THE MIDDLE EAST'S NUMBER ONE RESTAURANT CONSULTANTS
Strategic Marketing and advertising go hand in hand with successful business ventures and restaurants are no exception to that. As it is, it’s a difficult task to satisfy customers with an appetizing menu and an attentive staff, but doing so night after night for months and years on end requires a stellar marketing strategy. Today, you can take advantage of technology to not only help the word get around faster but to a more targeted audience as well. In addition, disseminating information about restaurant promotions, new menu items, discounts and special events just got a whole lot easier.
Optimize Yourself
Restaurant owners in search of a powerful tactic to market their brand should be aware of the possibilities to promote it online by optimizing their appearance responding to “near me” search queries in Google. Regarding food-based searches, consumers use search engines like Google with the intent to spend time and money in restaurants that pop up near their location. Make sure the following information is accurate, accessible and consistent across the range of search engines, directories and review sites: address, opening hours, phone number, business, name and website. Putting up photos will add a personal touch, increasing the customer’s interest to find out more. Encourage existing customers to leave reviews and be sure to answer any questions asked and offer any apology necessary to particular incidents.
Look Before You Eat
According to researchers, guests in restaurants end up ordering more of the items that have photos next to them because it helps them visualize the flavors. Since these days people like to indulge in a little online menu exploration before they decide to order from or visit a particular restaurant, it’s in the best interest of the restaurant to publish a high-quality digital menu. Naturally, the first place to make it available online will be on your website, so make sure all the information is precise including apt descriptions, consistent pricing and of course insta-worthy photos.
Become Insta-worthy
Founded almost a decade ago, this social networking app was based on a simple idea of sharing live photos and videos with those you know and those you want to know. Unlike Facebook which is multifaceted, Instagram speaks solely to the creative side of each of its users or to be more specific, each of its 1 billion users. Therefore, it becomes a natural step for any restaurant business owner out there to set up an Instagram Business Profile (FYI: It’’s free). All you have to do to keep the millennial and Gen-Z interested is post mouth-watering photos of the food, vibrant images of the decor and if applicable, exciting celebrity and influencer appearances. Whether you want to draw attention to a popular dish, announce a special event or show off your staff, Instagram makes it easy to reach out to hundreds of thousands of people in one go.
Press The Right Buttons
Media has been an integral part of marketing formation from the very beginning, but getting the word around is not easy. Inviting the press to your restaurant, however, is a bona fide way to generate reviews and create hype about your business no matter if it’s just opening or has been around for a decade. While fine dining venues tend to rely on the certain charm of old-school food critics, more and more venues today are opening their doors to food bloggers and social media influencers who are able to publish their work on the web instantly. Restaurant promotion at the cost of a free meal is not a bad marketing tool if we do say so ourselves.
Opening a restaurant is not easy, to begin with, but keeping it open and profitable is another story altogether. Marketing strategies have changed drastically over the years and word of mouth alone can no longer be relied on to publicize a restaurant’s success. Today technology is at the forefront of any business endeavor and digital media, specifically, is becoming a key factor in restaurant marketing and advertising.
