It’s important to know the margins of every item on your menu. Try connecting with a local reporter and coordinating a few press opportunities over the course of the quarter, to give your business a periodic boost throughout the year.
But press attention has much greater longevity, and can potentially encourage traffic weeks or months from the original publish date. Think about it: A promotion featuring discounted menu items for a limited-time is only impactful while the promotion is live. The brand awareness they generate is invaluable. Marketing initiatives that drive press can sometimes be more impactful than revenue-focused promotions. Press?Ī lot of successful promotions have a big-picture aim: to generate press for the business, which can also increase revenue. Is there a section of your menu that isn’t getting any love, or a time of day where your staff are idle? Set up discounts on those foods that aren’t moving, and try launching a happy hour during off-peak times. Restaurant promotions can help restaurants overcome challenges that are unique to their business, and underlying issues are best discovered by diving into the data and analytics from your restaurant point of sale system. It’s impossible for a promotion to be successful without first identifying, analyzing, and understanding both your existing customers and your target customers.Īsk yourself: Are you located near office buildings? A stadium? Do your customers tend to be older or younger? Do you attract families? What motivates your customers: having a unique experience, trying new foods, or saving money? Answer these questions first, and you'll have a much easier time coming up with restaurant promotion ideas that inspire repeat visits. Restaurant Promotion Preparation Know Your Customer Base