Cafés are everywhere, and with so much competition, blending in is a fast track to obscurity. To stand out, you need more than a Facebook page and a logo on your latte cups—you need strategies that make people talk and keep them coming back.
From dominating local SEO and running digital menu boards that turn heads, to creating loyalty card apps that build repeat customers and hosting local awards contests that put your name in lights, these ideas go beyond the basics. Below are some unique ways to market your café and make it the go-to spot in your neighbourhood.
Instagram posts
Photos of coffee are some of the most popular photos on Instagram. Latte art and unique coffee cups can get some of the most likes. Meanwhile, pictures of cakes and sandwiches can get lots of engagements too. Create an Instagram account for your café and post a few pictures of your food and drinks with relevant hashtags. Also look out for photos taken by customers at your café and comment on them to show love.
Local SEO
When people search for a ‘café near me’ on Google, it’s important that you show up in the rankings. By investing in local SEO (with the help of a local SEO agency), you can achieve this. Local SEO can also help you to become more searchable on GPS maps tools like Google Maps, which could further help you to win over customers.
Café barriers
Café barriers are typically used to mark the perimeter of outdoor seating areas. Rather than just using generic barriers, consider printing your logo and brand colors on these barriers to help your café stand out to passers by. There are printing services that can produce bespoke barriers for you. Other similar promotional tools could include branded patio umbrellas or branded awnings.
Digital menu boards
Digital menu boards are a snazzier alternative to traditional menu boards. They consist of LED screens that can be used to display images and information of products. Digital menu boards are often placed above a café’s counter, but can also be placed in a shop window to entice passers by. Unlike traditional menu boards, you can program slide shows on them or even display promotional videos.
Loyalty card apps
Loyalty cards enable customers to collect loyalty points with each purchase. If they collect enough points, they get a free coffee or a free meal. They are a time-tested way of inspiring customer loyalty. Traditional loyalty cards consist of stamp cards, but it’s also possible to create a loyalty card app that can be scanned each time a customer makes a purchase – such apps can be used to send notifications to customers to provide further promotion.
Cross-promotional discounts
A cross-promotional discount involves working with other businesses to provide exclusive discounts. This could include rewarding customers of local bookstores or hairdresser salons with a voucher that provides a discounted coffee at your café. Alternatively, you could agree to provide discounts to employees at local office-based companies.
Local awards contests
Many towns and city areas have regular awards contests for local businesses. Entering a local contest could be a great marketing opportunity as the contest and its entrants could get a lot of publicity. Of course, you’re certain to get attention if you win the contest – plus you’ll be able to advertise yourself as an ‘award-winning’ business, which could help to attract future customers.
