Restaurant Marketing Archives - Restaurant Engine https://restaurantengine.com/category/restaurant-marketing-2/ Restaurant Website Templates, Restaurant Website Design, & Hosting Thu, 16 Jan 2025 01:59:26 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.1 Profitable Menu Engineering: Highlighting High-Margin Dishes https://restaurantengine.com/profitable-menu-engineering-highlighting-high-margin-dishes/ Wed, 22 Jan 2025 14:00:22 +0000 https://restaurantengine.com/?p=9787 Profitable Menu Engineering Highlighting High-Margin Dishes

Increase your profits up to 35% with a menu engineering strategy.

Menu engineering is part psychology, part analytics, and part common sense. The purpose of this marketing strategy is to increase your restaurant’s profits through the way you design your menu.

The strategy involves identifying and highlighting your most profitable dishes to encourage diners to order those instead of your other dishes. You want to draw diners’ attention to your most profitable items.

What’s more, studies show that restaurants who use menu engineering generally see up to a 35% increase in their profits.

In this article, we look at profitable menu engineering for your restaurant and how highlighting high-margin dishes can improve your bottom line.

The Psychology of Eye Movement

Just like you read a book from left to right, and you drive on the right side of the road, there are similar patterns people have when looking at a page like your menu.

If you know these patterns, you are better able to place your high-profit items in high-traffic areas on your menu. For example, you may place high-margin dishes or even specials right where your customers’ eyes will land.

  • On a one panel menu, the best place is right at the top. The worst is at the very bottom.
  • For a two panel menu, the best place is on the right hand panel at the top. The worst is on the left panel at the bottom.
  • On a three panel menu, the worst is on the left panel at the bottom, while the best is on the far right panel at the top.
  • For four or more panels, the best places are at the top of each panel, and the worst are at the bottom.

You can also use the golden triangle to decide where to place your high-margin items. This triangle says that diners first look at the center of the page and move their attention in a triangle. (tweet this) So, they look at the top center and move to the top right and then to the top left.

The Paradox of Choice

This concept is borrowed from psychology. When it comes to your menu, it means that when your customers are given too many choices, they will make poor decisions.

This means you may want to limit the number of options you offer to diners. For example, have separate menus for breakfast, lunch, and dinner so you don’t overwhelm your guests.

Then, you can take a look at each menu and pare them down to less than 10 choices. You may even find these are all high margin dishes, too.

The Menu Money-Maker

When deciding which dishes have a high margin, you need to identify them through their food costs.

To begin, start with menu costing. Make a list of all of your dishes and calculate the cost to make each dish. Next, rank them in order of popularity.

Now that you know the cost and popularity of each dish, you can decide which ones have a high margin and are worth putting in prime locations on your menu.

To help you do this, you can also categorize your dishes into the following:

  • Stars – high profit and high sales
  • Opportunities – lower profit but high sales
  • Puzzles – high profit and low sales
  • Dogs – low profit and low sales (get rid of these!)

Do your research, so you know what to keep and what to get rid of. Consider asking customers about your puzzle dishes. For the opportunities, look for ways to lower the food cost since they are popular.

menu engineering

Analyze your revised menu to see if you need to make more changes to it to improve profitability.

Set a Time Frame

Once you’ve decided to re-engineer your menu, there are a few more things to think about.

You want to set a time period to evaluate the new menu to see if it’s working. It’s always a good idea to review your menu every season or every quarter, so this may be a natural timeline for you.

It’s also important to review pricing as food costs fluctuate.

Train Your Staff

Menu engineering doesn’t stop with your new menu.

You want to train your staff about which dishes to promote. Your restaurant servers have an enormous influence on their guests.

They interact with your diners in an intimate way, and they are uniquely poised to point out the high-margin dishes on your new menu. Consider them your menu guides.

Enhance Customer Satisfaction

Profitable menu engineering is also more than highlighting your high-margin dishes. It’s knowing your customers and catering to their needs. (tweet this)

In turn, this improves their overall customer experience and brings them back many times each month.

When you analyze the popularity of your dishes, you learn what your customers prefer. If these aren’t the most profitable items, do some legwork and see how you can reduce costs so they are more profitable.

You’ll engender customer loyalty while also increasing your profits.

Final Thoughts on Profitable Menu Engineering

One online source says that many diners spend about three minutes studying a menu before they decide what to order. In that short time, they scan your menu, skim the descriptions, and check the prices.

So, with that short time in mind, you want to make sure your high-margin dishes are placed where they can easily be noticed.

Finally, menu engineering involves some creativity, psychological insight, and analytics. With the tools here, you are well-equipped to highlight your high-margin dishes and create the best dining experience for your customers.

Restaurant Web Design, Made Easy.

See what so many restaurateurs are raving about.

Is your website ready to host your online menu? At Restaurant Engine, we can create a website for you that showcases your online menu and sets it apart from the competition. Your website is the centerpiece of your online marketing, and it needs to look and perform well, too. You can count on us to create an amazing website that presents a unified brand for your restaurant and works across all digital platforms. Let us help you make the perfect site that draws customers in, improves customer engagement and your conversion rate, and enables you to grow your new business using website data!  

Are you ready to take your restaurant to the next level with a new website?

Get your free website consultation today!

Images: Amanda Vick and Nicolas Thomas on Unsplash

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2025 Digital Marketing Trends Every Restaurant Owner Needs to Know https://restaurantengine.com/2025-digital-marketing-trends-every-restaurant-owner-needs-to-know/ Wed, 08 Jan 2025 14:00:54 +0000 https://restaurantengine.com/?p=9781 2025 Digital Marketing Trends Every Restaurant Owner Needs to Know

Digital marketing is the key to your success in 2025.

Did you know that nearly 90% of people research a restaurant on their mobile phone before ever deciding to visit? This makes it vital to improve your online presence and take advantage of the latest digital marketing trends.

As the online arena continues to change and evolve, staying on top of new trends is essential. Why? This helps you attract new customers, retain current ones, and remain competitive in your local market.

In this article, we look at 2025 digital marketing trends every restaurant owner needs to know. Not only will you gain key insights, but we’ll share some strategies you can put in place immediately.

Focus on Personalization

No longer just a buzzword, “personalization” is an important strategy for engaging your customers and building a relationship with them.(tweet this)

The digital marketing trend of personalization means leveraging your customer data and using it to provide tailored messages and experiences for your customers.

For example, you can personalize your email marketing campaigns based on customer behavior. You might learn that a segment of your customer list always dines with you for dinner and orders an appetizer. Knowing this, you might send a coupon for a free or discounted appetizer.

In addition, if your customer always orders your vegetarian dishes, you can send them personalized offers related to plant-based specials. You’ll find that this tactic increases your bottom line while also enhancing your customers’ experience. Ultimately it encourages repeat visits.

Personalization also extends beyond promotions for food. It can also help you offer customized customer experiences such as preferred seating arrangements and personalized greetings. Imagine greeting one of your customers with something like this, “Hello, Mr. Smith, we know you usually order our steak, and we wanted to let you know our chef has created a steak special you might want to try tonight.”

Mr. Smith will immediately feel welcomed and valued and will tell everyone about his great experience at your restaurant.

Concentrate on Short Form Video

Do you have a video marketing strategy? If not, this is one digital marketing trend that’s absolutely vital.

Video marketing continues to gain traction, and in 2025, short-form video content is expected to dominate digital marketing strategies. Platforms like TikTok, Facebook Reels, and Instagram Reels are proof that engaging video content captures attention.

Restaurant owners should leverage short-form videos to showcase their food, highlight their staff, share cooking tips and even recipes, highlight behind-the-scenes stories, and showcase customer testimonials.

Creating visually appealing and entertaining content not only boosts brand awareness, but it also encourages shareability. This is how you organically reach a wider audience.

For example, you can use a series of quick recipe videos featuring your signature dishes or fun clips of your staff interacting with customers to create a more personal connection with potential diners.

Plus, when you integrate user-generated content, such as customers sharing their dining experiences, into your video marketing strategies, you enhance the authenticity of your restaurant and increase community engagement.

Digital Marketing Trends

Make sure you have a solid digital marketing strategy to increase your revenue.

Embrace Influencer Partnerships

As social media continues to evolve, another vital digital marketing trend involves partnering with influencers to reach new audiences in 2025.

However, the landscape of influencers is shifting towards micro and nano influencers. These are people who have smaller but highly engaged audiences. For restaurant owners, collaborating with these influencers can provide you great success and increase your trust value.

So, instead of focusing solely on influencers with massive followings, you can identify local food bloggers or social media personalities who resonate with your target demographic. (tweet this)

Think about creating partnerships with these influencers to help you promote menu items, special events, or unique offerings. You’ll find that this can drive traffic to your restaurant and increase your brand visibility.

In addition, you can engage in creative collaborations with influencers. For example, host an influencer-led tasting event at your restaurant to further enhance community engagement and create buzz around your food.

Improve (or Create) a Google Business Profile

First, if you don’t have a Google Business page, you must do this straightaway. If you already have one, you want to be strategic about improving your profile.

According to Google, people are 70% times more likely to visit a business that has a complete Business Profile.

In many instances, people may find your Google Business Profile before they land on your restaurant. For example, searches involving “best pizza near me,” “local Mediterranean food,” and more may land people on your Google page first.

If you have a well-optimized profile, you may appear right at the top of searches. So, you can see how vital your Google Profile is.

Here are a few tips for optimizing your profile:

  • Make sure your restaurant’s name, address, phone number, and website are correct. You also want them to be consistent across the internet.
  • Include local keywords in your description and services.
  • Add high quality photos regularly.
  • Respond to all reviews as they come in.
  • Keep your hours updated, especially around the holidays.

Harness Email Marketing

No, email marketing is not dead. We encourage you not to underestimate the power of email in your digital marketing strategy.

Through email, you can reach not only current customers but also new ones. Going back to what we talked about earlier, you do want to make sure to personalize your emails so they are relevant for your customers.

Leverage regular transactional emails as well as automated emails to keep your list engaged.

Skip the generic emails and stick to personalization. For example, send coupons, announcements of special events, birthday freebies, and more.

Focus on Online Reviews

Reputation management is also key in 2025. As the internet gets more crowded, people are looking for ways to differentiate one restaurant from another. Many people do this by reading the reviews.

Never mind that they started looking for Italian food – if they can’t find a restaurant with good reviews they’re moving on.

It’s important to focus on reputation management so your negative (or lack of any) reviews is never an excuse for someone to skip trying your restaurant. Focus on platforms like Google, Yelp, and social media. Respond to both positive and negative reviews to show your commitment to customer satisfaction and to foster trust.

You want to implement a structured approach for managing reviews. You can set up alerts for new reviews and designate team members to monitor and respond to them.

Additionally, encourage satisfied customers to leave reviews so you create a positive cycle of feedback that enhances your restaurant’s online presence.

Finally, showcase your positive reviews prominently on your website and social media to attract new customers.

Final Thoughts on Digital Marketing Trends

In 2025, you want to stay ahead of digital marketing trends. In fact, it’s for your success.

Embrace the tips in this article, and you’re off to a great start. You can stay ahead of the competitive landscape and capture customer attention and build strong relationships.

Loyal customers are your literal “bread and butter,” and being active and strategic with your digital marketing ensures you stay one step ahead of the competition.

Restaurant Web Design, Made Easy.

See what so many restaurateurs are raving about.

Is your website ready for your enhanced digital marketing strategy? At Restaurant Engine, we can create a website for you that enhances your overall internet marketing and sets it apart in your community. Your website is the centerpiece of your online marketing, and it needs to look and perform well, too. You can count on us to create an amazing website that presents a unified brand for your restaurant and works across all digital platforms. Let us help you make the perfect site that draws customers in, improves customer engagement and your conversion rate, and enables you to grow your new business using website data! 

Are you ready to take your restaurant to the next level with a new website?

Get your free website consultation today!

Images: Louis Hansel and Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

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Special Events & Theme Nights: 4 Ways to Generate Restaurant Buzz https://restaurantengine.com/special-events-theme-nights-4-ways-to-generate-restaurant-buzz/ Wed, 11 Dec 2024 14:00:03 +0000 https://restaurantengine.com/?p=9761 Special Events & Theme Nights 4 Ways to Generate Restaurant Buzz

Promote your special events and themed nights to both current customers and your target audience.

The restaurant space is crowded, and you want to set yourself apart from the competition. One way to do this is with special events and theme nights.

It’s so important to boost your foot traffic and get more people in your door. Not only do these special events bring in new people, but they may also help you gain back customers who haven’t dined with you in a while.

In addition, special theme nights and exciting events increase customer loyalty by creating a sense of community. Customers who attend your special events feel like they’re part of the in-crowd and are more likely to be repeat customers.

You can boost your restaurant’s profile, increase brand awareness, and generate more revenue simply by getting creative with events. (tweet this) In this article, we look at special events and theme nights and four ways to generate restaurant buzz.

#1: Host Themed Dinner Nights

These are tried-and-true ways to attract diners to your restaurant. According to payment app, Square, more than 55% of diners want new experiences at local restaurants. Special events fall into this category, and they can help set your restaurant apart from the competition.

Here are some ideas for themed dinner nights:

  • Taco Tuesday – offer tacos and margarita specials.
  • Wine and Cheese Wednesdays – this is a great time for wine tastings paired with artisanal cheeses and charcuterie boards.
  • Sushi Saturday – select several variations for customers to taste paired with special artisan beers.
  • Have era-themed events like 90’s Night, Disco Fever, or even the Roaring 20’s. Do a little research and serve food that was popular during that particular era.
  • Vegan Night – showcase the wonderful food you can prepare that’s meat and dairy-free.
  • Organic Farm to Table – this is your chance to partner with local farms and growers. This enables you to also tap into their audiences for marketing.

Do consider your audience and marketing appropriately. For example, you could market Wine and Cheese Wednesdays to local offices in your area.

Promote themed dinner nights through your email marketing, your website, social media platforms, paid ads, and traditional print methods.

Restaurant Web Design, Made Easy.

See what so many restaurateurs are raving about.

#2: Host Culinary Classes and Workshops

Many people love to learn, and hosting classes and workshops is a great way to cater to this part of the population. In addition, you may be surprised by how many people don’t know how to cook and would like to learn.

This provides you with the perfect environment to advertise your restaurant and host new and current customers.

You can host classes focused on any of the following:

  • Chef’s favorite dish
  • A special cuisine
  • Seasonal dishes
  • How-to on cooking techniques – for example, offer a class on the Sous Vide method.
  • Unique bakery techniques

Your own chef can offer these classes, while providing expert advice and personalized attention to each of your guests.

You can promote the workshops and culinary classes through local community boards, schools, online platforms, your own email list, and social media platforms. Offer a special discount for group bookings to encourage friends or families to book together. This makes for a fun, vibrant atmosphere.

Be sure to offer perks, especially if your guests paid for their class. For example, send them home with food and perhaps even a special cooking utensil or apron with your logo on it.

special events

Engaged event-goers turn into loyal restaurant customers that eat with you regularly.

#3: Host Entertainment Nights

Entertainment is a great draw for your loyal patrons as well as new ones. Incorporating live entertainment into your restaurant’s schedule can significantly enhance the overall customer experience. (tweet this)

Here are some great ideas for entertainment nights:

  • Bring in live music. You can feature local musicians or even bring in ones from outside your area. You can also have an open mic night for local musicians. This can encourage music lovers who may not have dined with you before to give your restaurant a try.
  • Host local comedians or have a stand-up comedy night. Your guests can enjoy food and have a good laugh.
  • Game night. This goes far beyond the traditional bingo nights, although, depending on your target market, they can work, too. These can be trivia games or even board games.
  • Karaoke is always fun, and your customers can take an active role after they eat their dinner.
  • Murder mystery parties are fun as well. Create a meal that works with your mystery theme, and your guests will enjoy their interactive dining experience.

When you provide entertainment, you up the ante on the value proposition at your restaurant. Guests enjoy a superb dining experience as well as some cultural enrichment.

Do consider the needs and desires of your target market when choosing the entertainment. For example, if you are a family-friendly restaurant, karaoke might be fun.

#4: Host Seasonal and Holiday Celebrations

People love a party, and they can celebrate seasonal themes and holiday celebrations with you. These are also times for your chef to get creative and cook dishes that may not be on your menu.

Here are a few ideas:

  • Have a Halloween party.
  • Host a summer barbecue.
  • Create an autumn harvest feast event.
  • Celebrate the holidays with a holiday event.
  • Host a Valentine’s Day wine pairing and dinner.

The menus for these events should be inspired by the season or the holidays. Consider partnering with other local vendors so that you can take advantage of their customer lists to market your event. You can also use all of the marketing methods mentioned earlier.

Do be sure to decorate your restaurant to reflect the season. This adds to the customer experience and can make for great photo opportunities. Provide a hashtag so customers will tag you in their posts. This gives you even more brand awareness after the event and encourages others to dine with you.

Final Thoughts on How to Generate Restaurant Buzz

You can boost your brand awareness, increase customer loyalty, foster a sense of community, and enhance the overall dining experience at your restaurant through special events and theme nights.

Get creative and plan out a calendar in advance. Advertise it and post it in as many places digitally and locally as you can to create a sense of excitement.

You want to create a unique experience for your patrons and provide them with consistent events and experiences they can’t get elsewhere.

You’ll soon notice your revenues rise and your customer base increase with a little pre-planning and ingenuity.

Is your website ready to help your restaurant succeed? Do you have a landing page set aside for special events and theme night notices? At Restaurant Engine, we can create a website for you that has the right keywords to land you at the top of search engine results pages and bring guests to your doors and your special events. Your website is the centerpiece of your online marketing, and it needs to look and perform well. You can count on us to create an amazing website that presents a unified brand for your restaurant and works across all digital platforms. Let us help you make the perfect site that draws customers in, improves customer engagement and your conversion rate, and enables you to grow your new business using website data!  

Are you ready to take your restaurant to the next level with a new website?

Get your free website consultation today!

Images: Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦 and Samantha Gades on Unsplash

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Why Behind-the-Scenes Videos Work for Diners and Pubs https://restaurantengine.com/why-behind-the-scenes-videos-work-for-diners-and-pubs/ Wed, 30 Oct 2024 13:00:32 +0000 https://restaurantengine.com/?p=9711 Why Behind-the-Scenes Videos Work for Diners and Pubs

Personalize your restaurant through video marketing that goes behind the scenes.

You know that today’s market is ultra-competitive, and the best way to succeed is to set yourself apart from the competition. This means fine-tuning your digital marketing and really harnessing the power of video on your website and social media platforms.  

To help you succeed, we look at why behind-the-scenes videos work for diners and pubs and how you can make them perform for you.

Why Do People Like to See Behind-the-Scenes?

Anything and everything is online these days. And people love to look at what other people are doing.  

You can take advantage of this by videoing what’s going on in the background at your diner or pub. It’s the perfect way to give your current and future customers a glimpse at how much care you put into your food and service.  

Show your audience your staff and their camaraderie, your food prep area, your kitchen, the hallways, preparation time, how you make a signature dish, and more.  

These types of videos have a personal touch and help customers feel more connected to your restaurant.

The goal here is to humanize your restaurant and invite people “in” before they ever walk in the door. By giving viewers a behind-the-scenes look, you also engage people and begin the relationship-building process.  (tweet this)

The Importance of Video Marketing

It’s imperative that you incorporate video marketing into your overall marketing strategy. For example, Instagram Reels have an average reach rate of 30.81%. That’s double the reach rate of other content formats.

With video marketing, you can tell an entire story through motion. You don’t always even need words to give people a peek inside. You want to bring your restaurant to life for your website and social media users and even your email marketing subscribers.  

People can engage with and share your videos with others. Videos are attention-grabbing, and they stand out in a sea of images. People scroll through so much information in one day, and your best way to stand out is through video marketing.  

Through engagement and the excitement of videos, you will not only increase your loyal following, you’ll attract new customers, too. 

Now, let’s look at a few types of behind-the-scenes content you can produce and use.  

Video Your Diner or Pub’s Kitchen

Most of the videos you see on a restaurant’s social media page are shots of food. You can really up the ante on your marketing by using video.  

Take a few dishes and walk your viewers through the whole process, from bringing the ingredients into your restaurant to the final product.  

Imagine… your chef visits the farmer’s market for fresh produce, brings it into the kitchen, and lays out all the other ingredients with it. Then, there is all the prep, from washing, drying, and cutting the items to cooking them and then plating them with all the finishing touches.  

People will love these videos. It’s interesting to see where you purchase your food and all the ingredients that go into your dishes.  

You can choose to let someone do a voice-over for this behind-the-scenes video, or you can simply use music and captions. Get creative and make something you’d like to see. That way, you know your audience will love it.

see inside your pub

Viewers are quite interested in how you make your signature drinks.

Video the Bar

For pubs and diners with bars, this is also another interesting aspect to show your website and social media visitors.

You touched on your food connoisseurs with your kitchen video, and now it’s time to cater to your drinkers. Many people are into craft liquor, and they’re interested in making their own drinks, so they’ll certainly like to watch you.  

Some ideas for videos behind the bar include: 

  • Showcasing your bartender making a particular drink.
  • Interviewing several customers at your bar about their experience.
  • Sharing specialty cocktails.
  • Highlighting instructional videos with your bartender giving step-by-step instructions.

When showing particular drinks, zoom in so you can capture the color and even the bubbles. Your customers will be racing out the door to visit your pub for your bartender’s signature drinks.  

Video Your Staff

People love watching people. Our digital age has created millions of voyeurs. So, let’s give them what they want – an insider’s look at your staff and how they go about their day.  

You are in the relationship-building business, and this is a great way to show off your team. Here are some ideas: 

  • Think back to your favorite reality television shows. They show people doing regular things. So, video your staff rolling silverware at a table together. They may be laughing and having a great time. This shows people your team loves their job, which nearly guarantees great service when customers dine with you.
  • Have one of your team members “take over” your Instagram account for the day. They record themselves going about the business of their job.
  • Highlight each team member in their own video so your customers can get to know your staff. If they are watching a video and then come into your restaurant a week later, they will recognize their server. This makes their overall customer experience personal and unique.

Through staff videos, you invite your current and future diners into your restaurant community. 

Final Thoughts on Behind-the-Scenes Videos

People love to see and hear what other people are doing. Not only does this make them feel close to total strangers, but it also provides a layer of transparency for your restaurant.

People are trusting your diner or pub with their meal and drinks. They want to know if your restaurant is trustworthy and safe to dine at.  

Through video marketing, you make a connection with your audience and show your authentic side. You show customers that you and your staff are human and care about providing great food and service. (tweet this)

This makes them more invested in your restaurant and encourages them to dine with you more often. 

Restaurant Web Design, Made Easy.

See what so many restaurateurs are raving about.

Is your website ready to help you succeed? Do you have a restaurant website that can showcase your behind-the-scenes video content? At Restaurant Engine, we can create a website for you that has the right keywords to land you at the top of search engine results pages. Your website is the centerpiece of your online marketing, and it needs to look and perform well. You can count on us to create an amazing website that presents a unified brand for your restaurant and works across all digital platforms. Let us help you make the perfect site that draws customers in, improves customer engagement and your conversion rate, and enables you to grow your new business after the grand opening! 

 Are you ready to take your restaurant to the next level with a new website?

Get your free website consultation today!

Images: kofookoo.de and Lorenzo Nafissi on Unsplash

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7 Brilliant Ideas for Restaurant Grand Opening Marketing https://restaurantengine.com/7-brilliant-ideas-for-restaurant-grand-opening-marketing/ Wed, 16 Oct 2024 13:00:23 +0000 https://restaurantengine.com/?p=9697 7 Brilliant Ideas for Restaurant Grand Opening Marketing

Create a plan and a marketing strategy for your grand opening.

Your ambitious goal of opening your own restaurant is about to come to fruition. Your menu, staff, and restaurant are ready. There’s just one last thing to do to celebrate your hard work and many hours working to launch your dream. That’s to plan and schedule your grand opening.

This article takes a look at seven brilliant ideas for restaurant grand opening marketing. You want to stand out in a crowded hospitality market and showcase your restaurant with these creative ideas.

#1: Invite Influencers

In today’s digital world, you want to take advantage of local social media influencers and food bloggers with large audiences. (tweet this) Also, consider local media as well, as they often have large followings. This is a great way to showcase your grand opening to a larger audience.

While you may have to pay these influencers or at least compensate them with free meals, you’ll find it’s well worth it to have them advocating for your restaurant.

Look for food bloggers, lifestyle bloggers, and other local personalities. Do take into consideration the theme and ambiance of your restaurant. For example, if you are a sports-themed restaurant serving burgers and pizza, look for sports influencers as well.

Work with the influencers and make a plan for the number of posts they’ll do. Arrange for them to have a sneak peek of your restaurant and your food so they can talk with authority to their audience. You can ask them to be on hand for the grand opening as well. This may get their fans out in larger numbers.

#2: Make It a Charity Event, Too

Another grand opening marketing idea is to make it a charity fundraiser for a local charity people really care about.

Not only does this show you care about the community, but it also gets others involved and encourages them to attend your event. It also cements your reputation in town as a restaurant that cares about more than just making money.

If you go this route, you might think about a silent auction where people can bid on items where the proceeds all go to the charity. Some ideas include offering a Valentine’s romantic meal for two, a holiday dinner for six, a free meal every week for a year, and more.

Do this all tastefully, and this may increase your event attendance and bring your new restaurant in front of more customers.

#3: Leak a Secret Menu

Build anticipation for your grand opening by releasing just a few items on your menu. Make it seem like it’s a secret.

People love being “in the know,” and they love having something that they think no one else does.

Include beautiful imagery and creative descriptions. Leave them wanting more by only releasing portions of your menu and encourage them to come to your grand opening to find out more.

Grand Opening Marketing

Think outside the box and get creative for your grand opening marketing.

#4: Give Something Away

Just like leaking your secret menu, giving something away is sure to get people into your restaurant for your grand opening.

This doesn’t even have to be anything about your food and drink. It can be something completely different, like a television.  

Or you can give away free food to your restaurant. You can also have several giveaways that you do every hour or twice an hour. They can be similar to the silent auction items we mentioned.  

You could also give prices to the first 100 customers to arrive at opening night. Or consider giving everyone a comeback coupon. 

Another idea is to partner with a local business and have them donate an item to your giveaway. Sell this by saying you’ll add them to all your grand opening event advertising. 

#5: Have Live Entertainment

Take the fun to another level with live entertainment. Choose a DJ, musician, or band that will be a draw for people. Live music makes your event livelier and more exciting. 

During your grand opening, you want to go above and beyond.  

You can also choose a theme for your grand opening night and have your music headliner go along with the theme. For example, if you are an upscale Italian restaurant, consider having a small or medium sized jazz group. 

#6: Have Your Grand Opening on a Holiday

People get out more during the holiday season, and it’s a great way to plan a large party and draw larger crowds.  

You can plan your grand opening party theme around the holiday. For example, you can make your party romantic for Valentine’s Day and serve a special meal and love-themed dessert.  

For Halloween you could even have a costume party, while at Christmas you can bring in lighted trees and have Santa attend. 

#7: Advertise on Social Media

Hopefully by now you have a website and several social media accounts. If not, it’s important you have both well before your grand opening.  

Once you have your plans, you can start advertising on your social media pages. Consider linking back to your website and asking people for RSVPs.  

You can also send people to your website and social accounts so they can check out your “secret” menu and find out about your big reveal.

Restaurant Web Design, Made Easy.

See what so many restaurateurs are raving about.

Final Thoughts on Your Restaurant Grand Opening Marketing

Ready to make a splash? 

Go all in with your grand opening marketing. Not only do you want to advertise on your website and social media accounts, but you want to put up a banner or a sign in front of your restaurant to draw in the crowds. r

Consider advertising on billboards, radio, and television. Take out paid ads on social media and Google. Send out invitations to local movers and shakers, and other influencers and food bloggers.  

Finally, have a trial run of your food preparation before the party so everything moves smoothly during your grand opening event. 

Is your website ready to help you succeed with your grand opening? At Restaurant Engine, we can create a website for you that has the right keywords to land you at the top of search engine results pages and bring guests to your grand opening. Your website is the centerpiece of your online marketing, and it needs to look and perform well. You can count on us to create an amazing website that presents a unified brand for your restaurant and works across all digital platforms. Let us help you make the perfect site that draws customers in, improves customer engagement and your conversion rate, and enables you to grow your new business after the grand opening!  

Are you ready to take your restaurant to the next level with a new website?

Get your free website consultation today!

Images: Luca Bravo and Jay Wennington on Unsplash

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How Bar & Grill Owners Can Find Food Bloggers & Influencers https://restaurantengine.com/how-bar-grill-owners-can-find-food-bloggers-influencers/ Wed, 02 Oct 2024 13:00:52 +0000 https://restaurantengine.com/?p=9666 How Bar & Grill Owners Can Find Food Bloggers & Influencers

Drive business to your bar and grill using social proof.

Working with food bloggers and influencers can help you increase the visibility of your bar and grill, drive new and repeat traffic, and improve your overall online presence. Adding this tactic to your marketing strategy may help you improve your overall bottom line.

In this article, we uncover how bar and grill owners can find food bloggers and influencers to set their marketing on fire. 

Make a List of Possible Candidates

The first thing you want to do is start with a thorough internet search. Make a list of potential bloggers and influencers you can work with. The best place to start is with people who already like your bar and grill.  

Here’s how to conduct your search: 

  1. Search for Instagram and Facebook hashtags. These should be hashtags that are relevant to the type of food you serve, your city, restaurants, etc. Think about tags such as foodie, food near me, best pizza in Little Rock (change food for your restaurant type), eats, best food in X (x – your town), and more. Use hashtags to find people talking about food. Then make a list of all the social media users who have a strong following as well as a history of engaging with their audiences regularly and well.
  2. Head over to YouTube and search for your city and bar and grill type. See what comes up. This may help you find YouTube influencers.
  3. Do an internet search using Google to connect with food bloggers. You want to look for bloggers and influencers living in your city who write about food or even things to do in your city.
  4. Don’t forget to look at your own social media accounts for potential influencers. You may already have a strong following of people who love your bar and grill.
  5. Look at your competitors’ social accounts. Take a look at people who have tagged them for ideas on influencers.

Know What Questions to Ask

Once you have a list of potential people, you need a list of questions for your influencer “interview.” Here are some ideas: 

  • How much do you charge? Many food bloggers and influencers will charge you. You’ll gauge this depending on how many followers they have and the quality of their content. Also, their fees need to fit into your own budget.
  • How can you engage my target audience? Influencers and bloggers with many followers have engendered a lot of trust that can be extended to the businesses they promote. (tweet this) However, you want to make sure their audience is also your audience. The potential partner needs to be able to speak to your target group and engage with them in an appropriate way. For example, if your bar and grill menu is based on seafood, you don’t want to partner with a vegan influencer.
  • Do you have any references? Find out about any of their current and past partnerships and ask if you can contact them. This is much like hiring a new employee. You also want to ask them if they have any metrics they can show you. This will tell you if they have the kind of engagement you are looking for and if they can help you drive business to your bar and grill.
  • What kind of content do you create? You want to know if they will strictly be blogging, or if they use social media platforms, YouTube, etc.

Now that you have found food bloggers and influencers, and with all of these answers in hand, you are ready to choose at least one of them to work with. Your next step is to create an agreement to begin work. 

bar and grill

Influencers are trusted marketing partners with a large group of engaged followers.

Create an Agreement

Work with your chosen partner to create an agreement that works for both of you. Things to include in the agreement include: 

  • How long you’ll work together? Set a way to end the agreement. For example, you may say either party can terminate the agreement with 30 days’ notice.
  • How often will they post?
  • What kind of content will they create? Choices may include social media image posts, stories and reels, YouTube videos, and blog posts.
  • How long will each piece of content last?
  • What days will they post? For example, they’ll do one blog post monthly and two social media posts weekly. Do set a specific number of posts depending on the content type.
  • Agree on who owns the content once it’s created.
  • How will you pay them? Will this be a paycheck only, or will they get free food?

The agreement is vital so everyone knows what’s expected at all times. 

Restaurant Web Design, Made Easy.

See what so many restaurateurs are raving about.

Final Thoughts on Influencer Marketing

You know the competition for bars and grills in your community is fierce. Everyone is vying for a spot, so you want to find ways to stand out in a crowded field.

Working with food bloggers and influencers can give you an edge. By choosing the right people, you may find that just one post brings diners to your door, giving your bar and grill credibility and social proof.

The food bloggers and influencers you choose are your “culinary” ambassadors. They take word-of-mouth marketing and turn it upside down for great success. (tweet this) Because these people already have large, engaged audiences, their followers trust what they have to say. So, when the food influencer says your bar and grill is worth trying, your future diners want to dine with you.

By increasing your brand awareness and touting your great food and service, working with influencers makes good business sense. Incorporate food bloggers and influencers into your marketing strategy, start collaborating, and watch your revenue grow.

Is your website ready to help you succeed with online influencers? At Restaurant Engine, we can create a website for you that has the right keywords to land you at the top of search engine results pages and bring guests to your website. Your website is the centerpiece of your online marketing, and it needs to look and perform well to increase your online orders and reservations. You can count on us to create a fantastic website that presents a unified brand for your restaurant and works across all digital platforms. Let us help you make the perfect site that draws customers in, improves customer engagement and your conversion rate, and enables you to grow your business!  

Are you ready to take your restaurant to the next level with a new website?

Get your free website consultation today!

Images: Michael Discenza and Denise Leisner on Unsplash

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What Cafe & Bistro Owners Need to Know About Local SEO https://restaurantengine.com/what-cafe-bistro-owners-need-to-know-about-local-seo/ Wed, 21 Aug 2024 10:00:25 +0000 https://restaurantengine.com/?p=9639 What Cafe & Bistro Owners Need to Know About Local SEO

Focus on Local SEO to drive traffic to your cafe and bistro.

As a business owner, you have most likely heard of search engine optimization (SEO), but have you heard of local SEO?

Local SEO is a strategy you can employ to help your restaurant show up in local search results. This is most important for restaurant owners because your target is people in your local geographic area.

Let’s look at what café and bistro owners need to know about local SEO. 

Leverage Your Google Business Profile

If you don’t currently have a Google business page for your restaurant, you need to do this as soon as possible as it’s vital for your local SEO. It’s key to maximizing visibility for your café or bistro. 

Having a Google Business Profile also ensures that you’ll show up on Google Maps and search results. If you have a profile, you may show up three times on search engine results pages. First, if you’re using Google Ads, your ad shows up. Next, you may show up in organic search results, and you may show up in the Google Maps section.  

Consider this the trifecta for local SEO. Google Ads dominate the top spaces, and your Google Business Profile gains local traction, while your organic search drives traffic to your website.  

Keep your profile updated and post several times a week to stay prevalent in local SEO.

Restaurant Web Design, Made Easy.

See what so many restaurateurs are raving about.

Get Listed in the Local Pack

The Google Local Pack shows up on Google search engine results pages. You’ll notice these three businesses accompanied by a map and even a photo (taken from your Google Business Profile). Usually, these are at the top or near the top of the page and relate to the search term used.

It’s a great place to be for your café or bistro when hungry customers are looking for a place to eat.

When it comes to getting listed here, you want to be aware of three things Google is looking for: 

  1. Relevance – this is how relevant your café or bistro is to what people are searching for. It’s important that you have keywords on your website that are location-specific. Also, keep your website updated with the newest hours, location, menu, etc.
  2. Distance – this is how far from your business is from where the person searching is located.
  3. Prominence – this brings your reputation into play and shows how important Google thinks you are. You want to focus on getting positive Google reviews and large numbers of them.

The Local Pack takes up a lot of real estate on search engine results pages, which is why you want to aim for these spots. It attracts foot traffic as well as guiding people to your phone, location, and menu. (tweet this)

To get into one of these spots, it’s important to create a Google Business Profile and keep it up to date, as we mentioned earlier.

In addition, you want to add local keywords to your website. Consider a keyword like “best Italian food” or “best hamburgers in Atlanta.” Try to tie what you’re known for to your location. You can use a keyword tool to help you. 

Improve Your Local Ranking Signals

To improve your local SEO and gain traction in the Local Pack, here are a few more tips to get more people in your doors and clicking through to your website. 

  • Optimize your Google Business Profile. Yes, we’ve said it, but it must be up to date with your latest menu, hours, phone number, and more. You also want to post to it like you would other social platforms. And finally, make sure it’s verified.
  • Start a review campaign. Ask your customers to give you a review. If you get a negative review, respond with empathy and kindness. Respond to every review you get.
  • Make sure your name, address, and phone number (NAP) are the same everywhere online. Check your social media platforms and other business listings to make sure your NAP matches your website and Google Business Profile.
  • Get relevant backlinks. Ask local influencers and businesses in your town to link back to you. This tells Google your restaurant matters. Think local distributors, the Chamber of Commerce, and even local events you sponsor for backlinks.
  • Use analytics to see how well you’re performing.
  • Keep your website fresh with regular new content. Leverage your blog.
local seo

Use longtail keywords to match what your customers are looking for.

Work on Your Keywords

SEO is never done, which also holds true for local SEO. You want to use keyword tools and research to ensure you have the most relevant keywords for Google searches. (tweet this)

Consider longtail keywords as well. These are phrases with three or more words. For example, this might be “Indian restaurants in Dallas.” Longtail keywords will bring you better leads for your restaurant.

 Think about what words customers might use to search for a restaurant like yours and make sure they are on your website.  

As Google crawls your website, it looks for keywords. So, you want to use your keywords not only in your body copy but in your page titles, heading tags, and meta descriptions.  

Do be careful, though, and stay away from keyword stuffing as this will hurt your search engine rankings. The keywords should naturally flow in your content.

Use Content as a Tool

Google loves fresh content, and this is a great way to enhance your local SEO. Concentrate on blogs, infographics, videos, and other downloadable content.

When coming up with topics, they should be things your website visitors would find interesting and engaging. For example, write a blog and shoot a video showing how you make certain dishes. This creates relationships and keeps people on your website and, ultimately, in your restaurant or ordering online.

Final Thoughts

With nearly half of all Google searches having local intent, it’s never been more important to focus on your SEO.

Local search plays a huge role in how new diners find your café and bistro. So, check out your Google Business Profile and make sure it’s optimized. Create a keyword strategy and a content strategy, and make a plan for getting more reviews.

With these tips, you’re on your way to improving your local SEO.

Is your website ready to help you succeed with search engine optimization? At Restaurant Engine, we can create a website for you that has the right keywords to land you at the top of search engine results pages. Your website is the centerpiece of your online marketing, and it needs to look and perform well to increase your online orders and reservations. You can count on us to create an amazing website that presents a unified brand for your restaurant and works across all digital platforms. Let us help you make the perfect site that draws customers in, improves customer engagement and your conversion rate, and enables you to grow your business!  

Are you ready to take your restaurant to the next level with a new website?

Get your free website consultation today!

Images: Louis Hansel and Mihai Moisa on Unsplash

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Does Your Restaurant Have a Loyalty Program? 6 Benefits to Consider https://restaurantengine.com/does-your-restaurant-have-a-loyalty-program-6-benefits-to-consider/ Wed, 14 Aug 2024 13:00:27 +0000 https://restaurantengine.com/?p=9634 Does Your Restaurant Have a Loyalty Program 6 Benefits to Consider

Happy loyalty program customers return to dine with you again and again.

According to one survey, you can increase your profit by 25% with just a 5% increase in customer retention. Another survey shows that 57% of consumers spend more with brands they are loyal to.

With just these two statistics in mind, you can see how important a loyalty program is to your restaurant’s overall business. With a loyalty program, you can offer your current customers incentives such as discounts and rewards as a thank you for their business.

Does your restaurant have a loyalty program?

With the right system, you can increase your business with a little bit of effort. The loyalty rewards can range from a discount after a certain dollar amount is reached or even a free meal after a certain amount of visits. The best part is that you customize a system that works for your restaurant and your customers.

What Do Your Customers Want in a Loyalty Program?

As you craft your reward program, you want to keep your customers front of mind. If you aren’t sure what would bring them back to your restaurant on a consistent basis, just ask them.

You may find they are looking for things like this in a loyalty program:

  • Discounts on meals
  • Free meals
  • Special events
  • Personalized offers based on their favorite food
  • Exclusive experiences just for rewards members

Yes, discounts and free food are at the top of the list, but your customers may want special offers that appeal just to them. Personalization is key here.

Now that we’ve looked at what your customers are looking for let’s look at the six benefits to consider.

#1: Your Restaurant Stays Top of Mind

The first benefit of a rewards program is that your customers are constantly reminded of your restaurant. You can offer a physical loyalty card, or better yet, you can launch a digital loyalty program.

You might do the online version through your point of sale system or your app. Doing this keeps you in front of your customers, reminding them of their rewards and how much they have to spend to earn another reward. The app also lives on their smartphones, so they’ll see it often on their home screen.

A physical card can work as well, and your customers might store it in their wallet. However, do note these cards can become lost, so it’s best to have a digital program.

You can also send your customers email and SMS text messages to stay in front of them and remind them to dine with you.

#2: You Increase Revenue

Another way a loyalty program benefits your restaurant is that it brings customers back on a regular basis. Why? They want to earn free food.

Your returning customers generally spend more in your restaurant, too. They like your food and are loyal to you, so they will often purchase more food, such as appetizers and desserts, in addition to their entrée.

They also spend more money because they want to earn their rewards and discounts quickly. So be sure and reward them for the extra spend.

#3: You Improve Customer Retention

It’s always easier and more cost effective to retain a current customer than it is to get a new one. Plus, it costs more to acquire new customers.

By using the strategy behind a rewards program, you encourage repeat visits to your restaurant and increase your retention rate. This in turn increases your overall sales.

The other added benefit is that your loyal (and rewarded) customers are likely to become brand ambassadors. If they tell friends, family, and co-workers about your restaurant, you just got very inexpensive marketing! If their friends visit your restaurant, all you are out is the cost of the reward.

loyalty program

Loyalty programs raise your revenue and increase your customer retention rate.

#4: Your Restaurant Stands Above the Competition

You may live in a city with a lot of restaurants. Do you struggle to differentiate yourself? You can do that through a strategic and creative loyalty program.

This is a great way to stand out in a crowded field of restaurants. For example, your customer may be looking for a place to eat and decide to dine with you to continue earning rewards. Or a new customer may sign up for your program and then come dine with you.  

Because of your loyalty program, you are basically keeping customers away from the competition. They want to build up points with you, and they don’t want to miss out, so you come out on top.

#5: You Get Trackable Data

You can use the reporting in your loyalty program to learn more about your guests. For example, you can:

  • Track the most ordered dishes.
  • Learn what time your customers visit your restaurant, including day and time.
  • See how long it takes the average customer to earn a reward.

With this data in hand, you can offer your guests more targeted promotions to further enhance customer retention.

#6: You Build Relationships

Another perk of the loyalty program is its ability to help you build relationships and increase customer engagement. (tweet this)

Loyalty programs encourage your guests to interact with you online on your website, in your app, and on your social media accounts, as well as in your restaurant.

You can even market to customers through your loyalty program, offering them discounts on brand-new dishes and showcasing special events.

In addition, you can offer rewards for customers who share photos, write reviews, and even tag you in posts. This also helps to build relationships with diners.

To Conclude

With more than 75% of consumers saying they favor brands if they have a loyalty program, it’s time to act.

If you don’t have a program, create one soon. If you do have one, perhaps it’s time to review and refine it for the best success.

Loyalty programs work. They show your diners you care about them by offering them specials and discounts. Your customers will reward you by visiting more often! (tweet this)

Finally, remember that loyalty programs are part of your extensive marketing arsenal. So, consider how you’ll use the program as a loyalty tool, and watch your sales rise.

Restaurant Web Design, Made Easy.

See what so many restaurateurs are raving about.

Is your website ready to help you succeed by hosting your loyalty program? At Restaurant Engine, we can create a website for you that provides the pivotal spot for your digital marketing. Your website is the centerpiece of your online marketing, and it needs to look and perform well to increase your online orders and reservations. You can count on us to create an amazing website that presents a unified brand for your restaurant and works across all digital platforms. Let us help you make the perfect site that draws customers in, improves customer engagement and your conversion rate, and enables you to grow your business!  

Are you ready to take your restaurant to the next level with a new website?

Get your free website consultation today!

Images: Esra Afşar and Marco de Winter on Unsplash

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User-Generated Content: 5 Tips for More Customer Reviews & Restaurant Photos https://restaurantengine.com/user-generated-content-5-tips-for-more-customer-reviews-restaurant-photos/ Wed, 24 Jul 2024 10:00:16 +0000 https://restaurantengine.com/?p=9611 User Generated Content 4 Tips for More Customer Reviews & Restaurant Photos

Make sure your food items are beautiful enough to photograph for user-generated content.

Have you ever eaten at a restaurant with a friend and posted photos of the two of you having fun on Instagram? Have you ever shared what you were eating on TikTok? Ever had a great experience at a restaurant and shared a review?

If so, you’ve participated in user-generated content. This type of content is fun for you, but it’s amazing marketing for your restaurant.

In this article, we explore user-generated content (UGC) and examine five tips for increasing customer reviews and restaurant photos. First, let’s define UGC.

What is UGC?

This is original content related to your restaurant that someone else created. These are not your employees.

UGC can come in the form of social media posts, reviews, blog posts, videos, and more.

Generally, the people who post this content are loyal to your restaurant and are your brand ambassadors. Othertimes, they are people who love to post on their social media accounts.

Why is UGC Important for Your Restaurant?

The reason that content created by your customers is important is simply because it doesn’t come from you. Using social proof, it signals to others that your restaurant is worth a visit. (tweet this)

UGC also gives your customers the opportunity to participate with your restaurant in a way that makes them feel good and important. In turn, you engender brand loyalty because your customers thrive on feeling a part of your restaurant community.

User-generated content is authentic marketing for your restaurant. It shows the experience customers have with you without embellishment from your marketing team. This makes it a great form of word-of-mouth advertising.

Now, let’s look at how to encourage UGC.

#1: Create a Photo Opportunity

If you want to engage customers while keeping a consistent style to some of your user-generated content, create a place for diners to take photos and videos. Put up a cool mural or sign with a unique and distinctive background. (tweet this)

It should match the ambiance of your restaurant and your brand. It might even be a photo of one of your menu items, and you can change out the background periodically. You can even add hashtags.

Then be sure to put some information near the photo opp area with links or QR codes to your social profiles. Include your handles and restaurant hashtags and ask people to tag your restaurant.

#2: Incentivize Customers

You can also use incentives to encourage your customers to share content online. This will get even more people talking about your website and stopping by for a meal just to get your incentives.

You can incentivize customers through your rewards program, or you can do it while customers are in your restaurant. For example, if they make a social post and show it to you, you can give them a coupon to return and dine with you.

This is a great way to generate more restaurant photos and videos while nurturing customer relationships.

Customer Reviews & Restaurant Photos

Asking for reviews isn’t difficult once your staff gets the hang of it.

#3: Host a Contest

Another way to get your customers to share photos and videos is to run a contest on social media.

Start a contest around a particular holiday or event and ask your customers to post photos of themselves enjoying your food. Offer one winner or even first, second, and third place winners a coupon off their next meal.

#4: Send a Text to Ask for a Review

To get a review, you first have to ask for it. There are many ways to ask for a review, but sending a text message is one of the best.

The average open rate for text message (SMS) marketing is 98%. This means you can count on nearly all your customers to open your text message asking for a review.

To get more reviews, send texts asking for them and watch them roll in.

You can use your POS system or CRM to automatically send texts after each customer’s visit. Communicating by text is a more friendly way to encourage this fantastic form of user-generated content. Automating the texts saves time and ensures they get to your customers at just the right time.

#5: Include a Call to Action at the Table

If it’s appropriate to your restaurant, you can add a table tent with a QR code. Your customers can click on it while they’re eating dessert or waiting for their check.

Then, while their meal and experience are fresh in their mind, they can use the link in the QR code to leave you a review.

Tip: This works well when the server points it out to customers and asks for a review. If your customers really enjoyed their time at your restaurant, they may be more inclined to leave a review while they’re sitting at their table.

Train your staff how to ask for reviews without seeming pushy. Expect a learning curve along the way, but it will be easy once they get used to it. You can also incentivize your staff. Offer them something for every review they get.

Final Thoughts on User-Generated Content

Once you have gained positive customer reviews, you want to share them on your website and social media platforms. Make sure they are everywhere your customers are.

While potential customers may find the reviews on their own on Google, Facebook, Yelp, etc., you also want to call attention to them on your website and social media accounts.

Regarding your photos and videos, ask your customers always to use your branded hashtags. This way, you can find and share the content on your restaurant’s social media platforms.

Tip: Be sure to ask your customers if you can share their content on your own pages. This will ensure your integrity.

Now that you have our five top tips, you’re ready to get more customer reviews and restaurant photos.

Restaurant Web Design, Made Easy.

See what so many restaurateurs are raving about.

Is your website ready to help you succeed by hosting your reviews and social media feeds full of user-generated content? At Restaurant Engine, we can create a website that provides the pivotal spot for your digital marketing. Your website is the centerpiece of your online marketing, and it needs to look and perform well to increase your online orders and reservations. You can count on us to create an amazing website that presents a unified brand for your restaurant and works across all digital platforms. Let us help you make the perfect site that draws customers in, improves customer engagement and your conversion rate, and enables you to grow your business! 

Are you ready to take your restaurant to the next level with a new website?

Get your free website consultation today!

Images: Taylor Kiser and Blake Wisz on Unsplash

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7 Signs Your Restaurant Menu Needs an Upgrade https://restaurantengine.com/7-signs-your-restaurant-menu-needs-an-upgrade/ https://restaurantengine.com/7-signs-your-restaurant-menu-needs-an-upgrade/#respond Wed, 10 Jul 2024 10:00:10 +0000 https://restaurantengine.com/?p=9602 7 Signs Your Restaurant Menu Needs an Upgrade

Modernize your menu to stay on top of the latest trends.

Have you had the same menu for years? It may be time to change it. As trends and tastes change and grow, some restaurant owners find that adapting their menu can boost their profits.

There are many ways to upgrade your menu. You can change the items, but you can also change the look of your menu and your descriptions. Creativity is key when making over your restaurant menu.

You’ll find many benefits to updating and upgrading your menu. In this article, we look at seven signs your restaurant menu needs an upgrade.

#1: Your Food Costs Change

Prices change from year to year and sometimes from month to month. If you’re analyzing your food costs on a regular basis, you may notice that your menu items and prices aren’t keeping up with food costs.

If this is the case, and your menu is reducing your profits, it may be time to change it.

How do you know? First, calculate the cost of each dish. Then, do a little detective work on food waste. If you’re wasting too much on a particular dish, or the cost is too high, you may want to revise your menu.

At the very least, you want to compare vendor prices and then decide on your menu.

#2: Your Menus Are Dirty

This is an easy sign it’s time to change up your menu. If your menus are dirty and you simply can’t clean them anymore, it’s time for an upgrade.

While you’re doing this, it’s a great time to conduct a menu audit and decide which items should go and whether to add new ones.

Your menus say a lot about your restaurant’s overall cleanliness. Make sure your menus reflect quality and aren’t dirty.

#3: Customers Aren’t Ordering a Menu Item

A regular menu audit is a great way to uncover your best sellers and your duds.

For example, if you decide to compare the items on your menu with how often they are ordered, you may find that you have dishes that hardly anyone ever orders. Yet, you keep the ingredients on hand, which costs you money.

If customers aren’t regularly ordering a menu item, you are losing money with this dish on your menu. It’s time to either eliminate the item, lower the price of it, or replace it with something slightly different.

#4: Your Menus are Outdated

Another sign it’s time for an upgrade occurs if your menu is outdated. This may mean the design is outdated, the dishes are outdated, or both.

You want to keep up with new trends and tastes, and as you create new dishes to cater to these trends, you need to update your menu.

It’s a good idea to refresh your dishes to keep your customers coming back and excited about your restaurant. For example, the farm-to-table movement is quite popular, so you might want to upgrade your menu to reflect the trend. (tweet this)

In addition, the design of your menu may look like it’s stuck in the 1990s. If so, it’s definitely time to upgrade it.

restaurant menu

Upgrading your menu can help you improve your profit margins.

#5: Customers’ Tastes are Changing

Palates are unique, and they change often. You want to listen to your customers and really hear what they’re saying about your dishes.

You don’t want to lose them to your competition, so really listening helps you learn what your customers are looking for. You can also do some internet research to see what’s popular and trending. Experiment with your own new dishes and get customer feedback.

While you want to stay true to your restaurant’s concept, it pays to adapt to the times so you can stay ahead of your competition. Or you can get really bold and set trends all on your own!

#6:  Menu Items Show a Loss

Grab your annual sales report from your point of sale system (POS). Take a look at the menu items that people consistently order. These are your restaurant favorites. Next, look at the menu items that generate the most revenue. They may not be the most ordered, but the price is perfect, and enough people order them that they are high revenue generators.

Third, you want to make a list of the items from most sold to least sold.

Now, you want to look at the food costs for your various dishes. Do they show a profit or a loss?

Your POS system can do the heavy lifting for you and provide the best reports to help you identify your actual costs versus revenue.

The solution is simple. If it costs more to prepare the dishes than the price you sell them for, it’s time to get rid of them.

Spend some time figuring out the profitability of each menu item so you know which to keep and which to drop.

Since you are refreshing your menu, this is the perfect time to decide whether you need to raise prices.

#7: You Can’t Maintain Your Margins

On the topic of profitability, you want to make sure you can maintain your profit margins.

The biggest reason you may have issues is due to food costs and waste.

Analyze your menu to decide if you can improve your menu margins while maintaining the quality of your food. Solutions may include researching new food vendors, reducing portion sizes, and raising menu prices.

If your margins are shrinking, your menu is the likely culprit, and it’s time for an upgrade.

Final Thoughts on Your Menu Upgrade

Now that you know the seven signs your restaurant menu needs an upgrade, you may wonder how often to do this.

Conduct an audit of your menu prices, dishes, food costs, portion sizes, and trends at least once a year. At this time, you also want to look at your overall sales so you can see what sells well. (tweet this)

Once you do this, you are ready to upgrade your menu. Consider refreshing it at least once per year. Updating your menu frequently keeps it fresh and trendy while also ensuring that your menu prices are in line with what your food actually costs you.

In addition, decide if you need to reduce the size of your overall menu. Quantity may need to give way to quality and top-producing items.

Today’s restaurants see trends that are constantly evolving. Take advantage of these trends as you update your menu, market your new menu, and watch your profits rise.

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