UPshow Announces Acquisition by EverPass Media and Strategic Spinoff of Employee Experience Platform — Click to Read More
Hyatt Regency in Scottsdale, Arizona is a resort known for quality, family-friendly experiences. While the hotel, like most, relies on review sites and testimonials to bolster its reputation, Hyatt takes its brand strategy to the next level with a customer engagement platform: that’s right, UPshow.
Here’s how Hyatt Regency Scottsdale masters the UPshow Effect:
Great resorts attract many people, including influencers. Online influencers posting about your business is an extremely powerful form of word of mouth, especially in the hospitality industry, where a good reputation is vital. When a tastemaker like Tonya Michelle shares her choice to stay at the Hyatt, her 842k followers view it as a trustworthy stamp of approval for the brand — something they are likely to keep in mind next time they plan a trip.
Much of hospitality advertising targets a core audience of individuals, couples, and families who come to visit; however, a lucrative secondary audience is comprised of groups that come for special events, and the companies that book event spaces. When this audience shares their experiences to the UPshow screen, they publicizing to other organizations the extent of the Hyatt’s event-hosting amenities that could otherwise go unnoticed.
Lobbies are designed to be pleasant places for people to loiter, but Hyatt takes theirs to the next level by using the screen in their lobby to advertise seasonal programming and promotions. Because guests’ attention is captivated the TV, they are more likely to notice the information being shared than if it were shared using more traditional methods like fliers.
This month, UPshow hosted the 2019 Proximity Awards, celebrating innovation in the world of in-venue engagement. The awards were inspired by the overwhelming success of our partners, and were born out of a desire to acknowledge the engagement achievements made by many businesses across the nation.
The awards recognize winners across 11 different categories. Our panel surveyed thousands of nominees before selecting final recipients based on their extraordinary innovation, ambition, and creativity. View the winners
The Proximity Awards also released its Featured 40 List, honoring businesses that stand out as leaders of transforming in-venue engagement. View the Featured 40
To learn more about the awards and 2019’s winners, click here.
You’re a busy person. You only have so much extra time — time that you probably aren’t going to spend scrolling the Internet for every scrap of customer engagement news you can find. But that doesn’t mean you don’t want to stay on the cutting edge when it comes to connecting with your audience. If only everything you needed to know was in one convenient place…
That’s where THE SUBTWEET comes in. THE SUBTWEET is a bi-weekly newsletter that delivers the future of in-venue engagement to your inbox.
Each issue covers the latest, most entertaining trends we’ve spotted and think are worth hearing about. Find out answers to questions you’ve always had, like: why everyone loves those infamous hashtag holidays, whether it’s worth renovating your space to be selfie-worthy, and how to get customers to stop asking to speak with a manager.
Subscribe to THE SUBTWEET today to stay informed, learn new things, and put a smile on your face.
David Chen, owner of Chick-Fil-A Southroads, and Mallory Givens, Director of Marketing at Chick-Fil-A Grovetown, pride themselves on creating a space that connects with and celebrates the community in which their Chick-Fil-A restaurant is located. However, when the traditional community board in the restaurant started to be a drain on time and resources, both David and Mallory looked to find a better option.
The classic community boards were made from chalkboard, making it labor-intensive and pricey to update. A chalk artist had to come in to redesign the board, and changes to information displayed were far from instant. In addition, the static art could only communicate one or two messages at a time.
That’s why when David and Mallory discovered UPshow, they were thrilled.
UPshow is a digital in-venue engagement platform that connects directly to a business’s existing televisions, creating a dynamic, interactive display with a host of features. All David and Mallory had to do was replace the chalkboard in their community frame with a screen. Instead of showing one or two messages, the screen cycles through multiple, so customers don’t miss a thing.
It’s not just digital signage. UPshow’s interactive social media display brings people together and draws attention to the community board by allowing diners to share their Chick-Fil-A experience on-screen. All they have to do is post a photo or video on Instagram or Twitter -- the post is moderated and then displayed on the screen within minutes, creating a special moment for them and driving word-of-mouth online for the restaurant.
David and Mallory can then view CRM data about how their customers interact with the screen, whether they are scanning a mobile coupon or downloading the loyalty app. They are able to do this, and make any other updates to the board, with a few clicks of a mouse -- UPshow’s cloud-based control panel is accessible by phone or computer, and can be set up to manage one or multiple locations.
“It hits our 3 ‘Ps’: people, place, and product. We can talk about new products, leave legacy of impact, and bring the community into our store so easily. [The] passion for ensuring this platform is utilized for all its worth makes UPshow far above the others.” -Mallory Givens, Director of Marketing, Chick-Fil-A Grovetown
Recommended Resources
5 Reasons Why Branded TV for Bars & Restaurants Is Better Than Digital Signage
4 Social Media Facts That Make or Break Restaurants
How to Make Restaurant Digital Signage More Than A Slideshow: Branded TV for Bars & Restaurants
Long-time UPshow partner Big Onion Tavern Group is a hospitality group that specializes in creating venues that are welcoming, unique, and fun. With brands ranging from Fatpour Tap Works and Hopsmith Tavern, to The Irish Oak and more, there’s a good chance that if you’re out and about in Chicago, you’ll stop by a Big Onion venue — and an equally good chance that you’ll be able to post on their UPshow screen!
Here’s how Big Onion Tavern Group masters the UPshow Effect:
It’s 2019, and traditional restaurant reviews are far from the only factor people use to decide where to eat. In fact, on top of using Instagram to look up restaurants, 30% of millennials say they will avoid a restaurant that is poorly represented on social media. So, when food influencers like @bakedbrie_ stop by, their posts can have a huge impact. Not only does a professional-quality pasta photo get showcased on the screen — Brie is also telling her 2.5k+ followers that Fatpour Tap Works is foodie approved!
Hopsmith has a lot of unique ways to make its guests feel important, one of which is the Thursday night giveaway. While winning some merch already makes a customer’s night, the tavern takes it to the next level by sharing the winner’s photo on the UPshow screen. Not only does the customer leave with a prize in hand, they also feel valued and acknowledged by the venue, reinforcing their brand loyalty with a guaranteed unforgettable experience.
The best marketing strategies are ones that promote your brand while driving further interaction with future marketing. Here, Irish Oak promotes their own social media accounts on the UPshow screen. By promoting these channels while customers are at the point-of-action (i.e. they are already on social media when using UPshow!), the pub increases the number of people who will heed the call-to-action and follow them on social media.
Blackfinn Ameripub is a reinvention of the classic American pub, offering food , drinks, and a lively atmosphere perfect for spending time with friends, family and colleagues.
Here’s how Blackfinn Ameripub engages regulars and newcomers alike with the UPshow Effect:
Anyone who has visited Blackfinn already knows that it’s a good time, but what about everyone else? While many people may be sharing pictures of the food and beverages on their own, Blackfinn uses UPshow to encourage guests to share their whole experience, not just their plate. This leads to unique aspects of visiting Blackfinn — like playing giant Jenga games — to extend beyond the four walls of the venue, showing potential new customers just how special it is!
Every customer post is a benefit, but another business posting about your brand can be an extra-powerful endorsement - especially when they are highlighting an aspect not normally seen by day-to-day customers. Here, a tech networking group posts and communicates to all their followers that Blackfinn is a great place for business! Another hidden benefit? Blackfinn can tout UPshow as an exciting perk for others looking to host an event at the pub.
Finally, what does Blackfinn do to capitalize on all the attention they have focused on their screens? Sure, they show menu specials and other promotions, but they also use it as an opportunity to continue the customer engagement journey. By going beyond the basic and displaying messaging about joining the Blackfinn perks program, the pub captures guests at the moment they are most invested in their experience and tells them about ways they can become even more involved — increasing the likelihood that diners will join the program.
It’s 2019, and a new year means it’s time for new marketing resolutions. As a business owner, there are a lot of goals to choose from — especially when it comes to how your marketing affects your customer experience. If you pick one goal to focus on, it should be to reduce the amount of interruption marketing in your playbook and invest more in immersive marketing solutions that keep customer satisfaction top of mind.
UPshow CEO, Adam Hirsen, shares his favorite strategies for communicating marketing in a way that complements the customer experience, rather than interrupting it. Click the link below to read the full article on Forbes.com.
Why Your Business's 2019 Resolution Should Be Quitting Interruption Marketing
Another year has come and gone, and 2018 has been our best yet. To celebrate, we thought we’d take a look back at the past twelve months with you. While some updates are still under wraps, there’s a lot to review, so let’s get started!
2018 was a record year for accolades, new hires, office square footage and more:
Stay tuned for our case studies series on specific brands. The non-specifics? Well…
UPshow made strides into two new industries that couldn’t get enough!
Every screen draws influencers, but some had especially recognizable smiles:
Countless special memories were captured on every UPshow screen, including:
Riot Hospitality Group is a hospitality management company dedicated to providing unique and meaningful experiences for each and every guest.
Wherever the venue, RHG offers guests something special, from spectacular décor, to delicious food and drink options, to a welcoming community. These efforts across all of the RHG concepts — El Hefe, Whiskey Row, Riot House, Hand Cut, and Farm & Craft — culminate in what anyone would call the perfect night out (especially when it’s captured on an UPshow screen!)
Here’s how Riot Hospitality Group masters the UPshow Effect:
Celebrity Shoutouts
What’s better than a celebrity visiting your venue? A celebrity posting about visiting your venue! When Bob Saget stopped by Whiskey Row Nashville, he shared this photo from his visit to the UPshow screen. As a result, any of his one million fans passing through Nashville will know that Dierks Whiskey Row has the Bob Saget stamp of approval, making it well worth a visit!
Influential Employees
Customers aren’t the only ones who can grace the UPshow screen! El Hefe has a significant amount of staff who double as influencers online. Getting employees excited about using UPshow is great because it helps guests become equally excited and involved. Having employees with a strong social media following use UPshow is even better, because when these staff members post, they’re also promoting the business to all of their followers outside the four walls of the venue.
Connected Marketing Campaigns
The best marketing strategies are ones that promote your brand while driving further interaction with future marketing materials. Here, El Hefe Chicago makes the best of both worlds by creating an UPshow spotlight that promotes their text club. Instead of getting into the mentality that the two marketing assets are separate (and relegating the above information to a boring table tent), they get clever and promote their special deals in the place where they’ll shine most.
Since 1998, Premier Martial Arts has helped thousands of students of all ages realize their full potential and develop the skills necessary to build a successful life. With a curriculum focused on character development in addition to self-defense, every student leaves their training with something to be proud of.
Where do proud students share their progress? On UPshow, of course! Here’s how Premier Martial Arts takes their screens to the next level with the UPshow Effect:
"UPshow has been a great addition to PMA. The spotlight feature is a great way to pre-frame other training programs, new students, and special announcements!" -Myles B., VP of Premier Martial Arts
While simple, PMA’s frequent use of UPshow’s spotlight feature has proven incredibly effective. Instead of posting up flyers or making in-class announcements that no one will remember, PMA posts important information where students can’t miss it — on the TV. Additionally, because of how often PMA updates their screen with new and interesting announcements, their students have learned to look to it as a resource, ensuring no promotions, introductions, or special events go unnoticed.
"[It’s] such a great tool for so many reasons; it allows your families to interact and keep connected on another level, students have fun seeing themselves on the screen so they continue to post which in turn provides great marketing opportunities for us." -Eric Arriaga, Owner of PMA Harlingen
We’ve said it before: no matter how much effort a business puts into other marketing, nothing is more persuasive than word-of-mouth referrals. PMA has no shortage of positive testimonials, and they’ve leveraged that feedback UPshow’s social display feature. When proud parents and students share big achievements and smiling faces on-screen, they are also sharing that positive experience at PMA with their hundreds (sometimes thousands) of followers — essentially giving PMA a public endorsement for free.
One thing we at UPshow particularly admired is how PMA harnesses the platform to build their brand. Instead of simply leaving on-screen sharing to students, PMA makes an effort to regularly share content from their own social accounts. Not only does it delight students to see themselves celebrated, it also gives PMA the opportunity to reinforce their business as one that is believes firmly in community, hard work, and inclusion. Shown side by side with customer posts, anyone looking at the screen can clearly see the results of PMA’s brand promise.
Powerhouse Gym has been a leader in the fitness industry for over 40 years. Defined by its motivating and friendly atmosphere, expert staff, and top-of-the-line exercise equipment, every member is provided with what they need to succeed.
How do members show off their results? On UPshow, of course! Here’s how Powerhouse Gym takes their screens to the next level with the UPshow Effect:
Powerhouse Gym promises to provide members with a friendly, cohesive atmosphere. The best way to demonstrate that they follow through on this claim? Not with advertising, but with the voice of their members.
Word-of-mouth is found to be more meaningful and trustworthy than any other marketing medium. When Powerhouse uses UPshow to encourage members to share their experience on social media, they are driving free word-of-mouth for their brand, creating marketing that spreads the gym’s message in the most authentic and effective way possible.
According to Powerhouse, “It is not uncommon to see an A-list celebrity training at [the gym]” including stars like Cameron Diaz and The Rock.
That said, no matter the location, every Powerhouse Gym can leverage their own celebrity-status members with UPshow. In an era where anyone can be an influencer, customer-generated content is a powerful tool with significant ROI. For example, when the above Instagrammer shares her workout on the UPshow screen, she is broadcasting her preference for Powerhouse Gym to all 20,000+ of her followers — creating a slew of potential new members who have now heard the Powerhouse name from someone they admire.
It won’t surprise anyone to hear that Powerhouse has a wide variety of classes and training programs with highly experienced trainers. Rather than try to promote their extensive offerings with various flyers or table tents at the welcome desk (efforts that are sure to go unnoticed), Powerhouse takes advantage of UPshow’s spotlight feature. By consolidating all of their announcements on-screen, the gym transforms their TVs into a designated communication hub that members know to look to for all their information needs.
More details on how you can optimize digital signage for your gym here: Gym + Fitness Solutions
Honor Yoga is a community offering classes and workshops to yoga practitioners of all experience-levels. With an emphasis on creating an approachable, loving environment to honor the mind, body & self, it’s no surprise that studios choose to celebrate members with UPshow.
Let’s see how Honor Yoga masters the “UPshow Effect”:
Honor Yoga touts a strong belief in the power of a tight-knit community where all feel welcome. This is a value that many appreciate in a health and fitness space, and it means so much more when proof of that community comes directly from a member! This user-generated content is an incredibly effective way to market via word-of-mouth, as it is significantly more trusted than traditional advertising efforts.
One thing that many health and fitness spaces don’t often think about is the influencing power of their members! While to you a member or customer is simply “Devin with the cool yoga mat,” online they could be a massive presence with hundreds or even tens of thousands of people paying attention to their choices, advice, and recommendations. When @hobokengirlblog gives Honor Yoga a shoutout, her audience becomes 46.6k potential new members.
With everything from specialty classes to training for all types of instructors, Honor Yoga has much more to offer than your standard sun salutation. With standard signage like flyers, however, these unique marketing materials could get lost in the fray. By putting the announcements on UPshow, every class, workshop, and promotion gets its own dedicated time in the spotlight, so members are sure to notice. Plus, Honor Yoga takes spotlights a step further by using them celebrate their dedicated members and instructors, adding an extra something special to their UPshow usage.
