1) Not Posting Enough on Social Media
Briefly mentioning your Trivia Night in passing on social media may not be enough to get in front of as many eyes as possible and not posting at all is even worse. Social media is today’s word of mouth. Take advantage of it by posting about your Trivia Night. This could be a relevant meme, a picture of your venue, or just a visually pleasing Trivia graphic.Â
The point is, you want to make your business relevant and relatable and posting on social media is a crucial starting point.
2) Not Promoting Inside Your Venue
While it’s true that social media is the new, great way to promote your Trivia Night, that doesn’t mean that classic methods are dead. It’s still beneficial to hang up posters or other visual elements that advertise your Trivia Night for those who may not have discovered your social media presence yet.
For example, hang a poster advertising your Trivia Night in the bathroom. You have a captive audience, so take advantage of it! Whether it’s on the back of a stall door, the main door, or maybe even by the sink, the point is that there tend to be less distractions in the bathroom so people are more likely to notice your flyers.
3) Not Having a Special
It’s always a good idea to get your guests spending money, especially during Trivia Night. Think about it, they’re already there to play Trivia for free, so why not give them a good deal on your most popular menu item or draft beer. It’ll enhance their experience and keep them coming back for a great time and a good deal.Â
It might even get them spending more in one night, especially since Trivia is typically a social gathering with friends.
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If you really want to get them into it, you can specify that your special is only available to those playing Trivia. Just be aware that this has the potential to upset those who are just there for the food and drink.
4) Not Using Word of Mouth
Yes, we did say that social media is the new word of mouth, but word of mouth is still the old word of mouth. In other words, it still matters! We are likely to trust friends who recommend things to us, especially if that thing makes us look good. What better way to look smart than by dominating Trivia Night? If you’re up for the task, you could try setting up a referral program, where you prompt guests to tell their network about Trivia Night and when it’s successful in getting those referrals in to play, they get a small discount off their bill, or whatever incentive you are inclined to offer.
We know that’s a little more work than a busy bar owner might want to take on, so encouraging bartenders or servers to mention it where applicable works, too. You’ll want it to be as least sales-y and most conversational as possible. It’s all about creating a lasting connection.
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Reward ideas:
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10% off the Trivia Cocktail, additional entry in a drawing, etc. Click here for a printable version of the table below.
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New Team | Referred by | Reward |
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5) Not Getting Feedback from Your Guests
Whether your Trivia Night is a standing success or still getting started, it’s useful to get feedback from your guests. Do they like the type of questions? Would they prefer a certain theme? Do they like your specials? Is it at a good time? Do they like the host?
Finding out what your guests are loving about your Trivia Night and what could be improved is invaluable to making sure you keep them coming back each week for a standout experience.
6) Not Addressing Your Trivia Company When There is an Issue
If there is an issue with your Trivia Night, whether you’re not seeing the growth you expected or experience a sudden decline, not communicating this to your Trivia vendor is a mistake. Historically, there have been cases where we find out too late that there is an issue with a Trivia Night that we could have nipped in the bud had the communication been clear, but because it festered for too long, the bridge was already set alight.
Having an open line of communication with your Trivia vendor will save you both a headache. While we wish we could read minds and know what goes on in every single venue, the fact of the matter is, we’re only human. That doesn’t mean we aren’t happy to help if you need us to! Don’t hesitate to reach out with any concerns or issues. When you thrive, so do we.
Trivia Nights are a great way to bring business into your venue. However, like any other endeavor, there are some basic actions you should take to make sure it’s as successful as possible. By taking an audit of your current tactics and seeing in which of these areas you need to improve, you can take your Trivia Night to the next level and unlock its full potential.