At the end of the day, your restaurant is a business and the answer is clear:
A powerful brand equals increased profitability.
In an industry well-known for slim margins, restaurants that succeed are generally those that take every opportunity to strengthen and grow their brand. And there are multiple cost-effective ways to do so.
In this article, we break down eight easy-to-apply strategies that you can get started on right now.
A powerful brand equals increased profitability.
In an industry well-known for slim margins, restaurants that succeed are generally those that take every opportunity to strengthen and grow their brand. And there are multiple cost-effective ways to do so.
In this article, we break down eight easy-to-apply strategies that you can get started on right now.
Own your Social Media Accounts
The average Internet user spends two hours and 25 minutes per day on social media, making it an important marketing tool for any restaurant.
Platforms like Instagram and TikTok enable you to interact with current customers, attract new customers, and promote your restaurant in general. However, creating posts that attract a double take - or a double tap - requires a little personal informational development as well as time to learn and implement for advantage.
Platforms like Instagram and TikTok enable you to interact with current customers, attract new customers, and promote your restaurant in general. However, creating posts that attract a double take - or a double tap - requires a little personal informational development as well as time to learn and implement for advantage.
Crafting quality pictures (or getting someone to do it for you), maintaining a consistent voice across all platforms, and actively responding to consumer comments are all important areas to focus on in order to engage your community. Use this section to tell your restaurant's narrative and emphasize its best features. Remember to post on a regular basis. After all, social media is effectively free advertising, which should not be passed up.
Leverage influencers
Social media "influencers" assist brands in reaching younger and wider audiences, thereby attracting new customers. Those that specialize in restaurants are usually quite good at making food look good in front of a camera. Every shot they post allows you to re-share and contribute new content to your own platform - usually at a low cost.
While some influencers charge a fee for each hosted lunch, others just work for free food and beverages. Make sure to address any posting and payment expectations upfront, and hunt for local influencers with active followings.
While some influencers charge a fee for each hosted lunch, others just work for free food and beverages. Make sure to address any posting and payment expectations upfront, and hunt for local influencers with active followings.
Start an active loyalty program
It's simple to see why so many eateries have started loyalty programs. (According to one estimate, 57% of restaurants currently offer a reward program.) An effective loyalty program keeps customers coming back for more. Furthermore, it is an efficient method of increasing revenue.
According to a Bond analysis based on 55,000 consumers, when a brand builds a favorable emotional connection through its loyalty program, roughly 30% of members claim they spend more with the brand.
Loyalty programs are often more cost-effective than ever, with a shift away from one-size-fits-all, discount-style benefits and toward individualized, experience-based incentives (for example, a "members-only" menu, VIP access to skip the line, and so on).
Furthermore, loyalty programs give you better access to your best consumers. The data you acquire may be utilized to ensure that you are serving the needs of your top clients in order to retain their business in the long run, which is simple when you work with a technology-run platform.
According to a Bond analysis based on 55,000 consumers, when a brand builds a favorable emotional connection through its loyalty program, roughly 30% of members claim they spend more with the brand.
Loyalty programs are often more cost-effective than ever, with a shift away from one-size-fits-all, discount-style benefits and toward individualized, experience-based incentives (for example, a "members-only" menu, VIP access to skip the line, and so on).
Furthermore, loyalty programs give you better access to your best consumers. The data you acquire may be utilized to ensure that you are serving the needs of your top clients in order to retain their business in the long run, which is simple when you work with a technology-run platform.
Optimize your business on SERP's (Search Engine Results Pages)
You're a brick-and-mortar firm until you're on Google Maps. More than a billion individuals use the platform each month, many of whom are looking for a suitable spot to eat. This makes it critical to guarantee that Google Maps knows where to find you - a free process.
It is important to learn how to leverage local SEO and optimize your Google business profile for success.
Are you interested in learning how search engines rank websites?
Check out this informative article on the Eat Popcorn blog! The post explores the world of algorithms and provides insights into how they are used to determine website rankings.
Whether you're a website owner or just curious about how the internet works, this resource offers valuable information and practical tips for improving your online visibility.
It is important to learn how to leverage local SEO and optimize your Google business profile for success.
Are you interested in learning how search engines rank websites?
Check out this informative article on the Eat Popcorn blog! The post explores the world of algorithms and provides insights into how they are used to determine website rankings.
Whether you're a website owner or just curious about how the internet works, this resource offers valuable information and practical tips for improving your online visibility.
Leverage your email database
A simple email address could be your most effective tool for turning a casual guest into a restaurant regular. And you've probably already accumulated hundreds, if not thousands, of those email addresses through your POS.
You may utilize that contact list to sell restaurant highlights such as special events and new menu debuts, as well as to remind customers to visit on a regular basis. However, the most successful email marketing is achieved by categorizing customers. This allows you to personalize messaging to promote certain activity and engage customers more effectively.
You may utilize that contact list to sell restaurant highlights such as special events and new menu debuts, as well as to remind customers to visit on a regular basis. However, the most successful email marketing is achieved by categorizing customers. This allows you to personalize messaging to promote certain activity and engage customers more effectively.
Build a collection of professional food photographs
High-quality images are a major asset for any restaurant, whether it's for delivery apps, your website, social media, or press chances. It’s worthwhile to invest in a photographer to assist in the development of an image library.
A photographer's hourly rates can range greatly but when you consider the result, this becomes a minor outlay in the long run and brings a new life to your business. This is an important process, especially if your company's website and delivery systems are major traffic generators.
To maximize your investment, take a few interactive steps before-hand, like preparing a detailed shot list, asking staff if they’re open to participating (human hands make food come to life!), and discussing possible package deals with the photographer.
To maximize your investment, take a few interactive steps before-hand, like preparing a detailed shot list, asking staff if they’re open to participating (human hands make food come to life!), and discussing possible package deals with the photographer.
Partner with other industry brands to create multiple revenue streams
Many restaurants have explored inventive and alternative revenue streams in recent years, such as promoting and selling goods, groceries, meal kits, and more.
While this became a pandemic lifeline for many, it is now recognized as a wise strategy that’s viable in an industry that is constantly challenging in wanting ‘new ideas’.
If you wish to diversify your business but aren't sure where to begin, consider collaborating with a local brand that already sells in the space you wish to enter.
There are multiple online articles of success-driven stories where restaurant owners have grown basic food businesses into six-figure enterprises, and how they achieved this by teaming up with established local partners.
Sales are sales! One may as well enjoy the development of new items and processes whilst we are at it. Get inspired to start making new connections of your own so you can go forward.
If you wish to diversify your business but aren't sure where to begin, consider collaborating with a local brand that already sells in the space you wish to enter.
There are multiple online articles of success-driven stories where restaurant owners have grown basic food businesses into six-figure enterprises, and how they achieved this by teaming up with established local partners.
Sales are sales! One may as well enjoy the development of new items and processes whilst we are at it. Get inspired to start making new connections of your own so you can go forward.
Test new ideas as virtual restaurants
The ghost kitchen sector is developing, on course to become a trillion-dollar industry by 2030, tempting many entrepreneurs with the promise of eliminating hurdles to operating a restaurant, like as labor and overhead.
While ghost kitchens have their drawbacks (expensive dependency on third-party delivery systems, virtual marketing costs, etc.), the outlet allows entrepreneurs to create a business as well as a fan base without a large upfront investment.
Some restaurants are making room in their existing kitchens to test new concepts. And it's sometimes a particularly cost-effective approach to test the market before opening a physical location - or even just to create a distinct revenue stream in the virtual realm.
Some restaurants are making room in their existing kitchens to test new concepts. And it's sometimes a particularly cost-effective approach to test the market before opening a physical location - or even just to create a distinct revenue stream in the virtual realm.
In conclusion, the world we live in is constantly evolving, and it's important to keep up with the latest trends and developments in various fields. Whether it's embracing technology, prioritizing our health, staying on top of fashion, investing in education, managing our finances, exploring new travel destinations, trying out different cuisines, engaging in sports and entertainment, or protecting the environment, there's always something new to discover and enjoy. By staying curious and open-minded, we can continue to grow and thrive as individuals and as a society.