Stressed? Low on cash? Still want to get your party on? With all the stresses of our current economic situation (and what comes with it) maybe you want to go out and have a few cold one’s on, say, a Wednesday evening. Easier said than done when you’re trying not to break the bank. Well, now you can have your beer and drink it too.With the easy access to the loads of digital information provided by mobile technologies, wouldn’t it be great if there were an app to sort though all the local websites and check out when and where all the happy hours were? Or what if you just want to check out a list of local shows? Well, now there is!ThirstyVIP LLC, a Santa Barbara startup company spearheaded by long-time local Tyler Beerman, helps nightlife venues promote their drink specials, happy hours, events, and shows directly to their target audience. Not only has ThirstyVIP developed an application to regurgitate all this information, they have also build the platforms from which the information is distributed.
Boasting a categorized information database on their website Tyler and his dedicated team have cranked out both a Facebook and Apple iPhone applications that can display all this wealth of information. This allows local advertisers to appeal directly to their target audiences by using the ThirstyVIP platform and will allow their ads to be distributed through both the mobile and social stratospheres, directly to users who are looking for deals on local events, happenings and nightlife.
Beerman describes the service as ”a social nightlife portal providing updated and accurate info from local bars and nightclubs. We strive to provide a useful and meaningful service for all of our users by providing social elements to enhance the nightlife experience.” A visit to the ThirstyVIP website will quickly guide you through to one of two landing pages: one for Promoters (ie; advertisers) and one for Partygoers.
Partygoers are offered convenient services, such as the ability to “build your own VIP Page, search for the best happy hours, and get hooked up with VIP Specials.” The overall drive for party-going users to join the network is to “save Money and have fun!”
Promoters, on the other hand, are drawn to the service to use ThirstyVIP as their “one stop promotional shop.” Promoters are offered “easy access login for updating all content and posting it in real-time and a unique page for each establishment (optimized for search engines).”
While the draw may be different for each type of user, the common goal is to drive traffic through the ThirstyVIP network. The website suggests that promoters use to service to “get eyeballs to your establishment’s website without running a newspaper ad, or printing thousands of flyers. In less than 5 minutes, you can update all the relevant content and promotions you want to represent your bar. Once everything is updated, it automatically feeds throughout our website, Facebook and iPhone app; directly to your target audience.”
In exchange for their information, party-going users get free content from the network, based on what the promoters have provided. But the kicker is the possibility for the viral spread of this information. “Say you are having a new promotional event at your bar,” suggests Beerman. “If people become interested in something at your bar they will likely invite friends to join them, or RSVP themselves. When multiple users on Facebook do so, a “group” posting will be made through the newsfeed of those users and their friends; letting your bar shamelessly promote itself, with ThirstyVIP users doing all the work for you!” It’s an easy way to get the best type of promotion there is available: word of mouth.