While acquiring new customers tends to be much more expensive than selling to current ones (costing 5 to 10 times more according to Inc.), it’s something every restaurant has to do. Attracting new customers is essential for the sake of growth.
Whether you’ve opened a new restaurant or are just experiencing slow sales, you’ve come to the right place. When it comes to bringing in new customers to your restaurant, the most important thing to do is to get them in the door. Here are four promotions designed to accomplish just that.
Local Mail Deals. Direct mail is one of the most tried-and-true marketing techniques around. In 2019, where most of your efforts may be directed toward digital marketing, it’s easy to overlook a concept like direct mail. Don’t sleep on it. The power of receiving a physical postcard with an attractive deal can be particularly persuasive.
The campaign doesn’t stop there, of course. Your ultimate goal is to turn that one-time customer into a recurring customer. One restaurant I visited offered 15% off my next visit after I had already received a free entree from a direct mail coupon, incentivizing me to return a second time. Put a plan in place to ensure these customers come back for more.
Loyalty Program Referrals. Want to get a new customer into your restaurant? Try going through your loyalty members. These people are already evangelists for your brand. They’re your current big spenders. Sharing their love of your restaurant to friends and family is something they’re happy to do. You just have to push them in the right direction.
How? With referrals. Offer restaurant credit, rewards, or loyalty points for each referral one of your loyalty members brings in. Concurrently, new loyalty members will also receive the reward and will instantly be a part of your loyalty program. Not only will you have a chance to get them in the door, you’ll also have a direct line of promotion from the get-go.
Sponsor Local Events. Sponsoring local events isn’t just a great way to attract new customers. Sponsorship flash the spotlight on your restaurant, improving your brand awareness. The event you choose to sponsor can be anything from a marathon to a charity auction, or anything in between. It’s important to find the best fit for your restaurant. At these events, you can distribute flyers promoting your restaurant and offering a deal.
Live Sports + Discount Deal. More people are cutting the cord than ever. In fact, according to a Leichtman Research Group study, cord cutters nearly doubled in 2018. As more sports fans drop their cable packages, they’ll be looking for places to catch their favorite teams. That’s where you come in. Hosting live sports is a huge selling point, and can do well to attract larger groups looking to catch a game together. Want a leg up on your competition? Pair your sporting events with an appealing deal (e.g. all-you-can-eat wings).
Attract New Customers With CoGoBuzz
Ready to attract new customers? And keep them around? Time to check out CoGoBuzz.
Powered by advanced WiFi, SMS, and Email solutions, CoGoBuzz is designed from-the-ground-up to engage and retain customers at the digital level, both in-store and out. We’ll get you more followers on social media, loyalty club members, and better reviews – all automatically! Our service produces full customer profiles for every customer that logs in to your in-store HotSpot. Loaded with a fully-digital, text-based loyalty program, you’ll be able to promote specials, deals and more with a simple text message!
Click here to learn more about CoGoBuzz!
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What promotions has your restaurant used to attract customers? Let us know in the comments!