All this week, we have been taking a peek at marketing products we have created for restaurants around the country. Our goal at KD Kanopy is to help you get your brand in front of customers. The restaurant industry is one of our biggest clients and we are happy to provide them with portable kanopies for festivals and other needs. Maybe our attention getting banners and other signs are calling your name. Perhaps your restaurant is looking to expand your marketing tactics or maybe you are in the beginning stages of starting a restaurant. Either way, here are 3 of our favorite & (almost) free ways to market your restaurant.
1. Grab the Attention of the Media, for free!
People love to eat out. In fact, for the first time in our country’s history, people are spending more money eating out than they are on their own groceries. If you have a restaurant, or plan to start one, people love to hear about a new, good place to fill their appetite. If you send out a press release to your local news & radio station or your local newspaper, it will be hard for customers to miss you. Try this if you know you will be hosting an event. This way, you are increasing your chances of being seen. Here’s some tips on how to write a press release, it will only take you a few minutes and it’s totally free!
2. Host An Event
Ok, this one may not be entirely free but it doesn’t need to cost much. Hosting events is a great way to get people into your restaurant. Perhaps you have someone provide live music. This is a popular choice at many establishments but you can kick it up a notch by getting your customers more involved. You can have an open mic night to draw in the locals or create some type of singing contest. You can also host cooking classes. This is an exciting way to get people involved in the process of cooking. Maybe it’s a parent/child cooking class or maybe you gear it towards couples. It’s a good way for people to remember your restaurant and have a fun time. Here are some more events you could put on.
3. Polish up Your Customer Service
I don’t know about you but sometimes I remember the server at the restaurant I ate at, more than I remember the food. Yes, this could present a problem with the food side of the restaurant but it’s a good reminder that customer service sells. Coach your servers and other team members to treat their customers like rock stars. Teach them to be welcoming and friendly, but not over the top and annoying. Teach them to give their customers their attention while being able to multi-task. If your staff keeps your customers happy, it will keep them coming back. It’s a win win. Here are a few more tips on how to improve your restaurant customer service.