You know that reaching new customers is important, but now the question is how to reach them. Below are a few common techniques you can use:
Take nice photos & use video
Your food is what brings people into your restaurant right? After all, they’re there to eat. So shouldn’t you have really, really good-looking photos and videos of your restaurant’s food? Invest in a decent camera and start practicing your skills. If you can, hire a professional food photographer to take the photos for you. We offer this service and would love to help. Use these images all over your website, social media, and in other advertisements to get people to crave what you offer. Photos are shared most often online and will attract new customers to your restaurant.
Plan live music events
Good live music entices your customers to stay longer and spend more money on drinks and food. Many businesses that have booked creditable entertainment have brought in increased profits from drink sales, and it's even been proven that higher sound levels from music lead to increased drink consumption. Additionally, hosting a band in your venue livens up the atmosphere, which entices potential customers walking by to come in. You can also draw in a new customer base since the band’s local fans will most likely show up for the event.
Join Bama Eats (shamless plug)
No really. This is definitely a great idea. Being on a local online directory site It improves your local visibility. We offer advanced filter options that enable your customers to connect with you in your area. Also, when customers perform a search in an our directory, a list of matching results, each with a snapshot and business details are listed. To learn more about the business, you can click on it. In this case, even if the customer does not click on your business name, they still see your business. Each time a customer sees your business, it increases the awareness of your brand in the customer’s mind and improves your chances of getting business from them.
Create a new customer program
This usually involves giving away coupons that encourage customers to come back. Alternatively, you can give your new customers a free appetizer, dessert, or beverage with the purchase of an entree. This is a great way of showing your customers how much you appreciate their business, and it can help set your business apart from the competition.
Birthday Rewards
With regards to email marketing, capture your customer's birthdays when they opt-in to your newsletter and let them know that they will be receiving a special gift on their birthday. When it comes a time, email your customers on their birthday with a special coupon for a free appetizer or dessert. Most people celebrate their birthday with a big group at dinner. Giving them an incentive to choose your restaurant on their special day can both increase your sales and introduce new people to your restaurant.
Offer online ordering
Who has time to eat out anymore? Unfortunately, not that many people. If your restaurant offers takeout or delivery then you should have online ordering options on your website. People hate to make phone calls these days, everyone emails and texts. Not to mention answering the phone at your restaurant wastes your staff's valuable time. Make everyone happier by letting your customers order food directly from your website. Make the process even easier by accepting online payments.
Promote giftcards
Think about it. How many times have you visited a new place solely because you had a gift card? Once a customer is in your restaurant it’s your job to turn them into a loyal customers with your food and service. If you do so, you’ll more than benefit from giving away a few bucks in free food.
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