Bar Coasters Advertising

Bar Coasters Advertising Metrics

Targeting: bar and restaurants targeted by DMA or Zip Code

Reach: 2,000 units per venue per month

Average exposure: 3 hours

Impressions per month: 500,000-700,000

CPM (cost per thousand impressions): $1-5

Bar Coasters Advertising: What if your brand could make an impression during every round of drinks?

Bar coasters advertising: Looking for a creative way to get your brand in front of customers? Imagine your message in the hands of every customer during their favorite happy hour hangout. With up to 3 hours of exposure per visit, bar coaster ads are the perfect way to leave a lasting impression. Bar coaster advertising is a game-changer, offering a high-visibility platform right under customers’ hands during their favorite downtime—whether at a bar, restaurant, or café. With every drink, your message stays front and center, turning casual sips into powerful brand impressions. Want to see how brands use this unique tactic to create lasting connections?

Bar Coasters Advertising – How Does it Work?

We use coasters as a premium ad space. Think of a bar coaster as your brand’s personal, moving billboard—except instead of sitting on a highway, it’s placed directly into the hands of your target audience. This tiny ad space travels with every drink, delivering your message in a relaxed, social setting where people are engaged and receptive. It’s clever, impactful, and turns every sip into an opportunity for brand recall!

Targeting: We take targeting to the next level by leveraging demographic profiling to ensure your ad reaches the right audience every time. Whether it’s age, gender, DMA, or even spending habits, we tailor the venues where your ads appear to align perfectly with your specific target market. It’s precision marketing at its best—placing your message in front of the right people, in the right places, for maximum impact.

Reach and impressions: The bar coaster advertising program can be run locally or nationwide since most metropolitan regions are covered. This is a guaranteed impression as the consumers take the bar coasters in their hands. Approximately 2,000 coasters are distributed by each venue per month.  Each coaster is viewed 8-12 times by (on average) 3-4 other people daily, generating 32-50 impressions over 7 days. Depending on how busy the venue is selected, this translates into 500,000 to 700,000 monthly impressions and an impressive CPM ranging from $1 to $3. Now, put this into the perspective of other media:

Recall rate: Bar coasters advertising goes beyond just generating impressions—it’s about creating a lasting impact that drives recall rates.

Case Studies: How Brands Have Leveraged Bar Coaster Campaigns

Brands across various industries have found unique and creative ways to leverage bar coasters for their interactive campaigns. Let’s explore a few case studies:

Snack Manufacturer: A popular snack brand launched a campaign featuring a QR code on bar coasters. The code led customers to an online contest, where patrons could scan the code to enter sweepstakes to win a year’s supply of snacks, driving both online engagement and product awareness.

Entertainment Company: A media company promoting a new TV show used bar coasters in bars across major cities. By scanning the coaster’s QR code, patrons could view exclusive sneak peeks and behind-the-scenes footage of the show. This drove social media buzz and created excitement around the premiere.

University Recruitment: A university used bar coasters to target college-age students during enrollment season. The coasters encouraged students to scan the code and sign up for an open house event. The result? An increase in attendance and awareness of their academic programs.

FAQ: Everything You Need to Know About Bar Coaster Advertising

What is bar coaster advertising?

Bar coaster advertising involves placing branded messages, visuals, or promotional content directly on coasters in bars, pubs, or restaurants. These coasters are used by customers during their visit, creating multiple impressions of the brand message as they enjoy their food and drinks.

How effective is bar coaster advertising for brand awareness?

Bar coaster ads are highly effective for brand awareness because they offer repeated exposure. Since patrons spend extended time in bars or restaurants, they are likelier to notice and interact with the ads, especially in relaxed settings. The novelty of the format also helps in brand recall compared to traditional advertising.

What types of businesses can benefit from advertising on bar coasters?

Bar coaster ads are ideal for businesses targeting:

Local businesses looking to reach nearby customers (restaurants, bars, gyms)

Entertainment companies promoting concerts, events, or new releases

Food and beverage brands promoting new products

Apps and online platforms that want to encourage downloads or sign-ups from social settings

How do you design a bar coasters ad for maximum impact?

To design an effective bar coasters ad use bold, eye-catching visuals that stand out in a crowded environment. Keep the message simple and direct; focus on a single offer or CTA (e.g., a QR code leading to a discount or digital experience). Include a call-to-action encouraging immediate interaction, such as “Scan for a free drink!” or “Follow us on Instagram.”

Can bar coasters ads drive digital engagement?

Yes, bar coaster ads can be a powerful tool to drive digital engagement. Brands can track user interaction by incorporating QR codes that lead to social media profiles, websites, or promotions. This not only increases the effectiveness of the campaign but also provides measurable results on engagement rates.

How cost-effective is bar coasters advertising compared to traditional ads?

Bar coaster advertising tends to be more cost-effective than traditional forms of advertising, like billboards or digital ads. With low production costs and high visibility in a concentrated environment, the Cost Per Thousand Impressions (CPM) can be significantly lower. For local campaigns, this can lead to excellent ROI.

What are some creative use cases for bar coasters ads?

Creative use cases for bar coaster ads include gaming companies promoting app downloads or new games by placing QR codes on coasters; universities promoting online courses or enrollment with campus-themed visuals; legal firms, such as DUI lawyers, using bar coasters in bars to raise awareness about their services in high-risk settings.

How can I track the success of my bar coasters ad campaign?

To track the success of a bar coaster ad campaign, include QR codes linked to custom landing pages or promotions, Unique promo codes that can be redeemed online or in-store; Monitor social media hashtags or UGC (user-generated content) where patrons might share pictures of the coasters online.

Bar coaster advertising puts your brand message directly into the hands of engaged consumers in relaxed, social environments like bars, pubs, and restaurants. It’s an innovative and memorable way to connect with a local or targeted audience while driving brand recall and engagement. Interested in learning more about how bar coaster advertising can work for your brand? Watch the video below.