The surge in people dining out presents both opportunities and challenges to restaurant owners all over the world. For one thing, it means plenty of people for you to target. But it also means that the market and industry are more competitive than ever before.

If you want to reach more customers and get them through the doors, here are ten ways to do it.

1. Offer Discounts for Return Visits

One of the big dilemmas restaurant owners face is not persuading diners to return in the future. With so many rivals to compete with, you need to give customers a reason to come back once they’ve tried out your food for the first time.

This is not always easy, but offering them discounts is one reliable option. Most people like “free stuff,” or the presentation of it, and when they’re getting a bargain, they are more likely to return a second time. So, consider offering small discounts for people who booked a table at your restaurant a while ago but haven’t returned. When they have eaten at your restaurant for a second time, they will be more likely to come back again and again.

2. Offer Something New and Entertaining

Maybe your business is failing to identify itself. Every restaurant needs to have its own identity that helps to differentiate it from other options.

Try offering something that no other restaurant in the local area is offering:

1. Offer a unique dining experience totally different from what people get elsewhere.
2. Apply an exciting theme to the restaurant and its design. Many restaurants successfully manage to do this.
3. Offer new forms of entertainment to draw more people in during the evening. Whether it’s live music, a quiz night or live comedy, give it a try. It might be the best move you ever make.

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3. Make Sure Your Location is Visible

The front of your restaurant is what people will see when they walk by, so you want your business to be as visible as possible. It should look and feel like a high-quality restaurant when people see it for the first time.

Ideally, your location will be somewhere that makes getting lots of passing trade possible. If you’re stranded in the middle of nowhere, it’s difficult to get natural exposure. To make the restaurant more eye-catching, you could employ many tactics, such as new branding and a new sign.

Putting a board outside the restaurant on the pavement is also a good idea. On this board, you could put some of the things you offer inside and the prices. Many people write humorous comments on these, too. This might help catch people’s attention and encourage more people to step inside.

4. Get to Know Regulars

Most restaurants have a few regulars who keep coming back. These people will provide the lifeblood of the business. These are the people you need more of if you want your business to thrive and survive. So, that’s why you should get to know them and let them know that you appreciate their repeat business.

Of course, you need to treat every customer as if they were the most important person ever to walk through the door. But the ones who come back time after time are the most important. Build a friendly relationship with them that goes beyond the simple customer relationship you have with most people. Solid relationships can be the basis for turning customers into regulars in the long term.

5. Sponsor Local Entities

Restaurants are local. They exist only in one place, so it’s important for them to become ingrained in the local culture and community if they’re going to succeed. You want people to feel like the restaurant is a force for good in the community, not just another money-making business. That’s why putting your money where your mouth is can be a good idea.

Sponsoring a local entity, whether it’s a local sports team or a charity event, is a great idea to try. Think of it as paying for advertising. Yes, you have to hand over some money. However, the potential benefits for the restaurant are huge. It will allow you to show people you’re trying to play a part in how the overall community functions.

6. Invite the Local Food Critic

Most local newspapers have a food critic who writes reviews of different bars and restaurants in the local area. If your business has not been running for long or you’re struggling for exposure, this can be an excellent way to get some attention.

Invite them and let them know you’d like them to try your food. Your brand awareness can be given a considerable boost. This tactic involves a big gamble, though. You have no idea what they will write. All you can do is make sure that you cook the best possible food for them when they arrive at the business. They could still write something that is not very positive, though. But many people in the business world will tell you there’s no such thing as bad publicity.

7. Use Online Video Content

Many restaurant owners may not worry about the internet as much as they should. The internet can help in numerous ways. Creating interesting content is a great way of getting people to engage with the restaurant online. It will allow you to show people what the restaurant has to offer.

This is very important nowadays because people like to see where they will eat before they actually get there. And if you have a stylish dining area, you will naturally want to show it to potential customers. See Simplilearn for details on video marketing.

8. Turn an Aspect of Your Menu Into an Attraction

If you have one item on your restaurant’s menu that pulls in customers, you could find the number of people visiting rising steadily. As the word spreads about your special meal, more people will want to see what the fuss is about. Of course, it’s not easy to turn an aspect of your menu into an attraction in its own right. But it is possible.

For example, you could come up with an unexpected recipe that combines flavors that are generally not expected to go together. If the recipe works well and people want to try it out, it can only be good for your restaurant. Alternatively, you could implement an eating challenge. Then, anyone completing the challenge could have their photo on the wall.

9. Offer Party Bookings

Parties might not seem like the kind of thing you want to be involved in. Many restaurant owners imagine them to be rowdy and out of keeping with their restaurant’s style. But that is not necessarily the case. Most parties are simply people getting together to have a meal with a large group. And you can make it more special by throwing champagne and cake into the mix.

It’s a great way to generate new revenue for your restaurant. As long as you make it clear that your party bookings will have certain limitations, things should be fine. It’s important to tell people exactly what they are getting when they book if you want them to behave correctly.

10. List Your Business Online

Many different websites list websites of a particular genre. Some are plain websites listing all restaurants in a certain area. Others are organized by the type of food sold, and some are apps that can be used on the go.

Getting your restaurant listed can be beneficial. To start, having your business listed on these websites and apps will simply make your business more visible and easy to find. This should also lead to more heat of the moment when customers visit. For example, someone might be hungry and open their app to find a restaurant nearby. If they are near yours, they will come over.

What are some of the other ways you’ve seen restaurants market themselves?