Summer is nearly upon us and an annual ritual is already underway as university students across the nation return home after the school year.
Getting on this population’s radar can mean the difference between a decent summer and a blockbuster one. The trick is making sure you are a presence on their radar screen to attract them to your business.
Social Media
If your online presence slipped a bit during the pandemic, now is the time to crank up that game. This is especially true if most of your online posts are limited to Facebook. To better reach a younger audience, make sure to also post on Instagram and don’t forget to have a little fun on TikTok.
For Instagram posts don’t forget to make liberal use of tags, especially local drink and dine related tags, to help show up on the feeds of people who don’t regularly follow you. And while food posts are great, don’t forget to throw a few drink-centric features in there too.
TikTok videos are a great way to show off visually interesting cooking techniques from the kitchen or for your bartenders to show off some of their mixology skills. Showcasing special events or simply front-of-house festivities with the guests is a great way to demonstrate who you are and why your place is where they should be.
Special Events
Sometimes simply opening your doors isn’t quite enough and you need a hook. Maybe it’s using your newly built outdoor spaces for a little live music or a DJ. It could be a karaoke night, an open mic night, or outdoor games to help generate excitement. Drink and food specials are another easy way to make those nights out even more attractive.
Job Fair
Every day you see another article about staffing challenges. Well, a lot of those returning students might be in need of a job. Open your doors — and kitchen — to other local employers and offer to let them set up tables to take applications and chat informally at your place. This could be a win for the students and your neighboring businesses, and you might even find some summer staff yourself.
Finally, be mindful of the sensibilities of today’s youth. Flowing glasses of beer and fried food is probably still popular, but palates today can be more sophisticated as well. Non-alcoholic options and vegetarian/vegan or healthier food offerings will help ensure a more universal appeal among students.