5 Must-haves for restaurant web marketing

No one has to tell you that you need a web site for your restaurant. What a lot of restaurateurs don't know is how to leverage the web's long tentacles to increase traffic and boost business.

It's common knowledge that single medias won't work. Integrated marketing campaigns get more traction and increase return on your marketing investment. The good news is, integration doesn't have to mean thousands of dollars.

The following medias are a must have for marketing your restaurant online:

1. Email Marketing
Allow people to subscribe to your email list then use it religiously. Send out weekly news, specials and discounts. If you can't commit to weekly, do it every other week.

There are number of great options out there for you: Fishbowl Marketing, Campaign Monitor, and Constant Contact to name a few.

2. Google Local
List your location on Google for free. Do it immediately. It has been proven that people search for restaurants first before going to the location. Google local will connect your restaurant to a map that shows up first in results.

3. Coupon Marketing
Coupons get people in the door. Use this in your emails and other medias. Try out new sites like Blabberbug that reward folks who send coupons to their friends.

4. OpenTable
If you are sit down service, use OpenTable. They're great and have quickly become industry standard for online reservations.

5. Surveys
Get people to fill out surveys in exchange for discounts. It's a great way to get good feedback to use as intelligence for marketing and operations.

These online opportunities are low-cost and easy to implement. What's more is they get results every time. Integrating them into your other marketing efforts in increase your return exponentially.

Bon appetit!