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12 happy hour promotion ideas, each with a 15-second video

· 3 min read

A happy hour only fills seats if people know about it and remember when it is. Below are twelve ideas, each with the words for a 15-second video. Swap in your own prices, hours and street, and post one a week.

Before you promote drink prices, check your state's liquor rules. Some states limit or ban happy-hour drink discounts, and some restrict how drink specials can be advertised. Several of the ideas below work with food deals alone.

Start from your slowest hours

The best happy hour fills a gap. If Tuesday at 4 pm is empty, that's your happy hour. Match the deal to the crowd you want (the after-work crowd, students, game fans, families) and to your margins: discount the items that cost you least, and let people come back for the rest.

1. Give your happy hour a name

"Happy hour" is everywhere. A name gives people something to remember and ask for: "The 4 to 6", "Golden Hour", "Early Shift".

  1. The 4 to 6 is back
  2. Half off small plates
  3. Monday to Friday

2. Lead with the food

A food-first happy hour works for guests who don't drink, for families, and where drink discounts are restricted.

  1. Happy hour is for snacks too
  2. $6 lumpia, $7 sliders
  3. 3 to 6 pm, every weekday

3. Add a late-night happy hour

A second window after the dinner rush fills the slowest part of the night and brings in the after-show and after-shift crowd.

  1. Late-night happy hour
  2. 9 pm to close
  3. Kitchen's still open

4. Run an industry night

Restaurant and bar workers go out when everyone else is home. A weeknight deal for them can become a regular crowd.

  1. Industry night
  2. Mondays from 9
  3. Half off for restaurant crews

5. Pair it with trivia or a game

The happy hour gets people in the door, and the game keeps them at the table.

  1. Trivia Tuesday
  2. Happy hour all night
  3. Teams up to six, 7 pm

6. One plate, one drink, one price

A single price is easy to remember and easy to say yes to.

  1. One plate + one drink
  2. $15
  3. Weekdays, 3 to 6 pm

7. Make it zero-proof

Alcohol-free drinks at happy-hour prices welcome everyone, and they're easier to promote where drink discounts are limited.

  1. Zero-proof happy hour
  2. $5 mocktails
  3. 3 to 6 pm daily

8. Move it outside

When the weather turns nice, the patio is the offer.

  1. Patio's open
  2. Happy hour outside
  3. 4 to 7 pm

9. Game-day happy hour

Pick the games your regulars watch and put the deal on screen.

  1. Game day happy hour
  2. $1 off wings
  3. Every Sunday kickoff

10. Bring the after-work groups

Offices plan their outings ahead. Make it easy to book a table for the team.

  1. After-work plans?
  2. Book 6 or more
  3. Get a free appetizer platter

11. Give each night its own deal

A different deal each night gives people a reason to come back on a different night.

  1. Taco Tuesday, wing Wednesday
  2. Burger Thursday
  3. Happy hour, 3 to 6

12. Post a last-call reminder

On the day, a short reminder catches people deciding where to go.

  1. Happy hour ends at 6
  2. You still have an hour
  3. See you soon

How to post them

For more on shooting the food and writing the words, see how to make a restaurant promo video.

Make them with Kinetix Promo

Kinetix Promo's Happy hour template starts you off. Add your photos and your logo, change the deal and the hours, and check every word. You get a version in each of our styles, on the beat of original music. There are more ideas among our restaurant templates.

Happy hour

Bring in the after-work crowd.

  1. Happy hour, 3 to 6.
  2. Monday to Friday.
  3. $5 drafts and sliders.
  4. See you at your business name.

Living Words · example: The Lanternfish (made up)

Use this template

Parties & events

Fill the patio or the private room.

  1. Planning a party?
  2. Our patio seats up to 40.
  3. Taco bar, your playlist.
  4. Free churros for 10 or more.

Unmix · example: Bluebird Tacos (made up)

Use this template