10 Bar & Restaurant Marketing Ideas
You have a great restaurant – tick. The food is great – tick and you have loyal, satisfied customers – tick, tick. But you’d like more.
Marketing your restaurant is the key but, thanks to technology, it doesn’t have to be time consuming or expensive. Big tick!
We’ve come up with 10 easy tips to market your place in 30 minutes or less.
1. Retweet/reply to people talking about your restaurant via Twitter
Social media management tools like Hootsuite are ideal for tracking conversations about your bar or restaurant, even when your handle isn’t mentioned.
2. Negative feedback
It’s crucial you respond to a negative review. Engage with disgruntled customers over complaints by responding with suggestions or solutions. It goes without saying that a conciliatory tone is always better.
3. Post a photo of a special dish/drink
Visuals posts are always popular. Post photos of a menu or drink special on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. Not only can a photo spark conversation, it can also spark appetites!
4. Offer a complimentary starter or dessert to the first 25 people to “like” your Facebook post
Create a Facebook status offering a complimentary starter or dessert to the first 25 people to like or comment. Not only are you engaging your fans but their friends will see the interaction in their newsfeed, creating an even wider ‘ripple effect’.
5. Post a poll on Facebook
It takes seconds to create a Facebook Poll and people love to be asked their opinion. Consider asking “which seasonal main course would you like to see added permanently to our menu?” or “which is your favourite dessert”. Polls can give you important feedback and also a chance to engage with your Facebook fans.
6. Share positive reviews on social media outlets
If you’ve had a good review or write up, share it with your fan base!
7. ‘High-five’ your staff
Share a quick anecdote about a member of the team who has recently gone above and beyond the call of duty. Sharing positive news about your staff not only boosts morale but reflects well on your bar or restaurant.
8. Talk to Food Bloggers
Research local bloggers and invite them to a special night at your restaurant. Offer a free glass of wine and ask if they would mind mentioning your establishment in their next post.
9. Make sure your restaurant’s information is listed correctly online
About 97% of customers search for local businesses online. So it makes sense to check your business is listed correctly on Google. Is your most current menu on your website, is there a downloadable pdf?
10. Does your homepage have a sign up form?
Give your customers an opportunity to be kept up to date. Incentivise if you want to. Starting a regular dialogue with your diners will reap dividends in the future.
