It isn't easy to break into the hospitality business with thousands of brands all competing for fame and fortune. The good news is that there are measures you can take to get your company noticed sooner rather than later. If you're ready to make a splash in the world of the elite, here are just six ways to launch your brand to stardom.
1: Host a Celebrity
Most consumers are too savvy these days to fall for celebrity endorsements, but media buzz can still give a huge boost to your brand under the right circumstances. For example, no one will drink Super Soda just because Beyoncé does, but if Beyoncé gets into a fight during a Super Soda event, that little detail will go into every blog, news report and viral video of the moment.
2: Extend a Giving Hand
There's a reason that so many business owners host charity walks and sponsor sports teams. It raises visibility while also promoting their brand in a long-term way. Every time a player takes the pitch, the crowd is seeing a company logo on his uniform or a brightly-colored banner behind him. Evert time someone takes a drink of water during a long marathon, the label is telling everyone that they got it from Walgreens.
3: Encourage Human Interest Stories
Human interest stories are a great way to get yourself into the news without being aggrandizing about it. Who won the last jackpot? Did a server receive a $1,000 tip in your restaurant? Promote these events in the media in order to raise awareness and goodwill for your company. Everyone wants to get famous, and you should send the idea that your establishment is the place where it can happen.
4: Embrace All Forms of Social Media
It isn't enough to give your company a Facebook page. Recent trends in user activity suggest that Twitter is the new golden goose of social media, with other platforms like Tumblr, Instagram and Pinterest all gaining on its heels. If you're serious about establishing an online presence in an increasingly virtual world, you should be joining every important social media site you can.
5: Identify Industry Leaders
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Look for leaders within your field and tweak your business models based on their ideas and successes. If you're hoping to make your mark on the world of Las Vegas entertainment, you can start at nightclub mogul Andrew Sasson's Tackk before following him onto other sites for advice, information and business strategies. You won't want to copy him exactly, not if you want your brand to be independent and forward-thinking, but his experience is your gain.
6: Go Old-School
Tired of doing everything online? It's true that most businesses have taken the bulk of their marketing onto the Internet, but that just leaves more opportunity for you to dominate the brick and mortar. Think about circulating newsletters, handing out flyers and snail-mailing coupons and invitations. It's harder to ignore a tangible favor than an unsolicited email in one's inbox.
These are just six tips for getting your business off the ground in the hospitality industry. There are many more, of course, but these should be enough to increase your profits and prestige much quicker than your competitors.