Using awards to fill seats

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Permalink Reply by Hilary Murdock on October 13, 2008 at 7:32pm

How about something along the lines of:
"Thank you for voting us Best Beer House, come celebrate and enjoy $1 pints from 5-7pm" or for something casual dining food related, invite local media and have an eating contest. There is a great chili dog place in Michigan that puts anyone's name on a plaque on the wall if you eat a certain number within a certain time frame. Or just discount whatever was voted "Best" for a week - Minneapolis' Best Burger Week. Even better, partner with a local charity and donate a portion of the proceeds. The charity will promote through their own database.

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Permalink Reply by Mike Keegan on October 16, 2008 at 12:35pm

Good suggestions. Thanks Hilary!

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Permalink Reply by ER on October 16, 2008 at 4:26pm

A great way for you to get new business and promote your restaurant and awards received is through Direct Mail. You can specifically target a certain demographics that work best for your restaurant within a 2 mile radius for cost effectiveness. You can select, age group, marital status and even income requirements. I would look at your regular customers for reference. Should you decide to do this, make sure that you require them bring the mail piece into your restaurant so that you can track the success. For example; bring coupon to receive buy one get one free of best burger in town. I would not advertise the alcohol because there maybe legal implications.

Email marketing in the other hand is a great way to communicate with your current customers to keep them coming back (increase frequency). Remember the 80/20 rule, 80% of your revenue comes from 20% of your loyal customers. You just have to have a strong offer in your email. Keep in mind that people are looking for deals and offers to save a dollar because of our current economic state. Your customers will welcome your emails as long as it is beneficial for them. Newsletter are probably not a great way to promote products or offers because you have about 2-3 second reader attention span. Your email has to be quick, easy to read, beneficial and deliver a call to action. Ultimately, get your customers back into the seats. =)

I hope this helps.

Best of luck,
ER

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