There’s a lot of noise online. It can feel like you’re shouting into the void when promoting your bartending business in that space, especially in such a competitive industry.
The secret recipe? Knowledge, planning, and a splash of persistence.
While that third ingredient is all you, we’re here to help with the first two. Check out these essential online marketing strategies every bartender should know, and grab your copy of our free marketing plan to get started!
Why Marketing for Bartenders Is a Big Deal
Marketing is key to building brand recognition, gaining new clients, standing out from competitors, and ultimately driving revenue.
“But I’m not a marketer,” you might be thinking. The truth is, every entrepreneur can (and must!) learn how to market their business. Unless you can afford to hire a firm or agency to do it for you, knowing how to build a solid promotional strategy is critical to your success.
Plus, marketing relies heavily on creativity — a skill bartenders are well-versed in!
9 Online Marketing Strategies for Bartenders
1. Create an SEO-Friendly Website
Search engine optimization (or SEO) is the process of improving your website so it shows up in relevant search engine results, bringing in more traffic (and more business).
If you’ve never done any SEO, it can sound intimidating. But, you can tackle it on your own with just a bit more knowledge under your belt.
Here are a couple of tips for optimizing your site:
- Incorporate relevant keywords across your site: These are phrases your target audience is searching for when trying to find someone like you, so try to get into their head. If you’re a wedding bartender in Cincinnati, Ohio, one of your keywords might be “wedding bartender Cincinnati OH.” Use a keyword tool like Semrush’s Keyword Magic Tool or Backlinko’s free tool to find more phrases.
- Use a site builder: Many site builders like Wix and Hostinger have built-in SEO tools that help you optimize your site by analyzing it and identifying which keywords your site ranks for and which ones you could incorporate.
2. Utilize Email Marketing
Countless digital marketing channels have emerged since email was first introduced, yet it still reigns supreme by many measures. For example, email marketing generates $42 for every $1 spent. Compared to paid ads or other marketing channels, that’s incredibly cost-effective.
You’re likely already collecting email addresses when clients book you, but there are other ways to build your mailing list, too:
- Add a pop-up or form on your website’s homepage, encouraging people to sign up for emails to stay up-to-date with special offers and news
- Promote your email list on social media
- Collect emails from the business cards you receive from other industry professionals and your clients
Create an email newsletter to send to your list. Aim for a monthly or bi-monthly send, sharing relevant information and any promotional offers you’re running that might interest them.
Pro Tip: Email marketing is regulated by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The CAN-SPAM Act dictates what businesses can and can’t do with email marketing, such as requiring an “opt-out” function for anyone on an email list. Check out their compliance guide to make sure you’re following the rules.
3. Post Engaging Content on Social Media
It’s no secret that social media is an essential part of your online marketing strategy, and posting frequently and consistently is crucial. But it’s not all about quantity; your content needs to be top-shelf quality.
Try these concepts out this year and watch your engagement go up:
- Behind the scenes: People love to get a glimpse behind the curtain, so film yourself working at your next event (with permission from the client and venue). Add a voiceover to talk through the gig from start to finish.
- Drink-making demos: Teach your followers how to make trendy or unique cocktails by filming yourself making one and posting the recipe in the caption.
- Educational content: Post about why you use a particular brand of tequila in your margaritas or how you make clear ice cubes for drinks on the rocks.
- Host Q&As: Use the Q&A sticker in your Instagram/Facebook stories to encourage followers to ask you questions and share your answers to some of them.
4. Invest in Paid Ads
Paid advertising, or pay-per-click advertising (PPC), is a highly targeted form of digital marketing that includes:
- Search ads: Show up when someone searches specific keywords
- Display ads: Show up when someone fits the specific demographics the ad is targeting
PPC ads can feel like a splurge, but when used correctly, they can be extremely effective promotional tools.
The most popular options for digital paid advertising include Facebook/Instagram and Google Ads. Instagram’s cost per click falls between $0.40–$0.70, with Facebook’s average for food businesses falling in the middle at $0.51.
These are more affordable than Google ads, with most businesses paying up to $1 per click.
5. Get Listed in Directories
Directories are the first place many clients look when choosing vendors for their event.
Some of the best online directories for bartenders are:
Of course, there are a lot of other bartenders listed on these sites, so you need to stand out. Here are a few tips for creating an eye-catching profile that lands you more gigs:
- Use a professional profile picture: Aim for a high-quality photo of you smiling behind a bar.
- Infuse your bio with personality: Don’t just list who you are and what you do; use your profile to show people what it’s like to work with you by writing like a human. Add a little humor to your description, if that’s your thing!
- Highlight your credentials: Include your certifications, licenses, and bartender liability insurance as trust signals.
- Regularly update your profile: Keep things fresh with new pics of you working at recent gigs or new headshots you’ve taken recently. An up-to-date profile shows clients you’re active and in demand!
6. Cross-Promote With Local Businesses
Cross-promotions are a win-win for you and any business you partner with because you both gain exposure to each other’s audience. They are also fairly easy to do on social media, and often don’t require as much effort as other strategies on this list.
Here are a few ideas for joint marketing efforts:
- Share each other’s content: Support local businesses related to your industry, like florists and caterers, by sharing and reposting their content on social media. They’re likely to return the favor! You can also work out an agreement with them to each share a specific post from your respective feeds.
- Use local brands in your drinks: If you serve a local beer, tag the brewery the next time you post a picture of a glass you poured. They can then repost it to their own feed or stories to show your support to their audience.
- Write guest posts or content for them: If you enjoy writing, consider working out a deal with a local business to write a guest piece for their blog or a cocktail recipe to include in their next newsletter.
Pro Tip: Don’t have any current connections with local businesses? It’s time to network! You’re more likely to find cross-promotional opportunities with business owners you’re already friendly with. Check out our guide to networking for bartenders for essential tips on creating meaningful connections!
7. Join Facebook Groups in Your Area
Facebook groups are an effective way to place yourself in front of potential customers and business partners.
Unlike other marketing channels, these online communities encourage casual, spontaneous interactions that can establish you as an authority in the local bartending scene, as well as a friendly face.
Some groups to consider joining include:
- Wedding groups for vendors and couples in your area (such as PNW Wedding Vendor Community)
- General event groups (like South Carolina Event Groups for Vendors and Customers)
- Bartending groups (such as Arizona Bartenders Association)
8. Leverage Testimonials
It’s not surprising that people trust reviews over what you say about your business, but did you know 82% of people trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations?
Positive testimonials work wonders for your marketing strategy. Display them wherever you can, such as:
- Your website: Many site builders include widgets that display your Google reviews, but you can also add testimonials manually. Pull quotes from reviews you’ve received and add the reviewer’s first name and last initial afterwards to show that it’s legit.
- Paid ads: Make the most out of your advertising budget by harnessing the power of positive online reviews and turning them into ads! Make a quick graphic on Canva showcasing a glowing testimonial and use it as your ad imagery.
- Social media: If you get a great review, add it to your Instagram stories or post it to your feed. You can also keep an eye out for happy customers tagging you in posts and then repost those to promote them.
9. Advertise Your Insured Status
Getting bartender insurance can feel like ticking a box on your endless to-do list. But did you know you can use your insured status in your marketing efforts?
Your clients care that you’re insured. It shows you’re financially prepared if something goes wrong and that you understand the risks of bartending, demonstrating professionalism and building their confidence in you.
So, how can you show this off?
- Add your insurance badge to your website: FLIP offers a free downloadable badge you can get from your user dashboard if you have a policy with us
- Include it in your bio: Whether on social media or your directory profile, make sure to add “insured” to your bio (e.g., “Licensed and Insured”)
- Place it in your email footer: The bottom part of your emails should have your name and contact info, and it’s also a good place to mention that you’re an insured bartender
Whether you’re new to bartending and aren’t insured yet or have a policy and want to learn more, check out our guide to getting monthly bartender insurance! We break down the different coverages included in this policy so you know exactly what’s covered.
Keep Your Promotional Efforts On Track With a Bartender Marketing Plan
As you can see, a successful online marketing strategy requires a lot of work. Staying organized is critical, so we’ve created this free bartender marketing plan template!
Make a copy of it, keep or tweak the ideas you like, and add your own. Use this document throughout the year to stay on top of what you’ve done and what’s next.
Alex Hastings
Seattle-based copywriter and (WA) licensed insurance agent Alex Hastings leverages her experience as a lover of fast-casual food, baked goods, and iced oat milk lattes. She holds a B.A. in Creative Writing from Western Washington University. Before working at Veracity, she was a retail copywriter at Zulily and an English language teacher in South Korea. Alex is fully trained on FLIP insurance coverages and writes content that connects food and beverage business owners with the policies they need.
Seattle-based copywriter and (WA) licensed insurance agent Alex Hastings leverages her experience as a lover of fast-casual food, baked goods, and iced oat milk lattes. She holds a B.A. in Creative Writing from Western Washington University. Before working at Veracity, she was a retail copywriter at Zulily and an English language teacher in South Korea. Alex is fully trained on FLIP insurance coverages and writes content that connects food and beverage business owners with the policies they need.
