Introduction – You’re Not Just a Pub
Gary Vee has been repeating it for a decade: “Every business is a media company.”
In 2025, that includes pubs. You’re not just pouring pints or running events — you’re running a media brand. Every quiz, every band, every pint pour is content that fuels attention. And in hospitality, attention = full tables.
Image Prompt 1: Pub exterior with a neon sign above it reading “MEDIA COMPANY” glowing alongside the pub name, cinematic photorealism.
Why Think Like a Media Company?
- Media-first businesses see 3–4× higher engagement than sales-first businesses (HubSpot, 2024).
- Pubs that treat events as media moments fill up 20% faster (CGA Strategy, 2024).
- Customers trust pubs with active social feeds 60% more than those that go quiet (Morning Advertiser, 2024).
When you act like a media company, you win attention before your competitors even switch their cameras on.
Step 1: Switch the Mindset
Gary says: “Don’t just be in your business. Market your business.”
- See every shift as a chance to produce content.
- Treat staff like cast members.
- Think of customers as part of the story.
You’re not just serving. You’re broadcasting.
Step 2: Create a Publishing Schedule
Media companies publish daily. So should pubs.
- TikTok = raw fun moments.
- Instagram = polished reels + vibes.
- Facebook = events + albums.
- Stories = daily heartbeat.
📌 Rule: If nothing is posted today, the pub is invisible today.
Step 3: Capture Big Content, Slice It Down
This is Gary’s content pyramid.
- Friday band = 20+ posts.
- Quiz night = 10+ posts.
- Sunday family meals = 5+ posts.
Big content → chopped into micro-content → distributed daily.
Step 4: Treat Staff Like Presenters
Pubs already have personalities behind the bar. Media companies put those personalities forward.
- Introduce staff on camera.
- Let bartenders take over TikTok for a night.
- Have quizmasters do Q&A reels.
Staff become the stars of your “show.”
Step 5: Build a Local Audience, Not Just Customers
Gary says: “The audience is the asset.”
- People might follow your socials months before visiting.
- Locals engage with your memes and posts even if they don’t come every week.
- That attention compounds, so when they do decide to go out — you’re first choice.
Case Study – Pub as Media Company
A small pub started streaming quiz nights on Facebook Live.
- Locals tuned in weekly.
- Audience grew even outside the area.
- Within 6 months, quiz night doubled in attendance — and sponsors paid to be featured.
By acting like a broadcaster, they created new revenue.
Step 6: Monetise Attention
Media companies don’t just sell ads. Pubs can monetise too:
- Sponsored events (local breweries).
- Paid shout-outs on busy feeds.
- Selling merch featured in videos.
Attention creates multiple income streams beyond drinks and food.
Mistakes to Avoid
- Thinking content = “extra work.”
- Posting only when there’s time.
- Treating social media as advertising, not storytelling.
Linking to Your Free Resource
Want to learn how to turn your pub into a media company step by step?
👉 Try The Gary Vee Pub Marketing GPT — free, built for landlords.
Linking Back to the Cornerstone
Becoming a media company is the core of Gary’s playbook. Full framework here →
👉 Gary Vee Social Media Marketing for Pubs: The Ultimate 2025 Guide
And if you want tools that automate media-company style posting →
👉 Check out SmartPubTools
Conclusion – Your Pub is a Media Brand
Gary’s principle is simple: attention is the currency, content is the vehicle.
For pubs, that means stop thinking like a pub with a Facebook page. Start thinking like a media company with a pub attached. The landlord who makes that shift owns the local attention market — and the profit.
