Andrea AbbondanzaAs a business owner in the competitive world of hospitality, it’s important to constantly think about ways to attract new customers and keep your current ones coming back for more. That’s why you need some innovative restaurant marketing ideas to get better sustainability.
A great marketing strategy will benefit your business by increasing brand awareness and generating leads. However, there are various restaurant marketing strategies out there, so you need to know which marketing plan fits your business.
In this guide, we’ll explore a variety of marketing strategies that you can use to promote your restaurant in Australia. From social media and email marketing to partnerships and events, we’ve covered you with many effective and budget-friendly ideas. Let’s get started!
Establish a loyalty program to offer your customers rewards
Establishing a loyalty program can greatly reward your customers for their continued patronage and encourage repeat business. There are a few different ways that you can do to structure a loyalty program for your restaurant.
One popular option is to offer points for every purchase customers make and then allow them to redeem those points for discounts or free items. This can be especially effective if you provide a variety of rewards at different point levels, as it gives customers a sense of progress and encourages them to keep returning to earn more points.
Another option is to offer a tiered loyalty program, where customers move up through different levels based on their spending or the number of visits they make. This can be a more exclusive and rewarding experience for customers, as they will have access to better rewards as they progress through the tiers.
Consider offering a loyalty program that is tied to your mobile app for restaurants, which can make it easier for customers to track their points and redeem rewards.
It is a great way to show your appreciation for your customers. Just be sure to regularly update and promote your loyalty program to keep it top of mind for your customers. You might also consider offering special restaurant promotion ideas or bonuses for loyal customers to keep them engaged and coming back for more.
Design large posters to use in your restaurant
Designing large posters for a restaurant can be an effective way to draw attention to special promotions, events, or menu items. These posters can be placed in high-traffic areas of your restaurant, such as near the entrance or in the dining area, to ensure that as many people see them as possible.
When designing your posters, be sure to consider the layout and placement of the text and images to make them easy to read and understand at a glance. Or, if you have additional money, you can hire illustrators or designers to design the posters. It can save you time to focus on other business matters.
One important aspect of designing large posters is ensuring they are visually appealing and professional. This means using high-quality images and graphics, as well as choosing a font and color scheme that is consistent with your restaurant’s branding.
Consider using a mix of text and imagery to convey your message, as this can help to break up the content and make it more engaging. Finally, be sure to include any necessary information, such as the dates of a promotion or the price of a menu item, to help potential customers make decisions.
Let your staff shine and stand out
Showcasing your staff can also be a great marketing idea for your restaurant because it allows customers to see the friendly and knowledgeable people working there. This can create a more personal and welcoming atmosphere and encourage customers to return for the excellent service as much as the food.
It can be as simple as featuring them in photos or videos on your restaurant’s social media accounts or website. Highlighting their achievements or specialties on your user-generated content or menu is also a nice option. Plus, consider hosting an event or promotion that showcases your staff’s talents, such as a cooking demonstration or cocktail-making competition.
By highlighting your staff and their contributions to your restaurant, you can create a stronger connection with your customers and build a loyal following.
Work with food delivery services
People tend to use food delivery apps if they want to eat but have no time to cook or go to restaurants. That’s why food delivery apps are becoming increasingly popular now because they offer a convenient way for people to get food.
Working with food delivery services can significantly expand your restaurant’s reach and bring your dishes to a larger audience. These services make it easy for customers to order food from your restaurant online or through a mobile app and then have it delivered straight to their door.
This can be incredibly convenient for people who are short on time or unable to leave their homes or offices, and it can help to increase your sales and customer base.
There are a few different food delivery services that you can work with, each with its own set of features and benefits. Some popular options include Uber Eats, Grubhub, and DoorDash. These services typically charge a commission on each order that they process for you, so it’s essential to carefully consider the terms of the agreement before signing up.
You might also want to consider offering your own in-house delivery service, as this can allow you to retain more control over the delivery process and potentially increase your profits. Overall, working with food delivery services can be a great way to reach more customers and grow your restaurant’s presence in the market.
Keep track of your restaurant stats and create events around them
Keeping track of your restaurant’s stats should be one of the parts of your marketing strategies for restaurants, as it can help you identify areas of success and areas for improvement. Some key stats you should track include sales figures, customer demographics, and customer feedback.
By regularly reviewing these stats, you can better understand your restaurant’s performance and what is and isn’t working for your business.
One way to make use of your restaurant stats is to create events or promotions based on them. For example, if your sales tend to be higher on certain days of the week, you might consider hosting a special event or offering a discount on those days to encourage more business.
Alternatively, if you have many customers in a particular age range or demographic, you might tailor your marketing efforts and events to appeal to that group. For example, invite popular food bloggers if you want to target younger people. By creating events around your restaurant stats, you can have a more precise plan for your restaurant marketing, potentially increasing your sales.
Set up a food truck in another potential location
Setting up a food truck in another location is an excellent strategy if you want to expand your restaurant’s reach and test out new markets. Food trucks are a popular and convenient way for people to grab a quick meal on the go, and they can be a great option for reaching customers in areas where a traditional restaurant might not be feasible.
Setting up a food truck means bringing your dishes to a new audience and potentially gaining new customers who might not have discovered your restaurant.
There are a few different factors to consider when setting up a food truck in another location. One important aspect is choosing a place with high foot traffic and is easily accessible to potential customers. Look at other factors too, such as parking availability, local regulations, and competition in the area.
Additionally, be sure to advertise your food truck’s location and menu to attract customers and build buzz. Basically, using food trucks will give you more chances to market your restaurant outside of the local area.
Work with local suppliers to source fresh ingredients
Working with local suppliers to source fresh ingredients is one of the best restaurant marketing ideas to support the local community and promote the quality of your restaurant’s dishes.
Sourcing ingredients from local farms can ensure you have the freshest and most flavorful ingredients for your customers. This can be especially appealing to customers who are interested in supporting local businesses and knowing where their food comes from.
In addition to the quality and taste of the ingredients, working with local suppliers can also have several other benefits for your restaurant. For example, it can help reduce your restaurant’s carbon footprint by reducing transportation costs and emissions. It also allows you to build relationships with local producers and negotiate better prices for your ingredients.
Working with local suppliers can be a great way to support the local community, improve the quality of your dishes, and potentially reduce costs for your restaurant. Not to mention how it can bring a good brand identity to your restaurant. This is a great way to support the business environment locally.
Create “Instagrammable” dishes
Social media is a great tool to advertise products or services, as most people use it nowadays. It will be a waste if we don’t utilize these online marketing tools because we can reach a wider audience using them correctly.
These days, people like to have great photos on their social media accounts, including food photos. Creating dishes that are good for the camera could be a great way to attract this kind of people to visit your restaurant. This means that not only do the dishes need to taste delicious, but they should also look visually appealing.
A great marketing tip for restaurant owners in Australia is taking great food photos, including using natural lighting, choosing an interesting background, and styling the dish to make it look appetizing.
One way to make dishes look more visually appealing is to play with the colors and textures of the ingredients. For example, you could try using a variety of colorful vegetables and fruits or contrasting soft and crunchy textures. You could add some garnishes or other decorative elements to the dish to make it more eye-catching.
Change your menu to suit dietary needs and allergies
Nowadays, people are far more aware of what they consume than they were a few decades ago. Some restaurants may view their customers as fussy eaters, but you should approach it as catering to various dietary requirements to attract more customers.
It can significantly alter if you don’t prepare ahead and create your menu around increasing dietary choices. People may want to avoid dairy, gluten or are trying to keep to a low-carb diet, among other things.
A diversified menu with foods that accommodate various dietary needs has several advantages. For example, you’ll become a choice for groups with different dietary requirements. If one or two of a group of friends are vegan but don’t offer them attractive vegan options, they’ll go elsewhere, and you can lose out on a sizable number of consumers. It also can be the same case if these groups have someone who has allergies.
Ensure your menu items and website provide clear information about what you can provide for diners with their dietary needs. People can now see the specific ingredients you use in your cuisine much more easily, and if they have any food allergies or intolerances, they will be adequately forewarned. You can also provide replacements for items like a vegan broth or a dairy-free selection.
Focus on customer service as a priority
Customer service is crucial in the restaurant industry. Besides the food, service should also be a priority for you and your team. You can differentiate your restaurant from other restaurants by providing excellent customer service.
Excellent customer service can bring benefits to a business in a variety of ways. Positive reviews are one of the best instances of this. When customers visit your restaurant and have a great time, they are more likely to write positive reviews that will encourage others to do the same. In addition, it also helps your business to prevent negative reviews, which can seriously harm the reputation of your business.
Another unexpectedly powerful way to stand out is by word of mouth. Even if it isn’t direct restaurant marketing, it can boost your standing with the community and encourage more people to visit and eat there. Remember that people usually eat what their closest ones recommend, right? It’s one of the most effective marketing strategies for restaurants.
Most Frequently Ask Questions
What are the 4 P’s of a restaurant?
Restaurant owners need to follow the terms of 4 P’s. The “4 P’s” of a restaurant refer to the four main elements that make up a restaurant’s marketing, including product, price, promotion, and place.
- Product: The product is the food and drinks that a restaurant offers.
- Price: The price refers to the cost of the items on the menu and any discounts or promotions.
- Promotion: This refers to the restaurant marketing strategy that a restaurant undertakes in order to attract customers. It could include advertising, social media marketing, and email marketing.
- Place: The place element refers to the restaurant’s location and how it is accessed by customers, including the restaurant’s physical location and online ordering options that may be available.
Conclusion
The restaurant industry in Australia is constantly evolving, and it is essential for restaurants to stay up-to-date with the latest marketing trends to remain competitive.
Some of the best restaurant marketing solutions you can use include leveraging social media to connect with customers, marketing campaigns, offering personalized experiences and promotions, SEO for Restaurants, and using technology to enhance the dining experience.
By implementing these restaurant marketing ideas and staying attuned to the needs and preferences of their customers, restaurants can effectively attract and retain repeat customers in the fast-paced and competitive world of the food industry.
