Promoting your Restaurant
You can't sell food if you don't have customers. So what are some things you can do to draw in the business? The Quantified Marketing group, E.W.Cromwell, Marnie Hunter, and Lorri Mealie and others, all offer several ideas on their internet web pages.
• Everyone has a birthday and many people eat out to celebrate. So offer birthday specials/ promotions. (Say a free birthday meal for the birthday boy/girl when 1,2,3 (you pick) accompanying adults also purchase meals.)
• If your trying to create an upscale image, don't offer discount coupons, use certificates, or offer other value added services or small gifts such as key chains, mugs, ice scraper, etc. Make sure you have low cost menu items for the budget conscious customer – like the $5 chef salad, $5 soup and bread, or $5 wine carafe.
• How about a preferred guest program where the customer gets points for their purchases that adds up for a free appetizer/meal or other gift? Works great if you cater to the business crowd.
• Show your appreciation of your frequent customers with small gifts. It makes them feel special.
• Have a slow time of day you would like to pick up? Offer specials or discounts. One upscale Charleston SC restaurant offers a $39 three-course dinner for diners seated before 6 PM.
• Have a lunch crowd and want to pick up at dinnertime, give certificates to your lunch crowd that can be redeemed during dinner hours (Bounce Backs).
• Then there is the ever-popular “Happy Hour,” sometimes with inexpensive or free appetizers. Maybe combine this with some certificates to entice them to stay for dinner?
• Free music night, open mike night, karaoke are popular. But he music should fit your image. Rock-n-Roll might not go well with a fine dining experience.
• Contests, game nights, and sports night can help draw customers.
• Wine and drink promotions or waiver of corkage fees sometimes encourage people to spend more on their food.
• Collaborate with businesses and/or charities in your area and host business and fund raising socials.
• Do taste sampling events outside your restaurant at other venues to promote your specials or unique menu items.
• Make sure to combine some of the above with publicity stunts and/or public relations releases. Remember PR is advertising you don't have to pay for.
• Another publicity idea – Toss-up-Tuesdays (or what ever your slow day is) where the customer gets to flip a coin for a free meal (or discount on meal).
Detroit restaurant owner and marketing consultant, Michael Thibault, says you should work ON your business, not IN your business.
You can't sell food if you don't have customers. So what are some things you can do to draw in the business? The Quantified Marketing group, E.W.Cromwell, Marnie Hunter, and Lorri Mealie and others, all offer several ideas on their internet web pages.
• Everyone has a birthday and many people eat out to celebrate. So offer birthday specials/ promotions. (Say a free birthday meal for the birthday boy/girl when 1,2,3 (you pick) accompanying adults also purchase meals.)
• If your trying to create an upscale image, don't offer discount coupons, use certificates, or offer other value added services or small gifts such as key chains, mugs, ice scraper, etc. Make sure you have low cost menu items for the budget conscious customer – like the $5 chef salad, $5 soup and bread, or $5 wine carafe.
• How about a preferred guest program where the customer gets points for their purchases that adds up for a free appetizer/meal or other gift? Works great if you cater to the business crowd.
• Show your appreciation of your frequent customers with small gifts. It makes them feel special.
• Have a slow time of day you would like to pick up? Offer specials or discounts. One upscale Charleston SC restaurant offers a $39 three-course dinner for diners seated before 6 PM.
• Have a lunch crowd and want to pick up at dinnertime, give certificates to your lunch crowd that can be redeemed during dinner hours (Bounce Backs).
• Then there is the ever-popular “Happy Hour,” sometimes with inexpensive or free appetizers. Maybe combine this with some certificates to entice them to stay for dinner?
• Free music night, open mike night, karaoke are popular. But he music should fit your image. Rock-n-Roll might not go well with a fine dining experience.
• Contests, game nights, and sports night can help draw customers.
• Wine and drink promotions or waiver of corkage fees sometimes encourage people to spend more on their food.
• Collaborate with businesses and/or charities in your area and host business and fund raising socials.
• Do taste sampling events outside your restaurant at other venues to promote your specials or unique menu items.
• Make sure to combine some of the above with publicity stunts and/or public relations releases. Remember PR is advertising you don't have to pay for.
• Another publicity idea – Toss-up-Tuesdays (or what ever your slow day is) where the customer gets to flip a coin for a free meal (or discount on meal).
Detroit restaurant owner and marketing consultant, Michael Thibault, says you should work ON your business, not IN your business.
X