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Building a restaurant emailmarketing list might be the single most underrated move an operator can make to grow their business. Instead of crossing your fingers and hoping your posts get seen, you can send email campaigns straight to the inbox of people who actually want to hear from you. So why does it work?
Let’s explore 26 proven online marketing strategies to help your restaurant thrive. Target location-specific searches for more visibility The ultimate goal of your online marketing campaigns should be to bring in local customers to your restaurant. To do so, you must have an optimized website and engaging social media profiles.
Youre delivering a great dining experience, yet foot traffic remains inconsistent, online engagement is low, and new customers arent coming in as often as youd like. To get started collecting Google reviews, check out our article on How to Get More Google Reviews from Customers. Upload high-quality photos.
Your customer email list is your most valuable marketing asset, giving you an incredible ROI of $42 for every $1 you spend. But just building an email list isnt enough. And heres the real advantage: email still outperforms social media when it comes to open rates, click-through rates, and return on investment.
At this point, all it takes is one lousy dining experience to sever the connection you once had with a customer who potentially spent thousands of dollars at your restaurant every year. And heres the other thing about focusing on customer retention: it saves you a boatload of money on marketing. Marketing = tons of your money.
Understanding your target market is the foundation of making smart decisions for your menu, pricing, and overall guest experience. Without a well-defined target market, restaurants risk wasting resources on strategies that dont connect and menu offerings that dont selltrying to appeal to everyone, but standing out to no one.
In this article, youll learn simple, practical strategies to make it happenno awkward upselling or overcomplicated tactics required. Prix Fixe Menu: A multi-course meal at a set price encourages guests to order more while offering an elevated dining experience. Finding your AOV is actually quite simple. Why do bundles work?
This guide will teach you everything you need to know about getting started with restaurant marketing. By the time you finish this article, youll know how to approach restaurant marketing the right way and not waste time doing guesswork, crossing your fingers, and then hoping you see new customers walking through the door.
To learn how to get started with Google ordering, check out our article on How to Setup Google Ordering for Restaurants. Promote Online Ordering Through Social Media and EmailMarketing On social media, showcase your food in a way that makes people crave it. Thats where local SEO and direct online ordering come in.
Every online order, email sign up, and reward program interaction generates valuable insightsbut if that data just sits there, youre missing a major opportunity. When used strategically, customer data can help you personalize marketing, streamline operations, and create a better dining experience for your guests.
Knowing how to calculate and optimize your customer acquisition cost (CAC) can help you make smarter decisions about your marketing and advertising strategies. CAC lets you get a clearer view of how your marketing efforts impact your bottom line. You spent $800 on Facebook ads and in-store promotions over a month.
Influencer marketing sounds like something reserved for big-name brands with massive budgets and full-time social media managers. diners trying out a new restaurant because of social media, now’s the time to make influencer marketing a part of your marketing strategy, without blowing your budget or partnering with the wrong people.
Within this guide, youll discover proven strategies that help you stand out in a crowded market, captivate your ideal customers, and turn casual diners into lifelong regulars. Restaurant branding is not easy, but when done correctly, the reward is a packed dining room every night with a steady stream of to-go orders out the side door.
The report also found that there’s a slight shift away from takeout toward dine-in visits, but when consumers opt for breakfast off-premise, online ordering and mobile payment rules. Meanwhile, dine-in visits have increased in fast-casual and fast-food restaurants, while takeout and drive-in orders are down.
By Joe Guszkowski on Jul. 02, 2025 Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Wholesale egg prices have fallen 67% since their March peak. Photo: Shutterstock Waffle House customers no longer have to pay extra for eggs. Egg-cellent news…as of June 2, the egg surcharge is officially off the menu,” Georgia-based Waffle House wrote on X. Thanks for understanding!”
In 2025, the US online food delivery market is expected to reach $424.9 Since 2014, online ordering has grown 300% faster than dine-in and now accounts for roughly 40% of restaurant sales. Online ordering has transformed the restaurant industry, turning what was once a convenience into an absolute necessity. billion in revenue.
In this article, youll learn: The most important restaurant KPIs for restaurant profitability, efficiency, and growth How to calculate and benchmark major KPIs using simple formulas Practical tips for tracking KPIs without getting overwhelmed Lets start by breaking down what KPIs are, and why they require your attention.
The right promotion at the right time can reignite business, whether that means a packed dining room on a slow weekday or reconnecting with loyal customers who havent ordered in a while. A restaurant marketing strategy that works for a sports bar might fall flat at a vegan cafe. Start by asking: What are you trying to accomplish?
In this article, you will learn: Why a website makes your restaurant more trustworthy and professional. Having complete control of your brands story is how you stand out in a congested market. A well-designed website does more than just make a good first impression. By now, customers expect every business to have a website.
at the Italian casual-dining chain as its investments in affordability and Uber delivery paid off. 20, 2025 Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Consumers are finding value in casual-dining brands like Olive Garden. Same-store sales at the Italian casual-dining chain spiked 6.9% By Joe Guszkowski on Jun. of sales in the quarter.
In this article, you will learn: The five most important restaurant costs to track and manage Easy strategies for controlling food costs and labor costs Tactics to save money without hurting your guest experience Lets start with the big picture and learn where your money is actually going. Are you overstaffed on slow days?
How you approach restaurant marketing can be broken into two main categories: Attracting new customers to your restaurant Earning more from the customers you already have Most restaurant operators pour time and money into the first, but often overlook the massive opportunity in the second. Let’s say you run a neighborhood pizza shop.
If you feel that digital marketing isn’t giving your local restaurant the results you need, then it's time to explore more targeted strategies. 89% of people do dining research on their phones, so if you’re not making the most of your online presence, you're missing out on a huge opportunity.
Since 2014, these channels have grown 300% faster than dine-inand the trend isnt slowing down. For more information on food photography, read our article How to Take Menu Photos Like The Pros. Improve Your Online Visibility and Marketing Optimizing your website is just the first stepnow you need to make sure customers can find it.
If customer retention is a priority consider a digital loyalty program or automated marketing tools. It is the central nervous system of your restaurants operations, and most of the tools we cover in this article will need to integrate with your POS (point-of-sale) system. A smart reservation and waitlist system can help.
A QR code on the receipt, table tents or a quick post-meal email can go a long way. Or a mixed bag of outdated info, unanswered complaints, and a few good reviews buried in the noise? And in a world where one viral comment or ignored review can snowball, restaurant reputation management isnt just smartits essential.
Its powering voice assistants, helping people write emails faster, and even suggesting what to watch or where to eat next. Artificial intelligence (AI) is everywhere right now. With rapid advances happening across various industries, including the food industry, you might be wondering: What does AI have to do with running my restaurant?
In this article, we’ll show you exactly how to create a food delivery app tailored to your restaurant’s needs, while staying competitive in a booming industry. In this article, we’ll show you exactly how to create a food delivery app tailored to your restaurant’s needs, while staying competitive in a booming industry.
Restaurant customer acquisition cost boils down to two things: How much you’re spending to market your restaurant How many new customers you’re actually getting from those marketing costs Most restaurant operators are solid on the first part. Customer acquisition cost (CAC) is the amount you spend to bring in a single new customer.
The 20 puree flavor possibilities were eventually narrowed down to six that were test marketed in Michigan. By Patricia Cobe on Jul. 02, 2025 Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Six new flavor-forward margaritas launched at Condado Tacos in June. | All photos courtesy of Condado Tacos. His bucket list included about 20 puree flavors to start. “Joe
That’s good news for restaurants, said Cindy Klein Roche, chief growth officer for ezCater, a platform that connects workplaces with dining concepts. View All Articles by This Author Want breaking news at your fingertips? By Patricia Cobe and Bret Thorn on Aug. She provides in-depth coverage of chefs, trends and menu innovation.
Today, the Michelin Guide continues to explore new markets and broaden its global influence. This article delves into the guide’s past expansions and examines where it might go next. Challenges in New Markets Despite its success, the Michelin Guide faces challenges when entering new markets.
Whether theyre grabbing takeout, dining in, or ordering delivery, diners dont have patience for long waits or clunky systems. To learn more about order aggregation, read our article on How to Simplify Order Management Across Multiple Platforms. But it doesnt have to be this way. At the same time, staff can only move so fast.
In this article, you will learn: How to define your brand identity and mission statement How to create a visual and verbal brand strategy that feels cohesive across every customer touchpoint How your brand will build a loyal customer base that lasts for the long haul Lets get started with why you should give branding the attention it deserves.
View All Articles by This Author Want breaking news at your fingertips? Panda Express introduced Hot Orange Chicken, a limited-time spicy spin on its signature dish. We’ve also seen a lot of pickles this week. Del Taco launched a fried pickle taco and Saladworks has a new Chicken Pickle Crunch Salad with pickle ranch dressing.
In this article, we’ll explore the key tech innovations that are simplifying restaurant relocation and helping owners make a seamless transition to their new space. Digital floor planning software allows restaurant owners to visualize their new kitchen, dining area, and storage spaces.
11, 2025 Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Huddle House will add drive-thrus as it moves into more urban and suburban markets. | All photos courtesy of Ascent Hospitality Management A pair of legacy family-dining brands are out to prove that age is only a number. . | Perkins and Huddle House are classics of the family-dining genre.
Specifically, Brix plans to expand Friendly’s, an East Coast diner chain, into Southern markets including Georgia, the Carolinas and Texas. News franchising acquisitions finance Joe Guszkowski is a senior editor with Restaurant Business covering technology and casual-dining chains. restaurant chains. Sign up here.
Every day, youre juggling staff, food quality, inventory, customer service, purchasing, and moreall while trying to cultivate a dining experience that wows your customers enough to keep them coming back. Its tough, and cant be done passively.
In this article, youll learn: How to break down your operating costs into fixed, variable, and semi-variable Smart ways to lower labor and food costs without sacrificing customer service Where hidden expenses are hiding in your tech stackand how to fix it Lets discover where your money is going, and how to take back control.
That’s the lesson for Papa Johns, which under CEO Todd Penegor has returned much of its marketing focus on its core pizza product, rather than sides and sandwiches such as Papadias and Papa Bites. The number of pizzas ordered last quarter increased 6%. The result was 1% same-store sales in the second quarter. That, plus a $6.99
17, 2025 Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Greenlanes have no dine-in seating. The three-unit chain has two more under construction in the Tampa Bay area, and another five to seven are planned in 2026, reaching the Orlando market. At Greenlane, there’s no dine-in service. By Lisa Jennings on Jun. Just drive-thru and pickup windows.
It’s probably fair to say that most operators know why they should use social media marketing for their restaurant. But actually knowing how to use social media marketing to grow their business is where restaurant owners get stuck. Social proof and visibility in a crowded market A consistent social media presence helps you stand out.
They are popping up more often in conversations this year, and they point toward deeper trends in the restaurant tech market. By Joe Guszkowski on Jun. 23, 2025 Facebook Twitter LinkedIn The restaurant tech vocabulary keeps expanding. Image by Nico Heins/Midjourney Want to sound smart at the next restaurant tech cocktail party? .
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