Applying Text Messages to a Restaurant’s current marketing plan can go beyond the simple mobile coupon. Text messaging is the most common form of communication, people of all ages are familiar with it – and every phone, even the simple ones, are capable of sending and receiving a text message. Text messages are personal; most people reserve this technology to connect with their friends and family. Businesses have started to take notice of this, and are realizing the potential of connecting with customers this way also. There are strict rules about text message marketing, for example a person must willingly provide a business with their cell phone number in order to receive promotions and information via text. It is illegal for a business to purchase cell numbers for marketing purposes. This is a good thing, as text is virtually spammed free – and consumers appreciate being marketed to on their own terms.
For a Restaurant, Text Messages are particularly effective. A restaurant is a social environment - therefore it makes sense for them to approach their marketing tactics from a social point of view. Customers love to be rewarded for their patronage, and this is what makes text message campaigns stand out over other advertising methods. Obviously this is the initial direction a restaurant should likely take – offering diners a discount or a promotion. Establishing brand recognition and encouraging customer interaction is a step toward going a little deeper into the marketing technology. Restaurants can approach customers in an indirect way, perhaps to offer a little bit of information or advice. Here are a few examples of how this can work.
Share a recipe: Perhaps your restaurant is known for a particular dish, or a signature sauce. Make customers feel like they are “in” on a secret, let them know about certain unique ingredients or methods of cooking.
Provide resources: Maybe recommend some reading material, or neat websites related to the cuisine your restaurant serves. A restaurant known for vegetarian dishes may direct customers to a vegetarian cooking blog.
Alert guests about restaurant updates: Perhaps there has been a change to the menu, or a renovation – let your customers know about it. Keeping them in the loop about the happenings within the restaurant will make them feel like they are a part of your family.
Introduce your staff: Let your guests know about the people who work in your restaurant - servers to kitchen staff. Provide a little background information about them. This lets your guests feel like they know them and it also gives your staff a sense of pride to be working with you.
Run a survey: Ask your customers which dishes they enjoy the most, or which cocktail stands out above others. This is constructive information, which can be used to make tweaks or changes later on.
For a Restaurant, Text Messages are particularly effective. A restaurant is a social environment - therefore it makes sense for them to approach their marketing tactics from a social point of view. Customers love to be rewarded for their patronage, and this is what makes text message campaigns stand out over other advertising methods. Obviously this is the initial direction a restaurant should likely take – offering diners a discount or a promotion. Establishing brand recognition and encouraging customer interaction is a step toward going a little deeper into the marketing technology. Restaurants can approach customers in an indirect way, perhaps to offer a little bit of information or advice. Here are a few examples of how this can work.
Share a recipe: Perhaps your restaurant is known for a particular dish, or a signature sauce. Make customers feel like they are “in” on a secret, let them know about certain unique ingredients or methods of cooking.
Provide resources: Maybe recommend some reading material, or neat websites related to the cuisine your restaurant serves. A restaurant known for vegetarian dishes may direct customers to a vegetarian cooking blog.
Alert guests about restaurant updates: Perhaps there has been a change to the menu, or a renovation – let your customers know about it. Keeping them in the loop about the happenings within the restaurant will make them feel like they are a part of your family.
Introduce your staff: Let your guests know about the people who work in your restaurant - servers to kitchen staff. Provide a little background information about them. This lets your guests feel like they know them and it also gives your staff a sense of pride to be working with you.
Run a survey: Ask your customers which dishes they enjoy the most, or which cocktail stands out above others. This is constructive information, which can be used to make tweaks or changes later on.
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