Most restaurant owners share the same basic marketing goal–to bring customers through the door. But in an era of high costs and razor-thin profit margins, it’s absolutely critical that you get a meaningful return on the investment in your marketing efforts.
For the restaurants and restaurant groups who have the budget to invest in sophisticated marketing efforts, the marketing strategy often includes an entire department dedicated to boosting visibility or an agency that is tasked with doing it instead. Most restaurants, however, don't have the time, money, or resources to invest a ton of money in their marketing efforts.
So how can you increase restaurant traffic without spending a fortune on marketing? You get creative.
5 Affordable Restaurant Marketing Tips to Grow Your Customers
We've collected some of the best affordable restaurant marketing tips that will be sure to increase your foot traffic. The best part? None of these tips requires a specialized degree in marketing, or a big budget. Simply embrace your creativity and get to work!
1. Launch a social media giveaway for your restaurant
Targeted social media ad campaigns can be effective. But this strategy may also be extremely costly. Fortunately, there are far more affordable ways to leverage social media to increase restaurant traffic.
Try using your social media platforms to promote some fun freebies. Run a giveaway on Instagram or Facebook. Offer up a free meal, gift card, or prize, then reward customers with additional entries every time they tag two or three friends to your promotional post.
If your free offer resonates with users, you could expand your audience without paying for views. You’ll score those coveted word-of-mouth recommendations, court new customers, and ultimately increase restaurant traffic at a fraction of the cost of traditional restaurant social media marketing.
2. Actively engage users on social media
It isn’t enough for your restaurant to merely post on social media. In order to have an thriving social media presence, you must also actively engage your audience. Think of each post as an opportunity to win over new customers and increase restaurant traffic.
Respond to comments on your restaurant’s posts in a friendly, brand-consistent voice. Reward posters for their interest by acknowledging their contributions with timely and genial reactions. A single positive online experience can translate into a new and loyal customer.
3. Collaborate with other local businesses
Get in front of new audiences, expand your reach, and build meaningful long-term partnerships by collaborating with local businesses, creatives, and even with other area restaurants.
Try partnering with a local winery to offer specialty bottles. Add a few items to your dessert menu from a prominent local pastry chef. Build relationships with local hotels and Airbnbs so that you ultimately find your restaurant on their list of recommendations.
Mutually beneficial collaborations like this offer an excellent and cost-effective way to engage in community outreach, help establish your restaurant as a valued part of the local business community, and create unique experiences that capture customer interest and ultimately grow your business.
4. Participate in local community events
Social media may offer excellent potential to expand your restaurant marketing reach, but there is no substitute for the impact of personal interaction. Participate in local events, set up a booth at the next community fair, and seize sponsorship opportunities that can place your logo in front of new audiences.
This fall, look to participate in a local harvest festival. Showcase your menu at the next area food and wine festival. Get your team involved in a neighborhood charity drive.
One of the best restaurant marketing tips for cost-conscious restaurants is to become an active and visible part of your community. This visibility will not only increase restaurant traffic but it can also improve brand recognition and elevate your stature as a local business leader.
5. Get creative with your Happy Hour offers
Happy Hour discounts may be the oldest trick in the book, but there’s a good reason for this. They work. But, with so many restaurants crafting Happy Hour deals, the real challenge is coming up with a value offer that stands out from the crowd.
Instead of just slashing the price of drinks for a few hours, come up with a stand-out draw. Highlight your craft beer program by pairing brews with specially discounted chef-recommended dishes, offer drink and appetizer combos, or cut the cost of your most popular dish.
You can also defy the competition altogether by creating your own Happy Hour. Instead of competing in the crowded after-work market, offer specialized discounts and combos to increase restaurant traffic during the lunch, brunch, or late-night hours.
As the saying goes, it’s bound to be 5 o’clock somewhere!
Take Your Restaurant Marketing to the Next Level
These restaurant marketing tips are meant to increase restaurant traffic at a minimal cost. But in truth, these methods are merely supplemental to your paid restaurant marketing strategy. You must still engage in a variety of more traditional social media marketing efforts and targeted digital advertising campaigns if you want to truly level-up your business.
Fortunately, there are plenty of excellent third-party providers that can help amplify your messaging, improve your reach, and grow your business. To find the right vendor for your needs, jump to our directory of the leading Social Media Marketing Management Tools for Restaurants.
