Mardi Gras and Digital Marketing

Mardi Gras and digital marketing go hand in hand in New Orleans. By now, you’ve probably eaten more king cake than you ever imagined and have already put the pieces of your costume together. For many of us here in New Orleans, our events on Facebook are filled to the brim through Mardi Gras day. The world of social media has revolutionized the way we experience Mardi Gras. It has done this through apps that show the parade routes and events shared with various social media platforms. For those of us who would rather sit at home and experience it through TV – you can watch it streamed live.

When it comes to brands, there are many missed opportunities to expand and grow during Mardi Gras season. Velocity Agency believes in seizing every opportunity to help our clients grow, and we know Mardi Gras is the time to do so. Businesses in New Orleans should be stepping up their marketing efforts when Mardi Gras is around the corner. Just last year, more than 1.2 million people traveled to New Orleans to celebrate Mardi Gras. That number is three times the population of the city! Hotels alone can rake in over $52 million in just 12 days.

Here are three tactics that local businesses can do to amp up their business:

Facebook Ad Targeting

A Facebook status used to be much different than the Facebook statuses of today. They simply questioned what was on the user’s mind. Now, a Facebook status can do many things. Often, people traveling update their status to “Travelling to (city name here.)” With Facebook ad targeting, businesses can advertise their services directly to those people who make their status “Travelling to New Orleans.” This action makes advertising to tourists extremely cost-effective. These tourists may be near your business, see an ad pop up on their Facebook and lead them right through the door.

Mardi Gras Specials

It’s no secret that promotions and deals are common strategies to increase sales. However, with tourists, it’s a little different. Most people who are traveling do not plan on emptying their bank account. They often seek out Groupon deals, package specials, and one-time promotions to maximize their trip’s budget. Promoting a Mardi Gras special is an effective way to advertise. For example, if you are a restaurant, consider promoting a dinner special that comes with a king cake dessert. This special will entice tourists because they are not only saving money, but they are getting an exclusive taste of a New Orleans specialty at the same time.

Social Media

People all around the city are still going to be utilizing social media even with all the sights to see during Mardi Gras. A tourist may post a tweet that reads, “Where can I buy the best slice of #kingcake?” If you own a king cake shop, then you can simply answer them! Keep track of hashtags related to your business and also shared photos of your business. Be sure to thank users who are contributing to your conversations on social media. Don’t forget to share their posts to show other tourists how great your business is!

Velocity Agency has an experienced team that can take care of everything for you. From social media, media placement, paid advertisement, graphic design, animation and more. We can do anything and everything to make your brand stand out from the crowd. From all of us here at Velocity: we hope all of you have a fantastic Mardi Gras Season!