It is hard to imagine that we are entering the last quarter of the year, but here we are! The year has flown by and there have been many ups this year, but also quite a few downs as inflation prices have remained high. While it is easy to feel discouraged at times, it is important to look for ways to keep people coming in and widening your profit margins to meet your end of the year goals. If you have been looking for ways to pick up business or save money, you are in the right place. Today we will share some tips and strategies you can begin implementing today to help your business finish the year with a bang.
Bogos, Rewards, and Discounts
We have talked about the push of value meals recently, as restaurants are searching for ways to bring people in. The gap between the price of eating out and eating at home widened so much that people are choosing to save money and eat at home more, so restaurants are having to get creative. If you are in a college town, you can offer discounts to college students, teachers, veterans and/or senior citizens. Pick a night of the week to offer a buy one get one deal on a menu item of your choice or buy an adult entree and get a kids meal for free. If your restaurant offers rewards, maybe double points on a certain night of the week or give extra points if they order between a certain time. People love the convenience of fast food restaurants, and when they see a deal that can’t be beat, the chances of them dining out increases greatly.
Connect
If you aren’t connecting with your customers, there is no time like the present to begin. People want to feel seen and there are so many ways to build relationships today. First, social media is a great start. Share more than just your food, like how your restaurant came to be, where you started vs where you are now or even how your logo came to be. If there is any backstory, the customers want to know. The more people know about your brand, the more they are able to connect with you and are more likely to choose your business in the future. If you give to a local non-profit or volunteer as a team somewhere, let people know what you value and how your restaurant is making a difference.
Another way to utilize social media to connect to customers is by responding to comments that people write. If you ask a question in a post and people respond, be sure to go back and respond and/or like their messages. You can also look to see who has tagged you recently and share their post. This is user-generated content and is easy for busy restaurants to create their own, while also allowing you to interact with guests in a positive way.
You can also start an email newsletter showcasing your promos, favorite dishes, and a personal snippet about your restaurant. These don’t have to be long, but are a great way to stay in touch with your customers and remind them that you are still open and serving up their favorite meals!
Adding back-office software to your toolbelt can be a major advantage when it comes to saving dollars and increasing your profit margin. If you are looking for ways to better manage your labor, inventory, enterprise reporting and accounting and payroll, then you should definitely consider incorporating this into your business. You will be able to hit your labor goals, order the correct amount of inventory, which helps in reducing waste, and have access to a plethora of data that will give you the business insight you need to help your restaurant succeed.
Of course there are always other ways to ensure a healthy, growing business that take a little more strategic planning as well as purchasing proper equipment and technology to take your restaurant to the next level. In our most recent blog, Restaurant Trends to Consider, we discussed a few ways that can really make a positive impact on your restaurant. However, you do not want to wait until you can implement those to make a move. Start where you are with what you have and end this year on a high note!
