No Voucher scanners? No Problem!
The TalkBox voucher scanning app is downloadable from Apple App Store or Google Play. Simply download the app to any internet-enabled smartphone and scan TalkBox vouchers direct from a customer’s smartphone making the entire process contactless.

Restrictions are finally beginning to ease and we can start to welcome patrons back into our venues.  With limitations on capacity and adhering to strict social distancing rules, your business may not be at full speed for some time. However, when the time comes and business is back to usual a few simple changes now will set you up for success. Impact Data has put together some tips to help you re-open. 

Make every customer count
Re-opening with limited capacity might mean you have to work smarter to ensure you make the most out of every customer. Capturing their contact details now means you can re-market to them and get them back in using clever communications sent inTalkBox via email or SMS.

• A reservation system will enable you to obtain contact details and control your sitting numbers.  If you have a booking platform such as Now Book It, Quandoo or The Fork, contact us so that we can connect it to your TalkBox account.  Capturing their contact information will enable you to use that valuable information to encourage another visit and gather customer feedback and reviews.
• Guest WiFi is an easy way to capture the details of your customers that may have not made a booking. Use their visitation data to get them back in and turn them into loyal customers. Want to know more?  Check out our Impact Data Partner chat with WiFi expert Troy Coker.

Making the most of your space

Now that you have the means to capture customer details here’s how can you use TalkBox to help drive your revenue.

• Let your customers know you are open for business.  If you haven’t added new customers from your Takeaway or online ordering partner to TalkBox, talk to us about how we might be able to help.
• Prioritise your best customers – send them an SMS message to make them feel special and invite them to make a booking or be added to your priority list for when re-open.
• Send all new customers a welcome email, maybe include a voucher to use on their next visit? Read about how to make a great first impression here.
• Still offering takeaway? Send an SMS during usually quiet periods to give your sales a boost.

Create a better reopening experience with Impact Data and Social Distancing Signs, our fellow Melbourne based business.  Social Distancing Signs, created to be compliant in a way that makes customers feel welcomed and safe.

An essential part of a re-opening strategy is ensuring that customers can see the changes you have made to make them feel safe.  The ‘theatre of cleaning’ and the list of changes businesses have made such as sanitiser stations and staff wearing masks has been the subject of many member emails.  This helps members and customers understand that the venue prioritises their safety, and communicating this has helped business get customers back through their doors.  

Stylish and branded signage in your premises plays an important role in staying compliant and communicating the new rules to your customers.

Think about things like:

• Adding your branding to social distancing floor graphics.
• Adding your Visitsafe.at QR Code to your signage around the venue so customers can easily check-in. 
• Show off your new signage in your customer communications and on your website. This will help customers know what to expect when they come into your venue

A new range of floor graphics, pull up banners, posters or even flyers for your venue, will ensure customers are reminded to keep socially distant and adhere to the latest guidelines. There are a wide range of Government and generic Covid graphics to choose from, or the design team can also create customised graphics upon request.

The team at Social Distancing Signs have invested in a range of state-of-the-art printers that produce images that deliver unsurpassed quality of colour and finish. Taking great pride in  customer service and quality of work, they are the preferred supplier to many of Melbourne’s best known pubs and clubs. They are supplying flyers to large format posters, printed in their Melbourne factory to ensure speed and quality.

Talk to Social Distancing Signs about how they can help your business with its reopening plans

 (03) 9889 8186.www.socialdistancingsigns.com.au

Sending an SMS or email just after a customer has visited you or signed up is a great way to keep your customers engaged and drive loyalty. This type of message is important to get right because it can be the easiest way to turn a first-timer into a loyal repeat customer. Remember if they have ‘opted-in’ to receive marketing communications from you, they want to hear from your business. Here are a few ways you can improve your ‘Welcome’ or ‘Thanks for visiting’ communications.

Thanks and Welcome
Saying ‘Welcome’ or ‘Thanks’ lets your customers know you appreciate them. Address them by their first name by adding a merge field into your subject line or the body of your email. Learn more about merge fields here.

Get in quick
Sending your communication just after the initial visit will capture customers when their interest in your business is at its peak.  Send on the day of or the day after your customer has visited you.

Tell your story 
Introduce your business and let your customers explore and learn about your business by including links to your website and social media. Tell them what to expect when receiving these communications.  Information such keep your eye out for our emails which include special promotions, new products and competitions. 

Ask them to add your address
Remind your customers to add your sender address to their contacts in their email account. This will prevent future communications from getting lost or ending up in their spam. ‘A sentence such ‘add our email to your contact list so you don’t miss out on anything!’ is a great way to keep the relationship going. 

Include an offer they can’t resist
Getting a 2nd visit is the first step towards transforming a first and only time visitor into a loyal customer. Guarantee a 2nd visit with an irresistible offer such as a voucher to spend on their next visit or a 2-4-1 deal so they can introduce a friend to your business.  

Ask for feedback 
A first time visitor is valuable for your bottom line but can also give you a fresh insight into your business. Including a Net Promoter Score feedback survey (NPS) in your welcome communication can help discover aspects of your business that may need improvement or even help you get more reviews on popular review platforms.  Learn about NPS here.

Let’s face it Father’s Day (1st Sunday in September)  isn’t quite the same retail and hospitality occasion that Mother’s Day is, but there is no reason why it can’t be with a little imagination and preparation. 

We have compiled a list of  great ideas to help make Dad’s day and give your business a boost. 

If you are a hospitality business….

• Vouchers are a great option, but why not include a keepsake your customer can take home to remember the special day.  A small hamper, a house made condiment or a cookbook that continues the experience for every voucher that gets redeemed.  
• Create a Father’s Day breakfast or brunch – you might want to prioritise sending it to your most engaged customers first as a pre-sale opportunity.  If you haven’t connected your booking platform with TalkBox then contact us for help.
• Run a promotion to get kids to tell you why their Dad is the greatest, use the content on your socials and select a winner for a BBQ Pack, meal for 2 or sports experience.  This is a great promotion to run in the lead up to Fathers Day and can help build your database. 
• Think people might dine at home?  Then create a dine at home pack that people can order for delivery to multiple addresses at the same time.  Is your delivery partner on the list of Impact Data Partners? Check them out and get connected so you can keep building your database. 
• Got a chef with charisma? Combine your dine at home pack with a video cooking class. You can simply record it, add it to YouTube, Facebook or Instagram and then add the link on a flyer in your pack or even add a voucher to book a private session
• Famous for your wine list?  Why not organise a Dinner with wine pairings to showcase your bolder wine styles and sell tickets via your booking partner or a ticketing platform.
• Work with your suppliers to create an at home wine and dinner pack.  Create a meal experience with matching wines customers can enjoy at their own pace.
• Why not work with the other local businesses in your area and get creative:
  • Dads Night Out – a meal at your restaurant, movie tickets and a drink voucher for afterwards at the late night bar.
  • Dads Night In – Delivery a dinner from your business  and include a selection of gifts for Dad from retailers in your area. This could include the latest sports book from your local bookstore or some slippers from the specialty retailer.
  • Dads Night Off – a family friendly event where kids eat free and get an entertainment pack from the newsagent to give Dad some quiet time over dinner.
  • Dads Night Away – dinner at your venue with a voucher for the local B&B or hotel.
  • Dads Sports Night – got a big screen?  Queue up a night or day where sports blockbusters are sure to fill the house. Create a menu and drinks offer that kids can buy for Dad and his mates.

For retail:

• Talk to your local restaurant and cafe and come up with some hampers and experiences that you can both market to your database.
• Run a promotion to your customer database to win a Father’s Day Prize for Dad.
• Send an email showcasing your Father’s Day range that can be delivered direct to Dad.

For all businesses:

• Once you have decided what you are doing as your Father’s Day promotion you need to let your customers know!
• Plan communications in the lead up about your Father’s Day gift ideas.  Communicate different offers to different segments of your database.  Eg. if you can identify your top spenders you might showcase some of the more premium offerings

And lastly, save everyone’s bacon and grab sales from those last-minute (forgetful) children and send an SMS reminder on Saturday about Father’s Day. Select ‘add promotion’  include links to products that can be purchased easily online such as gift vouchers. 

Got an idea you would like to share?  Contact us at hello@impactdata.com.au 

Mr Yum is an online ordering platform that lets customers order from their own device whether they are down the street, on their couch or at a table inside your venue.  Impact Data integrates with Mr Yum so you can stay connected with customers who order via this platform. 

In response to stage 4 restrictions, Mr Yum is launching a ‘Find & order yummy takeaway within 5km from your home!’ so you can get found by local customers.

Customers will enter in their address and see all venues within 5km of them. List your venue on this support local page to reach more customers within 5km. 

It is FREE to list, no ongoing fees, and takes 2 minutes to sign up. Mr Yum has also reduced its fees for all Victorian venues during stage 4.

To find out more or Sign up visit  – https://vic.mryum.com

Using Mr Yum?
Connect it to your TalkBox account so you can keep all these new customers coming back. If you need some inspiration to help promote your take away read our tips on telling your takeaway story here. 

Want to boost takeaway sales?
SMS has proved to be a powerful tool to help reach every customer and drive sales of their takeaway offering. Read about how one Syndey restaurant received and additional 150 order just from one SMS campaign here. 

Find more tips on how to use SMS to dramatically boost your sales during this time here.

Talk to us today if you need help getting connected. hello@impactdata.com.au

SMS is a powerful tool to help drive business.
Italian eatery ‘Amore’, brought in an additional 100 orders and £3500 in a single day with a just one SMS campaign. Including a special discount and adding a link to the menu by selecting the ‘add promotion’ in the SMS editor, enticed a significant number of customers to take up on the offer and order.

Why use SMS?
1. Get the immediate attention of your customers
The majority of SMS are opened within 90 seconds of being delivered.

2. Reach more customers than any other marketing tool
Customers do not apply the same level of filtering to SMS than other forms of marketing.

3. Get your message read
Delivered directly into your customer’s hand. The short and succinct format demands attention; customers don’t need to scroll through long emails to find out what you are trying to promote.

TIP: Add your menu and link to additional information by selecting ‘add promotion.’

When to use SMS
1. Last-minute promotions –
Make sure your dining room is at capacity or promote the nightly meal special.

2. Keep customers engaged
Send weekly reminders to your customers to keep them engaged and remind them about your offering.

3. Update them on business operations
New menu? New management or opening hours? It’s a great way to keep customers informed and stay top of mind