Owning a restaurant at present times comes with a ton of challenges. The competition is high, the market is segmented and demand is seeing a major transformation. While you need to keep up with the changing trends, it is also very important to promote your restaurant effectively to attract customers, build a loyal clientele, and establish a strong brand presence in the competitive food industry. Whether you are a new restaurant owner or looking to revamp your marketing efforts, here is a comprehensive guide on how to promote a restaurant successfully.
List of 16 Ways to Promote a Restaurant
1. Develop a Strong Online Presence
The best way to attract new customers is to have a steady online presence. A good-looking website will help you build a rapport with new visitors. Make sure that you have an easy-to-navigate website with all the updated offers, a complete menu, opening hours, location, and contact details. You can even have an extra navigation bar to offer exclusive coupons via your site.
For example, you can run offers on your site where visitors can click to buy a coupon. Also, add the option to book a table directly from your site. Furthermore, optimize your website for mobile devices to ensure a seamless experience for users on all devices.
2. Leverage Social Media Platforms
Social media now plays a major role in marketing a food brand or restaurant locally. If people are talking about you on the internet, know that you have done a pretty good job with your service. Make sure you are everywhere. Be it Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, or anything. You need to use these platforms to effectively spread the word about your food specials and restaurant.
Make sure you are posting food photos and pictures of your restaurant on a regular basis. Using hashtags to attract more followers. Also, you can run live contests and games on social media with special offers and regular updates. Share visually appealing images and videos of your dishes, behind-the-scenes moments, customer testimonials, and promotions. Interact with followers by responding to comments and messages promptly.
3. Engage in Local SEO
It is essential to optimize your restaurant’s online visibility through local search engine optimization (SEO). Get your restaurant listed on Google My Business and other online directories. Ensure that your business information is accurate, including address, phone number, and opening hours.
You can use effective keywords to target customers in your area. Try to find out what people in your area are searching for and can market your restaurant accordingly. It is crucial to first need to find out what people are searching for, and you can use it to rank higher on those keywords.
Either you can use your website to make it SEO-friendly to bring in customers via searches or through paid marketing i.e. Google AdWords.
If you choose to use AdWords, it will advertise your restaurant for those keywords, and you only need to pay when someone clicks on your link.
4. Collaborate with Food Bloggers and Influencers
Partner with local food bloggers and social media influencers to create buzz around your restaurant. Invite them for a tasting experience and encourage them to share their reviews and experiences on their platforms.
5. Host Events and Workshops
You can organize events, workshops, or themed nights to attract a diverse crowd. Wine-tasting sessions, cooking classes, or live music nights can create a unique and memorable experience for your patrons.
6. Update the Menu on a Regular Basis
The best way to update a menu is to replace the low-selling items and update the best-sellers. Understand what your customers love. For example, if most of your customers order burgers, start experimenting more with them instead of focusing on items that have the lowest order rates.
Updating the menu regularly will make customers come back to your restaurant for something more.
7. Online Reservation Platforms
You can add an option to your site where customers can choose to reserve a table directly. The other best option is to tie up with a few restaurant table reservation service apps. The more the merrier. Make sure you are available on almost all the popular platforms so that customers can find you anywhere for online reservations.
These online restaurant table reservation service apps will help you bring in more customers. As an add-on, customers can also browse your menu directly, view ratings, and check special offers.
Read: What is Restaurant Franchise
8. Offer Online Ordering and Delivery
Food delivery is the next big thing happening in the food business. It is possibly the best way to cater to customers who prefer dining at home. Not only visiting customers, now you need to build an audience in your local delivery area. Tie with your local food delivery services to offer your items online. People can order food from your restaurant directly without even visiting.
As an added advantage, a satisfied customer who ordered online would again place an order from your restaurant.
9. Customer Relationship Management
You can choose to invest in good CRM software to help you retain and manage customers. In case you are new and can’t spend a lot on some fancy software, you can create your own CRM. The best way is to offer feedback forms and take up contact details with due permission. You can then create your own list of data for monthly email and SMS offers.
You can even ask your customers to sign up for a monthly email on your website. Use it to send them special offers, discounts, and other updates.
10. Encourage Reviews
Word of mouth is the most effective medium of marketing. In the current age, positive reviews are the best for any service to bring new business. Encourage satisfied customers to leave positive reviews on platforms like Google, TripAdvisor, and Yelp. Display these reviews prominently on your website and social media pages to build credibility. Other visitors can directly read the reviews, and you don’t even have to spend a lot on marketing.
In case the reviews are negative, make sure you handle the feedback in a kind and professional manner. Monitor all social media activities including reviews and customer queries positively.
11. Utilize Email Marketing
Collect customer email addresses and send out regular newsletters with updates, promotions, and special offers. Personalized email marketing can keep your customers engaged and informed.
12. Partner with Local Businesses
Collaborate with nearby businesses for cross-promotions. Offer discounts to customers who show a receipt from a partnering establishment, and vice versa.
13. Implement Customer Loyalty Programs
The best way to bring back an old customer is to offer something for his trust in you. You can choose to start a customer loyalty program. This can either be a points-based rewards system where they can redeem it after a certain limit, or they can enjoy a discount if they visit your restaurant again. Reward loyal customers with a loyalty program that offers discounts, freebies, or exclusive perks for repeat visits.
14. Coupons, Offers & Discounts
The most effective way to promote your restaurant business is to offer special coupons and discounts. When it comes to effective promotions, discounts work the best. As a restaurant business, if you can create special meals and combos every week at discounted prices, you can bring in a lot of customers. Consider deals like “happy hour” discounts, “buy one, get one” offers, or themed nights.
15. Showcase Unique Selling Points
Highlight what sets your restaurant apart. It can be a signature dish, a cozy ambiance, live entertainment, or exceptional customer service.
16. Monitor and Adjust Strategies
Regularly analyze the effectiveness of your marketing efforts. Monitor website traffic, social media engagement, and customer feedback to make informed adjustments to your promotion strategies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best social media platform for restaurant promotion?
Facebook and Instagram are popular choices due to their visual nature and broad user base. However, choose platforms that align with your target audience.
How can I promote my restaurant on a tight budget?
You need to focus on cost-effective strategies such as social media marketing, email campaigns, and collaborating with local influencers.
Can I promote my restaurant without an online presence?
While an online presence is highly recommended, you can still promote your restaurant through traditional methods like flyers, local newspapers, and community events.
How important are online reviews for restaurant promotion?
Online reviews play a significant role in building credibility and influencing customer decisions. Encourage happy customers to leave positive reviews.
Should I invest in paid advertising?
It is without saying, paid advertising, such as social media ads or Google Ads, can be effective in reaching a wider audience. However, it’s important to target your ads to the right demographics to maximize results.
How often should I update my menu?
Regularly updating your menu can keep things fresh and exciting for returning customers. Consider seasonal changes and introduce new dishes to keep your offerings interesting.
About the Author: 99businessideas.com led by Rupak Chakrabarty is committed to helping beginners, entrepreneurs, and small business owners in starting, managing, and growing their businesses.
