Low-Budget Restaurant Marketing Ideas

Restaurant marketing is about increasing bringing new customers in the door and creating repeat customers. Sometimes, the simplest and low-cost restaurant marketing methods are the most affective. Here are some low-budget marketing strategies you can implement in you restaurant:

Word-of-Mouth Marketing: The most effective marketing technique is word-of-mouth marketing. The only way to create a positive buzz about your establishment is to provide tasty food and an enjoyable customer experience, so they'll tell their friends.

Social Media Marketing: More and more, technology is affecting where customers choose to dine. Primary among those technologies is social media. Accounts on social media sites are free, and restaurants can use Twitter, Facebook, Myspace and other social media outlets to advertise events, have giveaways or otherwise keep fans and followers up-to-date on restaurant activities.

Loyalty Programs: Loyalty programs offer incentives, usually in the form of small discounts, to customers who frequent the restaurant. A common reward is a free menu item after a predetermined number of visits; the visits are usually tallied with a punch card. Sure, with a restaurant loyalty program you are giving away items after so many visits, but every person who signs up adds to a restaurant's database. This allows you to better market to your target audience. Plus, you are building relationships by showing how much you value your best customers.

Up-Selling: Skillful up-selling is the least expensive way to increase check averages. At any time during the server/customer interaction, the server can try to get the customer to buy something more. As long as the server doesn't come off as pushy, the customer won't know they are being marketed to.

Event Marketing: Hosting events is the way to make your restaurant THE place to be. Whether it be having a live band or private party, events are fun for both the staff and customers while increasing traffic and check averages - the longer the event lasts, the more likely customers are to spend more money. Just be sure to post flyers, Tweet or use other methods to get the word out about the event so customers can add it to their calendars.

Email Marketing: Email marketing is used primarily to send out coupons, but restaurants can also use email to inform customers who sign up about special events or new menu items. Also, send customers a special "Happy Birthday" email on their birthday to show that you care. Just don't send out emails every day, lest you be seen as a spammer.

Restaurant Newsletter: The traditional printed newsletter is being replaced by social media and email marketing, but that doesn't mean a restaurant manager can't still create a newsletter to email to customers or post on their Facebook page. In fact, digital newsletters are virtually cost-free and can still update customers in the restaurant's database about goings-on and upcoming events in the restaurant.

Sam Haider CE YO is an Entrepreneur, Visionary, Trend Maker, Inventor, Author, Frozen Yogurt Guru aka Doctor Yogurt, Food and Beverage Industry Leader, Pioneer of the Self-Serve Frozen Yogurt Industry. 

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