Email lists are one of the best ways to keep in contact with your customers, and family entertainment centers benefit in many ways from building a solid catalog of subscribers. Let’s take a look to see how building a subscriber base for your business emails makes a ton of sense for your bowling alley or family fun center.
The Benefits of Email Marketing
Email marketing is one of the best ways to reach your customers in their own homes. While not everyone opens printed mailers or pays attention to commercials, nearly everyone checks their email on a daily basis. While you probably don’t want to email your fan base more than once a week or so (there is too much of a good thing when it comes to emails), it’s still a much better way to get your info in front of your customers on a regular basis.
Email marketing is also a cost-effective way to advertise and reach your intended audience. As opposed to mailers, you’re saving loads of time and quite a bit of money. The time you spend crafting an email is considerably less than if you had to design and print a mailer, and it also reaches your audience faster.
How to Nurture Your Email List
Email marketing lists for family entertainment centers can be an extremely valuable business tool, but you can’t simply set one up and hope for the best. You’ll need to put in the effort to nurture your subscriber base to provide quality content and prevent unsubscribing.
For starters, create a point in your center where customers can easily sign up for your list. Either have a laptop or tablet right there at your check-in counter where they can tap or type in their email address, or provide a sign-in sheet and manually add them later.
Don’t stop encouraging your customers to sign up either. Even if you’ve gathered hundreds of subscribers. It’s an ongoing process, and while you don’t necessarily want to be pushy, you’ll want to keep an eye on your numbers as people can and do unsubscribe.
The Must-Have Emails
There are a few emails that you should enable to automatically send, which can also help nurture your email list, in addition to specials and additional events that can help drive more customers to your family entertainment center.
Confirmation Emails
For starters, a confirmation email when someone subscribes to your list is a no-brainer. In addition to thanking them for signing up, it’s a good place to link out to your blog or social media accounts, as well as recurring specials you run during the week. Include a blurb about your snack bar, amenities (do you offer free WiFi?) and keep a cheerful tone that will encourage customers to come by.
Specials and Events Emails
Specials and events are also compelling reasons to send emails out to your list subscribers. If you run regular specials every week, include those in your emails, but prioritize certain events that don’t happen on a regular basis, such as a day when military families get a discount or an upcoming bowling tournament.
Holiday Emails
Are there holidays coming up? Special emails outlining your party packages, for example, or holiday discount pricing or events should be on your must-send list. In addition to regular holidays, consider running specials for times when most kids are out of school, such as during spring, summer or winter break, and make sure you send out emails about them to your subscribers (and be sure to include special extended hours or days you won’t be open).
Email marketing is a must-have for family entertainment centers. It’s a solid way to reach your customer base on a consistent basis and provides ample opportunity for sharing specials and events than can keep them coming in to have some good, quality family fun.
Ready to set up the perfect email strategy for your center? Let's talk!