Top 12 Restaurant Marketing Tips to Attract and Retain Customers

Are you struggling to figure out how to attract more customers to your restaurant and keep them coming back for more? It's a common dilemma, and at TheFork, we hear you. That's why we're sharing 12 essential restaurant marketing tips that will help your dining establishment not only fill your tables quickly, but also build a loyal, long-term customer base. 
 

Top Restaurant Marketing Tips to Attract More Customers  

1. Optimise online booking with TheFork Widget 

One of the most impactful restaurant marketing tips for restaurants is to streamline the booking process. Make it easy for potential customers to reserve a table by integrating TheFork booking widget on your website and other online platforms such as Facebook and Instagram.  

This will ensure your guests’ satisfaction and reduce barriers to the dining experience you offer.   

2. Forge local business collaborations 

Local partnerships can powerfully boost your restaurant’s traffic. Team up with nearby small businesses, such as farms, social enterprises, producers, and shops.  

By partnering with local business owners, you will prove to potential customers that your restaurant has a stake in community events and growth. As a result, your reach and engagement will expand, attracting a diverse target audience. 

3. Leverage TheFork for Promotions 

TheFork offers a fantastic platform to run special offers when you need an extra influx of guests. Whether it's a seasonal menu, a holiday special, or discounted offerings at specific dates and times, promotions pique people’s curiosity, making them more likely to choose your restaurant for their next meal out.  

TheFork Manager’s comprehensive dashboard helps you track the impact of your special offer, meaning you can monitor how your marketing strategies have worked to attract more customers to your restaurant.  

4. Keep your menu fresh and exciting 

Offering the same dishes repeatedly can become monotonous—your kitchen should be a fresh canvas for experimentation every time a customer returns! So, the question is how to attract customers and keep them coming back for more?  

By refreshing your menu on a regular basis and introducing new flavours, seasonal ingredients and creative dishes, your kitchen will never disappoint. Once your new menu is ready, don't forget to announce it to your loyal patrons through email and social media. 

5. Share glowing reviews on social media 

Positive online reviews are the gold standard for any dining establishment. Instead of just saying your food is great, let real guests do the talking.  

Share rave reviews left by diners on platforms like TheFork to your social media channels. Highlight those glowing ratings in your Instagram stories to boost credibility and showcase the exceptional experiences of satisfied customers. 

6. Run engaging contests 

People love winning prizes! Regularly organise contests on your social media channels where customers can win exciting rewards, such as a romantic dinner for two.  

The more imaginative the contest, the greater the attention it will garner and the more potential guests you can entice. This, in turn, will encourage participants to follow your restaurant, tag friends, and actively engage with your brand.  

This marketing strategy capitalises on the power of word-of-mouth, getting participants and winners talking about your contest and their social media interactions. 
 

7. Collaborate with local influencers 

Influencers can significantly impact your restaurant's visibility. Invite local food and lifestyle influencers to experience your restaurant and share their honest reviews with their followers.  

Choosing influencers who align with your brand values will help attract more customers. The positive reviews of brand-appropriate influencers will count the most, as they can boost your social currency, making a visit to your restaurant an aspirational must-try for the clients you most hope to entice. 

8. Host memorable theme nights 

Add character to your restaurant by regularly organising special theme nights. Consider introducing evenings with live music, wine pairings, or highlighting certain cuisines. Unique dining experiences not only generate buzz on the night but also create a sense of anticipation preceding the events, effectively attracting more customers while also giving them a compelling reason to return. 

9. Encourage word-of-mouth promotion 

If you’re wondering how to attract new customers for your restaurant business, word-of-mouth is always one of the most powerful marketing tools in your arsenal. Encourage satisfied customers to spread the word by offering them a business card that doubles as a voucher for a complimentary drink to share with friends. Guests who book through TheFork can also leave their reviews on the app and website. 

10. Elevate your chef's profile 

Even your chef can help your marketing campaign by becoming the face of your restaurant. To bring your kitchen maestro into the spotlight, try featuring them more prominently on your social media channels.  

You can have your chef explain dishes in videos, share recipes and stories, and interact with customers at their tables. Such a personal touch can bring smiles to your guests' faces. 

11. Offer a peek behind the scenes 

To add authenticity and transparency to your brand, take your followers behind the scenes. Share photos and videos showcasing the daily hustle and bustle in your restaurant, from prep to service to after-hours. This helps customers connect with your brand on a deeper level. 

12. Boost your restaurant’s visibility with social media and local SEO 

A final important point, social media platforms are great tools if you want to connect with your target customers on a deeper level. Share quality content to promote your restaurant, staff and dishes. Keep your followers up-to-date by creating engaging videos and posts to boost their interest and establish a dialogue with them through stories and polls. Through these, you will receive direct feedback from the public and show a side of your business they weren’t aware of. Secure your follower and customer base loyalty by sharing special offers and positive reviews while boosting social currency. 

Local SEO strategies can be useful if you want to feature prominently in Google search results. By finding the right keywords for your target audience and updating your Google My Business profile for an SEO-oriented approach, satisfied customers are encouraged to leave positive reviews, expanding the reach of word-of-mouth praise.  

Additionally, outlining a good backlink strategy can help your business receive mentions from reputable sources across the web. Remember to always publish articles in a blog embedded in your site that can highlight your business products, services, staff, dishes, and so forth. These online activities will help you to entice potential guests and attract more customers to your restaurant.   

Understanding Your Target Audience 

Knowing exactly who your customers are is key to developing effective restaurant marketing strategies. By identifying and analysing your ideal diners, you can tailor your offerings and promotions to meet their specific needs and preferences.  

This involves looking at factors like demographics, dining habits, and what drives customer loyalty. The more you understand what appeals to your target audience, the better you can design a personalised dining experience that keeps them coming back for more. A well-thought-out approach not only attracts new guests, but can strengthen your relationships with existing customers, leading to improved satisfaction and long-term retention.  

Create Seasonal Offers and Limited-Time Promotions 

Creating seasonal offers and limited-time promotions is a great way to boost attendance and generate excitement around your restaurant. These promotions tap into the changing seasons or special events, encouraging both new customers and repeat visitors to dine with you.  

Whether it's a special holiday menu, a summer discount, or an exclusive offer for a limited time, these deals create a sense of urgency and exclusivity, motivating guests to book a table before it's too late. Not only do they help keep your restaurant top-of-mind, but they also provide an opportunity to showcase new dishes or highlight local ingredients, all while increasing foot traffic and driving sales. 

Leverage Customer Loyalty Programmes 

Creating a customer loyalty programme is a great way to keep diners coming back. Consider offering cumulative rewards, exclusive discounts, or even a dedicated app for your regulars. These charming incentives not only encourage repeat visits but also build long-term relationships with your guests. 

Joining TheFork’s Yums loyalty programme is a great way to encourage repeat visits. Guests earn points with every reservation, boosting loyalty and increasing your visibility on TheFork—plus, it’s free to join! What’s more, guests can now earn twice the rewards with Double Yums—because who doesn’t love earning extra rewards for doing what they already do—eat out! I 

Ready to Get Started? 

By implementing these 12 marketing tips for restaurants with help from TheFork, you'll not only optimise your online presence but also foster collaborative growth, creating unique dining experiences that will keep your customers satisfied and eager to return.  

To make your journey even easier, TheFork Manager offers all the tools you need to manage reservations, streamline guest communication, and optimise your restaurant’s performance.  

Our all-in-one restaurant management solution offers features designed to simplify day-to-day operations, so you can focus more on delivering an exceptional experience while TheFork takes care of the rest. Ready to boost your restaurant's success? Click here to get started!