Wasting your restaurant business marketing dollar? Are you wasting your restaurant business marketing dollar then discover 10 new marketing ideas.
The three areas targeted are:
-
- number of customers,
- frequency of current customers,
- and average guest check.
Example 1
Increase the number of customers by offering a free buffet dinner during a happy hour period. This is a very popular tactic, used in the early evening, which draws people in for the food and encourages them to spend money on drinks.
Example 2
Increase your customer count at lunchtime with express lunches. Guarantee service within a shorter amount of time – eg 15 minutes or customers get their lunch free. Many people don’t have time to wait especially those who get only a half-hour for lunch.
Example 3
Salad bars are another successful way to increase customer count, especially during lunchtime. Salad bars allow customers to eat at their own pace, with variety, and at a reasonable price.
Example 4
Capitalise on your restaurant’s anniversary. Offer the same menu and prices that were offered when your restaurant opened. Special offers on Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day, and other special days are other ways to draw customers into your restaurant.
Example 5
A singles table is a great way to target the customer who is alone but doesn’t want to eat alone. Reserve a special table seating 4 to 16 people – it is particularly popular with women. It is possible to make money on the singles table because single people are not taking up tables meant for two or four. The singles table allow people to talk and get to know one another. It encourages the lone diner to come back.
Example 6
Another way to increase customer count is through birthday clubs, where customers fill out the information about the date of their birthday, which you then keep on file. When a customer’s birthday arrives, an invitation is sent, inviting the customer in for a free or discounted meal. Most people don’t celebrate birthday dinners by themselves. Even if you gave the customer a free meal, there is sure to be at least one guest who will buy dinner at the full price.
Example 7
Get your employees to bring in new customers by staging an “employee incentive contest.” Each employee – full and part-time – gets a number of cards, say 50, to give to their friends. Good for a special discount on an unlimited number of dinners or lunches within the promotional period. Each employee signs these cards. (Note: employees cannot pass cards out in the restaurant). Also, make sure the cards have an expiration date. Results can be tallied either by the number of cards redeemed or by the entire gross sale. Ether way, this promotion involves all your employees, and you get your advertising message distributed free.
Example 8
There are many ways to increase customer count during slow periods. One way is by offering an “Early Bird” special on meals served between 4.00 pm and 5.00 pm or 4.30 pm and 5.30 pm. – before your usual dinner crowd arrives.
Example 9
In-store activities can also stimulate business in your restaurant. There are many varieties of in-store activities eg ask a tennis professional from a local tennis club to give a talk on the fundamentals of the sport. The professional can answer questions on technique and equipment and may distribute discount coupons for lessons at the club.
Example 10
Increase customer visits through eg a loyalty card, designed to bring the customer back to your restaurant a specific number of times over a given period. If each of your customers visits your restaurant just one extra time each month, you would increase your volume by 50 percent. Customers are given a card with a certain number of boxes, usually five or 10, presents a card and makes the required purchase, the card is validated or punched. When all the boxes are completed, the card is then redeemed for a free product eg coffee.
Stop wasting your restaurant business marketing dollar and discover 10 new marketing ideas.
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