Just figured I'd share how we advertise movies/times and see how everyone does theirs. We're Kasson State Theatre in Kasson, MN. Started in 1937 as a cinema. 7 or 8 churches then operated in the building until 1998 when it was restored back to a movie theater by two local sisters. They listed it for sale and I bought it in March of 2020, just one week before we had to shutdown for Covid. We reopened in March of 2021 for Godzilla and have been open for first run movies since then. This is not my primary business but my main business income is what allowed me to purchase a single screen theatre that does not turn much of a profit.... yet ha!
For movies and our showtimes, we post them on:
-Website
-Phone Hotline
-Facebook with boosted post of $50 per week
-Mailchimp email list
-Our marquee
-Google Business
The old owners prior to March 2020 used to put them in our local newspaper as well but I have not done that yet and am not sure if it's worth it. Our attendance is much lower than I'd like but it's still Covid. Our Google review average is 4.6 and Facebook is 4.9 so we are well liked. We went from 1,670 FB likes when I bought it and took over the page to 3,060 now so that has been successful growth over 2 years.
We're making updates to the Theatre, repairing things, renovating things that are noticeable. We receive great feedback from customers in person and via online reviews.
Should we add back in newspaper ads or just keep doing what we're doing and hope for the best that more people find us and choose us over the 3 big multiplexes just 15-20 miles away? We're adding a small second screen and will be doing some power recliners this year which is a fan favorite for some people.
Has anyone used Groupon to offer a promotion? They have been hounding us to offer something through them and I don't think it would hurt to try it.
Does Radio or TV work at all? I don't think the ROI is there.
We have some very loyal customers that I see often but we need more new customers, not the just the loyal customers over and over. We're doing our best to impress new people on their first visit and hope they come back and bring their friends with them. I think our growth will become a snowball effect once we get some more momentum.
For movies and our showtimes, we post them on:
-Website
-Phone Hotline
-Facebook with boosted post of $50 per week
-Mailchimp email list
-Our marquee
-Google Business
The old owners prior to March 2020 used to put them in our local newspaper as well but I have not done that yet and am not sure if it's worth it. Our attendance is much lower than I'd like but it's still Covid. Our Google review average is 4.6 and Facebook is 4.9 so we are well liked. We went from 1,670 FB likes when I bought it and took over the page to 3,060 now so that has been successful growth over 2 years.
We're making updates to the Theatre, repairing things, renovating things that are noticeable. We receive great feedback from customers in person and via online reviews.
Should we add back in newspaper ads or just keep doing what we're doing and hope for the best that more people find us and choose us over the 3 big multiplexes just 15-20 miles away? We're adding a small second screen and will be doing some power recliners this year which is a fan favorite for some people.
Has anyone used Groupon to offer a promotion? They have been hounding us to offer something through them and I don't think it would hurt to try it.
Does Radio or TV work at all? I don't think the ROI is there.
We have some very loyal customers that I see often but we need more new customers, not the just the loyal customers over and over. We're doing our best to impress new people on their first visit and hope they come back and bring their friends with them. I think our growth will become a snowball effect once we get some more momentum.
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