In our white paper, “Why verified customer reviews are essential for restaurants,” we discuss how legitimate online customer reviews can help to generate a positive online presence for restaurants.

Topics include:

• Understanding the different review platforms
• Combating fake reviews
• Leveraging Rewards Network’s platform to obtain verified reviews
• Analyzing review completion rates between Rewards Network’s members vs. non-members

Download this free white paper to discover why verified customer reviews are a crucial brand building block for restaurants. 

*Statistics are cited within white paper

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Popular review sites

We’ve assembled a list of the most widely used restaurant review sites to help you get started building and monitoring your restaurant’s online reputation.

Yelp

One of the most widespread restaurant review and reputation management sites, Yelp is a go-to site for foodies to vet a restaurant prior to dining. Most reviews on Yelp are for restaurants and it boasts 142 million monthly users. It’s important to claim your business listing on Yelp so that you can respond to reviews and maintain customer engagement.

Google My Business

Google My Business is a free tool that allows you to promote your business through Google. It showcases your restaurant’s basic information as well as your Google restaurant reviews when anyone searches for your restaurant or for restaurants in your area. Google accounts for 76% of all global internet searches, making it the world’s leading search engine. It’s critical that the information you populate on your Google My Business page is accurate, so that local patrons searching for your spot can easily find it.

OpenTable

Functioning as an online review site and reservation service, OpenTable is one of the most popular sites people use to book a table. OpenTable features more than 60,000 restaurants worldwide, meaning it’s imperative that your restaurant’s reviews are topnotch, since eager diners can quickly discover other dining options on the site.

TripAdvisor

Although you may think that TripAdvisor is only used to find restaurants when traveling out of town, many people will be served up TripAdvisor restaurant reviews when searching for local places to eat as well. The site also allows visitors to book reservations. It’s a good idea to claim your business on TripAdvisor and ensure all information, images, and links are correct to attract both local and visiting guests.

Zomato

Formerly known as Urbanspoon, Zomato is a frequently used restaurant review site. The site features reviews from customers, food critics, and bloggers. Zomato users can search for restaurants, read and write reviews, view and upload photos, order food delivery, and book a table on the website. Restaurant partners of Zomato can access industry-specific marketing tools that help them to better understand and engage customers.

Rewards Network

Rewards Network members have generated over 20 million reviews at participating restaurants. Rewards Network ensures that all reviews are from actual customers prior to publishing reviews online. Customers tend to review their restaurant experience immediately after they dine since they may receive rewards for doing so. Restaurant owners are also able to reply to customer comments directly from their restaurant dashboard.

Third-party delivery platforms

Many third-party delivery platforms allow customers to leave reviews about restaurants. If your restaurant uses well-known delivery services such as GrubHub, Postmates, Doordash, UberEats, or Seamless, it’s important to monitor what customers are saying (both positive and negative) about your establishment. If unfavorable reviews begin to pile up on these sites it can adversely affect your revenue.

Managing your restaurant’s reviews

Regularly monitoring and managing your restaurant’s reviews is crucial because 84% of people trust an online review as much as a personal recommendation. It’s completely up to your discretion if you want to respond to a customer’s review/comment. However, experts in the industry do recommend publicly addressing negative reviews in a timely manner to show ownership and transparency. Acknowledging the customer’s feelings and clearly communicating that providing them with the best guest experience is your top priority, can go a long way. Possible solutions to negative reviews may include asking the customer for feedback, comping their meal, or guaranteeing this issue will not arise again. Restaurant owners are also encouraged to respond to positive guest reviews to illustrate that their establishment is paying attention to their customers’ thoughts—responding with a simple “Thank you” works just fine. Your customers are the lifeblood of your restaurant, and their feedback can offer valuable insight into your business.

Be sure to regularly visit our free resource section dedicated to advising restaurants on how to navigate the changing rules and regulations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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In our latest e-tool, “How to leverage social media marketing for your restaurant,” we share key steps and best practices to help you create a social strategy for your restaurant, including:

• Understanding the different platforms
• Setting goals and benchmarks
• Creating business pages
• Maintaining content calendars
• Managing online reviews
• Using hashtags
• Crafting effective CTAs

Download this free e-tool to help you build a successful social media plan for your restaurant.

The post How to leverage social media marketing for your restaurant appeared first on Rewards Network.

Our restaurant communications strategy guide provides direction to restaurant owners on how they can:

• Share relevant news with the press
• Engage with the local community
• Execute effective social media strategies
• Develop a press kit and crisis management plan

Download this free e-book to learn more about how to build an effective communications strategy for your restaurant.

The post How to build a restaurant communications strategy appeared first on Rewards Network.

• Crafting a brand story
• Understanding your target audience
• Bringing your brand to life with words and imagery
• Updating all of your external marketing materials

Download this free e-book today to ensure you’re doing all you can to build up your restaurant’s brand.

Excerpt from Chapter 1:

Mission Statement

The goal of a mission statement is to clearly and concisely articulate your restaurant’s core goals, values, and differentiators. A few thought starters that can spur the creation of a mission statement include:

• What is your promise to customers?
• What is the foundation of your company culture?
• How does your restaurant’s values differ from your competitors’ values?
• What is your restaurant’s unique viewpoint?
• How does your restaurant serve customers’ needs and pain points?
• Why are you serving this type of food in this type of way?

Keep in mind that a mission statement shouldn’t be a full paragraph. Try to keep it to two or three sentences that convey your mission and values in a clear and emotionally compelling way to your audience. Look at this statement as the cornerstone for how you speak to your customers moving forward.

The post Developing your restaurant’s brand appeared first on Rewards Network.

While using stock photos might seem easier than hiring a professional photographer or taking photos yourself, there are numerous reasons why restaurant owners should avoid using stock photography. For one, potential customers are likely perusing your website, Yelp, Instagram, and Facebook to vet your establishment before they dine. This means they’ll expect all your filtered and perfectly angled food and drink photos to live up to the hype in real life. If they walk in the door only to discover that your restaurant doesn’t match up to its online presence, they’re likely to turn around and walk right back out.

This is why it’s important to invest in hiring a professional photographer to take appealing and accurate photos of your establishment, staff, food, and drinks.

Be Authentic, Not Perfect

There’s nothing more enticing to a potential customer browsing for new restaurants to try than mouthwatering food photography. In fact, 90 percent of people will research a restaurant online before visiting, and once there, 12.5 percent of guests will post about their dining experience. Don’t set yourself up for a social media shaming by posting inauthentic food and beverage shots on your website, social platforms, and email communications. It’s much more important to have an accurate shot than a “perfect” one.

Pay Attention to Details

Keep in mind that you should showcase your brand at every turn and in every photograph. A photo of an item on your menu should have your killer décor in the background, display your particular tableware, and feature any other unique indicators of your restaurant’s brand. Stock photos can come across as “too perfect” with white or solid-color backgrounds, glossy surfaces, and artificial ingredients like glue or food dye used to alter products. Customers are able to sniff out these embellishments and can be quick to call them out if the images you post don’t match up with reality.

Give Yourself a Leg Up

Featuring generic imagery also robs you of the opportunity to distinguish your business from the competition. Since stock photo agencies determine usage of their images, a competitor could potentially end up using the exact same stock photos as you on their restaurant’s website. Showcase your original brand identity and draw guests to your restaurant (and away from the competition) by only using images that feature your restaurant’s prepared dishes just as they appear in your dining room. Chefs take pride in their artistic presentations, so why not tout their craft by using scrumptiously authentic photos?

Be Trustworthy (and Legal)

Anyone can simply click on the camera icon in the Google search bar, upload an image (or paste an image’s URL), and instantly see all the websites containing that same photo. Featuring a fake photo on your website breaks consumer trust and can turn away business. There are also usage fees and copyright practices that need to be adhered to for anyone who purchases a stock photo. If you don’t follow these rules you run the risk of being sued for copyright infringement, which can cost thousands of dollars.

Invest in Your Brand

Hiring a professional restaurant/food photographer instead of using stock photography can be a hefty investment, but one that is undoubtedly worth it. It may require a large chunk of time and resources from you and your employees, but remember, stock photography isn’t without its hidden fees and restrictions too. This can include licensing fees, varying image-quality prices, usage stipulations, and renewal costs. Not to mention the time it takes to comb through the thousands of photos on stock sites. By curating your own custom photo library you’ll have a large variety of images to choose from for your website, social pages, emails, signage, and more, with no limitations on how you can use the pictures.

To learn more about how to stand out from the crowd with stellar photos, download our free e-tool “20 Tips for Taking Perfect Restaurant Photographs.”

The post Why Using Stock Photography Is so Last Year appeared first on Rewards Network.

Take a look below to see how some of our own Rewards Network restaurant partners are testing unique strategies and initiatives that can ignite revenue during COVID-19.

Strategic discounts and promotions

Offers, discounts, and promotions are effective marketing tools that restaurant owners can utilize to fuel additional orders and revenue during trying times. For example, Iron Pig Smokehouse in Gaylord, MI is pushing their gift cards by offering a $25 gift card for as low as $15 when customers purchase three or more. Other restaurants are choosing to tout a specific menu item, like Minsky’s Pizza in Olathe, KS, that is offering promotional pricing on their gluten-free pizzas. It’s no secret that takeout and delivery business play a huge part in a restaurant’s success during the coronavirus pandemic, so it can be a savvy idea to tailor promotions around these types of orders. Catch 35 in Naperville, IL is offering $5 off all takeout/delivery orders of $50 or more with promo code “Catch35$5off$50.” Similarly, B.GOOD in Jersey City, NJ is also prompting delivery orders by offering free delivery on any order of $12 or more along with “Buy One Get One” entrees.

Goodwill and appreciation

Numerous restaurants are aiming to support nonprofits during these challenging times by donating a portion of their proceeds. Steak + Vine in La Grange, IL is allocating $3 of every signature cocktail sold to The H Foundation, which funds basic science cancer research. Other establishments are focusing on specific groups of people to offer discounts to such as frontline workers and industry employees. For example, Melt Bar & Grilled in Canton, OH is rewarding service industry workers every Monday with 25% off their bill as a way to show continued appreciation.

Social media

A restaurant’s social platforms are an ideal outlet for keeping patrons informed of any timely changes, new protocols, and promotions. Some restaurants, like Quaker Steak & Lube in Cincinnati, OH, are taking this to the next level by developing rewards programs they’re touting on social media to encourage repeat orders. The idea is that customers can earn points for every dollar they spend on food and drinks that can eventually be redeemed for free menu items. Implementing a contest or giveaway can also create a spike in online engagement and revenue. Jet’s Pizza in Brandon, FL is asking followers to post a picture of their love for Jet’s, using a specific hashtag, for the chance to win a $25 gift card. Along the same lines, Meatball Eatery and Libations in Greenwood Village, CO is offering a free cocktail, beer, or glass of wine to all customers who mention a specific Facebook ad to their server. Taking the social media giveaway idea to the next level, Mercadito in Chicago is promoting a free Taco Tuesday dinner for two for one lucky winner. The restaurant is asking people to follow their Instagram page, like a specific post, tag their friends, and share the post on their own Instagram to be entered to win. Keep in mind that prior to running a social media contest or giveaway, it’s a good idea to check your local laws – most allow for just this type of promotion, but there are some nuances you will want to consider.

Getting creative

During these unpredictable times for the restaurant industry, creativity is a key ingredient for sustaining and driving dollars. Dog Haus in Fremont, CA decided to play off of applicable national food holidays, such as “National Fried Chicken Day,” offering customers a steep discount on their staple crispy fried chicken sandwich. With many people still hesitant to enter the grocery store on a regular basis, it’s a smart idea to carve out a new revenue stream with takeout/delivery meal kit options. Fogo de Chão in Philadelphia is offering a take-home Celebration Package that includes ready-to-eat meats, savory sides, and their signature desserts, so customers can enjoy all their favorites in the comfort of their own home.

Always think one step ahead

COVID-19 has introduced a slew of challenges for restaurant owners. To stay top of consumers’ minds and profitable during these trying times, it’s crucial to develop new revenue streams and innovative ways of promoting your business. Continue to test various communication methods such as email, social media, and your website as well as targeted discounts and promotions to discover what works best for your restaurant. Once you unlock a winning combination, you can regularly refine it to fuel sales and brand awareness.

To discover more restaurant marketing strategies and tactics that can help your business during COVID-19, take a look at our free e-tool, “Coronavirus Era: 13 Restaurant Marketing Tips.”

The post Marketing ideas for restaurants during coronavirus appeared first on Rewards Network.

Take a look below to see how some of our own Rewards Network restaurant partners are testing unique strategies and initiatives that can ignite revenue during coronavirus.

Strategic discounts and promotions

Restaurant owners can utilize attractive offers and promotions to incite a spike in customer orders, while differentiating their business from competitors. For example, Melt Bar & Grilled in Canton, OH is encouraging gift card sales by offering an extra $25 gift card with the purchase of a $100 gift card or a free $10 gift card when you buy a $50 gift card. Colombo’s Cafe & Pastries is also promoting gift cards, but with a slightly different twist. The Hyannis, MA restaurant paired up with a local politician to offer a $25 gift card to the fifth and 13th customer that placed an order on a specific day.

It’s a savvy idea to place current menu items on promotion that are low in cost but have a high perceived value in guests’ eyes such as appetizers, drinks, and desserts. San Shi Go, a Japanese restaurant in Laguna Beach, CA, is implementing this strategy by offering 30% off all sake, wine, and beer when customers place a food order. Taking this a step further, San Shi Go is also including a free new face mask when customers place an online order directly from their website. Tuesdays just got a bit more exciting at Killingtons Restaurant & Pub in Huntersville, NC. On Tender Tuesday customers can place a curbside pickup order for a family meal that includes 10 chicken tenders, fries, and a salad for only $30.

Goodwill and appreciation

Many restaurants are using their resources to support the groups impacted most during the coronavirus pandemic. Jackson’s in Long Island City, NY is partnering with Flag of NY to provide food to the frontline workers at Flushing and Jamaica hospitals in Queens, NY. Focusing on students, teachers, and other school district employees, the Wausau, WI restaurant, Wausau Mine Company, is offering 20% off of your entire bill for customers with a valid school ID.

Meal kits and virtual stores

With many people choosing to avoid grocery stores, restaurants are carving out a new revenue stream with takeout/delivery meal kits and online “grocery stores.” Hacienda de Mesilla in Mesilla, NM is selling “Grill at Home” packages that allow customers to create their favorite meals from arrachera steak and burgers to filet mignon and NY cut steak in the comfort of their own homes. Similarly, Plainview, NY restaurant, Coliseum Kitchen & Caterers, is offering grill-at-home kits that customers can cook and enjoy at home with their family. Another spot that’s tapping into the grill-enthusiast customer base is State Street Brats in Madison, WI. This restaurant is offering grill packs that include 10 signature brats and three cheese curds complete with free two-day shipping.

Taking a broader approach, Los Sombreros in Scottsdale, AZ has curated an online grocery store that sells prepared foods, cocktails, fresh produce, eggs, meat/seafood, and more directly to customers. Offering curbside pickup for orders on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, this establishment has made it quick and easy for their customers to purchase and obtain pantry and household staple items.

Social media

Use your social platforms to keep your followers informed of any timely news, new protocols, and ongoing promotions. Nurturing a fluid and engaging conversation between your restaurant and its customers is vital during unpredictable and quickly changing situations such as these. A Houston, TX restaurant, Harold’s, has launched a social media engagement campaign that asks followers to post an image accompanied by their established hashtag, “#lovethyneighbor” for the chance to win a $50 restaurant gift certificate. Recruiting the backing of other local restaurants, Sal’s Italian Restaurant in Burlington, NC is encouraging their followers to guess how many nails are in a jar from a photo they have posted. The top four correct/closest guesses will win a gift card to one of the participating restaurants. One tip is to check your local laws before promoting any sweepstakes or giveaway – most allow for just this type of promotion, but there are some nuances you will want to consider.

Creating new revenue streams

As you know, the COVID-19 pandemic has spurred an onslaught of hardships and challenges for the restaurant industry. To remain profitable and relevant it’s crucial to develop new and strategic ways to reach your customers and maintain steady sales during these unpredictable times. Don’t be afraid to test different promotions and marketing tactics from offering meal kits and frontline worker discounts to social media engagement campaigns and online grocery stores — unearthing what works best for your business is half the battle. Then, continue to build upon these findings to encourage spikes in brand awareness, new/repeat customer orders, and sales during COVID-19.

To discover more restaurant marketing strategies and tactics that can help your business during COVID-19, take a look at our free e-tool, “Coronavirus Era: 13 Restaurant Marketing Tips.”

The post Creative restaurant marketing during COVID-19 appeared first on Rewards Network.

As you know, the restaurant industry already has razor-thin margins during normal dining circumstances at 100% occupancy, but now with the added protocols and limitations, deciding to open your doors can make for a very tough decision. A good goal to keep in mind as you reopen for dine-in service is to focus on being as close to full capacity as possible for as long as possible to help offset any revenue loss you may have incurred during shelter-in-place.

Take a look below for effective marketing tactics and tips that have the ability to drive more customers into your restaurant at traditionally slower times.

Rethink happy hour

Featuring a killer happy hour is a great way to get patrons through your doors at off-peak hours of the day. During these uncertain circumstances, consider extending your regular happy hour times as a way to potentially boost early afternoon food and drink sales. And, it doesn’t have to only include beverage deals, it’s a smart idea to make this a more meal-focused promotion and offer food specials too. For example, you can offer bundled options such as a burger, fries, and a beer for a set price.

Also, try revamping your happy hour offerings into a late-night menu. Focus on drinks, simple foods like burgers and tacos, and individually plated shareable appetizers. With many people working from home, this can be a nice reminder to them to indulge in a late lunch or post long workday treat. These meal deals along with single-priced food and drink items can help infuse more cash into your bottom line throughout the coronavirus pandemic.

Encourage reservations

Promoting reservations and call-ahead seating is a key part of managing your restaurant’s limited occupancy guidelines along with customers’ expectations. With such a reduced number of tables/seats available, managing your floorplan, reservations, and table-turn times will be crucial in towing the line between guest overflow and keeping your restaurant as full as it can be at all times. Use your restaurant’s social media pages to alert followers in real-time about how many reservations are available each day and how they can secure one. Creating a sense of urgency is an effective strategy for any marketing tactic, prompting people to act now instead of later. Also, it’s a good idea to update your website to make visitors aware of the dine-in rules that are specific to your city, state, county, etc., so they can be prepared and know what to expect when visiting your location. Leverage your current email list and send out weekly updates on the state of the industry as it relates to your specific establishment, along with a direct link to make a reservation.

Take measures a step further and designate an employee to stand outside your doors, alerting people of the current wait time, dine-in requirements, takeout/delivery options, and future reservation information. Not only will this proactive measure prevent guests without a reservation from congregating outside your space in large numbers, but it allows you as the business owner to control the process and narrative surrounding your restaurant. Having a clear plan for reservations in place can lead to a more seamless seating and dining experience for guests as well as your staff, with the goal of providing a more accurate picture of projected sales.

Get creative

Don’t be afraid to think outside of the box to entice customers to return to your restaurant during the unpredictable times of COVID-19. By employing tactics such as offering a “Chef’s Choice” menu that changes each week or a “Deal of the Day,” it creates a fun catalyst for your core customers to order again and again each week, while allowing you to test out new menu ideas and promotions. This type of promotion can extend to all dining mediums — dine-in, takeout, and delivery — and can be a great way to encourage orders directly from your website instead of third-party apps. As an added bonus, you can make sure that the featured dishes incorporate readily available ingredients that you’ll always have on hand or products that your kitchen has been trying to run through and get off the shelf.

Contests and giveaways housed on your restaurant’s social media accounts can be a simple and effective way to garner more brand awareness, engagement, and most importantly, orders. It can be something as simple as asking followers to post a photo of themselves enjoying a meal from your spot or just a pre-isolation photo in general and tagging your restaurant. Questions and polls are also a savvy tactic for spurring engagement as you begin to invite patrons back through your doors for limited-capacity dine-in service. For best results, ask a pointed question such as, “Which menu item are you most excited to enjoy on our patio this summer?” Or, take a poll with limited answer options, such as, “What is your go-to happy hour order? Margarita, Rosé, Beer, or Mocktail.”

To discover other creative ways to garner revenue during coronavirus, check out our blog, “How restaurants can successfully reopen in the coronavirus era.”

Cater to at-risk guests

There are certain people that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) consider to be at a higher risk of contracting coronavirus. Contributing factors can include being over 65, living in a nursing home, and having an existing underlying medical condition. Although these customers may be at a higher risk, they still miss the experience of enjoying a delicious meal from their favorite restaurant. Cater to this group’s needs by creating special hours they can dine at your spot. Offer an early lunch or brunch to those over 65 years of age, allowing these guests to experience your restaurant at its cleanest and most sanitized early in the morning before other customers have entered the building.

Another strategy that has worked well for many establishments is creating a discounted grocery box for those over 65 that’s available for pick-up and delivery. Include staple items such as eggs, flour, bread, and butter along with seasonal produce and specialty items/ingredients that customers associate with your restaurant. Another tactic that’s seen success in the industry is adding take-home meal kits to your takeout/delivery menu. This can include make-your-own pizzas, cocktail kits, homemade pasta ingredients, and more. When creating your restaurant’s take-home meal kit, play to your most popular menu items and dishes that you know are easy to make at home and will travel well.

Forge ahead

The global pandemic of COVID-19 has provoked many new and unforeseen challenges for the restaurant industry. By implementing strategic marketing tactics aimed at increasing revenue, minimizing expenses, and garnering new and repeat orders/visits, restaurant owners can begin to build back up their bottom line, while opening for dine-in service. It’s a good idea to keep takeout and delivery business as a core component of your revenue stream during these uncertain times, especially since regulations stipulate a limited occupancy rate for dine-in service at the moment. By employing pointed marketing efforts, business owners can encourage consistent revenue streams and glean valuable customer insights to fuel even better-optimized initiatives in the future.

To discover more restaurant marketing strategies and tactics that can help your business during COVID-19, take a look at our free e-tool, “Coronavirus Era: 13 Restaurant Marketing Tips.”

The post Coronavirus era: Marketing your restaurant in a limited capacity world appeared first on Rewards Network.

Take a look below to see how some of our own Rewards Network restaurant partners are implementing innovative promotions and marketing tactics that can boost revenue during these trying times.

Strategic discounts

It’s important for restaurant owners and operators to differentiate themselves from competitors with enticing offers that prompt customers to order. Choose current menu items that are low cost but have a high perceived value in guests’ eyes such as appetizers, drinks, and desserts. Tony’s DiNapoli in New York City is tapping into this exact strategy by offering half-off all bottles of wine. Similarly, Quattro’s Italian Restaurant in Guilford, CT is also promoting 50% off all wine bottles with any delivery or curbside order. Both establishments understand the value of encouraging food orders by offering a high-margin item like alcohol that has been difficult for some people to get during coronavirus.

It’s also a good idea to encourage sales during traditional non-peak hours and days as well as specials for takeout/delivery. This may include extending happy hour times, offering a lunch special, or applying a discount to takeout and delivery orders placed directly through your restaurant. Stinger’s Waterfront, located in Philadelphia, understands the burden of high costs and commission fees associated with using third-party delivery service apps for both themselves and their customers. Currently, the restaurant is offering 20% off all takeout orders, making it a sweeter deal for their bottom line and the customer’s wallet. Village Idiot Irish Pub in Oakdale, NY is also aiming to mitigate third-party fees by promoting 10% off all curbside orders and free local delivery, prompting customers to make ordering directly from the restaurant their default method. Sometimes a little understanding can go a long way in tough circumstances, which is why the Cary, NC restaurant, Brixx Wood Fired Pizza, is honoring all expired gift certificates.

Goodwill

Many restaurants are calling on their community to help support them any way they can during the coronavirus pandemic which has put many restaurant industry employees out of work for the time being. For example, Sapori Trattoria in Chicago has started a GoFundMe page urging their supporters to help fund the restaurant’s cooks, servers, and managers. Knowing they have the ability to make a difference, some restaurants are establishing initiatives to help healthcare and essential workers.

Pita University in Tempe, AZ is accepting donations to assist their staff in delivering food to frontline medical workers and is even calling on local businesses to partner with them to expand their efforts.

Along the same lines, Asbury Park, NJ restaurant, The Gallery, is collecting donations to deliver pizza to hospital workers, while Minsky’s Pizza in Blue Springs, MO is supplying free mini pizzas for employees working essential jobs and offering a 20% discount on orders of $30 or more to encourage even more group orders and donations to these vital workers. In Racine, MI Blue Bear Bakery has chosen to donate a portion of their sales every weekend to a local organization that’s helping frontline workers. This initiative provides an ideal outlet for restaurants that want to help essential and frontline workers, but don’t have the ability to deliver food directly to them.

Special occasions and prix fixe menus

Taking a different and savvy approach, some restaurants are keying into the special events in peoples’ lives that are taking place while in isolation. Mike & Denise’s Pizzeria & Pub in Aurora, IL recognizes that it’s a bummer to have your birthday during these isolating times, so they are offering a free birthday cake or gluten-free chocolate cake martini kit with any food purchase to add some fun to the at-home celebrations.

While celebrating special milestones during COVID-19 is no easy feat, cooking regular meals for the whole family can be just as tough. Thankfully, many restaurants are solving for this consumer pain point by selling takeout family meal kits. Brasita’s Restaurant in Stamford, CT is making your at-home date nights a bit more special with a fixed-price meal for two that even includes a jar of their homemade sangria. Taco Tuesday can be every day of the week now in Marietta, GA with the 3 Amigos Mexican Bar & Grill take-home family packs that feature enough tacos, burritos, and sides for 4 – 6 people with the option to add on margaritas, sangria, and beer buckets. Take stock of what ingredients you have in surplus and determine if meal kit options are a good fit for your restaurant.

Social media

Keeping the conversation fluid and engaging between your restaurant and its customers is crucial during unpredictable situations. Use your social platforms to keep your followers informed of any pertinent news, new protocols, and ongoing promotions. Hot Head Burritos of Newark, OH is encouraging followers to leave a comment with their favorite burrito topping to be entered into a drawing to win a free burrito, while Shawnee, KS restaurant, eggtc., offered 14% off all orders to celebrate their 14-year anniversary. Utilizing your own restaurant’s major milestones as a marketing strategy is an effective way to spur increased engagement and sales for your business.

Social pages are also an ideal opportunity to implore your followers to support causes that are near and dear to your restaurant’s heart. For example, the owner of the Boston restaurant, Davio’s, created a video to support The National Restaurant Association’s “Lift Your Spirits” campaign. Also, Flavor 91 Burger Bistro in Whitehall, OH participated in a Facebook Live Q&A session featuring the Franklin County Commissioner and local restaurant owners that discussed how restaurants are staying safe and financially afloat as well as how locals can help the cause. It’s essential for restaurant owners to find out if similar forums are happening for their area and to try to get involved or, better yet, organize a live Q&A themselves with a local organization or with other neighboring restaurants.

Utilize creative solutions

COVID-19 has created a plethora of roadblocks and hardships for the restaurant industry. As a business owner, it’s vital for you to develop new and innovative ways to reach your customers and garner sales during coronavirus. Take this time as an opportunity to test different promotions and marketing tactics from offering special deals and themed meal kits to urging patrons to support your establishment and essential/frontline workers at the same time. Discover what works best for your specific business and continue to build upon that structure to incite increased revenue, customers, and brand awareness during COVID-19.

To better understand the important decisions you will need to make regarding your restaurant’s financial future, download our free e-tool, “Restaurants’ COVID-19 Emergency Loan Guide.”

The post Marketing tactics for restaurants during coronavirus appeared first on Rewards Network.