How To Brand Your Independent Escape Room Businesses

Editors Note

This is branding advice for a very niche business. If you don’t happen to run an escape room business, this advice still applies. Remove the specifics about escape rooms, add in the specifics about your business (exotic car washing, comic book store, specialty coffee shop, etc.), and you’ll be in a good place.

Branding strategies are designed to improve your brand awareness. The choice of activities, such as sponsorship or partnering with a social media influencer, is dictated by the knowledge that your audience group is likely to remain available over a prolonged period. As a result, it makes sense not only to consider a branding campaign that spreads across the entire business year, but also to offer cross channel activities.

However, if you work in the escape room industry, you know that you can’t afford to use similar branding tactics. The audience group is focused on the experience in your premises only. While you can promote your games through influencers, digital marketing campaigns, or even discount offers, you can’t use similar long-term strategies for your brand. As the typical escape room experience lasts up to 90 minutes – it’s a 60-minute-long game with a brief introduction and cool-down time –, you need to make the most of it to boost your brand.

Branded merchandise can make a difference

The typical is interested in solving the puzzles and enjoying the immersive story. Most people don’t stop to register your branding efforts. But, you can add unique and customized giveaways that will act as reminders of the experience. At the end of the game, you want to give the team something to remember your brand by. Players value a gimmick to keep after the game, so you have here the opportunity to impress without breaking the bank. Logo badges are a popular option. However, if you’re going to differentiate yourself, you need to consider investing in a personalizable item, such as a branded sign which you can cut out or engraved on the spot to add the name of the team. For independent owners, a hobbyist laser cutter is a cost-effective solution – be sure to check out a boss laser cutter review or two have an informed opinion. Ultimately, receiving an unexpected gift that has been customized is likely to make your brand memorable – and create returning customers.

Make your banners part of the experience

There is no denying that escape room players love to take a photo after the game. It’s the occasion to celebrate together and capture their experience. The picture also serves an essential purpose for Millennials and younger generations; it will be shared on social media. Dozens of friends, relatives and colleagues will get to see the photo, so it’s for you the occasion to showcase your brand, using branded banners with your logo and your URL in the background. Many companies also create added signs for the players to hold, from “We escaped!” to “Better luck next time”. You can also bring your brand to life in the design of the signs.

An important question about room branding

Lastly, as rooms need to be immersive, you shouldn’t add branded items that could damage the effect. You can, however, build each room with a thematic wow factor, which will get your customers talking. Some companies have made a name for themselves as innovators, through their use of tech gadgets in the game. Others are famous for their realistic horror decors, or even their hidden door approach.

For escape room owners, branding is all about making a lasting impression that players can share and remember. When you’ve got only an hour to impress, you need to be creative about letting your brand do the talking.

This is a contributed post.