There’s no two ways about it, people love restaurant promos. Not only do they have the magic ability to make your restaurant customers feel happy and special, they’re a great way to give potential diners that extra little nudge to choose your restaurant over another. Need some ideas? You’ve come to the right place. Here are some of the best ways to reel customers in and keep them coming back for more.
1. Fascinate them with freebies.
Everyone loves free and everyone loves food, so this one’s a win-win. You could offer a free item with a minimum purchase or throw in a free side dish when the customer orders above a certain amount. Either way, it’s a great (and super easy!) way to get guests in, especially on the Skip app.
2. Deliver them free delivery.
Speaking of freebies, offering free delivery is another sweet way to show your customers the love. It also gives you an edge, making it even easier for customers to choose your restaurant over the other guys.
3. Take them to your happy (hour) place.
Everyone loves a good happy hour, it’s right there in the name. Typically, happy hour applies to bars or restaurants offering discounts on alcoholic beverages, but it totally works in other ways. For example, you could offer an appetizer happy hour during your slower times, say weekday afternoons, to help fill those seats on off hours.
4. Charm them with charitable donations.
Working with your favourite local organization or non-profit group is a promo that can really help boost your reputation. One way to tie your business in is to give a percentage of the proceeds of a particular dish, or host an event where a portion of the proceeds goes toward that particular charity.
5. Blow them away with bundles.
This is also the perfect solution if you have a particular menu item that needs a little love. By attaching it to one or two of the more popular items on your menu at a discounted price, you could get just the boost you need to get that item off the ground.
6. Captivate them with contests.
Social media is a great platform to attract new customers, especially when you use it right. Not only do they give your business great exposure, social contests are one of the easiest and most affordable ways to reach mass audiences. And the prize doesn’t have to be crazy. Just a simple gift card or a free meal at your restaurant is enough to get people buzzing.
7. Lead them in with loyalty.
Loyalty programs are a great way to attract customers and keep them coming back for more. You just have to make sure that this type of program works with what you’re offering. The most common way to roll this one out is the ever-popular “Buy four (small items, like coffee or dessert) and get the fifth free”.
8. Compel them with coupons.
Who doesn’t like a good old-fashioned discount? When it’s all said and done, the tried and true coupon still works like a charm. Everyone loves savings, especially if you don’t have to do or buy anything to get them. During downtime, get your servers and hostesses to stand in front of your restaurant and hand them out to potential customers,. They’re always good to have around.
When done right, promos have the ability to give your restaurant an amazing return on investment. And that’s a great lesson in itself—you can actually earn more by giving a little something away.
