Where do you look when you know you need to advertise and market, but don’t have a fortune to spend? There are numerous options available, making it overwhelming.  

Social Media

This is naturally the first place to look for cheap marketing ideas. Establishing a strong social media presence is essential for effective communication with your guests. 

Ensure that this is a two-way conversation, where you’re not just talking to your customers, but rather engaging with them in a meaningful and mutually beneficial way. The key here is engagement. Not all regions or demographics are the same when it comes to social media. In some parts of the country, it’s nearly impossible to meet anyone without a Facebook account. Still, in other areas, you’ll find that Facebook is considered “not cool” and that most people in this region don’t even have a Facebook account. 

Some areas they are on are Instagram, X, and YouTube. Current demographics lean towards TikTok. Know your audience and who you are trying to engage with. Regardless of which social media outlets you use, remember: This is not your grandpa’s marketing strategy. This is a whole new ballgame.  

Creating a Connection

People aren’t just buying a product or service; they’re buying from other people. Customers want to get to know you and interact with you. They aren’t interested in hearing about your daily or weekly specials or the prices of your laser tag. Instead, they want to see your operation behind the scenes. Customers also want to meet your staff and feel as though you’re their friend, a part of their social network. Ultimately, they want to perceive you as a human being they can do business with, not merely a large company.

They need to see emotions. They want you to entertain them. You need to show yourself as human. Let them see you make mistakes, have fun, get frustrated, and so on. Tell a funny joke or share a cute picture. Hold a contest every once in a while for a prize. Join in on the week’s themes, such as #ThrowbackThursday, and stay current with the latest trends. You must show that you are part of the community, not just a business. Involve yourself and your staff in community projects. 

Host a photo or video contest with a prize; multiple people will visit your location and promote it for you. Find a funny picture and hold a caption contest.  

Data Mining

I know most of us do it. We gather information from people who book parties. Sometimes, we will have a place where people can register to win a party or game card, or something similar, so that we can collect their information. We have a wealth of information, and often, it goes underutilized. 

Find a service like Constant Contact to connect with your guests. Once again, don’t bombard them with specials, party flyers, and coupons. 

Yes, those should come occasionally, but find things your guests want to read about. Teach them something, share something funny, or provide them with some useful information.    

Videos

Videos are a powerful tool. There is considerable information suggesting that videos offer a higher retention rate than print and a higher conversion-to-sale rate than print. Most people are very visual. You don’t need a professional film crew to make a great video. Most smartphones can now capture high-quality videos. 

These are great activities to get your staff more involved. Task them with making a video. Don’t give too many guidelines, and see what they come up with. You may be surprised at the talent you have on your staff. Perhaps even make this a stiff competition for a prize by having teams compete against one another.

Photo Op

Ensure that your logo appears in the background anywhere guests often take pictures. One of the best places is on your party table. 

Parents often take pictures of the cake, presents, and birthday kids at the party table. Ensure that the table, balloons, and plates all display your logo clearly and prominently. You will immediately get free advertising when they post those smiling pictures on their social media. Create a cutout, background, red carpet, or statue that people will naturally take photographs with.    

T-Shirts

Give a birthday shirt to each party guest of honor and tell them that if any of your staff catch them wearing the shirt around town, they will get a free attraction. I have seen radio stations do this successfully with bumper stickers. This is a win-win. They start wearing your logoed shirt everywhere they go. When you visit one at a grocery store, you give them a free attraction. They return to redeem that free attraction and spend more money on food, arcades, and other attractions when they are there.

Hashtags

Create your hashtag. 

#FUN, FUN, FUN. Whatever creative # you come up with, start using it on everything. 

Have some stickers created that say your hashtag line. Plaster them everywhere. Ask guests to tag their pictures with that hashtag.

Loyalty Program

This doesn’t have to be complicated. 

Sometimes, simpler is better. A simple punch card will suffice. 

People like to save those. Buy 10, get one free. It’s simple, inexpensive, and it works.  

Create a Flash Mob

This is fun for your staff and guests and makes an excellent video for YouTube or TikTok.  

Treasure Hunt or Poker Run

This is a great way to cross-market with other businesses. Form alliances and partnerships with companies that complement your offerings. Think about a cake shop, toy store, or anywhere else that may have some of the same customers as you do. Have a few brainstorming sessions and get creative on ways that you can help each other grow.  

Auto Wraps

Wrap your car with a creative, fun, and eye-catching wrap. Remember to obey all traffic laws and drive courteously.

Trivia or Karaoke Events

A place near me started a monthly Name That Tune/Karaoke event. The hosts play a song, and people try to be the first to guess it to win some tickets. After the song is guessed, as many people as want to can come up front and sing it to earn more tickets. 

Ultimately, the person or group with the most tickets wins the prize. This family-friendly event has become so popular that you need to arrive an hour or two before to secure a seat. 

Another place near me has bi-weekly Wednesday trivia nights that are also family-friendly. These nights fill to capacity, and their most recent Taylor Swift trivia night was so full that it crashed the system.  

Word of Mouth

I saved this one for last because this is the best way to market. Ensure that everyone entering your facility is treated like a VIP, and go above and beyond to wow them. Not only will they return, but they will also tell their friends and family about their experience and share it all over social media. You only create the WOW factor if you get those positive comments and ratings. You may be doing “good”, but more than “good” is needed to use word of mouth as a marketing tool. You have to be the best.

I firmly believe that this is all about your people. This is where having the best staff in the world can overcome almost any challenge you encounter with equipment or other inevitable issues that arise in any business. This is where you can rise to the top. Invest in your people. Ensure they are happy so that they can make your guests happy, and this will create an environment where marketing isn’t as crucial.

A Great Example

One of the most incredible steak places I have ever been to is located in a remote area of Idaho. It isn’t near any town; from the outside, it doesn’t look fancy and appears to be just a small house. 

Even when you walk inside, it’s not terribly fancy either. It has a dirt parking lot and has been added several times. This establishment has been in operation since the 1970s, and it has never had to resort to advertising. Why? Because their customers do it for them. You can ask anyone within a 4-5 hour radius of the Wolf Lodge Inn, and they will know about this place. Celebrities have dined here, and reservations are required to secure a table. They don’t have the fanciest restaurant or the newest equipment. They serve an incredible steak that rivals Ruth’s Chris or any of the country’s finest steakhouses, and provide excellent service. The same thing can be said for any business. If you offer a superior product and exceptional service, marketing will take care of itself.    

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