15 Dec Little Red Barn 2023-2024 Annual Case Study
About Little Red Barn
Nestled in the vibrant heart of San Antonio, Little Red Barn Steakhouse stands as a testament to enduring culinary excellence. Celebrating its 60th anniversary in September 2023, this iconic steakhouse has been a beloved fixture for both locals and visitors. Known for its hearty steaks and warm, Western-themed ambiance, Little Red Barn offers a unique dining experience that has earned it a special place in the community. Every Wednesday, guests can enjoy $5 margaritas, adding to the restaurant’s appeal. Little Red Barn also proudly participates in Culinaria twice a year, showcasing its commitment to the local food scene. Whether you’re a longtime patron or a first-time visitor, Little Red Barn Steakhouse promises a memorable and delicious dining experience in San Antonio.
Little Red Barn Steakhouse
1836 South Hackberry Street
San Antonio, TX
(210)-532-4235
https://lrbsteakhouse.com
Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok
Project
In May 2023, Little Red Barn engaged Embark Marketing to revitalize their digital presence and enhance brand awareness. Through initial consultations, we determined that an integrated communications approach would be most effective. This strategy involved the development and execution of comprehensive services, including content creation, social media management, advertising, and public relations. Our collaboration has flourished since then, with Embark Marketing consistently delivering tailored solutions to support and elevate Little Red Barn’s business goals. This case study focuses on the annual success of Little Red Barn’s marketing strategy from June 2023 to June 2024.
Strategy
To rejuvenate the brand’s social media presence, we recognized the importance of clearly defining the brand’s visual identity, voice, tone, and overall ambiance. We placed significant emphasis on creating fresh and engaging content, utilizing professional photography and videography that seamlessly integrate with the brand’s established identity. Additionally, we executed a comprehensive digital advertising strategy on Facebook and Instagram to enhance brand awareness and promote special events. This included targeted ads, influencer partnerships, and interactive campaigns designed to engage our audience and drive traffic to Little Red Barn. By combining these efforts, we aim to create a cohesive and vibrant online presence that resonates with our community and attracts new patrons.
Social Media Management
Strategy
To revamp the restaurant’s social media presence, Embark Marketing focused on two key platforms: Facebook and Instagram. This strategic choice aimed to engage the local San Antonio audience effectively while boosting awareness among both regular patrons and tourists. A crucial aspect of this initiative involved defining the brand’s visual identity and unique voice. The team prioritized creating fresh, compelling content using professional-grade photography and videography. Additionally, a comprehensive digital advertising strategy was implemented across all social media platforms. This approach was designed to enhance brand awareness and actively promote events hosted by Little Red Barn.
Content Creation
As social media trends continue to evolve and internal research suggests, Embark Marketing chose to focus on a blend of photo and video content that best showcases the ambiance and cuisine. Furthermore, the growth of the accounts was notably driven by new campaigns, including participation in Culinaria, $5 Margarita Wednesdays, and other promotional activities.
Social Media
Located near Downtown San Antonio, this beloved restaurant attracts a diverse mix of both younger and older patrons. Embark Marketing’s main goal was to boost engagement and grow the follower base across all social media platforms.
From June 2023 to June 2024, our Instagram following experienced an extraordinary boost, growing by 3,150 users—an impressive 14,000% increase from the previous year. Engagement levels soared to 9,714, reflecting a substantial 412.9% rise year-over-year. Additionally, impressions reached a remarkable 512,745, marking a phenomenal 665% growth compared to the previous year.
What does this mean? With the increase in followers on Instagram, evidence shows that the business continued to gain support from tourists & local patrons as we continued to provide engaging content with the increase in posting frequency.
Over the past year, Little Red Barn’s Facebook page grew by 1,319 likes.
What does this mean? The growth of followers on Instagram has played a pivotal role in Rosario’s expansion, indicating loyalty from both existing and new patrons. Users actively engage with the regularly posted content, contributing to an overall enhancement in the business’s performance.
X (Formerly known as, Twitter)
Although we didn’t specifically target X (formerly known as Twitter), we maintained a presence by organically sharing content on the platform alongside our other SEO-focused posts. Over the past year, Little Red Barn saw a modest yet steady increase of 5 new followers on Twitter.
TIKTOK
Given TikTok’s growing popularity, we decided to create an account for the brand. Embark Marketing consistently posted 1-2 times per week, using video content that we developed. As a result, Little Red Barn has gained 162 new followers and accumulated 988 likes. Each video averages over 400 views.
Reputation Management
In the food and beverage industry, maintaining a brand’s digital presence on review platforms like Yelp, Google for Business, and Facebook is crucial. Over 94% of restaurant patrons conduct online research and consult reviews before making their dining decisions, greatly impacting a brand’s SEO ranking.
Located near the Alamodome and the Tower of the Americas, Little Red Barn frequently receives reviews due to its central location. Embark Marketing actively manages these reviews, addressing both positive and negative feedback promptly to maintain a positive online sentiment. As of August 2024, Little Red Barn holds a 4.1-star rating on Google, 3.3 stars on Yelp, and a 4-star rating on Facebook.
Public Relations
To support Little Red Barn’s goals, we identified a local public relations strategy as a key opportunity to boost traffic to this San Antonio staple, showcase the restaurant’s events and promotions, and enhance awareness of its classic steakhouse offerings.
One of the main objectives was to attract new customers by promoting various special events and promotions throughout the year. We collaboratively developed and executed a range of event campaigns, including their 60th Anniversary Celebration, participation in Culinaria’s Restaurant Week, and a Father’s Day meal promotion. Although press releases were not included in their package, we distributed them to local news media outlets across San Antonio. This effort resulted in coverage in over 8 articles and news segments across 5 publications.
Marketing Services for the Restaurant Industry
Embark Marketing partnered with San Antonio’s iconic Little Red Barn Steakhouse to revitalize its digital presence and boost brand awareness. Through a targeted, integrated marketing strategy, we helped the restaurant achieve outstanding growth from June 2023 to June 2024. Instagram followers skyrocketed by 14,000%, engagement increased by 413%, and impressions grew by 665%. On Facebook, the page gained 1,319 new likes, while TikTok saw steady growth with 162 new followers. Our efforts, including professional content creation, a comprehensive social media strategy, and proactive reputation management, have strengthened Little Red Barn’s online presence, reinforcing its role as a local favorite.
Ready to enhance your restaurant’s visibility and customer engagement? Contact Embark Marketing for tailored marketing solutions that deliver exceptional results!