Restaurant Marketing Thru Tough Times

Is the tide turning? How do I take advantage?
Well it has been a long slog through the past two years, no matter what line of business you’re in. Hopefully you are starting to feel the slight sense of relief in your area that I seem to be feeling here at the Jersey Shore. OK I heard that…lol. Well if you have made it through this long in the restaurant business, our wish is that the way back up for you is in sight. Please share with us a little about how you persevered, with your restaurant in these tough times. Did you just hunker down? I doubt it. Please share with us some strategies that you employed. Since it is far from over, let’s share with each other in the industry. Share exactly how you may have come up with some great ideas to drive business to your restaurant.

The fact is some of the best ideas and restaurant marketing strategies are FREE or low cost, especially when we help each other out as a community. Now is the time to try to get out in front of your competition as well. So don’t cut way back on your restaurant advertising budget, actually try to get back to normal levels asap to give your brand a push out in front. Also take a good look at the consistency of you restaurant’s marketing materials, in-house, as well as outside or online.

Here’s some of our advice:

Always think in terms of what message you want associated with your brand and make sure your message reinforces it. There are other inexpensive and beneficial ideas as well, such as freshen up with a revamped menu. Give your loyal folks a chance to strike up conversations with friends and family with something new to talk about in reference to your place – events, music, contests, etc. Shake out some of the slow sellers and help yourself out by adding great tasting more profitable items in a very suggestive way on the menu.

It is tough times for most everyone, so frame your restaurant offering as a way to relax and get away in a rewarding fashion. Accentuate your ambiance or family friendly environment whichever angle applies.

Try to avoid drastic discounting but give rewards for adding selections. You can actually raise check averages with creative up-selling, such as if you order two dollars over your average ticket (you must determine) reward with an inexpensive app or desert such as rice balls or rice pudding.

Hopefully this will start the thread. So let’s hear how creative you may be with your restaurant marketing ideas!