Restaurant marketing has gotten considerably more sophisticated over the past few years. As a result, restaurants can no longer bank on just good food and service to thrive in the industry. Instead, they must create promotions and successfully run campaigns to entice regular customers to visit them or get new customers.
Diners now have a bewildering assortment of choices, and eateries must compete for client attention in ways other than location. We have prepared an up-to-date list of top successful online marketing techniques and approaches to assist you in navigating this new marketing environment.
You have come up with a promotion and want to promote it. What's next? Here are some ideas to get your marketing campaign in front of your target audience within 48 hours.
Restaurant Marketing Ideas That Work
Now it's time to review our restaurant marketing ideas list.
1. Concentrate On Local SEO
Local SEO is one of the most significant aspects of restaurant digital marketing. This is not as complex as it may sound. You may setup and optimize your Google My Business profile to get your restaurant to appear in local searches. Make sure to update your hours, restaurant and menu photos and update all the relevant info to start ranking and being visible to customers.
Nearly half of all Google searches are to find a local business. Your Local SEO ranking decides how quickly people find you when they put in "Italian (or any other cuisine) restaurants near me.”
2. Increase Your Followers On Social Media
Did you know that 70% of adults in the U.S. use Facebook? This implies that you may find 70% of your potential customers in one place. However, it is important to create a social media plan first. Facebook, Instagram and other social media platforms allow you to build a following of individuals who are drawn to your restaurant and are willing to revisit. You can keep these customers engaged by sharing updates, promotions, offers and social media contests.
3. Include Reservation Links On Your Google Business Profile
You've likely already created a Google Business profile for your restaurant and updated it with your address, menu photos, a link to your website, and other information. This is Google Business 101 for eateries. After you've done that and begun utilizing Google's Open Graph and local discovery, you'll want to consider how GMB can start generating additional cash.
One method to accomplish this is to accept reservations straight from your Google My Business page. In addition, Google now allows you to include a link to your website or booking system in a section called reservations.
This link allows customers to make a reservation with you without having to leave their Google profiles.
Unlike the bulk of the restaurant marketing pieces now ranking at the top of Google, this one provides you with the most up-to-date facts and experiences before your next promotional campaign!
4. Send Out Updates Through Email Marketing
So most restaurant marketing materials recommend delivering an 'email newsletter' as a technique to attract more customers. However, because almost every firm under the sun uses email marketing, sending a generic email every month will typically have little effect.
Email is a powerful marketing medium if utilized effectively, but keep in mind that you're competing for awareness in people's inboxes with many of the world's largest brands.
How would it stand out from competitors? One way is to deliver a personalized email based on the recipient's previous interactions with your restaurant. For example, what else would you give to somebody who has only walked in once in the last three months vs someone who comes in weekly?
5. Promotions And Special Offers
On an online ordering app, you may make tempting offers or discounts. This could serve as a method for attracting new clients or re-engaging existing ones. However, if you aren't taking advantage of running promotions online ordering platforms regularly, you should include this in your restaurant marketing plans, especially during the holidays.
When is it OK to take advantage of special deals and promotions? Giving incentives can help you raise your sales in a variety of scenarios.
For instance, if you're trying to compare with a particular restaurant or realize your restaurant isn't bustling.
You might produce the best restaurant social media campaigns or host a lunch special to advertise your surrounding residents. Promotions may boost sales, attract new customers, and create a feeling of urgency.
6. Take Advantage Of Influencer Marketing
Try influencer marketing if you don't currently have a significant following or want to reach a wider audience. For example, bloggers on social media are people who have built a reputation in specific businesses or demographics and, as a response, have thousands, if not millions, of followers.
If there are any food-related influencers in your area, reaching out to influencers and inviting them to dine at the restaurant for free is a good idea. If they love your meal, you can collaborate with them for marketing your restaurant. For example, you may pay them a price or give them free meals in exchange of creating social media posts to promote your business.
7. Loyalty Rewards
Loyalty programs for restaurants hold significant potential for boosting both initial sales and fostering repeat business. This is the case since many customers focus on gaining points and enjoying free meals. Several big food businesses, such as Starbucks, Panera Bread, and TGI Fridays, employ this strategy to acquire repeat customers through loyalty programs.
What contributes to the success of a loyalty program? Take into account its ease of use, particularly if it offers a digital option, and its comprehensive promotion across various channels such as Instagram or within your referral network.
Loyalty rewards programs aid your advertising efforts since they are not limited to customers who have already entered your restaurant. Furthermore, you can attract new clients if your incentives are distinctive and persuasive.
8. Make Use Of Reservation Services
For excellent restaurant marketing, online reservation systems are almost a necessity. Every month, they connect you with diners seeking a place to eat.
People are drawn to reservation sites because of their convenience and simplicity of use; therefore, include them in your plan.
The pricing of these services is usually factored into the annual marketing budget of most upmarket restaurants. First, however, you should determine whether these platforms are cost-effective, as you may be eligible for a free reservation.
9. Use Instagrammable Photos
In restaurant marketing, the term "instagrammable dessert" is relatively recent. The underlying premise is that a dish's plating and presentation entice consumers to snap photographs and post them online, particularly on Instagram when hashtags like #foodporn are viral and trendy.
Creating Instagrammable content is a very effective promotion strategy since it uses user-generated content instead of advertising expenditures to promote the word about your restaurant.
If you get it right, your restaurant could go viral. This might be the most effective method of all if it takes off.
10. Digital Advertising
Most of your clients will be local unless your restaurant is in a tourist area. Of course, this implies that you should focus your marketing efforts on your local area. You may 'geo-target your ads' using online ad networks. Just enter your city or zip code onto the ad platform and tell the machine to only target folks in your immediate vicinity.
Conclusion
By incorporating several of the restaurant marketing concepts outlined here, you can establish connections with your potential customers. However, it's essential to first assess which marketing strategies will yield optimal results in both the short and long term.
Are you looking for more assistance with digital restaurant marketing?
Running a profitable restaurant isn't as straightforward as it once was. In the past, simply opening a shop on a street corner and providing good service could sustain business for years.
Yet, nowadays, effective promotion and community engagement demand more strategic consideration.
Contact BestPOS, online restaurant marketing agency to grow your restaurant through digital marketing services!
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