You're a restaurant owner. Picture this: your tables are buzzing with diners, all because you nailed your marketing plan. Exciting, right?
We've seen many restaurateurs struggle with creating a comprehensive marketing strategy that truly works.
That's why we've developed a free marketing plan and strategy template, tailored to restaurant owners. This tool will guide you through the steps of building a powerful marketing plan, ensuring you reach your target audience and achieve your business goals.
Also, if you want to take your restaurant's marketing to the next level with proven tactics and strategies, check out our pack of marketing strategies and tactics for restaurant owners.
Read on to discover how to leverage this tool to enhance your restaurant's marketing efforts and drive more customers to your tables.
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Examples of marketing strategies for a restaurant
We could easily list hundreds of marketing tactics for your restaurant. However, we know you need actions that are practical and tailored to your unique dining experience.
Marketing strategies for a restaurant with a low budget
Good news, you can still acquire new customers without exploding the budget of your restaurant.
We will outline here basic marketing strategies briefly for clarity and conciseness; if you need an action plan and tips to implement these strategies effectively and affordably, consult our strategy pack for restaurant owners looking to grow their business.
Tactic for your Restaurant | Budget Range | How to Make It Even More Budget-Friendly |
---|---|---|
Social Media Marketing | $0 - $100/month | Focus on organic growth by posting daily specials, behind-the-scenes kitchen action, chef's tips, and customer testimonials. Encourage diners to share their dining experience and tag your restaurant. |
Email Marketing | $0 - $50/month | Use free email marketing tools to send out newsletters with exclusive offers, new menu items, and event announcements. Collect emails through a sign-up sheet at the counter or on your website. |
Loyalty Programs | $50 - $200/month | Implement a simple punch card where customers earn a free item after a set number of purchases. Alternatively, use free or low-cost loyalty apps. |
Collaborations with Local Businesses | $0 - $100 | Partner with nearby shops to create joint promotions, like offering a discount at your restaurant with a purchase from the local bookstore. Host collaborative events to draw in crowds. |
Hosting Community Events | $100 - $500 | Work with local artists or musicians to host events at your restaurant. Offer your space for community meetings or charity events, sharing costs with partners. |
Google My Business Listing | $0 | Keep your Google My Business listing updated with current hours, photos, and posts about special events or menu changes. Encourage happy customers to leave positive reviews. |
Food Bloggers & Influencers Outreach | $100 - $500 | Invite local food bloggers and influencers to a complimentary meal in exchange for a review. Host influencer nights where they can experience your menu and share their experience on social media. |
SEO for Restaurant Website | $0 - $200/month | Optimize your website with keywords like “best [type of cuisine] in [city]”. Regularly update your blog with recipes, cooking tips, and restaurant news to improve search engine rankings. |
Online Contests and Giveaways | $50 - $200 | Run contests on social media where customers can win a free meal or gift card. Use inexpensive prizes like a free appetizer to encourage participation and increase engagement. |
Local SEO & Directory Listings | $0 - $100 | Submit your restaurant’s information to local directories and food blogs. Ensure your NAP (Name, Address, Phone number) is consistent across all platforms. |
Customer Feedback and Referral Programs | $0 - $100 | Offer a small discount or free item for customers who refer friends. Set up a feedback system on your website or in-store for customers to share their experiences and suggestions. |
DIY Professional-Quality Photos | $0 - $50 | Use natural lighting and a good smartphone camera to take appealing photos of your dishes. Share these photos on social media and your website to attract more customers. |
Copy the tactics of the best restaurants in the world!
There are restaurants that make way more money than you do. We have studied their tactics. Get them now!
Marketing strategies for your restaurant if you have limited time
Great news for restaurant owners pressed for time: you don’t need to sacrifice marketing success due to a tight schedule.
For a detailed action plan and tips to implement these strategies quickly and effectively, check out our tailored strategy pack for busy restaurant entrepreneurs eager to expand.
Tactic | Time to Spend Each Week | Tips to Maximize Time and Efficiency |
---|---|---|
Weekly Social Media Themes | 2 hours | Designate themes for each day (e.g., #MeatlessMonday, #TacoTuesday) to streamline content creation and engage specific audience segments. Plan posts in advance using scheduling tools. |
Engaging Instagram Stories | 1 hour | Use Instagram's built-in features (polls, questions, countdowns) to quickly create interactive stories that encourage user engagement. Highlight daily specials and behind-the-scenes content. |
Google My Business Posts | 30 minutes | Post weekly specials or events directly on your Google My Business profile to improve visibility and attract nearby customers. Use high-quality images to grab attention. |
Partnering with Food Influencers | 2 hours | Identify and reach out to local food influencers for a single post or story mention; offer them a free meal in exchange for coverage. Track engagement to measure effectiveness. |
Email Marketing with Special Offers | 1 hour | Use email templates and segment your audience to send personalized offers, reducing the time needed to create effective campaigns. Highlight seasonal dishes and exclusive deals. |
Collaboration with Local Businesses | 2 hours | Plan a monthly meeting to set up cross-promotional events or offers, sharing the marketing workload and expanding your customer base. Create joint promotions to benefit both parties. |
Customer Feedback Incentives | 1 hour | Implement a system where customers get a small discount or free item for posting their meal online with a designated hashtag. Encourage reviews on popular platforms like Yelp and TripAdvisor. |
Local SEO Optimization | 2 hours | Optimize your website and content for local search keywords and ensure your NAP (Name, Address, Phone) listings are consistent across the web. Use local business directories and review sites. |
Flash Sales Announced on Social Media | 1 hour | Plan and announce limited-time offers on social media to create urgency and drive immediate traffic to your restaurant. Use catchy graphics and clear calls-to-action. |
Participating in Community Events | 3 hours | Identify local events where you can participate or sponsor in some way, leveraging the event's marketing to put your restaurant in front of potential new customers. Offer samples or coupons to attendees. |
Marketing strategies for your restaurant focused on social media
For restaurant owners looking to leverage social media: you can significantly enhance your online presence and customer engagement with the right strategies.
Social Media | Tactic | How to Execute | How to Make It Better |
---|---|---|---|
User-Generated Content | Encourage customers to share their dining experience by tagging the restaurant or using a specific hashtag. | Feature user posts on your profile, offer a monthly reward for the best photo, and interact with these posts to boost engagement. | |
Live Video Events | Host live video sessions showcasing behind-the-scenes kitchen action, menu item preparation, or special events. | Promote live events in advance, interact with viewers during the session, and include a call-to-action at the end. | |
Time-sensitive Deals | Post flash deals or limited-time offers that are available for a short period or for the first few customers who mention the tweet. | Use engaging visuals and hashtags to increase visibility and retweet customer feedback and photos who participated. | |
TikTok | Signature Dish Challenge | Create a challenge inviting customers to recreate your signature dish at home and share their attempts on TikTok. | Partner with TikTok influencers to kickstart the challenge, offer prizes for the best recreations, and share compilation videos of attempts. |
Story Highlights for Menus and Specials | Use Instagram Stories to regularly update your followers on daily specials, seasonal menus, or exclusive offers, and save them as Highlights. | Organize Highlights by category (e.g., lunch specials, happy hour) and update visuals regularly to keep the content fresh and engaging. | |
Customer Reviews and Ratings | Encourage satisfied customers to leave reviews and ratings on your Facebook page. | Respond to all reviews, both positive and negative, in a timely and professional manner to show that you value customer feedback. | |
Engage in Local Conversations | Use Twitter to join conversations about local events, holidays, or community news, linking back to how your restaurant is involved or relevant. | Utilize relevant hashtags and tag other local businesses or event pages to increase your reach and engagement. | |
TikTok | Behind-the-Scenes Content | Share short, engaging videos that offer a glimpse into the kitchen, introduce staff members, or show how dishes are prepared. | Encourage interaction by asking viewers to vote for their favorite dish to be featured or to suggest new menu items. |
Make your restaurant more profitable
We have studied the strategies of the best restaurants in the world. All their tactics are explained in our pack!
Marketing strategies for a restaurant that work with a significant budget
Indeed, there are efficient and sophisticated marketing tactics that promise a strong return on investment for those prepared to allocate a significant budget.
For a detailed roadmap and expert advice on deploying these high-impact strategies effectively and maximizing your marketing spend, don't miss out on our exclusive strategy pack designed for restaurant owners looking to serve more customers every week.
Tactic | Monthly Budget Range (USD) | How to Make It Even Better |
---|---|---|
Professional Video Production for Social Media | $2,000 - $5,000 | Enhance videos with storytelling that showcases your restaurant's brand, culture, and the people behind it. Distribute across multiple platforms and consider paid promotion to extend reach. |
Influencer Marketing Campaigns | $5,000 - $20,000 | Partner with influencers who align with your brand values and have an engaged audience. Plan a series of posts for a broader campaign rather than one-off posts to maintain audience interest. |
High-End Photography for Menus and Advertising | $1,000 - $3,000 | Use these photos across all your marketing materials and social media. Refresh the photos seasonally to reflect menu changes and keep the content engaging. |
Paid Social Media Advertising | $2,000 - $10,000 | Segment your target audience for more personalized ads, use A/B testing for ad creatives, and retarget visitors who have interacted with your website or social media. |
Partnership with Food Delivery Apps for Featured Listings | $1,000 - $5,000 | Negotiate better placement or featured spots during peak dining times. Use data from these platforms to understand customer preferences and tailor your offerings. |
Hosting High-Profile Events or Pop-Ups | $10,000 - $50,000 | Collaborate with renowned chefs or celebrities to create buzz. Ensure media coverage and engage with attendees through social media to amplify the event's reach. |
Creating an Interactive, High-Quality Website with SEO | $5,000 - $15,000 | Incorporate a blog with high-quality content about cuisine, lifestyle, and local events to improve SEO. Ensure the site is mobile-friendly and includes an online reservation system. |
Innovative and creative marketing strategies for your restaurant
For restaurant owners eager to stand out from the competition, adopting innovative, creative, and unique marketing strategies can be a game-changer.
Tactic | Description |
---|---|
Augmented Reality Menu | Implement an augmented reality (AR) app that allows customers to see realistic 3D models of dishes on the menu when they scan a QR code with their smartphones. This interactive experience can help guests make more informed choices and enhance the dining experience. |
Virtual Cooking Classes | Offer virtual cooking classes led by the restaurant's chefs, where participants can learn to make signature dishes at home. This can include ingredient delivery services for local attendees and downloadable content for those further away, creating a new revenue stream and increasing brand loyalty. |
Collaborative Playlist | Create a collaborative playlist on a music streaming service where customers can add their favorite songs. This playlist can be played in the restaurant, creating a personalized and interactive atmosphere. Promote the playlist through social media and encourage customers to add to it, enhancing community engagement. |
Pop-Up Restaurants in Unique Locations | Host pop-up dining experiences in unique locations such as rooftops, museums, or historic sites. These events can offer exclusive menus and thematic experiences that align with the location, creating buzz and offering memorable experiences that customers will share. |
Gastronomic Experiments | Introduce gastronomic experiments that blend food with science, such as molecular gastronomy techniques or dishes that change flavor midway through eating. These unique culinary experiences can become social media sensations, drawing adventurous diners. |
Food Truck Roadshow | Launch a food truck roadshow that travels to different neighborhoods or cities, offering a taste of the restaurant's menu. Use social media to announce locations and create a scavenger hunt or reward system for followers who visit multiple locations. |
Interactive Social Media Challenges | Create social media challenges that encourage users to participate in themed cooking challenges, share their dining experiences, or engage in photo contests with the restaurant's dishes. Offer incentives such as discounts or free meals for the best entries. |
Edible QR Codes | Use edible ink to print QR codes on plates or directly on food items. These codes can lead to an exclusive video about the dish's preparation, a message from the chef, or a form to sign up for special events and discounts, merging technology with dining in a novel way. |
Themed Dining Nights | Host themed dining nights where the entire restaurant transforms to reflect different cuisines, historical periods, or pop culture phenomena. This can include themed menus, decorations, and staff costumes, encouraging customers to dress up and fully immerse themselves in the experience. |
Restaurant Scavenger Hunts | Organize a scavenger hunt within the restaurant or spanning across multiple locations, with clues related to the restaurant's history, menu, or philosophy. Participants can win prizes ranging from discounts to exclusive dining experiences, engaging them in a fun and interactive way. |
Your restaurant could make more money!
Most restaurant owners don't know how to grow their business. Let us teach you the right strategies.
Do you really need a strong marketing strategy for your restaurant?
You want more revenue? Then, having a strong marketing strategy for your restaurant is key, and it's far from just a collection of fancy words or vague concepts.
Essentially, a marketing strategy is your game plan for reaching potential customers and turning them into loyal patrons. The goal is to create visibility for your restaurant, differentiate it from competitors, and make people try your dishes.
When we surveyed them, many restaurant owners asked us whether it was really necessary for them to have a marketing strategy.
Yes - it's necessary.
In a market where consumers have countless options for dining out or ordering in, standing out matters. Without a marketing strategy, your restaurant might remain the best-kept secret in town, which isn't ideal for business. Marketing helps to put your restaurant on the map, attract new customers, and keep regulars coming back.
You don’t need to spend countless hours or hire a marketing expert
Now, you will tell us that you have never studied marketing before. That’s ok.
You don’t need to dive into complex marketing theories. Also, you don’t need to hire a “marketing specialist”. While having professional help can be advantageous, it's not strictly necessary, especially when starting out or operating with a tight budget.
Many aspects of marketing, particularly in the digital age, can be managed effectively with some research, creativity, and dedication.
Platforms like social media are powerful tools for engaging directly with your community, showcasing your dishes, sharing customer testimonials, and running promotions.
However, one of the most common difficulties you might face when diving into marketing or social media, as a restaurant owner, is feeling overwhelmed by the sheer volume of platforms and tools available, each with its own best practices and algorithms.
It can be challenging to know where to start, what content to create, and how to effectively engage with your audience amidst running a busy restaurant.
We are very well aware of these hurdles. That is why we have created a strategy pack for restaurant owners. It's packed with all the essentials you need to know, simplified for easy understanding and immediate action. Go through it and you can start gaining new customers every week.
You don’t need a big budget
Now, you might want to ask how much restaurants typically spend on marketing. Actually, it varies widely depending on the size, location, and ambition of the establishment.
From what we have seen in the restaurants we have studied, we suggest allocating around 3-6% of your total revenue towards marketing.
For smaller, independent restaurants, the budget might be on the lower end, possibly a few hundred dollars a month, focusing on cost-effective strategies like social media, word-of-mouth, and community events. On the other hand, larger or more upscale restaurants might invest thousands in more extensive campaigns, professional photography, and targeted online ads.
There are also some marketing tactics for restaurants with a low budget. Try to make your restaurant popular online, get your customers to leave good reviews, use local news to your advantage, and be a part of your community through events or working together with others.
Being creative and real matters more than spending a lot of money. Show what happens in the kitchen, talk about your team, or show how you make a meal. These things don't cost much and are often effective. Need some inspiration? We have prepared a list of content ideas for social media, tailored to restaurants, it’s all yours!
Copy the tactics of the best restaurants in the world!
There are restaurants that make way more money than you do. We have studied their tactics. Get them now!
What should you prioritize when promoting your restaurant?
As a restaurant owner, understanding where to direct your marketing efforts is essential for drawing in the right crowd and boosting your business.
Don’t try to seduce everyone, it’s too expensive
First off, let’s make it clear that every restaurant has its unique charm, menu, and atmosphere, which appeals to specific customer segments. This specificity is why targeting the right customers for your restaurant matters immensely.
When we surveyed the restaurant industry and created our marketing strategy pack, we found many owners trying things that didn't work and spending a lot of money because their targeting was off.
Imagine casting a wide net hoping to catch any fish that comes your way. Now, compare that to fishing with bait designed to attract the exact type of fish you're looking for. In marketing, the latter approach ensures that your efforts and resources are spent on attracting individuals who are more likely to become regular patrons, rather than a fleeting audience with no real interest in what makes your restaurant special.
For instance, a high-end restaurant using social media ads to target a broad, general audience might not reach its ideal clientele, who are looking for exclusive dining experiences.
Similarly, a family diner promoting through high-cost magazine ads in luxury publications may see little return, as their ideal customers likely seek value and a casual atmosphere, not upscale dining.
These misalignments between the marketing strategy and the target customer base lead to ineffective marketing and financial losses.
Don’t follow generic advice: you own a restaurant, it’s not a regular business
Also, general marketing tactics, while foundational, often fall short when applied to the restaurant industry without customization. The reason is simple: context matters. A strategy that works wonders for a hotel, a bakery, or a gym might not resonate with your restaurant's target audience.
Each of these businesses caters to different needs, operates on varying schedules, and, most importantly, engages customers in distinct ways.
For example, while a hotel might focus on amenities and comfort for longer stays, a restaurant's allure often revolves around the dining experience, the uniqueness of the menu, and the ambiance. Similarly, a bakery might rely heavily on foot traffic and impulse purchases, which is a different game altogether.
That is why we decided to build a marketing strategy pack for restaurants and restaurants only.
Use common sense when deciding
So, what works for restaurants? It's all about creating and sharing experiences that align with your restaurant's identity.
Social media is a powerful tool in this regard, allowing you to showcase your dishes, ambiance, and the overall dining experience through visually appealing posts and stories.
Engaging with your audience online by responding to comments, sharing behind-the-scenes content, and highlighting customer reviews can add a personal touch that many patrons appreciate.
Remember, it's not just about posting regularly, but posting content that mirrors the expectations and interests of your target demographic.
Collaborations with local influencers, food bloggers, and even other businesses can also yield impressive results. Such partnerships allow you to tap into existing communities and audiences that trust and value the opinions of the influencers they follow.
Finally, make sure your customers can find you easily on the web. You have to make friends with search engines. We will help you - here is a SEO (for Search Engine Optimization) checklist tailored to restaurants. It's all yours!
Where to get the best marketing strategies for your restaurant?
We understand that diving into marketing for your restaurant can feel like stepping into uncharted territory, especially when you're already managing countless other responsibilities.
Maybe the whole concept of marketing seems overwhelming with its complex terms and strategies. Or perhaps you're concerned about the potential costs and time commitment, given how busy things already are.
And it's completely understandable if you've thought, "My food is fantastic, shouldn't that be enough?" It's a common sentiment, especially when you're caught up in the daily hustle of running a restaurant. You might have even had past marketing efforts that didn't yield the results you hoped for.
That's why we've created something tailored just for you - a marketing strategy pack specifically designed for restaurant owners.
This pack is all about to make marketing straightforward and manageable. We've demystified the jargon and broken down the marketing process into clear, easy-to-follow steps. Concerned about time and budget? Our strategies are cost-effective and designed to fit seamlessly into your busy schedule, focusing on practical, impactful actions.
Additionally, we've included tips on navigating the digital landscape at your own pace, ensuring you won't feel overwhelmed. Our aim is to help you view marketing not as a daunting task but as an integral, manageable part of your business that can be both enjoyable and rewarding.
Some restaurants make 5x more profit than you!
We have studied the strategies of the best restaurants in the world. Replicate them now!