-it-works/marketing/#upsell" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">digital upselling</a>.



In both cases, customers can be contacted after their visit to further boost loyalty through personalised campaigns and offers.&nbsp;



No doubt, those two tools are good on their own and will help you grow your database and business. But when&nbsp;combined, they elevate your expansion&nbsp;to new heights.



<h5 class="wp-block-heading">The combined power of WiFi and Booking Data</h5>



The crux with booking data is that you only get data from the person that made the booking.



So what happens if you have a large group booking? You’re&nbsp;missing out on a big bunch of data&nbsp;and potential future business opportunities as you have no means to contact the rest of the party.



However, if you also opt for the captive portal you can gather the data of the entire booking party, once they sign up for your WiFi. An easy way to&nbsp;scale up your database from just one booking.&nbsp;



Even better, if both systems are integrated into one CRM. You can mix and match both sources to&nbsp;create high-converting campaigns&nbsp;and bring more customers back on a regular basis.



Here’re some examples of segmentation ideas using your booking and WiFi data insights.&nbsp;



<h5 class="wp-block-heading">4 clever segmentation ideas</h5>



1) Has booked but not been at the venue (cancellation):



-&gt; Win-back campaign with a special offer



2) Has been at the venue (WiFi) but not booked online yet (booking):



-&gt; Welcome or early-bird booking offers&nbsp;



3) Has been at venue (WiFi) and birthday coming up:



-&gt; Special birthday party booking offer



4) Regular booker/in-venue visitor (WiFi + booking):



-&gt; Bring your friends and get …% off



Want to scale up your marketing campaigns to achieve better results?&nbsp;<a href="https://h.stampede.ai/meetings/stampede/demo" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Get in touch</a>&nbsp;with our team to find out more.

The Revenue Boosting Combo Of WiFi And Bookings Data

<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

According to the calendar, it’s the first official day of Autumn this week, which already is a treasure trove of inspiration. Changing seasons, changing ingredients, changing menus.



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 For this week, we’ve got these three topics to inspire your social media and email content.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tuesday-22nd-national-ice-cream-cone-day"> Tuesday 22nd &#8211; National Ice Cream Cone Day</h4>



 True fans of ice cream know it can be enjoyed all year round. A luscious multi-scoop cone with all the toppings will look great in social media feeds. Try asking fans and followers to tag who they’d get a cone with to celebrate the day.&nbsp;



 If you don’t serve ice cream cones, Tuesday is also white chocolate day which can provide just as big a visual impact on social media.



 Recommended channels: Social media



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-friday-25th-national-cooking-day"> Friday 25th &#8211; National Cooking Day</h4>



 We might have passed the primetime of virtual cooking demos, but National Cooking Day is a great opportunity to record a new video demo, or simply share one you recorded a few months ago again&nbsp;with customers and fans.&nbsp;



 You could go down the route of how to make a favourite dish super-quick or a longer more detailed presentation. <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/a-recipe-for-video-showcase-success/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Check out this article</a> about cooking video best practice, using Wagamama&#8217;s example.



 Recommended channels: Email and social media



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-saturday-26th-better-breakfast-day"> Saturday 26th &#8211; Better Breakfast Day</h4>



 The fast pace of modern daily life often makes many people skimp on or miss breakfast entirely, and Better Breakfast Day aims to remind us all of the importance of that first meal.



 If you offer a healthy and hearty breakfast menu, this is an ideal day to show it off. A one day offer could be just the incentive people need to stop by and fuel up properly in the morning.&nbsp;



Otherwise, there are lots of breakfast dishes that make for great visual content, like pancake stacks, health-food bowls and eggs of all kinds.



 Top tip: Schedule social media posts for Thursday or Friday.



 Recommended channels: Email and social media.



Want to learn more about how email can grow your business? <a href="https://stampede.ai/company/#contact" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Get </a><a href="https://stampede.ai/company/#contact" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">in touch</a> with one of our team.

What’s On This Week? – 21/09/2020

Chris Wilkie

Ideally, as a hospitality business, you want to turn all your loyal customers into brand fanatics. As those are the type of next-level loyal customers who spend more time and money at your venue than the average.



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Part one of this series featured the success story of <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/the-paid-loyalty-scheme-that-works-a-treat/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rib &amp; Chop House’s exclusive, paid ‘Royalty Program’</a> as an example of how to reward your most loyal customers.



But before you create your own version, you need to identify your top-tier customers.



<h5 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-gain-insights-from-your-tech-tools">Gain Insights From Your Tech Tools</h5>



Start off by exploring your&nbsp;in-venue and online data. This helps you find out how customers have interacted across various channels over a certain time period.



Here are a couple of&nbsp;data sources&nbsp;that you should access:



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>WiFi logins from Guest WiFi</li><li>Bookings made from the booking system</li><li>Interactions from the loyalty scheme</li><li>Cash transactions from your POS system</li><li>Purchases from your E-commerce system</li></ul>



The next step is to narrow down your data and filter by your top-tier customers.



Some segmentation filter ideas:



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Big spenders, i.e. customers that have spent more than £x in-venue/online</li><li>Regular event bookers</li><li>X amount of visits and/or bookings during the month</li><li>Highly engaged loyalty program users, i.e. more than x times</li></ul>



Mix and match those segments to build your royal audience. Tip &#8211; with a <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/how-to-get-maximum-value-from-customer-review-sentiments/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sentiment analysis</a> you can spot certain keywords in your online reviews, that indicate loyal customers. I.e. ‘we’ve been here many times’, ‘would always recommend’, etc.



<h5 class="wp-block-heading">Monitor Your Social Media Accounts</h5>



Your brand fanatics also love to talk about the great times they had at your venue and share it with their social network.



Social media monitoring therefore can help you reveal some of your most engaged customers by&nbsp;tracking your @mentions, tags and comments.



For this, check the&nbsp;photo-tagged section&nbsp;of your Instagram profile and read through the comments of your own posts to spot engaged users.



Tip &#8211; follow your own hashtag to see who mentions your venue.



<h5 class="wp-block-heading">Power Your Marketing With Royalty Data</h5>



Apart from using the data to power a royalty program like Rib &amp; Chop House did, you can also use it for <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/a-5-step-recipe-that-creates-profitable-personalised-marketing-part-1/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">hyper-personalised email and SMS campaigns</a>. 



Those campaigns should be more centred around special events. You want to create a unique experience for your most loyal customers, rather than just rewarding them with a discount.&nbsp;



Think about ‘member-only’ events, i.e. new menu taster evening, exclusive wine tasting, chef masterclasses, etc.



Need help segmenting your royalty data for personalised campaigns? <a href="https://h.stampede.ai/meetings/stampede/demo" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Book a demo</a> with our team to find out more about <a href="https://stampede.ai/how-it-works/marketing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stampede Marketing</a>.

How To Use Data To Unveil Your True Brand Fanatics

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







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



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



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



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



Not an ideal situation.



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

Why Offer WiFi as a Service?

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



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Here are some ideas:



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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

What’s On This Week? – 26/10/2020

New Venue? Keep Your Footfall For Longer With Customer Data

10 Quick Ways To Prevent Lost Revenue From No-Shows

5 Expert Staff Picks To Inspire Profitable Personalised Marketing

Increase Your Footfall With A Simple Customer Referral Loop [Part 5/5]

More Sales With Cross-Venue Promotion And Personalised Marketing [Part 4/5]

Unlock Hidden Gift Card Revenue: The Next 5 Step Recipe [Part 3/5]

Another 5 Step Recipe: How To Easily Win Back Lost Customers [Part 2/5]

These Automations Can Help When Short-Staffed

4 Reliable Ways to Reduce No Shows by 30%

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

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

Kicking People off Your WiFi

On a hot, sunny and &#8211; more importantly &#8211; windy day in July, I had the pleasure of visiting <a href="http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/chesters-roman-fort-and-museum-hadrians-wall/">Chester’s Roman Fort</a> in Northumberland. The site excavated by John Clayton gives a fascinating insight into the lives of a garrison of 500 cavalry troops who lived on the site for about 300 years.

In celebration of this year&#8217;s major wall-wide exhibition, Hadrian&#8217;s Cavalry, there&#8217;s a brand new sound installation at the fort, which is a first for English Heritage. Once you&#8217;re there, follow your ears to find &#8216;<a href="http://www.seeneon.com">Cavalry 360</a>&#8216;, a huge musical instrument standing 3.5 meters high and 12 meters across. This extraordinary installation uses 32 wind turbines to create the sound of 500 cavalry warriors thundering towards you.
That said, being so impressed by the site, I wanted to send a picture to my family, but, alas &#8211; no mobile signal. I enquired at the office if there was WiFi on the property and was told that it was not possible, due to the poor quality of the WiFi broadcast range.
<h3>No WiFi , Slow WiFi, Limited Marketing Budget</h3>
Later on, I overheard staff members discussing how they could get the message of this event across to a larger audience. Due to their small budget, their marketing choices were limited to blogging and website engagement. When I heard this, I was shocked.
<a href="http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/">English Heritage</a> is one of a group of charitable organisations in the UK, which cares for and maintains sites of significant historic interest. They alone have 400 sites, the <a href="https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/">National Trust</a> has 350 heritage properties and <a href="https://members.historic-scotland.gov.uk/places">Historic Scotland</a> has 300 properties. These organisations are struggling to find resources to keep our heritage alive.
It seems obvious that when it comes to WiFi, they are missing a trick; with WiFi comes intelligent reporting. Every person who visits a specific site could be a potential visitor at any of the other sites &#8211; if only they knew what was going on. Although these organisations have websites, not everyone visits the website and, if they do, they probably don&#8217;t login for news updates.
By combining Guest WiFi with a <a href="https://www.stampede.ai/how-it-works#analytics">WiFi analytics tool</a>, Historic properties can go even further in enhancing the visitor experience. The organisation could at last begin to understand their audience, how often they visit and what they use their devices for. Bolt-on <a href="https://stampede.ai/marketing/">Marketing</a> capability could be rolled out, reaching out to all registered users with news of events such as Cavalry 360, ultimately increasing the visits to venues in the group and ultimately revenues.
Do you work for a historic site or heritage organisation and want to improve your visitor&#8217;s experience?
<a class="eut-modal-popup" href="https://calendly.com/stampedeae/stampede-demo-request?month=2020-02">Click here to get started.</a>

Historic Properties Missing the Marketing Opportunity of a Lifetime

Coming Soon – The Enquiry Pipeline

June upates with workflows, enquiries and competitor analysis

June Update – AI Review Insights, New Features and More

Build, Build, Build

Introducing AI Segments for Marketing

A more effective ways to run Meta ads for hospitality

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

How to Use Segmentation to Increase Guest Engagement in Hospitality

Snap Box – Stampede Network Application

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

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







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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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Airbnb WiFi: Offering Your Guests Safe and Secure Wireless

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



In conclusion, there are pros and cons of using AI in the hospitality industry that should be taken into account.&nbsp;



Technology can be used to save money, increase efficiency, improve customer experience and enable more precise forecasting. However, many operators are still struggling with the lack of human element when it comes to dealing with customers and their needs.&nbsp;



Furthermore, technological limitations should not be disregarded as they might also cause certain problems when it comes to adapting AI to existing processes.&nbsp;



Finally, before making any investments in AI, operators should evaluate the costs associated with them as this could highly affect their financial situation.&nbsp;



All factors taken into consideration, applying AI technology correctly can prove extremely beneficial for restaurants and the hospitality industry in general.



Make sure to <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/ai-in-hospitality-marketing-a-complete-guide">check out our full guide</a> exploring AI for hospitality marketing.

We&#8217;re excited to announce a new integration! D-Link Nuclias Cloud Network now integrates with Stampede. 



D-Link started off as a small company in 1986 with developing networking and connectivity products for all kind of business types and sizes. In the meanwhile, they&#8217;re a global leader in their industry. 



Nuclias Cloud Network especially provides hospitality businesses with a straight-forward and centralised cloud-network management solution. This way it is ideal for smaller businesses or those not having their own IT team.



By connecting this award-winning networking hardware with our smart Guest WiFi solution, we&#8217;re able to add more value to our customers. Allowing for even better communication with their customers to reach the right people at the right time to further grow their business.



Find out more about the D-Link Nuclias Cloud Network and how it could work for your venue &#8211; <a href="https://www.dlink.com/en/business/nuclias/nuclias-cloud">https://www.dlink.com/en/business/nuclias/nuclias-cloud</a>

Stampede's new integration with D-Link Nuclias cloud

New Integration with D-Link Nuclias Cloud Network

Like many other suppliers to the hospitality industry, we’ve spent the last week coming to terms with the impact of COVID-19.



As news came in about what venues are doing to stay afloat, our product team got stuck into building an easy way for businesses to <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/why-hospitality-businesses-should-focus-on-selling-gift-vouchers-now/">offer gift cards</a>. And in only a few short days of work, we have our Gifting section ready. It features a bespoke microsite, which you can customise with your logo, text, terms, specific locations and a main image.



The Gifting section is available for all Stampede users to use immediately. If you don&#8217;t have an account with us yet, you can sign-up through <a href="https://signup.stampede.ai/?source=gifting">here</a>.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">How To Get Started</h4>



Use the Stampede Marketing tools, or any other platforms you have, to send the microsite link to your customers.



Your customers can enter their details, select an amount to buy and will then be directed to a secure Stripe payment portal. Please note: you will need to set up a Stripe account, we can help with this.



This allows you to drum up support and funds to keep you going now. But also to give your customers something to look forward too.



To access your Gifting page &#8211; log into your Stampede account, navigate to Gifting on the menu bar on the left side and you’ll be good to go. You can create an unlimited number of voucher templates. Just add your text and theme colour.



Even more, it’ll pull in your existing branding from our WiFi Login if you’re using that feature too.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Spread The Word</h4>



It’s simple, fast to set up and effective. Now you need to share it. There are 4 built-in sharing options:



<ol class="wp-block-list"><li>Ready-made template in Marketing</li><li>Website embed code for your own website</li><li>Sharable URL for your social channels (don&#8217;t forget to encourage your customers to share it)</li><li>Downloadable QR code, ready to print for your shop fronts</li></ol>



Customers who contribute to your venue will be sent an email for the value they put in, with a QR code to enable redemption in your POS.



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Lot’s of venues are doing something similar &#8211; and it should be as easy to do as logging into WiFi.



If you need any help getting this going, or with anything else on the product. Contact one of our team via email: <a href="mailto:contact@stampede.ai">contact@stampede.ai</a> or give us a call: <a href="tel:+44 (0) 131 510 7008">+44 (0) 131 510 7008</a>.



Did you know that we&#8217;ve launched a community forum on our website? We&#8217;re seeing lots of great ideas and tips from across the hospitality industry right now and wanted to share those with you. <a href="https://get.stampede.help/portal/signup?utm_campaign=Community%20Forum%20Announce%203%2F2020%20%28MxsXsU%29&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_source=Current%20Customers%20%28ChargeBee%29&amp;_ke=eyJrbF9lbWFpbCI6ICJjYXRlcmluYS50cmllbmRsQGJsYWNrYnguaW8iLCAia2xfY29tcGFueV9pZCI6ICJOZWNreFoifQ%3D%3D">Sign-up</a> now to share your own ideas, get some inspiration and ask questions to the community.

New Feature Alert – Gift Cards

A new kind of marketplace for hospitality apps

October Update – 3x Faster Guest WiFi and more

New Features & Updates – September 2023

Feature Update – Improved campaigns, reporting and imports

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

<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-power-up-your-social-media-posts-with-an-informed-approach-to-hashtags">Power up your social media posts with an informed approach to hashtags</h4>



Hashtags are arguably one of the most powerful, yet untapped, resources on social media. Getting them right can dramatically increase the reach of your posts and help the social media platforms work for you, rather than against.



But where do you start?



Download your free hashtag cheat sheet now.



To make it easier for hospitality businesses, we’ve compiled a huge list of hashtags for quick reference. With over 250 ideas covering 14 relevant categories from meal and drink themes to travel and competitions, plus handy tips and advice on hashtag use this cheat sheet will provide a structured approach to hashtags.

The countdown to one of the biggest days for hospitality is on. Mother’s Day is coming up end of the month! Time to promote your Mother&#8217;s Day marketing offers.



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Customers are keen to get out and about again. Make the most out of it and create a special day for your customers, whether this is in your venue or through your at-home offers.



Also, consider collaboration opportunities with local suppliers for flowers/seeds, chocolate, wine, etc. to offer an all-in-one Mother’s Day package deal.&nbsp;



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-to-promote-your-mother-s-day-offers">How to promote your Mother&#8217;s Day offers</h4>



Use the full breadth of your marketing channels to get your offers out there. Best practice before you get started with Mother’s Day communications is to give your audience a chance to opt-out early on, as not everyone wants to receive them.



Email and SMS marketing is your best bet to promote any pre-bookings. Adding some free extras will make your offers even more attractive. And don’t forget to schedule a last-minute sales booster campaign the week before to fill in any empty spaces.



Social media contests are also great at creating more awareness of your offers. Re-creation and throwback photo competitions (tag to win) are fun ways to engage with your audience.&nbsp;



In addition, a simple pop-up or banner on your website, featuring your offers will help you attract even more customers.



Pro tip &#8211; tools like <a href="https://www.canva.com/search/templates?q=mothers%20day" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Canva</a> come with a wide range of ready-to-use Mother’s Day templates that will help you save some time creating your email campaigns, banners and social posts.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">10 In-venue ideas</h4>



Create a memorable experience and get inspired by some of our in-venue ideas.



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Offer classes &#8211; cooking/baking, cocktails, flower arrangement, pottery</li><li>Run a mother and child event (including adult children!)</li><li>Treat grandmas with a free drink or dessert</li><li>Get kids involved with some <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.personalcreations.com/blog/mothers-day-kids-craft-ideas" target="_blank">crafty activities</a></li><li>Host a charity event &#8211; raffle with prizes to win</li><li>Hire a photographer or photo booth</li><li>Put some live music on</li><li>Create a dedicated mum’s food/drinks special&nbsp;</li><li>Offer a <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.visitlondon.com/things-to-do/food-and-drink/restaurant/best-unusual-afternoon-teas-in-london" target="_blank">themed afternoon tea</a></li><li>Come up with a full on family Sunday lunch offer &#8211; including kids treats</li></ul>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">10 E-commerce ideas</h4>



E-commerce sales at this time can make a big contribution to your revenue. Include links to your online shop on your socials and in your emails to make it easy for customers to order. Check out this article on <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/how-to-set-up-a-successful-meal-kit-e-commerce-page/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">how to set up a successful e-commerce page</a>.



Here are some extra revenue ideas to tap into.



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Full at-home experience &#8211; meal-box for brunch/afternoon tea with drinks and decoration</li><li>Breakfast-in-bed box</li><li>Family cook-at-home kits</li><li><a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://my.morrisons.com/mothers-day/mothers-day-baking/" target="_blank">Baking kits</a> for kids</li><li>Dessert-only box with flowers</li><li>Luxurious picnic hamper</li><li>“Treat your mum” gift hamper</li><li>Personalised gift cards with extra add-ons</li><li>“Me time” voucher for a mum’s night out</li><li>Double loyalty points for online orders</li></ul>



Mother&#8217;s Day marketing content ready but not sure how to set up your email campaign? <a href="https://stampede.ai/company/#contact" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Get in touch</a> with one of our team who are happy to help.

20 Mother’s Day Marketing Ideas to Ramp Up Revenue

Running a successful restaurant is no easy feat. From attracting new patrons and building loyalty to running various promotions, keeping the engine running requires a heavy investment of time and energy. The great news is that we have entered an era where technology is on our side.&nbsp; Marketing Automation is no new concept but with the introduction of advanced software, it can now do better and brighter things. It’s been a saving grace for the food and beverage industry, that’s for sure!



If this is the first time you are familiarising yourself with the concept, then let’s backtrack a little and start by looking at what Marketing Automation is.&nbsp;



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Defining “Marketing Automation”</h4>



The idea of “automated marketing” is not something that can easily be boiled down into a few sentences. However, we explain it as follows:



“Marketing automation is a process that relies on software and web-based services to implement, manage, and automate marketing tasks. Examples of these marketing tasks include the collection and storage of customer data, sending emails, and posting promotions on social media platforms.&nbsp;



Automated marketing eliminates the need for manual and repetitive marketing practices. Additionally, it also collects valuable data that can help you to continuously make informed marketing decisions.”&nbsp;



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">How Important Is Marketing Automation for Restaurants?</h4>



Now that you have a good idea of what marketing automation entails, let’s discuss why this very modern way of marketing is so important for your restaurant, bar, coffee shop, café, or deli.&nbsp;



Just like digital marketing, automated marketing is far from being a passing trend. It’s here to stay. Therefore it must hold some worth, especially if every second business is hopping onto the bandwagon to get their piece of this “money-making pie”.&nbsp;



Besides being a component that keeps you in-line with your competition, this type of marketing also has many additional benefits. Here are FIVE reasons why automated marketing is an extremely valuable addition to your business:&nbsp;



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">1. It Saves Money and Time</h4>



The future of marketing is all about saving time and money. Automated marketing ticks both of these boxes.&nbsp;



Firstly, the software gives you different means to collect your customer data (for example, they can sign up for loyalty programs or swap details in exchange for <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/four-fab-benefits-of-free-wifi-for-coffee-shops/">free Wi-Fi access</a>). Once you have this information, then promotional emails, social media posts, and other notifications can be generated and scheduled to be sent automatically.&nbsp;



This way, you can focus your time on running other aspects of your restaurant. Marketing automation saves you time by taking care of the tedious marketing admin and it saves you money by allowing you to focus on the other money-making elements of your restaurant.&nbsp;



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">2. It Can Increase Your Return on Investment (ROI)</h4>



If used correctly, automated marketing is a holistic marketing solution that will give you a return on your investment, unlike many other marketing strategies that run on the basis of trial and error.



In point one, we discussed that marketing automation gives you free time to focus on other income-generating avenues of your restaurant. This is the first opportunity where you can now increase profits.&nbsp;



Additionally, this form of marketing allows you to effortlessly communicate with your customer base. Promotional messages and <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/building-customer-loyalty-with-blackbx/">loyalty systems</a> can remind them of your services and encourage patrons to return to your establishment for another amazing experience…this time with more friends in tow. &nbsp;



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">3. It Helps You to Establish Good Relationships with Your Patrons</h4>



As it stands, we’re dealing with generations who appreciate personal customer-services. Marketing automation helps you to establish what it is each customer expects from you (and why) by collecting invaluable data. This data can include information on dining habits, meal preferences, current trends, and so on.&nbsp;



By having <a href="https://stampede.ai/blog/the-marketing-power-of-wifi-analytics-for-your-business/">insight into the patterns and expectations of your customers</a>, you can refine your relationship with them and give them what they want before they realise that they even want it!&nbsp;



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">4.&nbsp; It Increases Customer Loyalty</h4>



Loyalty is established when you have a good relationship with a customer and they are reminded of how much they enjoy dining at your restaurant. 



Automated marketing allows you to nurture a continuous dialogue with your customers. This gives them a reason to stick around – especially if you share content that’s meant for them. This special content includes things like:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Interesting newsletters</li>



<li>Special discounts</li>



<li>Event invites</li>



<li>Competitions</li>



<li>Offers for rewards and referral programs</li>
</ul>



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<h4 class="wp-block-heading">5. It Generates In-Depth Reports</h4>



Marketing automation software is designed to keep track of all the data generated along the way. It provides feedback into customer patterns, their likes, and their dislikes.&nbsp;



In the food and beverage industry, this information can be used to refine and perfect nearly every component of the business. From creating an environment that you know will please your patrons to preparing dishes that satisfy their lifestyles, it’s easy to serve someone (no pun intended) when you are 100% sure of what it is that makes them happy.&nbsp;



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Tying the Pieces Together…</h4>



Marketing automation is an important piece to your marketing puzzle. If you use it to constantly reshape and analyse your strategies to discover what’s working and what isn’t – then you will soon discover that it is an invaluable investment. It’s a concept that’s loaded with ideas for restaurant marketing and will help to leave your business at the forefront of innovation.

The Value of Restaurant Marketing Automation

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Better Marketing For All

With restrictions being eased, more and more hospitality venues are getting back to hosting regular events. Customers now have a bunch of upcoming events to choose from. Check out our free event promotion ideas to stand out and make sure you create enough hype around your events.



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 First of all, it’s important to leverage every communication channel for your promotions. This way you can maximise your reach and create as many touchpoints with your customers as possible.&nbsp;



Also, don’t forget to remind customers that the wait is over and your regular events are finally back.&nbsp;



Here&#8217;s a short checklist covering the most important channels you should use for your free event promotions and some ideas to get you started.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-1-social-media">1. Social Media</h4>



Social media is probably the best channel to reach a wide range of people and keep them updated and engaged about what&#8217;s happening at your venue.



Though posting alone won’t do the trick. There’s more you can do to boost your promotions.&nbsp;



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Pin your post with monthly events to the top</li>



<li>Create unique hashtags for recurring events and encourage customers to use them</li>



<li>Share upcoming events for the week in your stories</li>



<li>Create a Facebook events page</li>



<li>Feature your events on local Facebook groups</li>



<li>Use images from previous events for a sneak peak</li>



<li>Come up with a competition around the event, e.g. &#8220;caption this&#8221;, &#8220;who would you choose as your event buddy?&#8221;</li>



<li>Share short videos about pre-event behind-the-scenes prep</li>



<li>Create FOMO for limited availability &#8211; “don’t miss your chance”, “only few spaces left, be quick”</li>
</ul>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">2. Email &amp; SMS&nbsp;</h4>



Email and SMS will help you better reach your existing customer base. You can also segment your customers for more targeted promotions. E.g. for sports events or ladies&#8217;/men&#8217;s night.



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Send out a monthly events newsletter, including what’s coming up, featuring important dates to save in the calendar</li>



<li>Include all relevant event information and a clear booking CTA&nbsp;</li>



<li>Jump on exclusivity and offer early access to special events for your loyal customers only</li>



<li>Reward referrals and encourage customers to “tell a friend”</li>



<li>Use your subject line to create a sense of urgency, “We’re almost full, hurry up”, “The wait is over, [event] is almost here”</li>



<li>Send out reminders as the event date approaches</li>
</ul>



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



Lots of your customers will check out your website to find out what’s going on in your venue. Keeping your website content well maintained is therefore crucial.



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Update your website with upcoming events and make sure to remove past ones</li>



<li>Use pop-ups or banners to boost limited availability or last-minute offers</li>



<li>Post your events on discovery pages or local community pages&nbsp;</li>
</ul>



Pro tip: Use relevant keywords around your events on your website, especially in your titles. E.g. “pub quiz in [&#8230;]”, “beer tasting event”, so that your events will also show up on search engines.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">4. In-Venue Promotion</h4>



Of course, you can head over to your printer now and print flyers to stick them all over your venue but there’s a better, more cost-effective way.&nbsp;



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Use your digital assets, such as your Guest WiFI, for <a href="https://youtu.be/HPDbVHRv0xs" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">in-venue promotion</a> to send automated messages once customers have signed up to your WiFi</li>
</ul>



Need some assistance with spreading the word about your events via email and SMS marketing campaigns? <a href="contact@stampede.ai" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Reach out to our team.&nbsp;</a>We&#8217;re happy to help.

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