Using Social Media
In the modern digital age, no business can operate or advertise itself without the involvement of social media. Through social media, more new consumers can be attracted to the arcade business, and at the same time, long-term interaction with current consumers can be achieved. First, you can showcase the atmosphere of the arcade, unique machines, and customers’ happy moments on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok. The content can be short videos, pictures, or even customer reviews. This not only enables potential consumers to understand your business but also makes them feel the fun of participation.
You can try creating interactive content; for example, launching polls to decide the fans’ favorite kind of game or the next arcade machine to introduce. Interactive content not only raises engagement but also helps you understand customers’ needs better.
Equally important is social media advertising. You can set geographic locations and target audiences, such as nearby towns. Offer specific discounts and activities for teens or families. Additionally, you can monitor the effectiveness of each ad in real-time to optimize based on feedback. The ROI for social media ads can go as high as 3:1, meaning every $1 spent on ads could generate $3 in revenue.
Hosting Events and Competitions
Events and competitions are effective drivers of foot traffic. An arcade is, after all, an entertainment venue, and competitions or events can provide players with extra thrills and objectives. You can hold regular tournaments in classic arcade games, such as King of Fighters, Street Fighter, or even Just Dance. Giving away appropriate prizes, such as free gameplay time or souvenirs, will further incentivize customers to join in.
Studies show that with reward mechanisms for game activities, 70% of players show a higher willingness to participate. By adding prize competitions to your arcade, you will not only appeal to general arcade enthusiasts but also to players who enjoy a little competition, increasing customer loyalty. You may organize themed events such as “Retro Night” or “Family Game Day,” which could target certain groups, for instance, players from the ’80s and ’90s or families with children. Events can be announced to customers through social media or a mailing list; after an event, you could post competition results and share stories about winners to keep the activity going on social media.
Interacting with customers allows you to understand their interests and design more appealing content for the next event. A successful competition or event brings in traffic not only for that day but also gives a good reputation to the arcade in the long run.
Collaborating with Local Businesses
An arcade business is, by nature, entertainment-oriented, and it can form a symbiotic relationship with other businesses in the vicinity to generate added traffic. You can start cross-promotional activities with surrounding restaurants, cafes, or movie theaters. Spending a certain amount in those places, customers will get discount coupons or free tokens for your arcade; vice versa, too. This will not only help both sides increase traffic but also give customers a one-stop entertainment and consumption experience.
The mutual promotion of businesses in a locality has often worked wonders. In fact, it is estimated that 60% of customers would prefer choosing businesses where they can get joint discounts or packages. Therefore, you could hold local events along with businesses in the shopping area, such as a game carnival in a mall, or participate in local festivals. You can create an arcade zone at the event, which will attract people and, in the process, help you increase brand exposure.
You can also seek collaboration with local schools or youth centers to attract more young people. In this way, you can offer school group events or student group tickets, which will bring in more visitors and, more importantly, create long-term partnerships. For family groups, launching collaborations on parent-child related activities will also be a good choice.
Offering Promotions
Discounts are one of the most direct and effective ways to attract consumers. In the arcade business, traditional promotional tools are still extremely valid. For instance, token promotions such as “Half-Price Tuesday” or “Recharge $100, Get $50 Free” work very well in increasing customer frequency and spending. To attract more families, you could introduce a family package that includes several hours of gameplay, drinks, and snacks, making the package not only affordable but also tempting for parents to bring their children more often.
In addition to daily promotions, you can also make full use of special holidays or anniversary periods for large-scale promotional activities. For instance, on the anniversary of your store, you could offer all-day unlimited play or limited-edition arcade souvenirs. Data indicates that more than 85% of consumers are willing to change their original consumption plans for discounts and special events. Large-scale promotions help you increase the visibility of the arcade within a very short period and establish a foothold in the local market.
You can also email or SMS old customers using the contacts you have collected through the membership program, providing them with information about these promotions and targeting them accordingly. Upon receiving such messages, customers are more likely to return; this is an effective way to increase the rate of returning customers.
Creating a Membership Program
Creating a membership program is an effective way to ascertain customer loyalty and retention. It may involve special discounts, exclusive game time, and access to various special events. Members can be given a certain amount of free game time each month or extra tokens on their birthday. This not only makes customers feel special but also increases the frequency of their visits.
Membership programs can be designed as either monthly subscription-based or based on earning and redeeming points. Surveys have shown that over 75% of customers claimed they would most likely do more business with a company operating a membership program, especially those who were able to earn generous rewards by accumulating points. For example, you can create a point system where customers earn points after spending a certain amount, which can be redeemed for game tokens, prizes, or other special benefits.
Once the membership program is up and running, you can notify your members via SMS or email when new promotions and special offers are available. This increases their participation and makes them feel like VIPs of the arcade. In the long run, membership programs ensure a steady income stream and a loyal customer base. Loyal customers can attract new clients through word-of-mouth.
