Marketing Strategies for Restaurants

Marketing your restaurant to get more customers through the door can seem like an uphill battle, but it doesn’t have to be with these 10 innovative marketing strategies for restaurants. These techniques are simple and cost-effective, so you don’t have to worry about sinking your profits into new marketing schemes. Instead, these ideas will help even the most well-established restaurants reach out to new customers who would never hear about them. So read on below to see how you can grow your restaurant business quickly with these ten unique marketing strategies for restaurants!

1) Develop your restaurant’s brand identity

Naming a restaurant is one of the most important marketing strategies for restaurants. Proper naming is about finding a name that’s not too long or complicated but has some meaning. A good example is Tilted Kilt – when you look at this from a view above, it seems like a woman wearing the Scottish plaid garment called a kilt – and when you look at it from below, it appears to be tilting. This works because the name tells you what your customers will see if they visit your establishment. So as soon as people hear about Tilted Kilt, they know what to expect and have certain expectations of what their experience will be like there.

2) Add reservation links to Google Business

Promoting your restaurant through social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Yelp is crucial to making customers aware of what you’re offering. Once people know about your business, you’ll want them to be able to find it as easy as possible. It’s not enough that they know you exist; they need to be able to quickly find your establishment on the street or via maps so they can visit as soon as possible. One powerful tool restaurant owners have at their disposal are Google My Business listings which make a business appear prominently in search results and help potential customers quickly plan their dining itinerary before making a reservation or visiting your establishment.

3) Create an app and website

Jitni App: Social Media is the key way to let your customers know what you’re up to, and Jitni App is an app that lets restaurant owners connect with their loyal customers through social media. The app provides an easy-to-use interface where customers can sign up and follow restaurants they enjoy, get alerts when there’s a new photo or post, participate in discussion boards, and chat with other people who like the same food.

Jitni Web: Jitni Web is the perfect marketing tool for restaurants because it combines all your favorite sites’ best features. You’ll have pages about photos, menus, current deals, blog posts, and testimonials – plus, you can create custom pages.

4) Drive traffic with email campaigns

Send out an email blast on the first day of your grand opening. So, if you’re in a competitive area, send promotional emails periodically to keep customers aware of your latest features and coupons. To save money, you can use Mailchimp or Constant Contact to create a professional template and send your emails through them. Remember, not all customers read their email these days. So include an unsubscribe button at the bottom of each email if you use this service. Remember: Out of sight is out of mind -don’t forget about those emails!

5) Use targeted ads

The first step is deciding which audiences you want to reach and then targeting them through strategically placed ads. It would help to create ads with language, images, or videos that appeal to your target audience. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Google Ads are great platforms where you can easily upload your campaigns. Businesses have greater success in reaching their target audiences with a wider range of advertising options and audience demographics available on these platforms than on any other platforms.

6) Local SEO

 List your restaurant on Google My Business. Claiming and managing your business listing on Google is a great way to attract customers looking for you. Claiming your page takes only a few minutes and will help you get noticed by people who don’t know about you yet! Plus, all the information that customers fill out on the review form will be published on Google My Business, and they might give you that five-star review if they’re satisfied with their experience. 

#3: Join social media channels related to food.

7) Get mentions on niche blogs and websites

Niche blogs and websites can make your marketing plan more successful because they’re tailored to a specific group of people. Research the blogs you want to contact and craft an original pitch or email. Tell them why their readers will benefit from following your account, and offer something (i.e., coupons, special offers) as an incentive to share the content with their followers. The more precise your marketing, the better your chance of getting a response!

8) Run a contest via social media and other channels

Use your food to create a viral stunt that customers will be talking about. Offer them a chance to win dinner with the chef. Create an event that draws people out on a cold night by creating new and exciting specials daily. Try a Snapchat campaign or consider partnering with other restaurants nearby to make it more accessible for you and your partner. These are just some marketing strategies that may work better than others, but everyone’s needs will vary. So test what works best for you!

9) Get people engaged with live social media stories

Start by determining the atmosphere you want to create for your restaurant. A trendy vibe? A friendly gathering place? Whatever you choose, be sure it is visible in all aspects of your marketing efforts. For example, are the tables set up formally, or is it more of a communal experience? Then, use social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram to generate buzz and boost your restaurant’s online presence. While having an active online presence is necessary, don’t forget offline channels!

10) Use the restaurant marketing framework

If you want more customers, this marketing framework will help you. The restaurant marketing framework is based on seven essential concepts that every successful business needs. A competitive advantage, customer insights, value proposition, messaging and positioning, content engagement strategy, lead management strategy, and measurement. These seven pieces work together to attract new customers and improve the restaurant experience. 

Competitive Advantage refers to any factor for your business that helps you stand out from the crowd. For example, suppose you live near a national park or mountain range that’s drawing tourists by the thousands each year. In that case, you have an important advantage: You have tourism as a built-in customer base with no need to advertise or lure them in with other incentives.