Restaurant marketing is important for any restaurant. After all, the competition between restaurants in a local area can be fierce. Which means that you will need to be on top of the latest restaurant marketing ideas that can help give you the boost you need.

We have put together our top 13 marketing ideas for restaurants. All ways that you can make sure your restaurant is coming top of the list.

1. Be on social media

Social media is a huge promotional tool. It can reach a great number of people with ease and in the most part is completely free. This means that if you are not already on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. It really is time that you get yourself social.

2. And make sure that you have offers!

If you do have a social media page, then you should make sure that you are using the best way you can. Offering special offers on social media is a fantastic way to make sure that you are appealing to your followers, not to mention getting them to book in to your restaurant.

3. Be listed online

If someone is just visiting an area, there is a chance that they won’t know the restaurants that are around. They will often turn to online directory to find what is about. This is why it is important to make sure that you are listed online and visible to people when they search the local area.

4. Have a website

A website is vital for businesses in these modern times. So, if you don’t have one you could be making a huge mistake. Websites will showcase what you do, your opening hours and of course your contact details.

5. Be local

Whilst websites and social media can extend your marketing reach. You should always value your local customers too. Whether that is on the local radio or the local paper. Make sure that you have some local people deals that they will really appreciate.

6. Make the local media your friends

Having local media on your side is a sure-fire to make sure that your restaurant is a success. A great way to do this is to invite local journalists, bloggers and PR gurus to eat at your restaurant, in return for a review in their paper, magazine or website.

7. Get on the text marketing train

Another great form of restaurant marketing is text marketing. Text marketing is simple, quick and easy to use. It is also direct and allows you to send through personalised offers to your customers. Try to time your texts for peak ordering or booking times, encouraging your database to make a booking with a promotion or discount.

8. Have a loyalty app

Mobile apps are really on the rise. So why not offer your customers a loyalty app for their phones which allows them to collect points as they visit you?

9. Know your keywords

Heard of SEO and keywords? If you haven’t, then you could be missing a trick. Research which keywords are best for your business and make sure that they feature on your website. You will soon see an increase in your visitors, both online and in person.

10. Pay for Ads

Whilst some marketing for restaurants can be completely free, there are times when you will just need to bite the bullet and pay for your advertising. Whether this is in a local paper or on Facebook. A small investment can really have an impact.

11. Hold special events

If you are not seeing the level of bookings that you would like, why not see if you can boost your bookings by holding a special event. This could be a themed evening or perhaps a charity night. They are both sure fire ways to encourage people to visit you.

12. Encourage reviews

When it comes to eating out, word of mouth is important. So, ask your happy customers to leave you reviews and you may see new customers coming through the door!

13. Use a daily deal site

Groupon and other daily deal sites are a great way to boost your visitors. Pick a tempting deal and see if you can increase your bookings.

These are our top tips for ways to boost your restaurant bookings. Ultimately you should make sure that you are aware of the best ways to market your restaurant and take action on them!