According to Fortune Business Insights, the global foodservice market was valued at over $2,000 billion in 2021. This is a market that hardly sees loss as long as you do things right. One of those things is ensuring an effective marketing campaign, especially during the launch of your restaurant.
NBC News reported that when YouTuber David Dobrik’s restaurant, Doughbrik’s, opened for business, it drew in a huge crowd. Almost the entirety of this crowd was there because of the YouTuber’s popularity and the restaurant’s marketing. Given that Dobrik already had a huge social media following, it was easier for him to market his restaurant.
Since most of us are not popular YouTubers or influencers, we have to take a rather traditional approach when it comes to branding. That being said, here are a few tips on how you can set up an effective marketing campaign for a new restaurant.
#1 Start by Teasing People Through Social Media Posts
When you’re just starting out, the best way to get people excited about your new restaurant is to tease them with a few hints here and there.
You should start by posting a few social media posts that hint at what type of food your restaurant will serve and where it’s located. This will get people talking, which is the whole point of this exercise. You want people talking about your restaurant without having too much information yet.
This can help you build a loyal follower base that will eagerly await the opening of your restaurant and will help spread the word about it when it does open.
#2 Put up Ads on Billboards and Outdoor Signage
One of the most effective ways to market your new restaurant is by using outdoor signage. Billboards, signs on buses and trains, and other outdoor ads can be very effective in reaching a wide audience. Depending on the size of your budget, you may want to consider hiring an advertising agency that specializes in this type of marketing.
Billboards and other types of outdoor media can be expensive, but they’re also highly effective. If you have a limited advertising budget, use this type of marketing in conjunction with other strategies like online ads or social media posts.
Make sure the outdoor signage you use uses vinyl supplied by Oracal. They supply high-quality vinyl made using solvent-based adhesive, which ensures durability and color vibrancy. Buying from a vinyl wholesale is the best option here. It‘ll help you reduce costs while helping you purchase enough to cover a lot of ground when it comes to making outdoor signage.
#3 Get Influencers and Food Vloggers Involved in the Process
If you want to get the word out about your new restaurant, you need to make sure that you’ve got influencers involved in the process.
Influencers have a huge influence on their followers’ purchasing decisions, and their recommendations can be a huge boon for a new business. If you can get influential food vloggers to try out your restaurant or write about it, it will help bring in more customers than any other type of advertising.
You don’t need to spend thousands on this campaign. Just ask if they’d like to come by with their cameras and try some of your food. Most of them will be happy to do it.
#4 Offer Discounts and Offers During the Early Stages
Offering discounts and special offers during the early stages of your restaurant’s marketing campaign can be a great way to attract customers, especially if you’re targeting a specific demographic. For example, if you’re opening a new restaurant in a college town, offering discounts to students will be a hit.
You can also try offering discounts on certain days of the week or at certain times of the day. For example, if you’re opening an ice cream shop and want to attract parents with kids who are out of school for summer vacation, offering free cones on Monday mornings might be your ticket.
#5 Share Behind-the-Scenes Visuals for Your Audience on Social Media
Social media is a powerful tool for reaching customers and creating buzz around your brand, but it also requires a lot of work.
Behind-the-scenes visuals are an effective way to share the story of your business with your audience on social media.
To set up an effective marketing campaign for a new restaurant, include behind-the-scenes visuals of your team and photos of the space and its décor. Your audience will appreciate getting a closer look at the process of launching a new establishment, and they’ll be more likely to trust your brand if they see how hard you’re working to create something special.
This will help build a sense of community among your customers and generate excitement about your new restaurant.
CNBC reported that due to COVID, the restaurant industry took a huge hit. More than two million jobs were lost, and it was one of the worst times for restaurants to operate in. Now, things are much better; in fact, they are almost normal. If you’re planning to open a restaurant, now is the time. Just make sure you get the marketing right and keep the tips we’ve discussed above in mind while doing so.
