As competitive socializing re-emerges as a go-to trend for audiences young and older, spending a few nights out each week can be expected in just about every major city and town.
If you, a mini golf business owner, are looking for ways to bring in a few extra putters on those lazy Tuesday nights, you should try to cash in on this trend and make your venue a one-stop social spot.
We’ve created a list of some of the most solid and results-driven measures you can take to increase traffic at your mini golf business. Check these out:
1. Add a private karaoke room
Minigolf business owners can add some serious value to their business, and increase revenue on slow nights, by setting up a dedicated karaoke room. If you have an extra room or party room in your venue, you can consider converting it into a karaoke room.
Getting set up with a karaoke room requires some initial set-up including the interior design, sound proofing, and AV equipment.
You can read more on what is needed for a professional karaoke set-up here.
You can expect a rough estimate $2,000-$6,000 per room to get started, but of course you can get started much cheaper if you already have the AV equipment. The only recurring cost from there would be your private karaoke room software.
Most rooms can respect a return on investment within 1-3 months. You can check out our Karaoke Room Profit Calculator to see how much you could expect to make in your venue.
Karaoke fans are very enthusiastic and tend to remain loyal to the same venue if quality is high and prices are reasonable. You can reach out to our team to learn more about implementing a karaoke room in your venue.
2. Consider targeting adults
Traditionally many mini golf venues have focused on family friendly activities, but there is a large market of adults out there looking for fun activities in a child free space. Introducing adult-oriented after-hours events can be a game-changer. Hosting themed nights, such as "Date Night Fridays" or "Cocktail Saturdays," where alcohol is available for purchase, can attract couples and groups of friends looking for a fun and unique night out.
Creating a cozy and inviting atmosphere with ambient lighting, music, and comfortable seating areas near the courses can enhance the overall experience. Promoting these events through social media, email newsletters, and local event listings can help spread the word and draw in adult clientele, who will likely spend more on food and alcohol compared to families.
3. Include other competitive socialization options
Mini golf is a great ice breaker for first dates, for family outings, or for meeting up with groups of friends for a nostalgic night of back-and-forth. Of course, as a mini golf business owner, you already know this. But what you might not know is that there are so many other competitive socializing games that can be added to your venue that fulfill the same purpose. The idea here being that they are more likely to spend time in your venue after golfing, meaning more money spent on food and drinks.
The best competitive socializing activities involve high-energy games like billiards, shuffleboard, darts, foosball, axe-throwing, ping pong – pretty much any type of interactive effort that includes an element of high or low-stakes competition. Initial set-up costs and recurring costs are based on which activities you choose to offer.
4. Create an organic online presence
If your mini golf business isn't already online, it should be. Visibility on the web –especially on social media–is one of the simplest ways to increase revenue and foot traffic. Plus, it allows you to engage with customers and potential new customers.
You should regularly update your landing pages with relevant keywords and phrases that potential customers might use in their search queries, helping the site rank higher on search engine results pages.
Consider including the following phrases on your pages and meta descriptions:
- The best mini golf in [your city]
- mini golf for adults
- indoor mini golf
- miniature golf course
- outdoor mini golf
Using relevant phrases on your pages will help searching for mini golf find you more easily.
Furthermore, implementing a Google My Business listing with accurate business information, including location, hours of operation, and customer reviews, can also help.
Encouraging satisfied customers to leave reviews and ratings can boost the business's credibility and visibility in local search results. By consistently monitoring and updating its online presence, your mini golf business can effectively attract new customers and drive more traffic to your website, ultimately leading to increased bookings and revenue.
5. Implement a rewards program
Establishing lasting connections with repeat customers is the core of any business – but especially a competitive socializing business like mini golf. You have to ensure that your venue is THE venue to visit when in town. And one of the simplest, most cost-effective ways of doing this is by incorporating a loyalty program.
Programs that reward loyal customers are perfect for gaining even more customers while improving existing customer satisfaction and strengthening long-term brand recognition. Start with an inexpensive incentive, like a punch-card-style promotional program. Play 9 holes and your 10th is free. This type of scheme encourages repeat visits while highlighting the value of your business. And people love that stuff – and are more inclined to bring friends and spend more money where they feel valued.
There you have it! Some effective and highly engaging ideas to increase revenue and foot traffic into your mini golf business. With these practices in place you can work towards expanding your reach. Now that’s a hole-in-one!