Owning a restaurant is a great way to get involved with your community, make new friends, and create memorable moments. And you were probably aware when building this “field of dreams” that not all local customers would come to visit you, but with the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic situation, the most important thing to consider is adopting new policies and processes to keep your team and diners safe .
So, take a look at these tips to learn how you can continue promoting your culinary business, adapting it to the current circumstances.
13 ways to promote your local restaurant
Below we share 13 effective ways to promote your restaurant in your community during the unique situation of COVID-19.
Build a website.
Create a newsletter and send it via email.
Update your menu frequently.
Create a loyalty program.
Make a list of ideas.
Build your online presence.
Run contests and games.
Advertise in local media.
Use effective keywords for SEO.
Partner with delivery services.
Offers coupons and discounts.
Collaborate with local suppliers.
Join your chamber of commerce.
Ready to entertain more guests? Join us as we explore these tips in detail.
1. Build a website
Your website is the heart of any restaurant brand, and it's even more relevant today when people are ordering their food online. So, your site needs to be eye-catching and simple to navigate. To do this, make sure it has these elements:
An easy-to-read menu.
Featured dishes section, with description and nutritional information.
Newsletter subscription box.
Button for online orders with option to pick up the order.
Reservation button (maybe not used much now, but good to have for future use).
Social media buttons with links to your profiles.
Rewards section for loyal customers.
Gift card sales.
“About” section.
“Contact” section.
Location.
Privacy notice.
“Jobs” section.
“News” section.
Tip: Need to create your professional website? Consider GoDaddy solutions that will help you build your online presence in less than an hour!
Learn about Websites + Marketing from GoDaddy.
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2. Create a newsletter and send it via email
A very convenient way to promote your restaurant in the local market is grenada business email list to ask your customers to subscribe to an email newsletter through your website or every time they visit your site .
Use email to let your employees know about new dishes or other related news, so your diners can stay up to date with your brand.
So keep your customers informed about your policy and process changes, and let them know how they can support you.
Related : Reach your customers via email during the COVID-19 pandemic .
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3. Update your menu frequently
If you want your guests to “ask for more,” keep your menu looking fresh and up-to-date, especially when creating new items—particularly those that can be ordered for takeout.
If you don't have your own design team, consider using a freelance services platform like Upwork to find one.
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4. Create a loyalty program
Building customer loyalty is more important than ever in these challenging times. So if you don’t have a loyalty program in place yet, now is the time.
Implement a points system for a certain amount of the bill (for example: 1 point per dollar), and think of a range of attractive rewards such as free dishes, discounts or promotions on house specialties.
Related : 5 Creative Ways to Cultivate Customer Loyalty Remotely .
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5. Make a list of ideas
Surely other restaurants and businesses in your city are struggling to adapt to the new safety regulations and processes, a situation that at the same time is an ideal opportunity to think of new and creative things for your restaurant.
Are there products or services that only you can offer? Can you imagine that promotion that will have all your customers excited? Take risks and look for innovative and original ideas.
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6. Build your online presence
Having Facebook, Twitter and Instagram profiles is a basic way to promote your restaurant to local audiences. So, use these platforms to spread the word about specialties and new recipes, news, reviews… and of course , to interact with your loyal customers.
Images
Promote your restaurant on social media with amazing photos
Photo by Markus Winkler via Unsplash .
Make sure your photos are full of color and texture so they stand out from other posts and your listing looks its best.
Hashtags
Use hashtags like #happyhour[restaurant name], #TBT, #foodlover, #dinner, #lunch, #breakfast, or #photooftheday (with a photo of the dish of the day) to attract more followers.