The Power of the Chalkboard
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- August 5, 2020
- All Stories
- 3 mins read
Chalkboards have been trending for a while now, and for good reason! There are many advantages to using them. Firstly, they’re flexible, allowing you to quickly adjust your offerings, and secondly, they often have an authentic look that lets you present your menu beautifully. However, it doesn’t always go well… Here are 10 tips to boost your chalkboard skills and create a kick-ass display!
Tip 1: Starting with a new chalkboard? Prepare it by completely covering it in chalk and then rubbing it down with a dry cloth. This ensures that old prints are less visible during subsequent use.
Tip 2: You can use a chalk marker, but regular chalk works fine indoors too and is much cheaper. You can use a pencil sharpener to sharpen your chalk, giving you cleaner lines.
Tip 3: Plan what you want to write beforehand. This way you’ll make fewer mistakes and know approximately how much space you need. Try to make your text personal and really engage people with it.
Tip 4: Check your spelling carefully! Nothing looks more amateurish than a chalkboard with clumsy spelling mistakes… though I must admit it can also lead to extra attention, e.g., via social media 😉 Still, I always recommend having your text properly checked.
Tip 5: Place some “guide dots” on your chalkboard beforehand so you write straighter and use the space correctly. Finding it difficult to write neatly? Use block letters between two rows of “guide dots”. Perhaps someone on your team has neater handwriting, so it would be smart to ask them to take on this task.
Tip 6: Don’t use too much text. Keep it short and powerful. Remember that when passing by (e.g., an A-board outside), people usually don’t read more than 6 to 10 words. The rest won’t stick. It’s better to have one good special or promotion than writing the entire menu in tiny letters. Sometimes a simple drawing can help attract more attention.
Tip 7: Preferably use a white marker on a good dark chalkboard. Colored markers are harder to remove and are usually also harder to read.
Tip 8: Want to communicate something that you want to keep up for a longer time? For things like opening hours or signs for the toilets, don’t choose a chalk marker—use a white paint marker instead. This way the text stays put, and you don’t have to redo it constantly.
Tip 9: It might seem obvious, but I still see it happening a lot: chalk markers aren’t always waterproof, so if there’s a chance of rain, it’s not wise to put your board outside. Use waterproof chalk markers for outdoor work. You can easily remove these with special cleaning spray and a sponge.
Tip 10: With smaller chalkboards on the table, you can flexibly communicate changing messages. Think of a welcome message for your guests, a daily special, a combo deal, an interesting question or suggestion, or a nice quote. This makes your tables a bit more unique. Plus, guests at the table always have much more time to read the message.
One more bonus tip: it’s easier if you lay your chalkboard down when writing, so do that if possible.
With these tips, you should be all set… remember that it’s not at all bad if your chalkboard doesn’t look perfect. It’s authentic and appeals to people. Moreover, it’s still better than a printed text on a white A4 sheet.
Still need a list of simple revenue tips? Tips to get more returning guests who also spend more? Download my free e-book with 15 tips to generate more revenue for hospitality entrepreneurs HERE.
Good luck!
Greetings, Suus
Hey! I’m Suus and I guide hospitality entrepreneurs who struggle to create consistently sufficient revenue. I help them use online and offline marketing in such a way that they attract more guests, who spend more and return more often.
