While it may bring you an endless supply of scrumptious food and access to your own personal chefs, running a restaurant is no easy feat. From managing the intense pressure of the kitchen to making sure there are no meltdowns during rush hour – and not to forget, the finances!
In the midst of all this, it’s easy to overlook the marketing side of your restaurant – after all, your marketing campaigns aren’t going to storm out if they’re not attended to on time. But to run a successful restaurant, strategic marketing is of the essence. Not only will this help retain your current customer base, but it’ll also help you grow in the market, expanding your operations more than you ever thought possible.
And if you’re worried about blowing your budget on fancy marketing campaigns and paid advertisements, well, don’t be, because that isn’t the case! You might not think so, but low-budget restaurant marketing is a thing of reality, and you can use it to skyrocket your restaurant!
Create Video Content
From the ambience to the food, visuals are key in a restaurant. Not only will they help draw in new customers – there’s nothing like watching delicately presented, mouthwatering food when you’re hungry – but you’ll also be able to keep a retainer on your current clientele by reminding them of the experience that you have to offer.
And the best part about video content is that you can skip the bill and create some yourself with PosterMyWall’s video maker. With dozens of promotional video templates available on their site, PosterMyWall helps you get noticed through engaging content.
Once you have your videos ready, you can put them up on your social media platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook. Make sure to accompany them with SEO-optimized captions and trending hashtags to really maximize your reach!
Run Influencer Partnerships
It’s no secret that influencers have taken over social media – especially Instagram. With a legion of followers that copy their every move, including the food they eat and the clothes they wear, the influencers of today hold an unparalleled stake in the marketing world.
In fact, one great way to market your restaurant without breaking the bank is through influencer partnerships. Select an influencer that has followers that fall into your target audience market keeping in mind geographic location – no one’s going to order pasta from two states over! – and set up a mutually beneficial partnership.
There’s a lot that you can do – either give a special discount code for the influencer’s followers or invite the influencer to have a meal at your restaurant in exchange for stories or posts where your food is featured. Either way, you better gear up for a line of new customers!
Embrace Digital Menus
Marketing doesn’t always have to be about fancy campaigns or partnerships, instead, it can be small things like revamping your menu and coming out with a digital version! Not only is a digital menu easy – and free of cost – to update, but you can also add food pictures to let your customers see exactly what they’re ordering, pushing down complaints.
And what’s more, you can even publish your digital menu on your social platforms or display it in-store externally or internally. And there’s no need to worry about the presentation because PosterMyWall’s custom slideshow maker has got your back! Simply choose a template you like, customize it to match your restaurant’s aesthetic, and display your menu for all to see!
Utilize User Generated Content
Getting a good customer review is like striking gold in the restaurant community. Combine it with not having to pay for content creation to post on your social media handles, and that’s a win-win situation in the form of UGC or user-generated content.
Scour the internet and find content that your diners have created featuring your restaurant – everything from written reviews to stories, posts, and videos where they praise your food and show off the interior. Pick, edit, and post, and you’ve got yourself an active online presence without having to spend for creation!
So, if you’re looking to market your restaurant on a budget, then these promotion hacks are the way to go. Make sure to adjust strategies according to your restaurant’s brand, and you’ll soon have a long line of customers waiting to be fed!