SMS Marketing for Restaurants

Using SMS marketing offers significant benefits to both independent and chained restaurants. It provides you with a platform to generate new customers whilst also retaining existing customers through direct communication. This is extremely important as the power of technology means that consumers now have a wide range of tools to help them make decisions on where to eat. Instead of allowing potential customers to search competitors online, using SMS marketing gives you a head start and puts your restaurant into the thoughts of customers straight away. There are multiple ways in which you can utilise SMS marketing, some of which are mentioned below:

Confirm Reservations

Using SMS marketing allows you to send confirmation text messages to your customers after they have made a reservation. This offers benefits to both your restaurant and the customer. Firstly, the customer will be ensured that their booking has been confirmed. The text message can also be used as a reminder to the customer that they have an upcoming reservation, reducing the likelihood that they no-show due to forgetting. Alongside this, not only will you be providing high-quality service, but you can give customers the option to cancel by replying to the text. This gives customers an alternative to calling you directly and will also help in minimising no-shows.

Send Promotions

Another reason why SMS marketing is a great platform is that it allows you to send promotions and discounts directly to your customers. This can have a much better impact than putting the offer on your website or social media as it means that your customers will be able to access your message very quickly with just a few taps of their phone. SMS marketing can also be personalised, so you can direct your message to each individual customer rather than having a generic offer. A good way to incorporate promotions and discounts via SMS is by sending out campaigns during slow periods, such as January, to encourage customers to visit your restaurant.

Customer Feedback

SMS marketing can also be used to collect customer feedback. You can send a text message to people who have recently dined at your restaurant asking for their opinion on the food, service and atmosphere. This is a great feature of SMS marketing as it means that you can collect customer results and improve your service based upon the feedback. Using SMS marketing to collect this data ensures that you reach as many customers as possible, increasing the likelihood of responses. Furthermore, you may want to include a prize draw or discount, which can be a great incentive for your customers to take part.

Seasonal Texts

You can also use SMS marketing to promote your restaurant seasonally. This is a great way of staying in contact with your customers and reminding them of the services that you offer. For example, you could send a text campaign to customers right before summer or during the run-up to Christmas. Additionally, if you have any seasonal specials such as a summer BBQ’s or mulled wine during the winter then you can also mention these in the campaign.

Promote menu

Another example of how SMS can be used is by promoting your new menu or dishes to customers. This ensures that your new items get as much exposure as possible. You can also attach a document to your text message which includes your new menu in full or an image of a new item. Another option could be to include a direct link to your website booking page, which allows you to track the performance of the campaign.