They come around every year, but somehow the three biggest restaurant-driving days in May can still catch restaurants by surprise. But, not this year! With a little planning and a lot of insight, you’ll get the most from Cinco de Mayo, Mother’s Day, and Memorial Day and set yourself up for a great season of serving happy, repeat customers. The Motherload of Opportunity One in every four mother’s day celebrations takes place in restaurants. With a little planning, not only will you bring in guests on that holiday, but you can also engage new, potentially regular clients, as well. After all, kids young and old love to hear they did a good job celebrating their moms! The inevitable “what-will-we-do-on-Mother’s Day” question starts popping up earlier [&hellip
Diners are living digital lives when they’re not filling your seats (and sometimes when they are). If you aren’t engaging them online, you’re missing frequent opportunities to get their business. Thankfully, you don’t have to be a marketer by trade to promote your restaurant—you’ve got resources. Companies like Restaurant.com that are completely focused on staying ahead of the restaurant marketing curve can be an invaluable solution. The Top 5 Digital Marketing Strategies Based on insights from Restaurant.com President and Chief Marketing Officer Christopher Krohn, this article covers the following top five emerging digital marketing areas. • Online deals • Search, display & directory marketing • Mobile marketing • Social media • Email marketing 1. Online Deals Are the Main Course By 2016, consumers are [&hellip
The National Restaurant Association (NRA) Show is a yearly event that has been preparing the restaurant industry for growth for nearly a century. Over 60,000 members of the restaurant industry attended last year to either exhibit their product or sample another. Hands being shaken, deals being made, delicious food at your fingertips, products being launched, and partnerships being formed; this is a networking event that the entire industry is at…but the question is: Will you be there? I have worked in the restaurant industry for the past 15 years and last year was the first time that I attended the NRA Show. The first word that comes to my mind when I reflect on my experience at the show is: humble. It doesn’t matter how [&hellip
Like with all budgets, the one that works is usually the one you stick to for enough time to make it earn its keep. This post is all about the questions you should ask yourself about your yearly marketing budget strategy. Better yet, we’ll either help you answer the questions or lead you in the right direction to finding those answers. How do you plan your marketing budget for the year? This can be tricky…especially if you’re one of many businesses that do NOT have a budget for marketing, but rather go on instinct and what looks good or feels right. This may work, but usually not for long and doesn’t have nearly the impact that a plan can have. Our advice is before [&hellip
It’s almost impossible to tell friends and family about that great restaurant that serves your favorite dishes up in a friendly, professional way that keeps you coming back for more. To state the obvious: make sure your customers and potential customers can find you! And while this seems like a no-brainer reminder, we know that as a restaurant owner, some days it’s challenging enough to run your restaurant, let alone thinking about how best to market it. And that’s where we come in. We’ve weeded through all advice and information that undoubtedly comes your way geared towards maximizing your customer reach. Here’s a consolidated, simplified list of simple, but essential, things you can do to get your name out, and bring your customers in. Keep [&hellip
Believe it or not, regardless of what your outside view tells you, Spring is almost here! Spring brings new life into this world and brings old life out of hibernation. This is similar to the same pattern as your customer base. You will see new faces that have moved into the neighborhood over the past few months and you will see old faces as they pull themselves out of their winter dormancy and back in the public eye. Customers are ready for sunshine and ready to get back on the right track! Your customers are ready for change; so now the question is, are you? Take a good look at your restaurant and see if there is any “spring cleaning” that you might be able [&hellip
Spring is upon us. As a restaurant owner, you know all the big holidays and you know what most restaurants do to attract customers. But you’re not most restaurants and there’s nothing like some unexpected marketing ideas to get customers through your doors and ready to celebrate the season’s events, both big and small. Lent (Between Mardi Gras and Easter) Everybody does a Friday fish fry, but you’re not everybody. Sure, you’ll probably increase your seafood order during Lent, but here are some other ways to turn the days of doing without, go off without a hitch. How about the master of all super foods, kale? With some olive oil, sea salt and pepper, you’re always just a few tosses of a pan away from [&hellip
Often times, when out with friends or meeting new people, you’ll find yourself discussing what you do for a living. The response you give them will either immediately intrigue them or immediately bore them to tears and cause an awkward need for them to get away from you as quick as possible. We’re hoping you receive the first reaction! For the past 10 years, I’ve never had the latter happen to me. When I tell people that I work for Restaurant.com, they are immediately intrigued. They have either visited the site or used a certificate before and tell me about their experience, or the sheer mystery of working for the powerful domain “Restaurant.com” intrigues them to learn about what I do. It genuinely excites me [&hellip
In a recent survey of nearly 1,500 smartphone users by SinglePlatform, 81 percent of consumers reported that they searched for a restaurant in the past six months using a mobile app, while 92 percent did so through the mobile web.* It’s a fact; the majority of restaurant-bound consumers are also mobile-bound consumers. As a restaurant owner, that gives you a huge opportunity to benefit from this mobile-centric way of life. Keep reading to find out how…it’s easier than you’d think. Here are just a few of the ways you can stand out and catch the attention of the mobile consumer audience. Get On That Map. Many of your customers are using Google Maps to find you. If you’re not already, get on there. Serve Up [&hellip
Creating a marketing plan with a long shelf life is easier than you think. Here we are, two weeks into the new year. If you’ve made resolutions, you’re probably still committed to seeing them through… unless, of course, you bit off more than you can chew. So if taking on goals that are too lofty is the obvious “don’t”, then the way to ensure a far-reaching marketing plan with an enduring shelf life is to take the slow and steady approach. The bite-sized changes you can stick to. Go ahead and take a look at the list of ideas below. Don’t overanalyze them. Then go back to the ones that caught your eye and give yourself a reality gut check. Do you have the staff [&hellip