How to Increase Restaurant Sales and Revenue: 20 Tips & Tricks
It’s common to worry about your restaurant’s bottom line and look for ways to increase restaurant sales and revenue. After all, running a restaurant is a large responsibility for a restaurant owner or manager. It includes managing sales and profits. It’s easy to lose sleep over your bottom line — cutting costs and managing margins can’t be taken lightly. Attempts to cut food and labor costs and manage margins may not provide the desired results. But you can positively impact your restaurant sales numbers in many ways.
No matter which restaurant industry growth tactics you choose to adopt, use events and private dining to boost your restaurant sales quickly. Consider Tripleseat. It has world-class features. It will make managing large group, private dining, event, and catering easier for both your customers and your restaurant staff. Let’s talk about some specific steps you can take to grow your restaurant’s success.
1. Get Efficient with Restaurant Industry Tech
We understand that right now one of your hardest challenges as a restaurant is staffing. Use restaurant industry technology to impact your operations positively and keep details in one centralized place. Consider Point of Sale (POS) systems, QR code pay at the table, kitchen display screens, not to mention event management software. These techs can help your existing staff be the most efficient and find opportunities for more sales.
Remember that when details slip through the cracks, so can restaurant sales. Now more than ever, it’s crucial to stay organized. If you often serve large groups, private dinners, and events by phone or with a poor platform, consider using Tripleseat. It is a leader in hospitality technology. It will help you make the most restaurant revenue.
2. Offer Signature Private Dining, Event, & Catering Packages
No matter your restaurant’s kind, offering special menu items will attract new and loyal customers. Also, having a clear private dining, event, and/or catering package will help. Show off your beautiful and delicious offerings. Use clear digital and printed materials. Include professional photos and well-researched pricing. Remember that customers are willing to pay more for special occasions and events for food and beverages. During a recent study, Tripleseat learned that venues offering private dining and events get 30% of revenue from that business.
3. Get a Handle on Your Restaurant’s Inventory
To keep track of your restaurant’s earnings and losses, you need full visibility into what’s coming in and going out of your restaurant — at all times. Food costs are still high, so ensuring you are on top of your inventory and food sales is necessary. A POS system with smart inventory tracking can provide this much-needed visibility. You get low-inventory warnings and detailed sales item reports. You can relax knowing you can see when the last bottle of pinot went out or if it’s time to order more steak.
4. Optimize Your Menu to Make It Shine
Is your menu cohesive, or has it become a mishmash of apps, mains, and desserts? If so, it may be time to freshen up your restaurant menu. The deliciousness of your restaurant meal items doesn’t mean a thing if the overall design is poor or if the menu items are not profitable. You could update your menu in simple ways. Think about giving it a fresh look and renaming some items. You could even move your highest-margin items on the menu. Use key spots on your menu to market high-profit dishes. Use some pro images to entice your customers. It is a best practice to revisit your menu at least a couple of times per year and opt to place in some seasonal dishes. Make sure to promote your menu on social media and other marketing channels.
5. Plan Themed Restaurant Events to Attract Customers
There’s no shortage of special events your restaurant can pull off. It could be a father-daughter night, a wine and cheese tasting, or a workshop. But, adding a theme to your restaurant’s offerings is a great way to boost sales and build customer loyalty. Leverage the right technology to ensure your event’s success.
If you currently offer private dining or events or are considering expanding, let event management software help. You can easily manage these events and streamline communication with your staff and customers. Want to try out ticketed events? Your venue can have wine tastings, cooking classes, and live entertainment. These make it the best place for gatherings that everyone remembers. Demo Tripleseat Tickets today to learn how this platform makes it easy!
Target events during times when business is usually slow. There are plenty of creative events your restaurant can host to get an influx of new customers through your doors. Reach out to local businesses to create a partnership, such as a yoga studio, artist, or florist.
6. Advertise and Engage on Social Media
There is no doubt you’ll find new leads on social media. Restaurants with a strong social media presence will be top of mind when people look for restaurants to eat at and to plan an event at. Think photos, videos, and your restaurant’s personality to bring in a new customer. Offer to take photos of event guests and permission to share these photos in order to promote your event program.
Make sure you’re set up with a Facebook business page, LinkedIn, and an Instagram account. These are great places to promote your events and appeal to party planners.
7. Sell Branded Restaurant Products
Do you run a restaurant with your own beer or coffee? Package your product and sell it.
Selling something you’re known for as a branded product is one surefire way to generate a secondary revenue stream to increase restaurant sales. Or, if you invested a lot into your design and branding, simply printing T-shirts could boost business (and serve as a free promotion by the people sporting them!). Not only is this a way to diversify your total revenue, but also is a wonderful way to market your brand and drive potential customer interest.
8. Increase the Speed of Food Service and Table Turnover Rate
As a restaurant owner or restaurant operator, you know the more tables you turn per hour, the more money you make and the more profitable your restaurant becomes. So why not provide your staff with the tools they need to increase the speed and efficiency of service?
For example, a mobile Point of Sale (POS) device allows servers to send orders directly from the POS to the kitchen. This way, they don’t have to race to and from a stationary terminal bottlenecked by other servers.
9. Add Online Ordering and Delivery Services
Adding takeout, online ordering, and a delivery service opens a big revenue stream for restaurants. It caters to the growing demand for easy and accessible dining. In today’s app-driven environment, convenience is king. Restaurants can tap into a wider customer base by setting up an online ordering system. They can do this through a proprietary website or mobile app, or by partnering with popular food delivery platforms. This not only increases sales but also boosts visibility in a competitive market.
The convenience of browsing menus, placing orders, and making payments online appeals to a broad spectrum of customers. Think about busy professionals, families, and individuals who seek quick and easy meal solutions. Also, delivery services let restaurants serve their customers. This is important when traditional service in is not possible or preferred. It provides smooth online ordering and delivery. This can make customers happier, bring them back, and boost profits.
10. Find Upselling and Cross-Selling Opportunities
Suggestive selling, or upselling, involves persuading customers to buy more expensive items. These items have higher profits. It also involves getting them to buy more offerings. Train your servers to be better salespeople by mastering the art of upselling. “Bottled water or Perrier?” “Would you like to add chicken to your Caesar salad?”
Cross-selling allows for creativity. It is like upselling. It involves suggesting to your guest an item that complements their initial choice. For instance, recommending a glass of red wine to pair with their rib eye.
This is another great use for your technologies. Suggesting upselling and cross-selling can increase check size and drive gross profit. It does this by prompting servers to suggest add-ons and highlight price changes.
11. Try New Restaurant Marketing Strategies
Sure, email marketing is a tried and true way to reach potential customers. But why not give text marketing a try? With the high open rates of text messages, it only makes sense.
Create an offer to get customers to subscribe, like “Get Free Dessert,” then send weekly specials to your growing list of subscribers. Your customers will look forward to getting these deals. You can look forward to increased restaurant revenue from repeat visits.
12. Host Large Groups, Private Dining, and Restaurant Events
Adding large groups, private dining, and events to your restaurant’s offerings is a great strategy. It will boost revenue. To start, consider designing versatile spaces in your restaurant. They can easily be adjusted to fit large groups or private events. This will ensure a comfortable and exclusive experience. Develop specialized packages and menus for these occasions. They will provide options for events. These include corporate meetings and personal celebrations, such as birthdays and weddings. You can promote these services on your website, social media, and local event-planning websites. This can attract attention to your restaurant.
Also, offering incentives can help sales growth. For example, custom menu planning or free champagne toasts for large bookings can further attract customers. Training your staff to handle the special demands of large groups and events will ensure smooth execution. It will also improve the guest experience. This will lead to repeat business and positive word-of-mouth referrals. Your restaurant can tap into new revenue streams by marketing and managing these special dining options well. It will also build a reputation as a go-to venue for memorable occasions.
Not sure how to advertise a program like this? Here are some ideas on how to market private dining at your restaurant.
How to Build a Private Dining and Events Service to Your Restaurant
An introductory guide on how to diversify and add private dining and events to your restaurant’s offerings in order to build even more sales. Learn all about ways to implement these revenue boosting offerings to your restaurant.
13. Create a Restaurant Email Newsletter
We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: good restaurant newsletters work! The potential return on investment in creating a newsletter is huge. It’s one of the most effective ways to increase sales in a restaurant. Newsletters have been reported to outpace social media in terms of effectiveness. They also give you more control when it comes to your target audience.
You may be looking for the right email platform. Or, tips for building an audience. Or, good layouts that’ll keep people scrolling. This article on restaurant email marketing has it all.
14. Offer Pop-up Restaurant Experiences
It’s official: pop-up bars and restaurants are trending. Whether they’re promoting a new television series or highlighting a touring chef, these limited-time experiences have proven to be a bonafide crowd draw.
Depending on your bandwidth, there are a few ways to make them work for your business. You could start hosting regular events like Tiki Tuesdays, complete with a special cocktail menu of tropical drinks. You could also partner with a visiting or emerging local chef who wants to set up one night a month in your space.
15. Take Part in Your City’s Restaurant Week
If you’re not taking part in your city’s annual Restaurant Week events, now’s the time. Not only does this give your space extra exposure, but it’s an effective way to get more customers in your restaurant.
Restaurant Weeks are a great opportunity to show off signature dishes, and even experiment with new ones. You can also leverage them to get the word out about your private event offerings. Include program details in check presenters. Also, consider offering a deal if someone books an event soon.
16. Adopt a Restaurant Loyalty Program
Looking to inspire happy customers to keep coming back? Incentivize your existing customers! There are plenty of options for incentivizing repeat clients for their continued business. Choosing the one that’s right for you often depends on things like your budget, the type of business you run, and your personal preference.
Casual dining can opt for things like coupons. More high-end establishments or fine-dining restaurants may rely on app- or email-driven programs. If you are a restaurant chain, you might try punch cards to encourage customers to try different locations. No matter which avenue you take, the key is to keep the process simple on the customer’s end, so that they actually participate.
17. Create More In-House Restaurant Promotions
Restaurants can attract more guests. They can do this by creating in-house promotions. These promotions should be enticing and offer customers unique experiences or value. For example, a restaurant could launch a “Taste of the Season” week. It would showcase a special menu with dishes made from local, seasonal ingredients at a discounted rate. Another good promotion might involve a “Buy One, Get One Free” offer. It would be on certain days of the week. It would encourage visits during slower business hours. Additionally, there are themed nights, like “Jazz and Dinner” evenings. They can create a unique atmosphere. They attract music lovers and offer a memorable experience. Social media and email to spread the word about these promotions can increase visibility and interest. It is an essential strategy for restaurants looking to boost their guest numbers.
18. Train Your Event Staff
Enhanced customer service can significantly boost sales for a restaurant. Restaurants provide exceptional service. This creates positive dining experiences. It encourages consumers to return and recommend the establishment to others. For instance, training staff to be attentive. They should know the menu and be quick to address customer concerns. This can leave a lasting impression on guests. Personal touches help. For example, remembering regular customers’ names or favorite orders. These things make diners feel valued. And, they make them more likely to become loyal patrons. Also, fast and personal service can lead to good online reviews. It can also attract new customers through social media mentions. Investing in great customer service satisfies current customers. It’s also a powerful tool for word-of-mouth marketing. It drives more sales.
19. Collaborate with Influencers
Collaborating with influencers can be a game-changer in your quest to increase restaurant sales. By partnering with local food bloggers, Instagram personalities, and other social media influencers, you can tap into their established audiences and gain exposure to potential new customers. Influencers have the ability to create engaging, authentic content that resonates with their followers, making your restaurant more visible and attractive. Hosting influencer events, offering exclusive tasting sessions, or even just having them share their dining experience can generate buzz and bring in more diners. This strategy not only amplifies your reach but also builds credibility, as recommendations from trusted voices can significantly impact dining decisions. Ensure you choose influencers whose brand aligns with your restaurant’s image and values to create a genuine connection with their audience.
20. Use SEO to Improve Visibility to Your Restaurant
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) involves enhancing your website’s pages to achieve higher rankings in Google’s search results. Effective SEO practices include integrating relevant keywords into your content, ensuring your site is mobile-friendly, and consistently producing high-quality content.
Google rewards content that users find valuable, so focus on using long-tail keywords that are closely related to your business. For instance, targeting “best experiential restaurant in Los Angeles” or “Mexican restaurants in Boston” is more effective than using a broad term like “best Mexican restaurant.”
Your SEO efforts should prioritize attracting local customers who can visit and dine at your restaurant. This local targeting ensures that your content reaches people who are most likely to convert into actual customers.
21. Run a Restaurant Contest or Giveaway
Hosting contests is a fantastic way to engage both new and returning customers at your restaurant while boosting your social media presence. Consider inviting your patrons to share selfies taken at your restaurant or photos of their meals. Use a specific hashtag to follow your social media page to participate.
You can then use free online tools to randomly select a winner from those who meet the entry criteria (e.g., those who followed your page since the contest began). Prizes could include complimentary dishes, gift cards, or branded merchandise. This approach not only showcases your customers’ positive dining experiences but also increases your restaurant’s visibility and encourages more foot traffic.
Increase Restaurant Sales and Revenue with Tripleseat
Dining for large groups is a real moneymaker! We’re talking about parties that are too big for a regular table but not huge enough to be an event. Think 10-20 people, where everyone knows each other. These gatherings are often for special occasions like birthdays, anniversaries, or corporate parties. These are chances to boost your income. These groups tend to order more: extra starters, lavish desserts, and plenty of drinks. By welcoming these celebrations, you’ll raise your average bill. You’ll also significantly boost your gross profits. It will be easier to host and handle these larger parties!
With TripleseatDirect and Large Party Reservations, let’s make your restaurant the place where big parties and big total sales are always available.
If your restaurant business isn’t using Tripleseat yet, and you’d like more information about the platform and the Large Party feature, please book a demo.
