March 18, 2023 Branded Beer Coaster Marketing
Over the years, I have frequented numerous sports bars across the United States. One important thing they both have in common is that DraftKings always hires American Guerrilla Marketing to make and send out custom coasters that promote their brand to make mobile sports betting easier. The printed coasters are placed on tables by venues, directly influencing the clients who hold the message in their hands. It’s a strategy we like to call Thirsty for Success: Beer Coaster Marketing—a subtle yet powerful way to turn passive customers into active participants. The eye-catching coasters are designed to tempt relaxed customers into placing a sports bet. People who are already at the bar watching a game are daringly asked to use the information on the coasters to bet on their favorite team. The coasters are creative and suggest ways to make money. Let’s talk about it!
I’d like to start by describing how this bar advertising option functions. To approach clients in a casual situation, this makes use of personalized coasters. Sent to chosen venues, coasters with printed logos, messages, and trackable communications are used. By looking at demographic data and selecting bars in areas that support campaign objectives, it is possible to target particular audiences.
The printed coasters are placed on tables by venues, directly influencing the clients who hold the message in their hands. This guarantees impressions since clients must handle the coasters. Each venue gives away approximately 1,500 coasters per month, producing roughly 700,000 impressions.
This is perfect for any smartphone service, including dating apps, apps for managing your weight, and apps for playing games. Businesses that cannot run traditional advertisements, such those for tobacco, e-cigarettes, CBD, or cannabis, gain a lot as well. When there are holidays or big sporting events, the returns are the highest.
Around 3,000 advertisements are broadcast to today’s oversaturated customers per day. Because of advertising’s constant attempts to persuade customers, their attention spans are considerably reduced.
That’s why Thirsty for Success: Beer Coaster Marketing is such a powerful tool. There is a 65% retention rate for printed coasters. Think about this: after eating or drinking, two out of every three people recall the text on coasters. That indicates that 65% of consumers can remember your brand, service, or company. Instead of coming off as an advertisement, it prompts discussion.
According to our research, branded coasters have a real-world impact on sales by influencing 22% of purchasing decisions. For context, the typical influence of a highway billboard is 1–3 percent.
Customized coasters provide you extra advertising value for your money. Since a coaster order offers 465,750 impressions, why pay more for people to view your message? This is how: Every time a consumer sits down, they order 2.3 beverages. A consumer looks at the coaster an average of nine times throughout one drink. One coaster can provide up to 186.3 impressions during the course of its nine trips. For instance, if a 2,500-coaster order results in 465,750 total impressions at $400, that works out to just $0.000865 per impression.
For the same amount of advertising space provided by 40,000 bar coasters, billboards in key markets cost between $14,000 and $20,000 per month.
Since QR codes can be tracked, as soon as you put one to your coasters, you’ll begin learning more about how customers are interacting with and reacting to this tactic. To figure out what’s working and make adjustments to improve your results, you may examine data on the number of scans, locations, times, and devices used.
An inventive strategy for integrating your offline and online marketing activities is to use QR codes. It’s simple to add a QR code to your coasters or other printed items. In order to stay ahead of the competition and provide your clients with the greatest experience possible, this strategy is worthwhile to take into account given the variety of data and customization choices accessible with QR codes nowadays.
Similar considerations can be made for the following alternatives to coasters:
Personalized coffee sleeves are a terrific way to advertise a business while also adding practical value to local convenience stores. These sleeves can be personalized with contact information.
Door Hangers: A simple technique to reach prospective new clients in the area is to hang door hangers from doorknobs.
Pharmacy Bags: Working with neighborhood drugstores and liquor retailers to have their names and logos printed on pharmacy bags.
Customized pizza boxes are a creative choice for bars that offer food. Customers will always view a company’s information when they open a pizza box if it has information on the inner lid.
Hotel Key Cards: Working with surrounding neighborhood hotels to have business contact information printed on hotel key cards exposes your brand to passing travelers.
In conclusion, there are a variety of advertising methods besides conventional coasters that may aid in boosting visibility and bringing in new clients while also working with various marketing budgets and tactics. Investigating fresh marketing opportunities can help this place do better business.
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Understanding Thirsty for Success: Beer Coaster Marketing is essential for any modern marketing professional. By applying the strategies and techniques outlined in this guide, you can significantly enhance your marketing efforts and achieve better results for your brand or clients.
When implementing the strategies discussed in this article, it’s important to approach execution with both creativity and discipline. Here are some best practices that have proven effective for brands of all sizes:
Start with a Clear Objective: Before launching any marketing initiative, define what success looks like. Whether your goal is brand awareness, lead generation, or direct sales, having a clear objective will guide every decision you make throughout the campaign.
Know Your Budget and Timeline: Effective marketing requires resources, both financial and human. Establish a realistic budget and timeline before you begin, and build in contingencies for unexpected challenges or opportunities that may arise.
Test and Iterate: The best marketers treat every campaign as a learning opportunity. Start with smaller tests to validate your approach before scaling up. Use the data you collect to refine your strategy and improve your results over time.
Build Cross-Channel Consistency: In today’s multi-channel world, consumers interact with brands across many touchpoints. Ensure your messaging and visual identity remain consistent whether customers encounter you online, in print, or in person.
Leverage Community: Some of the most powerful marketing happens organically through community building. Invest in creating spaces where your customers can connect with each other and with your brand, and you’ll build loyalty that no ad budget can buy.
What makes guerrilla marketing different from traditional advertising?
Guerrilla marketing relies on unconventional, creative tactics that generate buzz and word-of-mouth rather than paid media placements. It typically requires less budget but more creativity and strategic thinking, making it particularly effective for brands looking to make a big impact with limited resources.
How do I measure the success of my marketing campaigns?
Success metrics vary depending on your objectives. Common KPIs include reach and impressions, engagement rates, website traffic, lead generation numbers, conversion rates, and ultimately, return on investment (ROI). Set your metrics before you launch so you can accurately evaluate your results.
How long does it take to see results from marketing campaigns?
Results vary significantly based on the type of campaign, your industry, and your objectives. Some tactics like paid advertising can generate immediate results, while others like content marketing and SEO may take months to show significant impact. Generally, it’s best to evaluate campaigns over a 3-6 month period to account for seasonal variations and learning curves.
What role does creativity play in modern marketing?
Creativity is more important than ever in today’s saturated media landscape. With consumers exposed to thousands of marketing messages daily, only the most creative and relevant content breaks through. Investing in creative talent and processes is one of the highest-leverage things a brand can do.
How can small businesses compete with larger companies in marketing?
Small businesses have natural advantages in marketing: agility, authenticity, and deep community connections. Focus on your unique story, build genuine relationships with customers, and use guerrilla tactics that let you punch above your weight. A creative campaign executed well can outperform a big-budget effort that lacks soul.
The strategies and insights covered in this article represent proven approaches that have helped brands across industries achieve their marketing goals. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to take your marketing to the next level, the key is to stay committed to learning, testing, and refining your approach.
At American Guerrilla Marketing, we specialize in helping brands cut through the noise with creative, impactful campaigns that deliver real results. From street-level activations to digital campaigns, our team brings the expertise and creativity needed to make your brand unforgettable.
Ready to take your marketing to the next level? Contact our team today to learn how we can help you create campaigns that truly stand out in any market.