3 Sure-Fire Tips To Promote Your Restaurant Brand Without Spending A Fortune

Tough competition has forced restaurants to advertise. There are more restaurants than most customers could afford dine in, especially in major cities. So what’s a restaurant owner to do? Advertise, of course, to get the lion’s share of the market. But when restaurant owners think of advertising they think about getting an effective message out and mass appeal. Then they think about expenses, expenses, expenses.

There are simpler, cost-effective ways to market your restaurant. You don’t always have to spend millions to advertise on Super Bowl. Sometimes all you need is a little creativity and a techie friend working at your side.

Here are some tips.

1.    Distribute business cards and leaflets
The restaurant owner must work “on” the restaurant, not “in” it. While your waiters are busy serving tables, you should be monitoring your restaurant and figuring out who your target customers are. In time you’ll form a better picture of your regular clients. These are who should focus on. Reach out to them by distributing menu fliers, leaflets and sample cards.

2.    Stay in the public eye for all the right reasons
It’s important to have locals talking about you, but make sure it’s for all the right reasons. Do this by promoting your restaurant locally. Offer discounts, coupons, and even sponsor charity events. Make sure your restaurant’s presence is heard during festive seasons.

3.    Get into social networking
This is where your techie friend comes in. Social networking is advertising on the 21st century. And the best thing about it is, it’s FREE – or mostly free. Get your restaurant’s name out through Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, or by blogging, what KogiBBQ did for its franchise. Social networking is the best way to get your name out without spending a fortune.

Tell me what you think about these cost-effective means of marketing your restaurant by leaving a comment below.

How To Attract New Customers And Keep Loyal Patrons Through Restaurant Marketing On Twitter

An amateur restaurant owner goes, “What’s so great about online marketing for restaurants?” I go, “It’s simple, it’s easy, and it will only cost you as much as you’re willing to spend on the promotions alone. The advertising itself is free, or almost free.”

As online restaurant marketing goes, one of the most popular and effective medium right now is Twitter. Yes, that social networking website that lets users post small messages comprised of 140 characters or so. It’s amazing what technology can do to help businesses these days.

Here are some tips on how to work your restaurant marketing on Twitter.

Let them in on a little secret
The works: Tell our waiters the password “I like it shaken and stirred,” to get your free martini. I only have 50 glasses to give away.

Effect: This kind of marketing works because it lets your customers feel they’re getting some inside information that you feel only they deserve to enjoy.

Offer a tempting impromptu special
The works: Our bartender seems to have hit something good this time. Come in before 10PM tonight and be the first lucky 20 folks to taste it – free!

My pasta chef is feeling creative tonight. Be the first 5 customers to say “creative” in front of him to try out his new limited time-only dish.

Effect: This is great for transforming slow days into busy nights. The trick is to get customers through the front door using Twitter marketing. Keep them seated long enough and they’ll get hungry and spend more.

Reward your patron customers with specials
The works: Sign up for our free monthly newsletter and get another thing for free – entree coupons for Valentine’s Day!

Effect: You invite them into your restaurant and get valuable information in the process. Two birds with one stone.

Twitter is simply amazing for the attentive restaurant owner. Share your tips on restaurant marketing on Twitter by leaving a comment below.