Whether you’re in a brand re-fresh your branding, or needing some advice on improving your current online presence, I’d advise dedicating some time to tidying up your digital profile. Refresh your branding – your logo and the cover image on your website/social media pages – and get some new, high quality images. Avoid using graphics with text, as these can be hard to read on a phone. Most people will look at social media on their phones. For inspiration, take a look at what some of the larger chains with big marketing budgets, such as Nandos and Wahaca, are doing. Once you’re happy with your brand image, these 10 steps will help you secure online success:

1. Focus on the basics: Begin by checking the information on your social media pages is up-to-date; from your opening hours, menu, website details to your takeaway and/ or delivery offer. Double-check your contact details are accurate, from the phone number to the email address.
2. TripAdvisor and Google often get missed: Look at the information listed, especially the opening hours, and make sure it’s correct. Include links to your takeaway offer and website.
3. Create fresh content: Avoid old photography from years prior and take new shots of your offer: the food, bar area, beer garden, sports area, etc. If you’re not great at photography, ask one of your team members or friends to help.
4. Video is a fantastic way to promote your pub and offer: Keep it short, 20-seconds is ideal, and remember the first three to six seconds are crucial. Keep the content playful and light-hearted, and focus on your pub’s key features. Stories on Instagram is a great way to have fun: delicious gravy being poured over a roast dinner in slow motion; a fresh pint being slowly pulled and placed on the bar. Smart phones make videoing very simple and you can easily trim a video to the right length.
5. Plan future events and promote key dates: From sporting events to national awareness days and local fetes, it’s important to be organised and have upcoming content at your fingertips.
6. Research local influencers: Identify people with a decent following, that’s anyone with 500 or more Followers, and invite them to your pub for an experience. They will review your pub for you! To find them, search hashtags of your local area on Instagram, while on Google, research ‘blogger’ or ‘influencers’. People will love feeling special and if you invite someone along who has 3k Followers, that creates great traction.
7. Launch some Facebook advertising: It will cost you £20 to boost a post on Facebook. Start with one that will promote your opening offer. For the full benefit, why not make this a video post? By paying, Facebook will ensure your post shows in the newsfeed of the audience you want to reach.
8. Ask your team, friends and family to share your posts: The more shares on Facebook, the wider the message will spread.
9. Finally, encourage others to create content! Perhaps offer a prize for the best posts. Ask customers to tag your pub in their posts (putting @ before your pub name). Include signage around the pub to encourage posts, perhaps offering a meal for two, or a free drink for the best post – the one that gets the most Shares and Likes. Social media success is about getting many eyeballs on your posts – it’s the new age flyer! And remember, it’s most powerful when someone else recommends your business – so Shares and Likes are the key to success.