Restaurant owner ideas needed

20 replies
I have a restaurant owner that I would talk with and offer my services.

I have read some ideas of things to do with them to help them get new customer and have them visit more often.

I would like some ideas from you guys.

What kind of things can I have that will help this business owner.

I have read a situation of having a restaurant filled to over capacity from help from an offline marketing consultant.

I could use some ideas.

Thanks for the help.

Keith
#ideas #needed #owner #restaurant
  • Profile picture of the author TE2
    Originally Posted by klittle View Post

    I have a restaurant owner that I would talk with and offer my services.

    I have read some ideas of things to do with them to help them get new customer and have them visit more often.

    I would like some ideas from you guys.

    What kind of things can I have that will help this business owner.

    I have read a situation of having a restaurant filled to over capacity from help from an offline marketing consultant.

    I could use some ideas.

    Thanks for the help.

    Keith
    Offer these services:
    • Google places - Verify and Optimization then setup coupons (including mobile)
    • Facebook fanpage - Setup, educate on use including Facebook places
    • Twitter - setup and educate on use
    • Foursquare - setup and educate on use (special discount for the "Mayor" of [restaurant-name]
    • SMS (text) messaging campaigns - setup and educate
    • Email marketing - setup and educate
    • Promo materials - create tent cards for tables, door.window signage to promote website and social media, and email & SMS sign-ups
    That should give you a good start. Start with google place page setup and coupons. The offer monthly service to optimize and maintain top placement in SERPs. Then upsell to the other offerings as needed.

    Regards,

    John
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  • Profile picture of the author WillDL
    See above post. Everything I was going to recommend and more.
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    Occasionally Relevant.

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  • Profile picture of the author Doran Peck
    Postcards sent out saturation mail to all households in reachable area. This will build your lists very quickly for text coupons and email.

    Very inexpensive...1000 (4x6) postcards for around $350 total cost. (depends on vendor)

    The one thing people respond to far more than any other kind of direct mail is FOOD OFFERS.

    Postcard campaigns in will give their traffic an immediate jolt of energy, and give them a great base to work from and build the web based and mobile marketing avenues up.

    A great system I've put in place in a number of restaurants is a 3 for 1 card...they recycle traffic much quicker than 5for1 or 10for1 cards ....those take too long for a customer to achieve and they rarely ever do. People will eagerly run through their 3 visits...often within a week or 10 days to get their bonus, because it is an easy goal to achieve.

    These can be business card sized handout cards ...print them up and start getting them in everyones hands....and when they use it up immediately give them another one.

    Another strong move, which I've mentioned on this forum before is get the restaurant actively involved with other businesses promotions/events (especially non-food companies) ...capture other peoples traffic by letting those companies add value to their promos with food coupons or family dinner packages.

    Use surveys to extract marketable information from the patrons ...like what their favorite menu item is, when their birthday or anniversary is....send them a personal discount on those days.

    Set up a program where a manager visits a table and writes up a custom coupon on the spot for that family or patron then signs it, invites them to come back within 2 days...or assign it for slow days and times, whatever.

    If he does this a dozen times a day he is making a measurable difference in immediate return traffic.


    Having also been the manager of restaurants I can tell you that there are a number of internal things that do effect customer revenue and their ability to maintain customer flow.

    In other words...it doesn't take much to start negating all the efforts put into marketing....and its good that the owners understand this...not that you tell them how to run their business but its healthy to have a conversation about things like getting their employees to talk to customers about the facebook page, and making sure the employees know how to handle all of the promos going on....and their customer service in general ....and how quickly their servers get to customers etc.

    If the waitresses aren't getting to the tables to refill drinks ...then consider getting HUGE cups...Customers HATE having to feel like they must ration their beverage because they don't know when the girl is coming back.

    An efficient table bussing system. Get those tables cleaned off immediately. This is MAJOR. People don't ever want to see a dirty/cluttery food joint ...ever. If they see too much of that they will not come as often. But more importantly...the quicker those tables are clean, the quicker a new patron sits down and pays money. If each table in the joint seats just ONE MORE customer per day it can pay the salaries of 2 or 3 more employees! (20 tables x $15 profit x 30 days = $9,000)

    anyway, hope that helps.
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  • Profile picture of the author johninmn
    Elaborating on what John (TE2) said, I think mobile can be huge;
    -SMS, it's opt in, immediate, timely, great for coupons, discounts
    -Mobile optimized sites, great for showing menu, giving directions, click to call, etc..
    -QR Codes, add them to print ads, put them on the table tents.
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    mobile mobile mobile mobile etc....

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    • Profile picture of the author TE2
      Originally Posted by johninmn View Post

      Elaborating on what John (TE2) said, I think mobile can be huge;
      -SMS, it's opt in, immediate, timely, great for coupons, discounts
      -Mobile optimized sites, great for showing menu, giving directions, click to call, etc..
      -QR Codes, add them to print ads, put them on the table tents.
      I can't believe I forgot to list QR Codes.

      Thanks for watching my back!

      John
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  • Profile picture of the author johnhoefer
    Along with the above, Groupon or similar site like Living Social or Screamin Daily Deals.
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  • Profile picture of the author Always-A-Warrior
    Yes those QR codes really help alot and also create mobile sites for them since everyone has a mobile phone.
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    • Profile picture of the author mclpro
      Not a mobile site. A mobile smartsite.

      Mobile sites are difficult to navigate.
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      Dan Verhaeghe
      Marketing Specialist
      McLoughlin Promotions
      http://www.mcloughlin.ca/insights
      http://www.twitter.com/mclpro

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      • Profile picture of the author Always-A-Warrior
        Originally Posted by mclpro View Post

        Not a mobile site. A mobile smartsite.

        Mobile sites are difficult to navigate.
        a mobile site is a mobile site no matter how you look at it and not difficult to navigate if you know what you're doing and using. Try emobl.com on your phone.
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        • Profile picture of the author cbest
          There's a App that lets biz owners send out daily or even hourly specials, similar to Groupon but the biz owner has control over when it's sent..which can be instantly via Facebook, SMS or email. Currently a one-time fee of $300 plus texting plan peoplestringcommunity.info They can send out specials for anyone coming in within the next couple hours or the next day... the app is part of the platform so you do have to register as a free member first.
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          Offline/Online Coupon App free coupon for your clients coming soon.

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  • Profile picture of the author Quentin
    Creating a mobile website with a coupon is a great way to help them. Add a qr code to their shop window and add to their menus etc.

    Also add their menu to the mobile site and then work on their desktop site by adding blogging, rss feed etc.

    Quentin
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  • Profile picture of the author sgplace
    Combine QR codes with FB and coupons by using Likify. You bribe the customer to LIKE your FB page by scanning the QR code - shows the FB page, click the "LIKE" and you get taken to the coupon.... likify.net
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    George J Steiner

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    • Profile picture of the author KristenW
      Great ideas from everyone. Elaborating on a few of Doran's ideas, when the Manager visits the tables to offer coupons to the customers, be sure that you are capturing the customer's mailing address and e-mail in the process. This way you'll be able to follow-up with the customer and send future coupons, Thank You notes and invitations to them.

      Getting people in the door is great, but getting them to come back again is just as important. This is where follow-up initiatives are so important. By having their mailing address on file you'll be able to keep in touch with the customer.
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  • Profile picture of the author rohnsmith
    Different types of attractive banners will help the business. You can put it in front of your physical address. You can advertise your business by putting the banners at public places like shopping malls, multiplexes, cinemas, bus or railway stations.
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  • Profile picture of the author Pauli7143
    I actually own a restaurant

    here is way I look at things...."How do I double my sales?"
    I get guest to come back one more time.

    If they come once a week, get them twice a week.
    If the come once a month, get them to come back twice a month.
    If they come once a year, get them to come back twice a year.

    Now how do you do that? Well Consistency is the most important thing, in food and service. I have found that people will in general forgive a slightly over cooked meal but will rarely come back when service is non-exsistanant....So focus on service.

    I started a "Birthday Program" and "Anniversary Program" to collect emails.....I also say that if they join the program they will be added to my eNewslettler. Then I send out 3-5 eNewsletters a month. I don't always use discounts, I try to come up with a "Good enough reason" to have an event or throw a party.

    I the future I plan on getting cell phone numbers to send text messages on their Birthday and Anniversary.

    The above post about using an email auto responder to send text messages is a great idea.

    Paul
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  • Profile picture of the author DanRMorris
    These ideas are good - but don't forget that you need to be driving traffic to a list somewhere. That could be after they're in the restaurant and it could be a website. The bottom line is don't spend money twice. If you're going to acquire a customer - then do it.

    Also, don't forget the power of video. Applebees does TV for a reason. Have them video the chef making the Featured Dessert - then upload it to YouTube on Friday at 10:30 a.m.

    All that stuff you read about above- use it to drive people to the video. Maybe you put a coupon code link in the video description. Get people talking. Get 'em salivating. Get 'em in and on a list.

    Dan
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  • Profile picture of the author build
    Local restaraunt directory listings were you can post reviews and clients can post reviews can drive good traffic to a restaurant.
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  • Profile picture of the author D111
    One specific plan involving a birthday list is sending the person a coupon for a free meal a week or two in advance. Of course people usually don't celebrate alone and bring in 1 or more paying customers with them.
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  • Profile picture of the author Leron Ford
    These are some really great ideas. I thought I would add one to the list.

    I saw this in a Rock Bottom restaurant (part of a franchise) in Charlotte, NC one day when I was having lunch.

    In the waiting area of the lobby, mounted on the wall, was a Digital Picture Frame that scrolled through all of the daily specials, along with some other information.

    Talk about brain dead simple. Digital picture frames are not that expensive. All you need is the frame and something to store the specials on (a usb card, a memory stick), and you're in business.

    Try that and see what type of response you get.

    Thanks,

    Leron
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