Welcome to the world of endless possibilities for your restaurant's success! In our blog, "Marketing Ideas for Your Restaurant," we unveil a treasure trove of creative strategies designed to elevate your brand, attract diners, and boost your bottom line. Let's craft a compelling narrative for your brand and ensure your tables are always full! 🌐🍽️

Attracting Your Target Customer:

• Stay on top of trends that might impact your target customers, product, or promotion strategy.

• Collect competitor's ads and literature; use them for information about strategy, product features and benefits that will help your advertising campaign.

• Read market research studies about the foodservice industry, products, target market groups, etc.

• Explore possible new opportunities that fir your restaurant (i.e., catering, banquets, etc.).

• Sponsor events which your target customers attend.

• Advertise during peak seasons for your restaurant.

• Advertise in a specialty directory or the Yellow Pages.

• Consider non-traditional tactics such as bus backs, billboards, and online marketing.

Communicating to the Market:

• Business cards aren't working for you if they're in the box. Have at least a handful of business cards on you at all times. Give potential customers two business cards and mini menus -- one to keep and one to pass along.

• Produce separate business cards/sales literature for each of your target customer segments.

• Create a website that is attractive and innovative that invites interaction between the website and user.

• Use colored or oversized envelopes for your direct mailings. Or send direct mail in plain white envelopes to pique recipients' curiosity.

• Announce free or special offers in your direct response pieces.

• Include the free or special offer in the beginning of the message and also on the outside of the envelope for direct mail.

• Publish an online newsletter for customers and potential customers.

• Include a link to an online survey to collect feedback.

Media Relations:

• Send timely and newsworthy press releases as often as needed to local and statewide newspapers.

• Publicize notable milestones in your business, such as 1000th customer or employee of the year.

• Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper or to a trade magazine editor.

• Consistently review newspapers and magazines for possible public relations opportunities.

• Create your own YouTube channel and market videos on your industry or your speciality.

Customer Relations:

• Use an answering machine or answering service to catch after-hours phone calls. Include basic information in your outgoing message such as business hours and location.

• Ask clients what you can do to help them.

• Send handwritten thank you notes.

• Send birthday cards and appropriate seasonal greetings via mail or email.

• Take loyal customers out to a ball game, show, or other special event.

Networking and Outreach:

• Join a Chamber of Commerce or other community organization.

• Join or organize a breakfast club with other local business owners to discuss business and network referrals.

• Serve on a city board or commission.

• Sponsor an "Adopt-A-Highway" area in your community to keep roads litter-free.

• Volunteer your time as well as a few employees to a charity or non-profit organization.

• Donate your product or service to a charity auction.

• Sponsor or host a special event or open house at your restaurant in cooperation with a local non-profit organization.