Unique Bar Promotion Ideas to Bring in Customers in 2024

Quick Summary: Running a restaurant bar is a profitable business. But, it’s not the case with every restaurant bar. There are many restaurant bars we see raising white flags, even after being at the right location. The reason is “competition”. So, this article will help you turn the situation around with a list of effective bar promotions ideas.

Are you an established restaurant bar owner and want to promote it online? Or, are you looking to start a local alcohol delivery business alongside a bar and explore promotion ideas? Or, simply, are you looking for bar promotion ideas? In all cases, you must be grappled with the stiff competition around you. High competition in the business challenges owners to keep up with customer engagement, retention, and revenue generation. In the food and beverages realm, building a strong brand presence is the challenge for on-premise bars as well as online alcohol delivery businesses. The hack is you should know that creativity is the secret ingredient to success.

From themed events that transport guests to new dimensions, to social media campaigns that ignite a buzz, the guide we have brought will help you create effective strategies for successful bar marketing.

As restaurant bar space around the world is extremely competitive, understanding why it is significant to promote and explore the best bar promotional ideas will help.

Broadly, we have covered two main points in this guide. They are;

• Why promote bar
• The top bar promotion ideas

Let’s explore these two points in detail.

Why promote bars?

Bar promotion is crucial to maintain its legacy. In most cases, it is about engaging customers, maintaining retention rates, and increasing revenue.

The National Restaurant Association reports that 52% of adults consider promotions as a deciding factor in choosing a restaurant or bar. Effective promotions can create buzz, attract new customers, and increase awareness of your bar.

It is significant to note that increasing just about 5% of retention rates can help you boost revenue by 25 to 95%, The Harvard Business School reports.

Overall, you should promote your restaurant bar space for the following reasons;

• Boosting sales
• Building customers loyalty
• Attracting new customers
• Increasing Word-of-Mouth referrals
• Having competitive edge
• Increasing customer engagement online
• Enhancing retention rates
• Upwelling and cross-selling opportunities
• Getting accurate customer insights
• Creating buzz

Unique Bar Promotion Ideas To Attract Customers

Now you know why promoting your bar is a unique way to attract engagement and increase sales. Now, whether you want to promote your bar or alcohol delivery business, you need to explore the top bar marketing ideas. You can implement these ideas in 2024 and ahead for success. The best bar and restaurant promotional ideas are the following;

• Run Happy Hours
• Run Loyalty Programs
• Send Targeted Promotional SMS and Emails
• Host Fun-Fridays (Hosting Games)
• Get a Special Menu Item
• Launch Theme Nights
• Introduce Couple Games
• Host Online Competitions
• Engage With An Influencer
• Thirsty Thursday
• Signature Cocktail Menu
• Live Music or DJ Nights
• Trivia or Game Nights
• Ladies Night
• Mixology Classes
• Seasonal Specials
• Charity Events
• Cocktail Competitions
• VIP Experiences
• Social Media Contests

#1. Run Happy Hours

When it comes to promotion, no matter how many ideas you have, they will remain incomplete unless you have “happy hour” in the idea list. Happy hours are designated time periods when you offer discounted prices on drinks. This unique bar promotion idea not just attracts customers but also catches their attention. If you implement this idea perfectly, it will encourage customers to engage and stay longer.

#2. Run Loyalty Programs

Loyalty programs are the heart and soul of repeat customers. If you have ever heard the 80/20 rule. It means 20% of your customers bring or create 80% of your business. Rewarding customers for their patronage by offering points, discounts, or exclusive perks will foster customer loyalty. Your repeat customers will spend up to 67% more than new customers.

#3. Send Targeted Promotional SMS and Emails

If you have implemented an online restaurant ordering system, you may have customers’ information such as mobile numbers and email IDs. You can use those emails and numbers to reach out to customers through SMS or email with personalized promotions, special offers, and event announcements. This keeps them engaged and encourages them to visit your bar.

#4. Host Fun-Fridays

Fun Fridays are a great way to help customers begin their weekends with fun bar games. Organize entertaining games or activities on Fridays to create a lively atmosphere. Helping customers get drunk while enjoying games can help attract more customers. You can create strategies, such as giving heavy discounts on beer and charging flat prices to enter the game so you can cover the cost of the alcohol.

#5. Create a Special Menu Item

Everyone loves exclusiveness, be it food or drinks. You can introduce a unique and exclusive menu item that customers can only find at your bar. This creates excitement and gives customers a reason to visit and try something new. Create digital menus online and showcase them across social channels.

#6. Launch Theme Nights

Theme nights are a great way to deliver exclusiveness. Designate specific nights for different themes, such as 80s Retro or Hawaiian Luau. You can explore many ideas based on the regions and localities. Make research before you plan theme nights. Decorate your bar accordingly, play themed music, and offer special drinks to create a memorable experience.

#7. Introduce Couple Games

What about creating special games for couples? Yes, in most cases bars for singles, but couples also like to enjoy drinks on special occasions. Birthdays, anniversaries, and Valentine’s Day are some of the most preferred occasions. Organize games or activities that encourage couples to participate and have fun together. This makes your bar an attractive destination for date nights and couples’ outings. Research a couple of activities so you can come up with better engaging games. “How much you know your partner about”, “Truth or Drink”, “Two truths and one lie”, “Never have I ever”, “The question-answer game” and much more.

#8. Host Online Competitions

Let people interact with your brand by engaging in online competition. With online competition, you get some high-end user-generated content that involves users more actively with your business and brand. So, why create something unique and engaging online competitions or contests, it will encourage them to participate on social media platforms? This generates buzz for your bar and increases online engagement.

#9. Engage With An Influencer

It might be costly for startups, but collaborating with social media influencers or local personalities can help you gain popularity. If you include influencer marketing in your bar promotion ideas list, choose the one that has a strong following. They can promote your bar to their audience, expanding your reach and attracting new customers.

#10. Thirsty Thursday

Fun Friday has already made its place in your bar promotion list, ‘Thirsty Thursday’ can be yet another best idea to promote your restaurant bar space. Like Fun Friday, you can designate Thursdays as a special promotion day with discounted drinks. You can create some unique combinations to match the day. For example, Pineapple-Infused Rum, Ginger Rum Shandy, Hemingway Daiquiri, The Painkiller Cocktail, Apple-Bottomed Susan, Classic Mojitos, etc. are some of the best ideas to make Thirsty Thursday more engaging.

#11. Signature Cocktail Menu

What about offering something more exclusive cocktail to your customers? It’s all about the idea you get. If you explore online, you can find plenty of such ideas given to make cocktails more exclusive. Create a menu of unique and creative cocktails exclusive to your bar. You can think of combining Prosecco to make a refreshing signature cocktail. This offers customers a memorable and distinct experience, encouraging them to try your specialty drinks.

#12. Live Music or DJ Nights

Drinks with a DJ or live music make a great combination. Host live music performances or DJ nights to enhance the ambiance of your bar. People enjoy sipping their favorite drinks while listening to beautiful music or dancing to the tune of a DJ. The entertainment factor keeps customers engaged and provides a memorable experience.

#13. Trivia or Game Nights

Quiz nights, trivia nights, or bar trivia are great ways to keep your customers engaged, entertained, and amused. Organize trivia or game nights by adding some unique games. For example, you can think of classic PubStumpers and let customers participate in friendly competitions while enjoying their favorite drinks. Remember, some games, like the one mentioned in this para, are addictive. So, research and plan carefully. Such events foster a lively and interactive atmosphere in your bar.

#14. Ladies Night

Organize special Ladies’ nights at your pub and bar. But, make sure you have sent SMS or emails to your female customers before organizing the event. You can also publish the event across your social media channels to ensure all your new and old female customers are informed. This is an amazing bar promotion idea when you dedicate a specific night with special promotions exclusively for ladies. This creates an inviting and fun atmosphere. It will also keep your customers engaged. Include this in your bar promotion idea list but organize it after making proper research as you need to explore demographic and cultural boundaries. If successfully organized, this event will encourage women to gather with friends and enjoy a night out.

#15. Mixology Classes

Let your customers create their own cocktails. This could be an interactive and learning experience where customers spend more time engaging with your products. Make sure you have an experienced bartender to guide customers to make cocktails. Mixology is new but can be fun for most of your customers, adding a unique touch to your bar.

#16. Seasonal Specials

Is this the right time and season to serve beer to your customers? Or, is it a perfect occasion for Bacardi? Offering seasonal drinks will attract customers with a special touch. Introduce seasonal promotions and drinks that align with the time of year. For example, winter warmers or refreshing summer cocktails. This keeps not just your menu fresh and appealing but also gives patrons a new experience.

#17. Charity Events

They are common and the most used promotion tactics across businesses, including restaurant bars. Host charity events or fundraisers where a portion of the proceeds goes to a local cause. This allows customers to contribute to a good cause while enjoying their time at your bar. Organizing a charity event for a good cause will also emotionally connect your customers.

#18. Cocktail Competitions

We have discussed mixology which explains how you can allow your customers to make their own cocktails, this cocktail is similar but technically different. In this competition, your bartender will showcase their skills. Such cocktail competitions excite customers while bartenders can invite customers and help them taste the sample. This will boost sales and increase engagement.

#19. VIP Experiences

What offers personalised experiences to your customers with VIP packages? It will attract customers who want to get some special treatment. You can offer special access, reserved seating, personalised service, and unique experiences. This adds a touch of luxury and exclusivity to your bar. Sometimes, in the name of VIP experiences, bars fail to give the actual experience and at the end of the day, customers feel that they better not waste their money. Make sure you differentiate the standard experience from the VIP experience.

#20. Social Media Contests

Everyone is on social media so how can you ignore it? Run contests or giveaways on social media platforms. Customers can engage with your bar online, share their experiences, and potentially win prizes.

Before the contest, you need to decide what you want to achieve with this social media competition for your bar. For example, it could be for increasing engagement, followers, collecting leads, brand awareness, or sales. In most cases, restaurant bar space organizes such contests to increase brand visibility and online engagement.

How Can Foodiv Help You in Promoting Your Bars

We help you in two ways: one through giving industry insights, guides, and how-tos —one, for example, is this article, ‘The bar promotion ideas.’ We also help restaurant and bar owners around the world implement SaaS-based Alcohol Delivery Software for dine-in bars. The restaurant and bar ordering system we offer is fully integrated and comprehensive. You get all the necessary features and functionalities with the freedom to personalise according to your needs.

Finally…

Running a bar is a little competitive and taxing unless you know the right method to promote it. The suggestions we have added here are not just for established bar premises but also for the one who is curious to explore how to start a local alcohol delivery business and seeking some ideas to promote it among users. You can also contact our expert if you want free consultation for your alcohol delivery business or want to implement a food ordering system.