5 Killer Restaurant Marketing Tactics that Bring in New Customers
Here’s the harsh reality: if you’re not actively deploying effective restaurant marketing tactics, you’re leaving boatloads of potential revenue on the table. Sure, word-of-mouth is great, but in today’s ultra-competitive foodie landscape, you gotta get scrappy and strategic to truly stand out.
We know running a restaurant is no easy feat. From nailing those signature dishes to managing a crew of hangry line cooks, you’re juggling a million moving parts. And let’s not forget the constant battle to keep those lights on amid rising food costs. That’s why we are dishing out our all-time favorite restaurant marketing tactics guaranteed to get those coveted new customers flocking through your doors. Whether you are a new or established restaurant, you may be asking, how do I attract more customers to my restaurant? Try these on for size:
1. Up Your Social Media Game
Listen up – if you’re not killing it on Instagram, you might as well be a culinary ghost town. These days, people discover most new hot spots through their social feeds. Make sure you’re posting drool-worthy food and giving followers tantalizing sneak peeks at your vibe and specialties. Hop on the latest menu trends (such as remixed dishes and ridiculously stacked milkshakes) to grab attention. And for the love of likes, geo-tag those posts and #hashtag the heck out of them.
2. Run Super-Targeted Ad Campaigns
With online advertising, you can get surgical and serve your promos to the exact demographics and neighborhoods you want to target. Craft irresistible offers – like a free shared appetizer for first-timers who book online. Retargeting is key too. If someone bounced from your website without converting, stay top-of-mind with ads reminding them why your venue rocks.
3. Partner with Local Influencers
Pay attention to those micro-influencers in your city with dedicated foodie followings. Often, a simple trade is all it takes – you hook them up with a free meal, they post drool-worthy pics and rave reviews. Search relevant hashtags to find on-brand partners to collaborate with.
4. Host Unique Events and Pop-Ups
From dessert-only pop-ups to meet-the-chef evenings or cooking classes, fun special events make your place a total see-and-be-seen destination. Serve up some IG-worthy dishes and those social shares will flow in hot. Oh, and don’t overlook the power of regular weekly events like trivia nights – those are community-building gold.
5. Maintain an Email List
It may be old-school, but email marketing is still a powerhouse restaurant marketing tactic. Your email list lets you drop news, promos and invites directly into inboxes. Maybe it’s a heads up about your seasonal menu launch or an exclusive tasting event invite. Entice patrons to opt-in by sending a joining offer like $5 off their next visit.
The bottom line? Get creative, embrace new channels, and never let your restaurant marketing efforts be an afterthought. There are hungry diners out there waiting to discover you – you just have to give them a darn good reason to find (and obsess over) your place.
Now go forth and market the heck out of that restaurant! A full, profitable reservations book will be your reward.
Are you ready to grow your event business? Schedule a Tripleseat demo to take a closer look at our event management features.
