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Emailmarketing might not be as flashy as social media marketing, but for restaurants, its possibly the most effective way to stay connected with customers. When used correctly, restaurant emailmarketing keeps your restaurant top of mind, turning occasional diners into loyal regulars.
The restaurant experience isnt just about great service and ambianceits deeply tied to ingredient sourcing and food costs. Pressure on Small Operators Small and independent restaurants, which often operate on razor-thin profit margins, are especially vulnerable. With new U.S.
Operators are leaning into four types of AI—Artificial Intelligence, Generative AI, Conversational AI, and Predictive AI—to streamline operations, reduce waste, and personalize the guest experience in ways that weren’t possible just a few years ago. That’s especially challenging for smallbusiness owners already wearing too many hats.
Let’s explore 26 proven online marketing strategies to help your restaurant thrive. From improving your Google listing to leveraging customer reviews, these tips will show you how to boost your visibility and drive more traffic to your restaurant. A smooth mobile experience keeps people engaged and leads to more online bookings.
Many restaurant operators have misconceptions about average order volume (AOV) and how it works, making statements like: I need more customers to make more money. or That sounds like something for big chains, not a small independent restaurant like mine. or Upselling feels awkward. Finding your AOV is actually quite simple.
Regular customers make up the backbone of any restaurants sales , but if you put a group of restaurant owners around a table, the conversation inevitably focuses on growth through new customer acquisition. But first, why is customer retention such a big deal? Marketing = tons of your money. Thats huge!
The real wins come from small, smart shifts; things like improving your online ordering system, highlighting your most profitable dishes, and giving existing customers more reasons to come back. Create Limited-Time Offers That Drive Action Limited-time offers (LTOs) give potential customers a reason to order now, not later.
Restaurants collect a ton of customer data. Every online order, email sign up, and reward program interaction generates valuable insightsbut if that data just sits there, youre missing a major opportunity. Think about it: What if you could automatically send a special offer to a customer who hasnt ordered in a while?
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.
For a deeper dive into brand messaging, strategy, and authenticity, creating unified guest experiences, and the orchestration of physical and experiential touchpoints, Modern Restaurant Management (MRM) magazine reached out to The Plaid Penguin’s Founder and Sir Idea Man Joe Haubenhofer. A strong restaurant brand goes beyond a logo.
In this guide, youll learn how to use ChowNow tools along with a handful of other effective strategies to increase order volume, boost your current customer traffic, and grow your overall sales. Emailmarketing is one of the most effective ways to stay top-of-mind with customers and remind them its time to order again from your restaurant.
Your customeremail list is your most valuable marketing asset, giving you an incredible ROI of $42 for every $1 you spend. You own it, it costs very little to maintain, and its a direct link to your customers any time youd like to reach themno complicated algorithms or third-party platforms getting in the way.
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.
Providing a seamless, enjoyable restaurant experience is essential for long-term success. Heres how to craft an experience that leaves customers delighted and eager to return. Staff should be knowledgeable, offering helpful suggestions based on customer preferences and dietary needs.
If youre one of the thousands of restaurants that added online food delivery in recent years, you might be wondering: is it actually helping my business grow? The only way to know for sure is by tracking key performance indicators (KPIs) that drive business growth.
The ultimate goal of branding is to create an emotional connection with your customers that encourages them to choose you over your competitors. Thats why we created this easy guide to restaurant branding: to make certain you never miss an opportunity to connect with your customers. But how do you get there? for that exact same meal.
Third-party delivery apps start out as a convenient way to reach new customers, but they always take a significant chunk of your profits. While these platforms do bring in orders, they also come with the price of high commission fees, loss of customer data, and a weaker connection between you and your guests.
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.
Does the energy feel flat, and the customers look bored. Get some fresh customers through the door and start the neighborhood talking about whats happening in your restaurant again. You need ideas that will wow new customers and get the regulars excited to come back in.
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.
Restaurant KPIs are numbers that go beyond basic accounting to help you see how every part of your business is performingfrom your profit margins to your guest experience. Instead of relying on gut feelings and guesswork, they give you clear, measurable data you can track over time to meet your key business objectives.
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. Local restaurant marketing can help you reach your target audience more effectively. Local restaurant marketing can help you reach your target audience more effectively.
Crafting festive drinks is a great way to engage customers and set the mood for Halloween celebrations. Featuring Skrewball peanut butter whiskey, fresh lemon juice, and a frothy egg white, this cocktail offers a creamy and nutty flavor experience. Ingredients 2 oz. Skrewball peanut butter whiskey 1 oz. fresh lemon juice 3/4 oz.
Its actively managing how your business is perceived across platforms like Google, Yelp, TripAdvisor, and social media. Youre not just serving foodyoure managing impressions, experiences, and expectations, all in the digital world. Most customers wont leave a review online unless theyre encouragedso give them a simple way to do it.
By Kateryna Reshetilo, Contributor Are you a restaurant owner looking for ways to keep up with the fast-changing demands of your customers? Today, more than ever, restaurants are turning to custom-built apps to improve convenience, streamline operations, and foster customer loyalty. If so, you’re not alone. from 2023 to 2030.
For a long time, third-party delivery apps seemed like the easiest way to get your restaurant online and in front of new customers. This means customers place orders through your own website or appnot a third-party platform. This means customers place orders through your own website or appnot a third-party platform.
Its powering voice assistants, helping people write emails faster, and even suggesting what to watch or where to eat next. AI is no longer just a buzzword, its a reality that is reshaping how restaurants operate, interact with customers, and make decisions. Artificial intelligence (AI) is everywhere right now. The short answer?
This doesnt mean cutting corners and sacrificing the customerexperience; its about knowing where your money is going, spotting leaks early, and fine-tuning whats already working. Marketing and Promotions Expenses While this category doesnt always show up in basic accounting reports, it should absolutely be on your radar.
If your business isnt keeping up with the changes, you risk falling behind and not meeting modern customer expectations. For operators, restaurant apps mean higher sales, greater customer retention, and smoother day-to-day operations. Online ordering and delivery apps.
Photo: Shutterstock Delivery and a take-home meal deal drove a lot more customers to Olive Garden this spring. The offer allowed customers to buy an in-store meal starting at $14.99 Olive Garden parent Darden Restaurants had long resisted third-party delivery, preferring to serve customers in its restaurants and control the experience.
That’s a significant amount of lost business tied to something you can improve on your own, but the problem is that most operators have no idea where to begin fixing the issue. Drive Direct Orders and Reservations A strong online presence encourages potential customers to take action. Here are the four most essential areas to focus on.
Whether its remembering a regulars order or simply offering a sincere greeting, small actions can build emotional loyalty that no discount or trend can match. A warm welcome at the door, personalized follow-ups via email , and even thoughtful social media interactions can bridge the gap between technology and connection.
But getting customers to order once isnt enough. Repeat business is what drives real growth, yet many restaurants struggle to keep takeout diners coming back. With competition increasing and third-party apps controlling customer relationships, building loyalty requires a smarter approach. In a recent survey by ChowNow, 54.6%
Video marketing is an essential tool to captivate audiences, drive foot traffic, and win the fierce battle for online attention. Taking it a step further than high-quality images , video marketing taps into the sensory appeal that text and photos cant achieve. Remember the days of beautiful dinner images on Instagram?
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. Customer Service and Experience Great food and drink is only truly enjoyed when its coupled with a great service experience.
One of operators most difficult challenges is balancing restaurant operating costs without compromising the food, service, and customerexperience that makes your restaurant unique. With the right strategy, you can reduce expenses and strengthen your business at the same time.
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. How do you turn followers into paying customers? Where do you start?
Its the sum of everything about your restaurant, from your menu design and decor to the tone you use when replying to comments on social media or greeting customers walking through the door. Its not just about looking good (though that is a part of it); its about creating an emotional connection that shapes the entire customerexperience.
Restaurant emailmarketing is your secret ingredient to standing out, creating memorable dining experiences, and significantly boosting revenue by nurturing strong customer relationships. Why It Helps Small Restaurants Emailmarketing is a budget-friendly, highly effective strategy ideal for small restaurants.
The next youre racing to keep inventory stocked while customers wait for tables. Whether youre a seasoned owner or just starting out, this advice will help you boost efficiency, keep your team motivated, and turn customers into regulars. Small perks go far too. That keeps customers coming back for more.
By Lindsay Lawrence, Contributor Relocating a restaurant is no small feat, as it involves managing the transportation of kitchen equipment, reestablishing the space’s atmosphere, and ensuring minimal disruption to your business. That makes it easy to continue business operations as you move.
11, 2025 Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Huddle House will add drive-thrus as it moves into more urban and suburban markets. | And, like the rest of family dining, they have been losing customers. It brought in an outside consultant, and it focused on dinner, where Perkins sees an opportunity to do more business.
Some people stay home for the holidays, while others look for special experiences. Make the reservation process easier While some people stay home for the holidays, others look for special experiences or want to go out for dinner in larger groups. Use email and social media to promote gift cards and drive holiday sales.
Online Reputation for Small Restaurants is critical to attract customers and build trust. Managing how people see your business online can mean the difference between success and struggle. It involves making sure customers find positive, accurate information. A strong online reputation leads to better customer trust.
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