New Year’s Eve Marketing Tips for Restaurants

New Year’s Eve Marketing Tips

New Year’s Eve. It’s one of those holidays millions of us love to celebrate with friends and family, toasting to the year ahead and reflecting on what’s been accomplished over the past 12 months. The very first ball dropped in Time’s Square in 1907, and with that began a tradition of gatherings around the country to watch the famous lighted globe count down to the start of a new year. There’s no doubt you’re thinking about the impact New Year’s Eve will have on your restaurant. If you’re planning on having a party, let’s make sure you’re set up for success with these great New Year’s Eve marketing tips as the year comes to a close.

Start Planning Now

If you haven’t done so already, it’s time to get on the ball—literally. You don’t need an extravagant marketing plan that costs you an arm and a leg; all you need is to take advantage of the tools already at your disposal, like your website and social media platforms. Even just the simple act of confirming a time for your soiree will generate buzz among your loyal customers, offering you plenty of time to solidify the details with your team. Then, once everything is nailed down, promote your party like crazy by redoing your website’s homepage, advertising your New Year’s Eve party menu and specials inside your current menu, and posting regularly on social media.

Offer Perks for Your Customers

People love to splurge on New Year’s Eve to make the night extra special. In fact, according to Eventbrite, “party-goers spend three times as much on New Year’s Eve as on an average night out,” and that’s just on tickets!  Take this willingness to spend into consideration as you investigate more pricey perks for your guests. If your event will be ticketed, try offering a higher-priced VIP option that lets your guests get in earlier, or skip the line, or have access to bottle service. For regular ticketholders, additional perks you can throw in for an even more magical night are an open bar, premium liquor, or a free champagne toast at midnight.

Go for A Theme

New Year’s Eve parties spare no expense when it comes to the details. Start your brainstorming early so you can create the more magical experience for your customers. Things like signature cocktails, music, and décor will go a long way in making the night perfect. Share your thoughts with your team and encourage everyone’s participation in brainstorming sessions. Once everyone is on the same page, start promoting the theme on social media so your guests know what to expect and how to dress.

Promote Heavily After Christmas

Yes, we just told you to start marketing your event early. But what also should be considered is that people tend to choose which New Year’s Eve party to go to at the last minute. There are many reasons for this—weather could be a factor, or waiting to see which venue friends would rather go to. Be mindful of these last-minute folks and double-down on your advertising in the week between Christmas and New Year’s—this way your restaurant will be top of mind when people are deciding on their plans.

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