Keeping the seats in your Alexandria or Arlington restaurant jam-packed with patrons is as much of a full-time job as preparing the food itself. There are a wide variety of factors that can influence foot traffic, such as time of year, online reviews, and the internal ambiance.
We’re going to look at ten different things that can help drive more foot traffic into your restaurant.
Know Thine Customer
It’s much easier and more cost-effective to get a patron to return than it is to gain a new one. This is why many restaurants are paying close attention to customer data, as it can provide intelligent insights into how you can cater to their needs. Not only will customers return more often, but they will also tell their family and friends about their new favorite food spot.
Chain restaurants have in-house data scientists who crunch numbers, allowing the executives to make the right decisions that increase profitability. Hiring an expensive data scientist is out of reach for most non-chain restaurants. However, pay-as-you-go platforms, such as
Thankx.com aim to help increase profitability by looking at customer data and providing intelligent suggestions.
Proper Signage
Without a doubt, indoor and outdoor
restaurant signage is one of the most important aspects of running a successful business. Let’s start with outdoor
building signs—they’re one of the first things your patrons see when they pull up to a parking space. If the one you currently have is faded and old, people will often subconsciously think your food tastes the same.
Banners are a great way to announce a grand re-opening or other events, such as Super Bowl Sunday. Choose from a wide range of options, such as vinyl or mesh, to help prevent the breeze from fluttering it around.
Sidewalk signs are another must-have. Your employees can decorate them to promote the day’s special or let people know when happy hour begins. Professionally-designed
take out menus can also help increase sales, especially if your restaurant resides in a business district where workers are looking for fast and tasty lunch options.
Improve Your Social Media Game
If you’re not taking advantage of
social media, you’re losing out on a ton of new business. However, keep in mind that if you don’t offer any value, people will not like and subscribe.
Take a look at how
Sketch London manages their Instagram. They encourage their patrons to take Instagram and other social media-worthy pictures.
This type of publicity and exposure is called “peer review,” and it’s one of the most persuasive, effective, and elusive forms of advertising. People tend to ignore most ads, but it instills a tremendous sense of trust when a friend or acquaintance makes a recommendation.
Mobile Apps
Whether it’s a customer loyalty program or a way to make reservations, mobile apps are no longer a luxury—they’re a necessity. The biggest barrier to entry that many restaurants face when developing a mobile app is finding the right person to code it.
Where do you go? Who do you turn to? How do you know that the coder guy on Facebook can really deliver what they’re promising?
This is why many Alexandria and Arlington restaurants turn to a
professional mobile app developer. They know that they’re working with a legitimate company to design their app—versus some random person they found over the internet.
SMS and MMS Marketing
SMS and MMS Marketing have been around for a while now and have gotten refined over the years. Of course, you’ll need to get your patrons to agree to sign up for MMS or SMS marketing—and that can often be accomplished by offering a small discount in exchange for permission to send them text messages.
Many restaurants will use SMS or MMS marketing to help increase occupancy levels during times when business is slow. They will offer a discount or let people know of a particular dish that’s being served. Other establishments will use MMS or SMS messaging to inform patrons outside when their table is ready.
Every Door Direct Mail
The U.S. Post Office offers their
Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM) service. This allows businesses without a marketing list to select a geographical area on the Post Office website. The mailman will then deliver your mailers to every single residence or business within that area. This is a great way to drum up new business.
Restaurant Signage and Marketing Help in Alexandria and Arlington
As the holiday season starts to approach, more and more people will begin to eat out. Take advantage of this time of plenty with signage or marketing help from AlphaGraphics of Alexandria and Arlington.
We can help you design and create the perfect restaurant sign or marketing plan to capitalize on the upcoming shopping season.
We’ve helped countless local organizations with their signage needs over the years. If you’d like to speak to a marketing expert about your business, give us a call at (703) 549-2432 or
contact us on our website.