Marketing Tools for a Taproom

I said waitresses, not bartenders

 

This this this. Consumers need to know what's available before going there.

 

good product
clean lines
knowledgeable non douche staff

 

Posting Tap Selection on Beermenus and keeping it updated. That works for me every time

 

If using a blackboard PLEASE include pour size and price in the listings . I personally hate playing guessing games when drinking.

 

Perception is king....social media rules the roost...

 

Good beer would be a start...

 

All of the above plus you certainly can copy what you've seen at other places that you liked and think were a positive influence to get customers in the door.

A BIG turnoff for me is noise in places. When the place is even moderately crowded and you can't even begin to talk with the people who are at your table, I like to do my disappearing act. Install sound deadening materials.

 

An updated online tap list is a must. I can't tell you how much I dislike outdated lists. Often, I make decisions to visit taprooms based solely on the current list. If I don't trust that what I see online will be there when I get there, I'm probably passing.

Also, tap takeovers are nice. I am a fan of having bars bring in new and different beers.

 

^^This, tap takeovers are great. Usually it there is a rep or employee there who can discuss the brewery, this is really helpful, plus they usually bring swag. My local WF has a tap takeover almost every Thursday, they are always packed when that happens. Plus with tap takeovers for local breweries, they usually broadcast them on their twitters so you now are reaching new people. If using taphunter, be religious about keeping that puppy updated or people will start not trusting you list. Make sure to keep your events updated there also.
Good Luck

 

All great suggestions above. Also location is key.

I'm curious, have you looked into a rough estimate of how much it's gonna cost to get things rolling?

 

Beer selection is key. Have craft staples to bring in the nerds, some rare/obscure/one off brews to keep their curiosity satisfied, and have some generic stuff on hand to appease the nerds friends/average joes. Publish your list on social media and keep it updated. Also make sure staff is polite, rude or impolite staff is a deal breaker for me and my girl regardless of the establishments positives.

 

Cannot emphasize enough the absolute need to have an up-to-the minute tap list - online and on paper. One of our leading local taprooms simply lists their newest beers, then just lists some of the breweries they may feature. Pretty frustrating. I recently went into another taproom, checked their (paper) list, ordered a beer, and while drinking it got looking at the actual taps. I spotted BCBS, so asked if they really had it since it wasn't on their list. He said it was tapped two days before, and a day after the list was last updated. He said he was surprised nobody was ordering but me. Part of it may have been the cost over other beers, but I suspect the main thing is that it wasn't on the list.

 

Don't cheat people on pours. Be the bar that serves a proper pint and let people know it. One of my biggest pet peeves in the craft industry is a short/foamy pour of already expensive beer.

 

Free Beer

 

It looks great.

 

Cool and good job on the BeerMenus info. Now.. what are the days and hours? I went to that website and 5 minutes and 10+ clicks later I couldn't find the most essential information. It says November 2015 so I assume it is open already.

Also....Make sure to claim the business in Google and keep all the information updated. People hear about the place they're going to google it and that can be the first hit with Google now pulling all the info right away. Make it easy for people to find you and know when you're open.

 

Customer Rewards program....punch cards, Five Star, etc

 

Oh yeah, don't forget Groupon, I've seen tons of people coming into Payette with Groupons....