Pub Marketing Ideas for December That Work
Effective pub marketing ideas for December are so important as pubs make most of their income over this period.
The holiday season is one of the busiest times of year for pubs, with people looking to celebrate with friends and family.
To make sure your pub stands out from the competition, you need to get creative with your marketing ideas.
Here are some unique and effective pub marketing ideas for December:
1. Partner with local businesses
2. Get creative with your cocktails
3. Hold a contest
4. Giveaway gifts
5. Host special events
6. Send out holiday cards
7. Put the fire on (if you have one)
8. Curate a special Christmas menu
9. Get mentioned in the December posts
10. Include December related keywords on your website for SEO
1. Partner with local businesses
Reach out to other local businesses in your area and partner up to offer promotions in December.
For example, if there are any nearby toy stores or clothing boutiques, you could offer a discount or free drinks when customers present their receipts from these establishments.
You could also co-host events together—a small wine tasting event at a gift shop, for instance.
2. Get creative with your cocktails
Offer festive holiday cocktails that match the season’s spirit.
Think eggnog martinis, mulled wine sangrias, and gingerbread caipirinhas! Decorate your bar with Christmas lights and decorations to really set the mood and make guests feel like they’re celebrating the holidays in style.
3. Hold a contest
Run a festive contest on social media where people can submit photos of themselves enjoying your pub during the holidays.
Pick a winner each week who will receive discounted drinks or meals at your bar throughout January as their reward!
This is an excellent way to build excitement around your business while encouraging people to come in and experience it first-hand.
4. Giveaway gifts
Offer customers rewards when they purchase certain items throughout December—think free hats, t-shirts, mugs, etc.—or even free food items such as cookies or candy canes!
This is an excellent way to encourage repeat customers during this busy season since everyone loves getting something for free (especially around the holidays).
5. Host special events
Host special events such as trivia nights or open mic nights that have a festive spin on them—think Christmas movie trivia or carol karaoke night!
You could also host charity events that benefit a local organization or family in need during this time of year for some extra goodwill points from potential customers.
6. Send out holiday cards
Show your appreciation for loyal patrons by sending out custom-made holiday cards (make sure you get their details throughout the year).
Wish them happy holidays and thank them for their support throughout the year!
Include vouchers inside offering discounts on food/beverages so they have an incentive to come back in before the new year hits!
7. Put the fire on (if you have one)
There’s nothing better than a cold pint in front of a roaring fire in the pub.
If you have one, make sure you have it lit at peak times, so you become known as a cosy pub perfect for December.
It’s no good having a fireplace and people not knowing about it.
Advertise it heavily on your own website and make sure you’re mentioned in articles that can also promote you.
At Bloc we have a dedicated blog post to pubs in London with a fireplace for example.
8. Curate a special Christmas menu
If you’re a gastropub you will need an incredible Christmas menu for the December period.
This is what people want at this time of the year and you need to advertise yours heavily on your website and 3rd party websites.
Food is a big draw for pubs at Christmas so go big.
If you can think of something that might stand out in terms of photos or videos, then that’s a big bonus too.
9. Get mentioned in the December posts
There are hundreds of big blogs out there that advertise what pubs to go to in December.
Make sure you’re mentioned in every single one and give people a reason to choose yours.
This might be related to how cosy you are or how good the roast is, whatever it is, make sure it stands out and is well documented.
10. Include December related keywords on your website for SEO
A lot of people still use Google for finding pubs in December.
They may search different keywords phrases such as:
‘Best Christmasy pub near me’
‘Pub with fireplace near me’
‘Best pub Christmas lunch near me’
You need to update your website from the 1st of December to include all of the keywords you want to rank for.
It’s also useful to add a blog to your website if you don’t have one already so you can write dedicated blog posts and include even more keywords in there.
Summing up
By utilising these unique pub marketing ideas this December, you’ll be sure to stand out among competitors while increasing customer loyalty and engagement over the holiday season!
Don’t forget to track which promotions work best so you can use them again next year!
Happy Holidays!
