Though you are probably using Facebook and Twitter in your bar marketing management, there is one popular social network that you might not know about. It is called Pinterest and it’s the fastest growing social media site out there. In fact, their base increases over 100 percent from month to month and they are the third most popular social network on the Web (just behind Facebook and Twitter).
You must be asking: So what is it? Why all the hype? And, most importantly, how can it help me and my bar marketing strategy? Well, Pinterest is like a big, group of virtual bulletin boards where you can “pin” things up about your bar to attract visitors. If you can picture yourself browsing in a large room full of bulletin boards about different subjects, you can picture Pinterest.
The benefits are that it’s free, it’s relatively undiscovered (much less competition), and you have creative license (within reason). Plus, there isn’t any code preventing users from leaving Pinterest to go to your bar’s website. So, you can “pin” your website link and drive traffic right to you, which will fit perfect in any bar marketing plan.
The ticket to creating interest in your “bulletin board” is subtlety. No one wants to read blatant advertisements, so disguise them. Here are some bar marketing ideas to use. Recipes are very popular at Pinterest. So pin a link to a feature at your website where you have posted a recipe for a specialty drink named after your bar. Other things to pin are photos from events you’ve had in the past and flyers for upcoming events. Or pin interesting quotes or short stories about your bar that you hear from your regulars and talk about rare liquor brands you have in stock.
Creating a following is part of any bar marketing strategy. With Pinterest you can do this by promoting your “pins” in your established marketing, online and offline. Include links to your boards on your website, in your emails, on Facebook and Twitter, on your blogs and on all your print advertising and signage. Those who sign up to follow you on Pinterest will get all of your pins on their “homepage” feed.
Be creative and have fun. Just remember any of your bar marketing ideas should be interesting and visually appealing. Though there is an edge to Pinterest, if your pinned items are run-of-the-mill you will get lost. For the moment, though, bars and bar happenings are not well covered. So take the opportunity to check out Pinterest and be one of the first bars to gain a presence there. Pinterest is a great addition to any bar marketing plan.
