Free And Low-Cost Ways To Promote Your Restaurant

If you own a restaurant and have a limited marketing budget, you can still spread the word about your business. There are plenty of free or low-cost marketing options available.

The section below takes a closer look at eight marketing strategies that you can use that will cost you little more than your time. When used correctly, these marketing methods can help increase your business, making them well worth your while.

1. Master Social Media to Promote your Restaurant

Social media is one of the easiest and most effective ways to market your restaurant without having to spend any money in the process.

Although there are paid advertising options available on social media, there are also plenty of ways to get the word out about your restaurant that don’t cost any money at all.

The people who find your business through social media will often visit your website, as well, to learn more about your business. There, they can view your menu or read testimonials to discover all of the great things that you have to offer.

When you become more active on social media, you can build long-term relationships with your followers, increasing the likelihood that they will continue to support your business for a long time to come.

2. Try Writing Guest Posts For Other Blogs

If you have your own website, you should already be writing posts for your own blog since a blog can be a powerful marketing tool. You can share the content that you write through your social media accounts, allowing you to drive more traffic to your website.

Above and beyond that, however, you may also want to consider guest blogging. This is a free and highly effective way to reach potential customers that you may not have been able to contact in any other way.

Guest blogging involves writing blog posts for influential websites in your industry or in your local community. Along with helping you build relationships with these businesses and individuals, it also gives you an opportunity to introduce your restaurant to their readers.

The owner of the site where your post is published will usually help you promote it, increasing its reach even further.

3. Put On A Webinar

Webinars not only allow you to connect with your current audience but can also help you reach new people.

Try to come up with compelling content for your webinar. For instance, you could create a webinar based around a cooking theme. As you prepare a meal, allow the people who are viewing to comment or ask questions to make the experience more interactive.

If you go this route, make sure to plan ahead. Sit down with your chef or other people who work for your business to talk to them about the types of webinars that they would be comfortable hosting. Once you decide on a theme, start getting the word out through your social media accounts, your email marketing list, and your website.

4. Hold A Contest

Contests are an excellent way to encourage customer engagement. Again, you can use social media and email marketing to promote the contest. You can also advertise it in your restaurant.

Although there are some small expenses associated with this option, they are relatively low when you consider the benefit that it can provide for your business.

Be creative with your contest. For instance, if you have a new menu item, you could have people submit ideas for what to call it, granting a prize to the best name. You can also ask people to photograph their meals at your restaurant and post the pictures with a special hashtag, giving a prize to the best photo.

When you hand out the prizes, make sure to record video footage so that you can use that footage as a marketing tool.

5. Leave Comments On Other Websites And Blogs

This is another marketing method that is totally free. A couple of times each week, visit other blogs in your industry and leave thoughtful, informative comments.

Make sure that the blogs are related to your business. For instance, if all of the produce that you use in your restaurant is sustainably sourced, you can visit the sites of some of your suppliers and leave comments on their blogs.

As people read through the comment sections on these blogs, they will notice your posts. In some cases, you may even be able to leave a link to your restaurant along with your comment, helping to drive traffic to your website and boosting your site’s standing in the search engines.

6. Be On The Lookout For Community Networking Options

Restaurants serve the people who live in the community where they are located. Because of that, you should try to keep your eyes open for opportunities to network with leaders in your community.

For instance, you could try to find business groups in your area where you could meet and connect with other business owners in your city or town. The connections that you build through these groups may result in unique advertising opportunities.

Another option is to set up a booth at a nonprofit event or festival that is being held in your area. At the event, you can reach out to other business owners to build connections.

If you haven’t already come up with an elevator pitch for your business, you should do it before participating in these types of events. In essence, all that you have to do is come up with a brief summary of what your business has to offer. The total pitch should take less than one or two minutes to deliver.

If you want some more help or ideas ClickFirst’s website has some more great ones for you to read.