At New Media Ghost, we offer a bespoke marketing service tailored to your needs. Here are 8 marketing strategy tips for restaurants to make sure your restaurant drives in more customers.
1.) Consistency
One of the most important aspects of any marketing strategy is consistency. Whatever platform you are using, make sure your marketing is consistent with your brand. Use a main hashtag relevant to your brand and utilise it across your social media platforms. The way your brand is presented must be consistent, from banners and leaflets to the sign above your front door.
2.) Keep everything updated
Things change rapidly and you don’t want to be in danger of unintentionally misleading customers when it comes to prices. Make sure your website is updated to reflect accurate information, whether it be special offers or current prices. Likewise, menus should be continuously updated, both online and at the restaurant table.
3.) Have a landing page
If you don’t have a website, consider having a landing page. This is considered the shop front to your business, which people often check before booking a place to eat. In today’s moving technology, a positive web presence is a must for all businesses.
4.) Embrace social media
Whether it be Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, you must embrace social media to gain the benefits it has to offer. Promote your food by taking exciting and visually appealing photographs. Post strategically to get the best results for your restaurant in terms of engagement and exposure.
5.) Engage with your diners
Engage with your customers at the table and online. Increase customer engagement by running fun photo competitions via Instagram and by responding to customer reviews. Did you know that 84% of people trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations?
If someone uses your hashtag to attract your attention, respond to them! Search to see what people are saying about you. By engaging with your customers, you increase customer satisfaction and attract new customers at the same time.
6.) Take advantage of special occasions
Events such as Valentine’s day and Christmas are a great opportunity to increase your brand’s exposure. Even birthdays can be an opportunity. Think of creative ways to make these events special and unique for the diner. Bake a cake for a customer’s birthday or promote special offers suited to the occasion.
Implement targeted marketing campaigns to drive up business during these events by using specific hashtags to promote what you have to offer.
7.) Try food blogging
Create your own blogs on your website, offering engaging and relevant content. Also, reach out to local food bloggers to review your food and increase your brand’s awareness. This can help establish your restaurant in the local community and bump up your online reputation. This is vitally important, given that potential customers read restaurant reviews more than any other industry.
8.) Offer rewards
We all like to be rewarded for the things we do. Devise a loyalty programme to gain repeat business and regular diners. Word-of-mouth is crucial. Give people an incentive to dine with you, and they will repay you.
Ultimately, you want to keep everything clear and concise. Start with the basics. Make sure you have proofread your menus, website, and other marketing materials to ensure correct spelling and grammar. Is the text on your logo big enough? Are the colours you are using consistent with your brand?
These are just eight marketing strategy tips for restaurants. Contact New Media Ghost – marketing specialists for restaurants – to learn more about how we can help your restaurant reach its potential.