In today’s competitive restaurant industry, finding ways to stand out and attract a steady stream of customers is essential. Every restaurant owner has heard the stats, but it bears repeating, 60% of restaurants fail in the first year, and 80% fail within 5 years.
The businesses that survive do so because they become a staple of the local community, engage customers through social media, and keep regulars coming back. Implementing a few strategic practices can make a big difference. These five tips focus on optimizing your online presence, creating memorable experiences, and building lasting connections that help drive traffic to your restaurant or bar.
Tip 1: Optimize for Local SEO and Tap Into Paid Advertising
Optimizing your restaurant’s local SEO makes it easy for nearby customers to find you in online searches, while paid advertising can give your visibility a quick boost. By investing time in SEO and running small-budget paid campaigns on platforms like Google Search, Yelp, Social (Facebook, TikTok, Instagram) and Resy, you can increase your reach and attract local diners looking for new spots.
Action Steps:
- Complete Your Google Business Profile
- Add accurate details like your address, phone number, website, and hours of operation.
- Upload high-quality images of your restaurant’s exterior, interior, and popular dishes.
- Regularly update holiday hours and encourage customers to leave reviews.
- Optimize Your Website for Local Keywords
- Incorporate location-based keywords (e.g., “best sports bar in [City]”) into your site’s headings, meta tags, and content.
- Create dedicated landing pages for popular menu items that customers may search for (e.g., “wings and beer in [City]”).
- List Your Restaurant on Local Directories
- Ensure you’re listed on popular local directories like Yelp, Resy, and TripAdvisor with consistent information across each platform.
- Periodically check and update listings as needed to maintain accuracy.
- Run Low-Budget Paid Campaigns
- Test Google Ads to target customers searching for nearby dining options, setting a manageable budget to gauge performance.
- Use Yelp Ads to feature your restaurant in relevant local searches, and monitor its effectiveness by tracking visits and customer inquiries.
- Paid social can be one of the most affordable options for restaurants and bar owners. We recommend running low-budget test campaigns on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
- Consider Resy’s paid options if applicable, to reach potential diners seeking reservations in your area.
- Encourage Customer Reviews
- Politely ask satisfied customers to leave reviews on Google, Yelp, and other platforms. These reviews not only serve as trust signals online, but also help your restaurant’s local SEO.
- Respond to all reviews (positive and negative) to show engagement and build trust.
Tip 2: Leverage Social Media and Collaborate with Local Influencers
Social media is a powerful tool for building your restaurant’s brand presence and engaging with potential customers. By consistently sharing content and collaborating with local influencers, you can increase brand awareness, attract new diners, and establish a stronger connection with your community.
Action Steps:
- Develop a Consistent Posting Schedule
- Share posts at regular intervals, focusing on visually appealing content like dish photos, behind-the-scenes shots, and customer moments.
- Use a mix of Stories, Reels, and posts to keep your audience engaged across different formats.
- Showcase Unique Features and Events
- Post about special events, new menu items, happy hour deals, or seasonal dishes.
- Create themed days, like “Wine Wednesday” or “Taco Tuesday,” to encourage consistent engagement.
- Engage with Your Audience
- Respond to comments, DMs, and tags to show appreciation and create a sense of community.
- Run polls, Q&As, or giveaways in Stories to encourage interaction and collect feedback on menu ideas or events.
- Remain positive and grateful, even with the worst comments. It may be a tough thing to do, but the positivity will resonate with the customers you value most.
- Collaborate with Local Influencers
- Identify local influencers who align with your brand and have a relevant following.
- Offer them a complimentary dining experience in exchange for a post or story about your restaurant.
- Consider long-term partnerships with influencers who can become brand ambassadors, sharing regular updates or exclusive promotions with their followers.
- Utilize User-Generated Content (UGC)
- Encourage guests to tag your restaurant in their posts, and share their content (with permission) on your own social media accounts.
- Create a unique hashtag for your restaurant to make it easy for guests to share their experiences and help build brand visibility.
- Create and promote contests with UGC. For example: share an app, get an app. Best photo of an appetizer off of our menu gets a free app for their next visit!
Tip 3: Offer a Loyalty Program and Rewards
Loyalty programs and rewards keep customers coming back by providing them with incentives for repeat visits. Using an app like EatWatchPlay, you can offer rewards that enhance the customer experience, build loyalty, and increase brand awareness at little to no cost for your restaurant or bar.
Action Steps:
- Introduce a Simple Loyalty Program
- Use points-based rewards, where customers earn points per visit or per dollar spent, redeemable for discounts, free items, or exclusive perks.
- Clearly communicate the benefits of the program to customers through signage, menus, or staff recommendations.
- Utilize the EatWatchPlay App
- Encourage customers to use EatWatchPlay to participate in prediction contests where they can win PLAY tokens.
- Promote the fact that PLAY tokens are redeemable at your restaurant, incentivizing customers to choose your location for dining and entertainment.
- Offer Check-In Bonuses
- With EatWatchPlay, guests earn check-in bonuses simply by visiting your establishment and using the app, encouraging regular visits.
- Display check-in bonus information at entry points to encourage customers to participate.
- Promote Exclusive Rewards for Loyal Customers
- Offer loyalty members special discounts on new menu items or early access to events and limited-time deals.
- Create exclusive events or dining experiences for loyal customers, making them feel valued and more connected to your restaurant.
- Collect Customer Feedback through the Program
- Use your loyalty program to gather feedback from regular customers on new offerings or services, which helps refine the customer experience.
- Consider small incentives, like additional points, for feedback, reinforcing engagement with your loyal customers.
Engage Your Customers In-Venue and At Home
Tip 4: Host Themed Nights, Live Music, or Live Comedy
Hosting themed nights and live entertainment brings a fun, memorable experience to your restaurant or bar, encouraging both new and regular patrons to visit more often. By offering events like trivia, live music, or comedy, you create an inviting atmosphere that attracts diverse crowds and fosters customer loyalty.
Action Steps:
- Plan a Weekly Event Calendar
- Designate specific nights for themed events, such as trivia Tuesdays, karaoke Thursdays, or live comedy Fridays.
- Create a schedule that you can promote in-house and online to help customers plan their visits around events.
- Engage with Local Performers and Talent
- Partner with local musicians, comedians, or trivia hosts to provide entertainment that supports local talent and resonates with your community.
- Negotiate regular gigs with popular performers to encourage a consistent audience.
- Promote Events on Social Media and in Your Venue
- Post event details and highlights on social media, using video snippets or photos from previous nights to generate excitement.
- Use signage, table tents, or flyers in your venue to remind customers of upcoming events.
- Offer Specials and Incentives During Events
- Encourage attendance by offering food and drink specials on event nights, such as discounted cocktails during live music or free appetizers for trivia participants.
- Create a themed menu that aligns with the event (e.g., “Karaoke Night Cocktails”) for added appeal.
- Get Feedback to Improve Future Events
- After each event, gather feedback from patrons about what they enjoyed or would like to see improved, helping you tailor events to their preferences.
- Adjust the event lineup based on popularity and customer feedback to keep your offerings fresh and engaging.
Tip 5: Engage Your Customers at Home
Keeping customers engaged outside of your restaurant is key to building loyalty and driving return visits. Through targeted email campaigns, engaging apps like EatWatchPlay, and social media contests, you can stay connected with your audience, remind them of what you offer, and give them reasons to come back.
Action Steps:
- Launch an Email Marketing Campaign
- Send regular emails highlighting upcoming events, seasonal menu items, limited-time specials, or happy hour deals.
- Personalize emails when possible, addressing customers by name or including offers based on their past visits or favorite items.
- Leverage the EatWatchPlay App for Added Engagement
- Encourage customers to download and use EatWatchPlay to join in prediction contests for sports, entertainment, and more, where they can win rewards.
- Emphasize that PLAY tokens can be redeemed at your restaurant, providing a fun and interactive way for customers to engage with your brand while incentivizing return visits.
- Create Social Media Contests for User-Generated Content (UGC)
- Run social media contests encouraging customers to post photos or videos of their experience at your venue, using a unique hashtag.
- Offer prizes such as gift cards or discounts for the best submissions, fostering a sense of community and giving your brand additional exposure through shared content.
- Feature Seasonal or Holiday Specials
- Use your email and social media platforms to promote special holiday menus, seasonal cocktails, or limited-time offers that create urgency and excitement.
- Include appealing images of the featured items to entice customers and highlight the unique aspects of your seasonal offerings.
- Provide Exclusive Offers for Subscribers and App Users
- Reward email subscribers and app users with exclusive offers, like an early preview of a new menu item or a members-only discount.
- Use these exclusive perks to make your loyal customers feel valued, encouraging them to continue engaging with your brand.
Driving traffic to your restaurant or bar isn’t just about bringing customers in for a one-time visit; it’s about building a loyal community that sees your establishment as their go-to spot. By refining your local SEO, creating engaging social media content, offering a rewards program, hosting unique events, and staying connected with customers at home, you can foster long-term loyalty and create lasting impressions.
