Cantina Añejo — Building Gainesville’s Hospitality Scene Through Media and Technology

Overview:

Cantina Añejo partnered with Black Lab Agency to modernize its digital presence and build a marketing system that converts social attention into measurable in-store results. Before the partnership, Cantina had no structured ad campaigns, minimal brand consistency, and low search visibility.

Our strategy focused on creating a complete, automated growth ecosystem tailored for hospitality brands. We deployed a multi-layered approach built around consistent content creation, conversion-focused advertising, and technology-driven automation:

• On-Site Content Creation: Our social media manager conducts professional photo and video shoots twice per month, ensuring Cantina always has fresh, high-quality assets for ads and organic posting.
• Paid Advertising: We developed Meta ad campaigns following current best practices, using voiceover-style videos and dynamic creatives optimized through Meta Pixel and Conversion API tracking.
• GoHighLevel Automation: Implemented a full CRM and loyalty funnel that connects social media interactions to customer databases, automatically sending coupons and tracking conversions.
• Toast Loyalty Integration: Synced in-store loyalty tracking with GoHighLevel sign-ups, creating a seamless connection between online engagement and in-person spending.
• Klaviyo Retention Flows: Added automated email and SMS campaigns to re-engage customers at 30-, 60-, and 90-day intervals.
• SEO and Local Visibility: Using SEMrush and Google Business optimization, we rebuilt Cantina’s local SEO strategy, targeting keywords like “best Mexican restaurant in Gainesville” and “Gainesville brunch.”

This integrated approach created a sustainable digital pipeline — from social discovery to customer retention — and positioned Cantina as a leading restaurant brand in Gainesville.

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Results:

Within 90 days, Cantina Añejo experienced measurable, data-driven growth across every major metric:

• 420% increase in total monthly reach across Meta platforms
• 230% higher engagement rate from ongoing social content
• 120% increase in online reservations booked through digital channels
• 500+ new loyalty members added within the first month of automation launch
• 10,000+ weekly impressions on Meta, up from zero at project start
• SEO ranking improvement from #18 to #1 for more than five high-value local keywords

The combination of automation, consistent content production, and precise targeting transformed Cantina into one of Gainesville’s most visible and frequently visited restaurants—turning social engagement directly into real revenue growth.

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