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Creative Ways to Attract Customers to Your Restaurant

The restaurant industry is constantly evolving, so to keep your business thriving, you need fresh strategies to attract a steady stream of customers. Here are some key areas of focus to boost your success:

Visual Appeal: The Power of Imagery

- Invest in professional food photography to make your dishes irresistible.
- Use these images strategically on your website, menus, and social media.
- Encourage customers to share their food photos – user-generated content is great publicity!

Behind-the-Scenes Access

- Give customers a glimpse into your kitchen with real-time updates on social media.
- Share new dishes, prep highlights, and chef spotlights to build excitement.

A Website That Works For You

- Keep your site clean, simple, and mobile-friendly.
- Make your menu, hours, and contact info front and center.

The Social Media Advantage

- Be active where your customers are. Tailor content to each platform.
- Run contests, share mouthwatering photos, and promote events.

Email Marketing: Building a Community

- Offer sign-up incentives and avoid overwhelming subscribers.
- Share updates, exclusive offers, and birthday rewards to build loyalty.

Special Events for Every Occasion

- Host wine tastings, cooking classes, and ‘Meet the Chef’ nights for unique experiences.
- Become the preferred spot for game days, holidays, and group gatherings.

Customer Relationships Matter

- Get to know your regulars and make them feel valued.
- Loyal customers are your biggest advocates and a source of repeat business.

Extend Your Reach

- Create a digital or physical cookbook of favorite recipes to keep your food on customers’ minds.
- Offer gift cards to attract new diners.

The Power of Online Presence

- Prioritize local SEO so you rank high in searches.
- Offer easy online ordering with integrated payment processing.
- Encourage positive Google+ reviews for visibility and trust.

Remember, it’s about finding the right combination of strategies that work best for your restaurant and target audience. Experiment, track results, and adjust your approach as needed!

Give Your Restaurant a Spring Refresh: 5 Must-Do Changes

Spring has sprung, and it’s the perfect time to revitalize your restaurant! Leave the winter doldrums behind and embrace the fresh energy of the season with these easy and impactful changes.

1. Embellish Your Tables with Seasonal Touches

Ditch those wintertime candles and bring the outdoors in. A simple vase with vibrant blooms, a potted herb, or even a sprig of greenery adds instant charm to tablescapes. Get creative and explore farmers’ markets and local florists for affordable, eye-catching options.

2. Energize Your Online Presence

Social media is your restaurant’s digital storefront. Entice customers with these visually appealing updates:

Showcase Seasonal Dishes: Snap mouthwatering photos of your new spring menu items featuring fresh, in-season ingredients.
Behind-the-Scenes Magic: Offer glimpses into your kitchen with videos of dishes being prepped or cocktails being crafted.
Hashtags are Key: Use relevant local hashtags (e.g., #[CityName]Eats, #[Neighborhood]Foodie) to reach new audiences.

3. Modernize Your Equipment

Outdated equipment slows down your kitchen and impacts food quality. If a major upgrade isn’t in the budget, consider these options:

Equipment Leasing: Explore leasing programs that provide access to newer equipment with flexible payment options.
Refurbished Options: Look for reliable vendors offering high-quality refurbished equipment at lower prices.

4. Revamp Your Menu with the Season

A few strategic additions featuring in-season produce will excite your regulars and attract new customers. Think bright salads, herb-infused dishes, and refreshing cocktails made with seasonal fruits and juices. Limited-time offerings create a sense of urgency and excitement.

5. The Power of a Deep Clean

Go beyond routine cleaning! A focused deep cleaning session will leave your restaurant sparkling. Consider these tactics:

Team Effort: Host a “Spring Cleaning Party” outside business hours with upbeat music and treats to motivate your staff.
Targeted Areas: Don’t forget often-overlooked spots like light fixtures, baseboards, and behind heavy equipment.
Sustainable Cleaning: Opt for eco-friendly cleaning products for a healthier work environment and a positive environmental impact.

Bonus Tip: Don’t underestimate the power of fresh paint or simple decor swaps to transform your space. Small changes = big impact!

Embrace the new season with these upgrades, and watch your restaurant blossom!

Avoid Restaurant Expenses: Smart Tips

Unexpected costs can throw a wrench into even the most carefully planned restaurant budget. While it’s impossible to eliminate surprise expenses entirely, smart strategies can significantly minimize them. Let’s break down what causes these expenses and how to proactively manage them.

Understanding the Root Causes

Lack of Tracking: Unforeseen expenses often stem from not diligently tracking recurring costs or maintenance schedules.
Equipment Neglect: Assuming appliances will run forever without care is a recipe for costly repairs or replacements.
Waste and Inefficiency: Running out of supplies prematurely or having excessive energy usage hikes up costs.

Solutions for Avoiding Financial Surprises

Hire an Operations Manager: This individual will meticulously track expenses, identify patterns, and anticipate potential issues. Think of them as your financial watchdog!
Preventive Maintenance is Key: Establish a rigorous maintenance schedule for all equipment. Use a CMMS (Computerized Maintenance Management System) to stay organized and lengthen the lifespan of your appliances.
Foster a Culture of Conservation: Train staff on resource conservation, minimizing waste, and using equipment responsibly. Little changes make a big impact.
Strong Supplier Relationships: Build partnerships with your vendors. They might offer volume discounts, alert you to upcoming sales, and work with you to streamline your supply needs.

The Bottom Line: Smart Planning is Essential

The key to avoiding most unexpected restaurant expenses is proactive planning and attention to detail. By implementing these strategies, you’ll:

Improve operational efficiency
Extend the life of your equipment
Control supply costs
Increase your restaurant’s profitability

Remember – those who plan ahead minimize financial stress and maximize their chances of success!

Attract New Customers: Exciting Restaurant Event Ideas

Sure, your regular dishes are fantastic, but why not make your restaurant a destination for unique, memorable experiences? Special events and promotions are fantastic ways to draw in new crowds and keep regulars excited to come back.

Here’s a whole host of event ideas that are sure to boost buzz and fill those tables:

Themed Experiences

Decade Nights: Tap into nostalgia with themed nights for the ’80s, ’90s, or any fun-loving era. Encourage costumes, play era-appropriate music, and feature foods that were all the rage “back then”.
Love Is In The Air: Don’t limit romance to Valentine’s Day. Designate a special night each month for couples with candlelight, romantic music, and special menus for two.
Sports Arena: Get in the game! Host viewing parties for big sporting events, and support local teams with team-inspired food and drinks.
Celebrity Encounters: Partner with a local celebrity for a guest bartender or meet-and-greet night. Decorate and create menu items to reflect their work!

Community-Focused Occasions

Charity Events: Partner with a local cause and create food and drink specials related to the charity. A percentage of proceeds or even a simple donation drive gets the community involved.
Singles’ Night: Help people mingle with a singles’ night event. Offer fun icebreakers, speed dating, or just a welcoming atmosphere for new connections.
VIP Only: Reward loyal customers with an exclusive club. Offer discounts and monthly special events just for VIPs to show your appreciation.

Deals and Promotions

Deal of the Day: Highlight seasonal ingredients with special dishes that change monthly or with the availability of fresh items.
Happy Hour: It’s a classic for a reason. Offer after-work specials on drinks and appetizers to draw in a relaxed crowd.
Buy One, Get One: Entice customers on slow nights with BOGO deals on appetizers, desserts, or select entrees.
Ladies’ Night / Men’s Night: Offer special promotions for groups of women or men. This could be drink deals or freebies to make their night out extra special.

Entertainment Extravaganza

Live Music: Book local bands and musicians to perform during dinner service. It sets a lively ambiance and supports your local arts scene.
Theme Nights: Go beyond decades with costume nights – think Mardi Gras, Hawaiian Luau, or your own original themes!
Karaoke: Add a competitive twist! Hold a regular karaoke contest where the winner gets a free meal or other prize.
Comedy Night: Laughter brings people together. Feature a local comedian for a fun twist on dinner service.
Open Mic Night: Create space for up-and-coming talent, whether it’s musicians, poets, or comedians. This brings in both performers and an audience eager to support them.

Something Extra Special

Wine Tastings: Feature unique wines or offer flights at a special price to attract wine enthusiasts.
Guest Chef/Bartender Nights: Bring in guest chefs or bartenders to add new dishes and drinks to the menu for a limited time.
Cooking Classes: Give guests an insider’s look with hands-on cooking classes where they can recreate your best dishes at home.

Get the Word Out!

Don’t forget to promote your events heavily on social media, your website, and through local channels. Eye-catching graphics and exciting descriptions will bring those crowds in.

Ready to try something new? Pick a few of these ideas and put your unique spin on them. With a little creativity and enthusiasm, you’ll transform your restaurant into the hottest spot in town!

Google’s Location Sharing for Businesses

Since the introduction of Google, we have seen some fantastic features for both customers of businesses as well as the businesses themselves. Most recently, we have heard of the Location Sharing feature which will allow all users to share their location as they move from one location to the next. Of course, this isn’t exactly a new idea since Uber users will recognize it straight away. However, it does open a few doors for businesses especially for those looking to target this market in their marketing strategy in 2017.

Whenever a group of friends or family members arrange a get-together, the same questions arise time after time; ‘where are you?’ and ‘how long are you going to be?’ are two prime examples. Soon enough, Google Maps will allow users to show their real-time location without leaving the app. In January, we saw the redesign of Google Maps and they are constantly trying to find ways to keep users engaged and this is thought to be the latest idea along with Uber help and the tracking of nearby cars. For many years, it has also been a useful tool for those planning trips to restaurants, themes parks, and more as we can see reviews, opening times, menus, and more.

For local restaurants, these new features have been huge through the years because potential customers can quite literally view a menu from their mobile device. If they take an interest, they are one click away from seeing the restaurant’s location or opening hours. Known a micro-moment experiences, brands can now target those out-and-about looking for somewhere to eat and the opportunities are only expanding every year.

Additionally, smartphones and laptops also seem to synchronize one’s calendar with Google which means that we know when birthdays are upcoming. Once again, restaurants are shown as Google help to provide gift ideas and Google Ads are huge for this. All things considered, the site is getting smarter each and every year and this is only bringing benefits to businesses all around the country. In terms of ads, this is becoming even more important because let’s not forget that Google also has a hand in many other platforms including YouTube.

Just recently, we spoke to somebody who was on a journey and he decided to open Youtube to kill some time. As he clicked on a video, an ad for a local restaurant popped up because they had shared their location previously. Ultimately, the guy ended up stopping off at the restaurant on the way home so you can see just how powerful this tool and many others like it can be.

On the flip side, we should mention a big concern for this technology and this is the fact that some people don’t like the fact that Google knows where they are at every moment. However, the ‘opt-in’ feature of Location Sharing takes this concern away somewhat.

For businesses, this new way of targeting potential customers could well be a huge step forward. Considering a significant percentage of people decide where to eat on a whim, an ad at the perfect time could be great for restaurants. If Google is tracking the movements of somebody and they see an ad pop-up for your restaurant, the results could be fantastic and this is why an online presence will be pivotal for success this year!