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16 Ways to Attract More Customers to Your Restaurant Business

16 Ways to Attract More Customers to Your Restaurant Business

16 Ways to Attract More Customers to Your Restaurant Business

Attracting more customers to your restaurant can be a complex task. To help you navigate this, we’ve gathered 16 expert tips from CEOs, Community Managers, and other industry leaders. From creating the perfect dining experience to implementing an online reservation system, discover the strategies these professionals recommend for drawing in more patrons.

  • Create the Perfect Dining Experience
  • Combine Consistency and Customer Service
  • Engage Customers Through Social Media
  • Prioritize Dependable Customer Engagement
  • Partner with Food Delivery Platforms
  • Optimize Local SEO Performance
  • Provide Free WiFi to Customers
  • Offer Discounts During Less Busy Times
  • Promote Appealing Specials
  • Run a Customer Loyalty Program
  • Attract Guests with Live Music
  • Generate Buzz with Unique Dishes
  • Leverage Online Reviews and Testimonials
  • Add Your Location as a PokéStop
  • Craft a Trendy and Shareable Experience
  • Implement an Online Reservation System

Create the Perfect Dining Experience

One tip to attract more customers to your restaurant business is to give them a perfect dining experience. Other than serving delicious food, you should try to provide exceptional customer service, a welcoming atmosphere, and attention to detail. Pay attention to the environment and customer service. Train your staff to provide the best service and friendly behavior that makes your customers happy.

Moreover, consider incorporating unique elements such as themed nights, live music, or interactive dining experiences to differentiate your restaurant. Furthermore, engage with your customers through social media, showcasing enticing food photos, promotions, and special events. Encourage customer reviews and respond to feedback to show that you value their opinions.

Rob SmithRob Smith
Head Chef, Your Private Chef


Combine Consistency and Customer Service

Providing a high-quality dining experience is one way to attract and retain customers at your restaurant. This includes everything from ambiance to attention to detail. It goes beyond simply offering excellent cuisine.

Here’s why it’s important and how to enhance the dining experience to attract more customers.

  • Consistency in food quality. Ensure that all items on your menu are consistently produced to the highest standards, using fresh ingredients and the correct cooking methods. Consistency also fosters customer loyalty and trust.
  • Outstanding customer service. Excellent customer service is essential for a top-notch dining experience. Develop your staff’s knowledge, friendliness, and responsiveness to customer needs. Ensure they can offer advice, accommodate unique needs, and handle problems competently.

Remember, a quality dining experience is an ongoing process that requires attention to detail, consistency, and a genuine desire to exceed customer expectations.

Peter BrylaPeter Bryla
Community Manager, ResumeLab


Engage Customers Through Social Media

One valuable tip to attract more customers to your restaurant business is to create an engaging experience through social media. Showcase mouthwatering food photos, behind-the-scenes glimpses, and engaging content that reflects the ambiance and personality of your restaurant. Be consistent in posting high-quality images and videos that entice customers to visit your restaurant!

Diane HowardDiane Howard
RN and Founder, Esthetic Finesse


Prioritize Dependable Customer Engagement

Stay in touch with your customers. With quality customer service, your restaurant will attract more customers. This can be through positive online reviews or by word of mouth.

Let your customers know that they can depend on you to always be available, no matter which platform they use to reach you, and they will become loyal customers. Getting to know them enhances their experience with your business and is a profitable method of engagement.

Engage with your customers on your social media platforms, communicate through emails, and via phone. You can also add a chat feature to your website, showing more availability and flexibility.

Andrew ChenAndrew Chen
Chief Product Officer, Videeo


Partner with Food Delivery Platforms

By partnering with popular platforms like Uber Eats, DoorDash, or Grubhub, you gain access to a large customer base that actively seeks out food delivery options. These platforms provide convenience and ease of ordering for customers, making it more likely for them to choose your restaurant when browsing available options.

The partnership also increases your visibility to a wider audience, as these online food delivery services often promote featured restaurants and highlight popular dishes. Additionally, partnering with delivery platforms allows you to tap into the growing trend of online food delivery, especially in today’s fast-paced world where many customers prefer the convenience of having meals delivered to their doorstep.

Embracing these online food delivery services can expand your customer reach, generate additional revenue streams, and position your restaurant for success in the digital era.

Bill LyonsBill Lyons
CEO, Griffin Funding


Optimize Local SEO Performance

Optimize your local SEO performance to attract more foot traffic and expand your customer base. Many small businesses don’t have the knowledge or infrastructure to optimize their visibility on search engines; however, it only takes some basic keystrokes and information to get started—and it can greatly benefit your business.

For one, ensure you have a Google My Business account set up for your business. This is how you can inform customers about your operation and attract mobile browsers in the area. Keep all entered information current, including your address, phone, and business name.

Use customer reviews and ratings to give locals a reason to try your business, as they will be looking for them either way. When more than half of mobile shoppers are looking for companies online, there is a real benefit to making yourself easy to find, especially for brick-and-mortar stores.

Ubaldo PerezUbaldo Perez
Founder and CEO, Hush


Provide Free WiFi to Customers

Offering free WiFi can attract more customers to your restaurant business. This irresistible perk is a powerful magnet for individuals seeking a seamless online connection while enjoying their meal.

By providing complimentary WiFi access, you demonstrate a commitment to meeting your patrons’ technological needs and ensuring their utmost satisfaction. This enticing feature enhances the overall dining experience and encourages customers to extend their stay, presenting an opportunity for increased orders and the potential for future visits.

Embracing the digital age and catering to the modern consumer’s connectivity needs are key strategies to stay ahead in the competitive restaurant landscape.

Ariel WestphalAriel Westphal
Marketing Director, Net Pay Advance


Offer Discounts During Less Busy Times

Especially when prices are rising quickly for a variety of consumer goods, it’s nice to frequent restaurants with specials available. Obviously, you don’t want to have a special for Friday or Saturday night, when you’re likely to fill the space. But a daily lunch special, Sunday, or Monday evenings are good times to attract more customers like myself.

Trevor EwenTrevor Ewen
COO, QBench


Promote Appealing Specials

One tip to attract customers to your restaurant business is offering unique and appealing specials or promotions. Create enticing deals that set your establishment apart from competitors and generate excitement among potential customers.

This could include limited-time menu items, discounted meal bundles, happy hour specials, or themed events. Promote these offerings through various channels, such as social media, local advertising, and partnerships with local influencers or food bloggers.

By providing exclusive and compelling deals, you can lure potential customers and encourage them to choose your restaurant over others.

Lyle SolomonLyle Solomon
Principal Attorney, Oak View Law Group


Run a Customer Loyalty Program

A loyalty program is a great way to keep customers coming back for more. There are many different loyalty programs that you can offer, such as a punch card, a points system, or a free meal after X number of visits.

Here are some of the benefits of offering a loyalty program:

  • Increased customer retention: Studies have shown that customers who participate in loyalty programs are more likely to return to your restaurant.
  • Increased sales: Customers who participate in loyalty programs are also more likely to spend more money when they visit your restaurant.
  • Increased brand awareness: Loyalty programs can help to increase brand awareness by putting your restaurant in front of customers on a regular basis.

If you are looking for a way to attract more customers to your restaurant business, offering a loyalty program is a great option.

Brenton ThomasBrenton Thomas
CEO, Twibi


Attract Guests with Live Music

Live music is typical for London’s eateries and bars to draw guests. It might be a regular lineup of musical ensembles or an in-house band of musicians. If you’re lucky, you can secure well-known musicians to play at your establishment.

Such events attract a sizable crowd and introduce new clients to your business. However, this strategy may not work for every restaurant since you require enough room for the musical ensemble to perform.

Axel HernborgAxel Hernborg
Founder and CEO, Tripplo


Generate Buzz with Unique Dishes

This naturally is most appropriate for more casual restaurants, but including some sort of massive dish or something outrageously spicy is a great way to get more customers in as you are far, far more likely to be featured on social media.

Take a look at TikTok sometime, and I guarantee you will see someone dying internally from having eaten an overly spicy chicken wing or failing a challenge to eat a 72-ounce steak—and challenge others to succeed where they failed.

Dragos BadeaDragos Badea
CEO, Yarooms


Leverage Online Reviews and Testimonials

One effective tip is to leverage the power of online reviews and customer testimonials. Potential customers today rely heavily on online reviews and recommendations when making dining decisions. Restaurant businesses can significantly attract more customers by actively encouraging satisfied customers to leave positive reviews and testimonials on platforms such as Google, Yelp, or TripAdvisor.

To implement this strategy, providing exceptional customer experiences that exceed expectations is important. Delivering delicious food, attentive service, and a welcoming atmosphere creates a positive impression on guests, increasing the likelihood of them leaving glowing reviews. Additionally, actively engaging with customers on social media platforms and responding to positive and negative reviews demonstrates a commitment to customer satisfaction and fosters a positive online reputation.

You can promote positive reviews and testimonials on social media channels to attract more customers.

Shane McEvoyShane McEvoy
MD, Flycast Media


Add Your Location as a PokéStop

The craze for Pokémon Go has died down somewhat since the peak in 2016, but the player base is still alive and well and on the hunt for local landmarks that are either Pokéstops or Gyms to spin.

There’s been quite a lot of research on this in the last few years by the parent company of Pokémon Go, and there is most definitely an uptick in foot traffic for local institutions that participate versus ones that do not. You can even go a step further and organize promotions around Pokémon Go community days when most players are most active.

Kate KandeferKate Kandefer
CEO, SEOwind


Craft a Trendy and Shareable Experience

More than ever before, customers aren’t just seeking food when they go out to eat—they’re seeking experiences. They want their meal to be a memorable event, a story they can share on social media, and a unique experience they can’t get at home.

As a restaurant, you can capitalize on this trend by crafting unique dining experiences that go beyond the plate. This could mean themed nights, interactive food presentations, collaborations with local artists or musicians, farm-to-table experiences, cooking classes, or wine-tasting events. The possibilities are limited only by your imagination!

However, remember that your unique experience should align with your brand’s identity. If you’re a fine dining restaurant, a loud and boisterous karaoke night might not resonate with your clientele. Instead, an exclusive chef’s tasting menu with wine pairings might be a better fit.

John CammidgeJohn Cammidge
PPC Trainer, Jcammidge


Implement an Online Reservation System

Enable online reservations. It will make the booking process quick and hassle-free. These days, guests often expect a seamless experience from the beginning to the end of their reservation. They appreciate the freedom to book a table whenever they wish without calling the restaurant. The online reservation system also eliminates possible wait times, which is very convenient.

Additionally, many online reservation platforms have extensive networks of users actively searching for places to dine at. By listing your restaurant there, you increase your visibility and chances of attracting potential guests.

Agata SzczepanekAgata Szczepanek
Community Manager,  MyPerfectResume


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