Why is it that despite your amazing staff, great food and positive guest relations that repeat customers are not coming back like you want? Is there anything you can do? What are you missing that could turn things around for you?
Thankfully, some of the best restauranteurs have shared their experiences and restaurant marketing techniques to help you turn a first-time visitor into a recurring guest.
Your Restaurant Should Be Family-Friendly
Your business can boom if it has a family-friendly atmosphere. You can have a Sports Bar that’s family-friendly during the day. At night, you can focus on another group of patrons. This allows you to target two demographics of customers.
Kid-friendly doesn’t mean constantly buying crayons to give the kids. Consider giving kids a chance to have a hand in their food. For instance, Southerleigh allows kids to roll their pretzel the way they want, which parents like because it keeps the kids occupied.
You can also extend the atmosphere to include guests will dogs. For example, Southerleigh offers complimentary water bowls and a large patio for guests to enjoy.
Focus On Local Ingredients
Many people love it when businesses – especially restaurants – buy their ingredients from local vendors. In Des Moines, Iowa, Marlene’s at Sevastopol Station began offering local craft beer on the tap, which made a huge impact on the community. People want good food, but they don’t want it at the cost of local producers getting the shaft. If you can go local, focus on it.
Southerleigh is another restaurant that brews their own beer – in-house. The restaurant’s customers love the idea they can try any kind of in-house brew, which can change with the seasons. This “little aspect” keeps beer lovers coming back.
Use Social Media
People are still on the fence about cell phones at the table, but one thing is certain – if you’re not using social media for your company, you’re missing out on potential customers. Social media can do wonders for your business, but only if used right and on the right social medium.
Of course, this begs the question, should your restaurant be designed so that it looks good in a social media photo?
Nick Moretti is the owner of Chop Shop and 1st Ward Events in Chicago. According to him, it’s important to come up with a fun atmosphere to ensure customers will remember their experience at a restaurant. This is what brings them back.
Moretti said his restaurant recently updated its décor on the patio, adding in two large black and white murals that are often background drops for guests taking pictures and posting on social media. The black and white color makes everything else in the photo stand out.
Food’s presentation is also essential in generating repeat business. For instance, one Des Moines restaurant invites the local artists to add décor to their wall, adding more local charm to go with their culinary delights.
If you’re not keen on Instagram, you could always use email marketing.
According to Crumbzz International Bistro owners J. Stephen Stadler, email marketing and social media postings are important in society. If a business is to survive, they must constantly stay on their customers’ minds. However, too much marketing can turn people off and block the emails and postings. Only email or post something that’s important for them to know such as specials you’re having or something new you are offering to them.
Expand Your Kitchen and Mind
When it comes to reaching more customers and bringing them back in, you want to embrace new ideas. For instance, offer a take-out lunch service for customers who don’t have time to sit down in your restaurant. Most people would rather not eat fast food every day (and they shouldn’t either), which means you could capitalize on that fact by offering a lunch/dinner take-out service.
Your menu should offer dietary restriction foods to expand the appeal to people who have problems eating out. For example, you can offer gluten-free or vegetarian options for them to choose from.
This is especially helpful for large groups, who may have one or two people who are restricted in their diet. While one or two people may not seem like a lot, an entire group will add up. If you don’t make concessions for dietary needs, you’ll miss out on the income a group can offer you.