Coffee Shop Marketing Checklist Every Shop Owner Needs

Running a coffee shop can be a lot of work. Between making coffee, cleaning, and managing the finances, it can be hard to find time to focus on marketing. It's key that you have your own marketing plan whether you are an old or new coffee shop owner, that's why we put together this coffee shop marketing checklist for coffee shop owners. This list will help you make the most of your time and resources, and help you attract more customers!

Social Media Marketing

Social media is a key part of any marketing plan. It's a great way to connect with customers and keep them updated on your shop. Make sure you have a social media strategy in place, this will make you stand out from other local coffee shops. Some tips for social media:

Create a Social Media Marketing Strategy

Decide which social media platforms you want to use, and how often you will post. Adjust your strategy for each platform, content varies between Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest, etc. Make sure your content is relevant to your target audience.

Keep it updated

Make sure your social media profiles are up-to-date and include accurate information about your coffee shop. This is even more important as a local business because you want the local people to know where you are.

Engage

Engage with your social media followers. Respond to comments and messages, and run social media giveaways or contests. These small actions will drive more traffic to your profile and will attract new customers.

Use hashtags

Use hashtags on social media platforms to help people find your posts. For example, if you're a coffee shop in Seattle, you could use the hashtags #coffeeshopseattle or #seattlecoffeeshops. Use hashtags to reach a wider audience. Research popular coffee-related hashtags and use them in your posts. This will increase brand awareness and help you reach people who are interested in coffee.

 

Website

Build a website

If you don't have already, you can build a website for your coffee shop. This will help you reach a larger audience and can act as your online home base.

Include information

Once you have your website built and ready to go, include accurate information about your coffee shop, such as hours of operation, location, and what type of coffee you serve.

Navigation

Make your website easy to navigate. People should be able to easily find the information they are looking for. If users don't have a good experience on your website, they are less likely to come back.

Call to action

Include clear and concise calls to action on your website. Tell visitors what you want them to do, such as "Visit our coffee shop today!" or "Sign up for our newsletter."

Images

Add photos and videos to your website. This will help visitors get a better sense of your coffee shop's atmosphere and it will make your website more visually appealing. Marketing research shows that people are more likely to remember information if it is accompanied by a relevant image.

Update it

Last but not least, make sure your website is up-to-date, and that all of the information is accurate. This goes along throughout all your online platforms, the world works at a fast pace and we need to keep up with it.

 

Email marketing

Email marketing is a great way to connect with customers and keep them updated on your coffee shop. Make sure you have a strategy in place. You need to know who your target audience is, what kind of content you want to include, and how often you want to send emails. Some other pro tips:

Email list

Build an email list of potential and current customers. Include a sign-up form on your website or social media profiles. Provide an incentive for signing up, such as a discount or free coffee.

Once you have a sizable email list, start sending out regular updates and promotions. You can also segment your list to send more targeted emails. For example, you can send exclusive offers to your loyal customers or update new customers on your latest products.

Campaigns

Run email campaigns for special occasions, such as holidays or anniversaries. Show them that you're thinking about them and offer a discount or coupons. For example, send a "Happy Fourth of July" email with a coupon for 20% off their purchase. Or, send a "We Miss You" email to customers who haven't shopped in awhile with a $3 off coupon.

Monitor the results of your campaigns and make changes accordingly. If you see that a certain type of campaign isn't working, try something else. Pay attention to what your customers respond to and adjust your campaigns accordingly.

Personalization

Personalize your emails by including the recipient's name in the subject line or body of the email. This will make your emails stand out and will show that you care about your customers.

 

Now that you have a coffee shop email plan, it's time to get started! Implement these tips and you'll be well on your way to attracting new customers and growing your business.

 

Traditional marketing

Don't forget about traditional marketing! This can be a great way to reach potential customers who might not be active on social media or who don't have a lot of time to browse the internet. Traditional marketing methods include:

Advertise

For your coffee shop marketing plan utilize local print and online newspapers to advertise your business. You want to spread awareness, the more you can get your name and establishment known by people, the better.

Loyalty program

Loyalty programs come in many different forms, but the most common type is a points-based system. Customers earn points for every purchase they make, and they can redeem those points for discounts or free drinks.

Stamp cards are another popular type of loyalty program, where customers earn a stamp for every purchase. Once they've collected a certain number of stamps, they can redeem them for discounts or free drinks.

There are many benefits to implementing a loyalty program at your drink place. For one, it can help you increase repeat business from your existing customers. It can also help build and increase customer loyalty.

Local community events

Participate in local events and fairs. This is a great way to get your coffee shop in front of potential customers. Make sure to have plenty of business cards and flyers on hand to pass out. You can even offer a discount to customers who bring in your flyer from the event.

 

Free Samples

Host an open house or tasting event to introduce locals to your coffee shop. Offer free samples of your coffee or pastries to entice people to come in! You can also offer a discount on their first purchase. The only way for them to know that you have great coffee is if they come and try it for themselves!

By offering free samples, you're not only attracting potential customers but also giving them a taste of what your business has to offer. And, once they've tried your product and liked it, they're more likely to come back and purchase it in the future.

Online Reviews

Positive reviews are a valuable commodity for businesses. They provide social proof that helps to build trust with future customers, and they can be a key factor in search engine optimization (SEO).

A good way to get reviews for your coffee shop is to offer a discount or freebie for customers who leave a positive review on Google, Yelp, or another site. This is a great way to incentivize customers to do something that benefits your business. Just be sure to make it clear that the offer is for reviews only and not for anything else.

 

Utilize Custom Products

You can market your coffee shop effectively by utilizing custom products. They help create a more personal connection with your customers. When people use items that you've given them, they'll be reminded of your coffee shop and the good experience they had there. This will help keep them coming back! Some extra tips:

Use Your Logo

Get your logo, or any branded design, on custom coffee cups, sleeves, stickers, stamps, etc. You can have hundreds of cups leave your store every week, which means multiple eyes will see each cup! This is a great way to build brand awareness and connect with your existing customers. You can also give these items away as a thank you to loyal customers or as a way to attract new business.

Create Unique Flavors

Create custom blends or flavors of coffee. This is a great way to stand out from other coffee shops in your area. People will come to your store specifically for the flavors that you offer. Make sure that you test out your flavors before you start selling them!

Sell Your Merchandise

Sell branded merchandise, such as t-shirts, hats, or mugs. This is a great way to generate additional revenue and promote your coffee shop. Customers will wear or use your merchandise, which will help spread awareness of your brand. Plus, it's a great way to thank customers for their loyalty!

 

Be creative!

There are a lot of marketing channels that you can use to promote your coffee shop. Be creative and experiment with different strategies to find what works best for you. The most important thing is to stay active and engaged with your customers!

That's it for our marketing checklist for coffee shop owners! By following these tips, you can attract more customers and grow your business!

If you're looking for more coffee shop marketing advice, be sure to check out our blog. We have tons of helpful articles that will help you get the most out of your marketing efforts!