In our last blog, we reminded you of the fact that there is plenty of summer left to go. As a result, you still have time to promote your restaurant in order to heat up its sales this season. Among the tips we suggested were launching temperature promotions, appealing to honeymooners and starting up a food truck for your restaurant.
Naturally, there are many other marketing strategies you can adopt to boost sales in your restaurant this summer. Here are four more sizzling summertime marketing strategies for your restaurant:
1. Promote your patio.
Who doesn’t love the warmth and sunshine that comes with summertime? This is the time of year when many of your restaurant’s visitors don’t necessarily want to be cooped up indoors. This is especially true as we continue to get through the COVID-19 pandemic. Be sure to promote your patio. Advertise it as both a fun and exciting place to eat as well as a safe option for gathering with friends.
“Have outdoor seating?” asks guest internet service provider, NConnections, “Great! People like to be outside during the summer. Bring in some outdoor entertainment and get the word out that you’re holding an event. Hire a band, hold a fundraiser, or even host a cooking class with one of your chefs.”
2. Partner up with a local business.
The “scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours” routine has long worked for businesses from all industries. Partnering up with a non-competitor is great way to grow the reach of your restaurant. Consider swapping online links and/or run a promotion that enables visitors of either business to receive discounts from its partner. As Renzi Food Service points out, you likely have dozens of small businesses located near your restaurant and have more in common with them than you might think.
“Summer brings the perfect opportunity to work together with other local businesses, as tourists and residents alike gravitate towards popular shops, attractions, hotel pools and lounges, etc., to escape the sweltering temperatures at home,” says their website, “By offering discounts, referrals, and other incentives to visit nearby businesses (and vice versa), you cross-pollinate markets and create instant opportunities for all parties involved.”
3. Appeal to vacationers.
You may be surprised at just how many non-locals are currently in your town. With lockdowns disappearing, many people are looking to explore the country like never before. Advertise to tourists by letting them know your restaurant is a must-visit destination. NConnections reminds us that people take the longest vacations during the summer months.
“Is your restaurant in a popular tourist destination?” ponders their website, “Be sure to ramp up your tourist marketing during the summer months…Partner with hotel concierge and promote your restaurant at places tourists tend to frequent such as bus stops, attractions, and airports.”
4. Create an app for your restaurant.
Unity Payments can help you set up both a website (if you don’t already have one) and an app that your customers can use to order food directly from your kitchen. Contact us to quickly set up your own online ordering system for your restaurant today! Please don’t hesitate to call us at 1-800-661-3761 or email us at info@unitypayments.ca.
