So, how much should I spend on Christmas marketing?
As a smaller venue, you don’t need a massive budget to be effective. A good rule of thumb is to allocate around 5% of your sales revenue to marketing. This allows you to spread costs across digital marketing and in-house promotions in order to maximise visibility.
The question then becomes: What strategies will give the best return on this investment?
1. Deck the halls (and your online presence)
Getting into the Christmas spirit isn't just about decorating your venue—it’s also about decking out your online presence. One of the best Christmas marketing ideas for restaurants is to give your online presence a festive makeover. With almost half of all reservations being processed online last year, customers are increasingly searching online for places to dine, and seeking venues that offer unique experiences for their Christmas parties. Your online presence is where most new customers will form their initial impressions of you, and you want them to be good.
Make sure your website and social media pages are updated with a festive look. This is key if you want to get your audience feeling the festive joy and choosing you over your competitors. A few easy tweaks can give your online presence a holiday makeover:
Update your website: Add some digital decorations like Christmas themed banners, featured events and seasonal menu options. If your venue has special Christmas deals, make sure they’re the first thing people will see on your homepage.
Refresh your socials: Regularly post about your festive plans, Christmas menus, and any events. Try to keep everything on brand and in keeping with your website as you add a little Christmas magic to your social media profile pictures or cover photos.
Use free graphic design tools:Tools like Canva make it easy to design festive promotions, menus, and event posters that you can share across your socials.
Encourage customer interaction: Ask your customers to share their Christmas experiences at your venue. Use festive hashtags like #Christmasat(...) to build organic engagement.
While your larger competitors might have a bigger marketing budget, you can use personalisation and niche marketing as your secret weapon. By offering a unique, cosy, or intimate experience tailored to your customer base, you can really set yourself apart from the bigger chains. Highlight these unique aspects in your social media posts, website copy, and even encourage your customers to add festive reviews with custom QR codes.
2.Tis the season for giving (and special offers)
Christmas is a time for generosity, at the very least since Charles Dickens created the classic holiday tale, A Christmas Carol. The story’s message of the importance of generosity and good will towards all men has become a mainstay of Christmas, so why not extend that to your promotions?
Offering festive deals is a crucial part of Christmas marketing for restaurants; enticing packages and exclusive deals can help draw in customers who are looking for value.
Christmas packages: Create special set menus or Christmas-themed drinks deals. For example, offer a “Festive Feast” menu with a combination of festive favourites at a set price. This provides great value to customers while making it easier to manage orders
Limited-time promotions: Create a festive buzz by offering discounts or promotions that are only available for a limited time. Consider offering early bird deals for customers who book their Christmas party before a certain date, or a Christmas countdown where each day brings a different offer. These kinds of offers attract early planners and help boost bookings.
Partner with local businesses: Cross-promotions are a great way to reach new customers and improve local connections, so work with them to create joint holiday packages, like ‘buy a kids meal and get a discount at the local toy shop’ or if the local theatre is putting on a Panto, offer dinner and a show packages. Emphasise the importance of supporting local businesses this Christmas.
3. Don't forget the last-minute rush
Although the early bird gets the worm, there are always going to be those last-minute party planners and walk-ins who need a place at short notice. Catering to these late-bookers can help you fill empty spots on your reservation list and maximise your profits.
Special deals for late bookings: Offer discounts or deals for customers who book last minute. For example, you could offer a discount on Christmas Eve bookings or special offers for parties of a certain size.
Real-time updates via social media: Use Instagram or Facebook Stories to let your followers know what’s happening and of any last-minute availability or special deals. People checking social media for ideas will appreciate real-time updates, especially if they’re scrambling for a venue. Utilise trending hashtags and local area tagging.
Prepare your staff: The festive frenzy that is the holiday rush is intense, so ensure your staff are well-prepared for the extra footfall. Make sure you’re fully covered on your rotas, which may mean hiring temporary staff so you have enough people to keep up your great customer service.
Don’t forget to keep the festive spirit alive among your team too; it’s easy to overlook, but a happy team goes a long way in creating a positive experience for guests.
4. 'Tis the season to be jolly (and organised)
While we know Christmas is all about fun and frivolity, staying organised behind the scenes is crucial. Efficient management can make or break your Christmas season, especially when it comes to bookings and customer engagement.
Efficient booking management: Staying on top of reservations and guest details is critical to avoiding over bookings or cancellations. Acteol SE’s CRM features can help streamline operations, giving you an organised view of all your bookings, customer preferences, and contact details. This system ensures you can handle the increased holiday demand with ease.
Encourage early bookings: One way to avoid the stress of the last-minute scramble is to incentivise customers to book early. Offering a discount or added specials (like a free bottle of wine for parties booked by a certain date) can encourage guests to secure their plans well in advance, making your scheduling more predictable and takes some of the stress out of planning.
5. Metrics is key
To ensure you're making the most out of your Christmas promotions, make sure you track your results. Look at how many new bookings, reservations, or walk-ins you’ve generated.
Keep an eye on metrics such as:
1. Did your website traffic increase during the holiday season?
2. How was your social media engagement?
3. What were the conversion rates from online inquiries to bookings?
4. This data will guide future campaigns, helping you understand what works and what doesn’t.
5. This is where a quality CRM will become invaluable.
How can Access help you?
In this article, we’ve explored some simple but impactful and inexpensive marketing ideas that can help you promote your venue this Christmas.
We mentioned how planning and promoting your venue for Christmas can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. By implementing these Christmas ideas for restaurants and focusing on tailored Christmas marketing strategies, you can turn the Christmas season into a time of success for your venue.
Whether it’s engaging with your community on social media or creating limited-time offers that appeal to late bookers, keeping your audience’s needs at the forefront is key. Remember, it’s not just about attracting guests, it’s about creating memorable experiences that will keep them coming back well into the new year.
Planning early is the key to a smooth, successful festive season. Whether it’s organising your marketing efforts, managing bookings, or streamlining operations, small venues can benefit from investing in the right tools. A CRM system, like Acteol SE, is designed to help smaller operators like you manage customer relationships and make every guest feel special.
With features tailored for small businesses, Acteol SE can help you stay organised, manage promotions, and ensure no detail is overlooked during the hectic Christmas season. The result? Less stress for you and a smooth, memorable experience for your guests.
