Here's a framework to get more engagement on Instagram, higher open rates, promote gift cards and create a bunch of content this holiday season.
I like to pack a lot of goals and results into my marketing. Why do one thing when you can do two or three all at once?
It's the holiday season, which is generally a time of increase in the hospitality business. There are more people dining out, more catering orders, more private parties, more group dining, more gift card purchases and more more more.
That doesn't make it easy; everyone is trying to capture that business, and that just makes it more opportune.
Here's one way to harness a lot of attention from your current guests and drive return trips.
The Year End Wrap
People love lists, round-ups, reports, and numbers.
That's why articles like "Here are the top 5, etc., etc., etc." do so well. And the end of year wrap ups .... those really get people's attention. I'm assuming we are about 5-10 days away from social media being filled with everyone's year-end Spotify stats!
You can do the same thing with your restaurant, and let's be clear ... this works for independents and multi-unit brands!
Step 1: Go into your POS (or CRM / CDP) and gather up year-end statistics like:
- Total guests served
- Total items sold of your 2 or 3 most popular items
- Most popular day of the week
- Total dollars donated to charity
- New menu items released
You get it.
Step 2: Choose one of those numbers and create a post on Instagram encouraging guests to guess the number. It's an enter-to-win contest, and the guest closest to the number wins.
What is the prize? A Gift Card!!
Be sure to give a deadline and make one of the rules that they must be following your account.
Step 3: Send an email to your entire database about 48 hours later, encouraging people to enter the contest on social media.
Now, you are cross-pollinating your email database and your social following!
Step 4: 2 days after the email, share the post to your stories to promote it.
If you have a few days (or weeks) left before the deadline, you can continue to promote via email and stories.
Step 5: Create a year-end wrap-up post revealing all the stats. Below are some examples.
In that post, name the winner of the gift card contest!
BOOM!
✅ - A week's worth of email and social media
✅ - Increased email open and click rates
✅ - Increased engagement on social media
✅ - Promotion of gift cards
✅ - Happy guests
Would you like a framework for the email as well as more examples of other restaurants' content for this?!?!?
OF COURSE YOU DO
Download my framework here: https://bit.ly/yearendwrapframework
Have you done something like this? If so, please share a link to the social post as a comment!
P3 MASTERMIND MARKETING SUMMIT
Have you registered yet for the one marketing event in 2025 where you will be given the actual restaurant marketing playbook amassed from the best practices of thousands of restaurants that will show you exactly what you need to do to increase awareness, acquisition, retention, and evangelism from your guests?
P3 Mastermind Marketing Summit
WHEN: January 26-28, 2025
WHERE: Spy Hop Rooftop (208 W Harvey Milk Blvd. Salt Lake City, UT 84101)
WHO: This event will be co-hosted by myself and Chip Klose, MBA . Chip has all the experience and guidance needed to help you with some top-level strategies to become more profitable. He guides hundreds of restaurants with strategies that work. I am constantly impressed by him.
HOW: Secure your spot today by clicking HERE.
Your ticket grants you access to all workshops and parties.
If you are a restaurant marketer, an owner who does their marketing, or somebody at a restaurant who oversees the marketing, this is the event you’re going to want to attend in 2025.
This entire event is going to be: tips, tricks, tactics, and how to’s
Discover more: https://www.restaurantstrategypodcast.com/2025-marketing-summit
See you at the P3 Mastermind Marketing Summit!
----
Do you need help with any of this? Send me an email rev@brandedstrategic.net
- Rev Ciancio
WHAT DOES REV DO?
*I help restaurants to build guest marketing programs.
*I help hospitality tech companies with lead generation and content marketing.