There are many restaurant marketing tools are available to venues that are looking to improve their bottom line. If you’re looking for new ways to attract customers, then you’ve come to the right place. We’ve put together a list of the best restaurant marketing ideas to help you generate more revenue for your business.
1. Add an Online Reservation Widget.
Even if you are not active on social media, your clients are probably looking for you there and gaining an impression by your online presence (or lack thereof). If they want to reserve a table for lunch or dinner, they would prefer to do it quickly and easily. By adding an online reservation widget to your profile, you’re providing them with a quick button to click and enjoy your services. You can also use it in all your restaurant messages and ads.
2. Respond to Reviews and Comments.
Rule of thumb: Never ignore a review, no matter how negative it is! Potential customers read reviews from past customers and will base their future dining decisions on this. If a customer leaves a bad review and a representative from the restaurant doesn’t respond, then the reviewer has the final say. Potential customers will assume that the problems addressed by the reviewer are ongoing, or that the restaurant doesn’t care.
If instead, a manager addresses the concerns left in a review, then potential customers will see that management takes customer feedback seriously and is taking steps to ensure that the mistake or problem highlighted by the reviewer won’t happen again. Remember, customer service doesn’t stop at the door! It is also a good trick to show appreciation for positive reviews. A good rule of thumb is to respond to reviews within 24 hours.
3. Food Photography
Captivate your customers with beautiful images of your food, beverages, and venue. This is one of the most important parts of restaurant marketing.
4. Videography
Video is quickly becoming the preferred medium across popular social media channels including Facebook and Instagram. Video content will help you to reach and engage with larger audiences.
5. Add your Menus.
Make sure that your menu is not just on your website, but on social media too. Include a link to it in your tweets and posts, so that potential customers can take action, browse for more information, and engage.
6. Optimise Your Google Business Listing
Any business today needs targeted visibility on Google. Most businesses know that this requires optimizing their website and Google Ads, but what most don’t know is that there is a third entity that also needs optimizing: their Google business listing. Officially known as your Business Profile, this powerful listing is a dynamic snapshot of your business that highlights your best features and enables potential customers to quickly find, learn about, and engage with you. The best part? It’s completely free.
7. Grow Your Email Database and send regular database emails
BookYa provides a Zero Opt-In table booking system which means the restaurant owns a 100% customer database. You can use your database for your business growth such as email marketing, getting more reviews, selling gift cards and promotions, and giving customers reasons to come back. Unlike other platforms, BookYa will not use your customer database and promote your competitor’s deals and drive your customers away from you.
8. Target Your Local Customers
When running advertisements across digital marketing platforms such as Google, Facebook, and Instagram, we suggest targeting people within walking distance of your restaurant. Targeted advertising to local audience segments should be the first point of call in your strategy.
9. Improve Your Brand & Logo
Your brand identity should resonate with your target audience. Your logo and brand should be consistent across all of your digital channels and internal mediums (i.e menus, posters, signage etc.). When done correctly, a cohesive brand identity will have a big impact on your digital performance and will help to drive people to your restaurant.
10. Add “Call to Actions”.
Just posting is not enough. It is necessary to entice customers to communicate, posting replies to comments, tweets, or messages. Along with great photos and content, you should always add a “call to action” text; for example, ask them to try a new meal or reserve a table by clicking your special link or button.
Remember you are not in the business of serving food & drinks, You’re in the business of creating an experience.