Polly Barnfield shows how Bar Rakuda turned a kitchen closure into a win by posting an appealing photo of coffee and cake, then explaining the refurbishment while inviting people to visit anyway. The tactic works for any operational problem: lead with something good, acknowledge the issue, highlight what's still available.
Chapters
Today we're looking at how to turn sentiment around a negative thing into positive using social media. This is Bar Rakuda, which is obviously a little play on words, which I really like. And this is their Instagram. As you can see, they are a very cool bar. They like to post a lot about their drinks. They've got their dj, lots of things going on, going on. They like to post where they are, what they're doing, that kind of thing. However, what I really liked about this is that this image obviously is something that, you know, I mean, it's, you know, looks a delicious coffee and a cake. So it's something that most people would really like. However, you wouldn't normally associate it, I guess, with, you know, a traditional bar. So what I really like is that what might make you interested. And then when you actually look at the caption, it says, our kitchen maybe may still be closed for refurbishment, but we still have some delicious sweet treats available. Come on down and join us for coffee and cake. So for a lot of people, I guess, who would be wanting to come down there for maybe other food or a drink, that kind of thing, and if it's not available, might be, you know, it might be seen as something quite negative. However, they pointed out it is a refurbishment, which again, is positive. You know, it's going to look better and be better. They pointed out, actually they still got some delicious things you can come down for. So it's kind of reframing in people's minds. So encourages people to come through the door for a coffee and a cake rather than just a drink. And again, because it's focusing on the kitchen being closed due to refurbishment, it makes you think over, okay, well, better things are coming. So it's Instagram can be. And general social media. If you've got something, you know, it might be, you know, might be in a flood, it might have been that the toilets are closed or whatever it is. You can still talk about it, but you can change the narrative and that's how you change sentiment on social media.
