10 Ways to Grow Your Restaurant Business
If you own or work in a restaurant, you know that running a successful eatery can be extremely challenging. Competition in the restaurant industry is growing and it’s harder than ever to stand out from the crowd. Luckily, there are some simple things you can do to attract more customers and grow your business at the same time. These 10 ways to grow your restaurant business will help you develop tactics that bring in more customers while expanding your company’s reach online and off.
1) Start with an established business
If you’re an aspiring restaurateur, your best bet is to buy into a successful restaurant or start a chain, where you can hire talented chefs and managers. Buying in rather than starting from scratch means less risk for you and makes it more likely that your business will succeed. And if you’re bringing in investors, having a built-in audience for your first restaurant is also helpful. In addition to saving money on rent and utilities, buying into an established restaurant means you don’t have to worry about designing or building out your space—you just need to make sure it’s clean and safe.
2) Keep an open mind
When you run a restaurant, it’s easy to become engrossed in your daily routine. After all, you might have worked at your business for years and have seen it through all kinds of changes. But without keeping an open mind, you could miss out on a great opportunity—like that time when you declined table service because no one had asked for it before, but then someone did ask for it and ended up adding five new tables just because they wanted drinks with their meal. It’s also important to keep an open mind about your customers. You might be used to catering primarily to families, but what if you start attracting young singles who are looking for a good place to go after work? And even if there isn’t any change in demographics or customer base, don’t be afraid of trying something new every once in awhile. For example, try offering free WiFi or partnering with local businesses as part of your marketing strategy.
3) Hire good staff
Getting good staff is arguably more important than any other factor in growing your business. The right people can make you money; poor employees will bleed you dry. Always ask yourself: am I paying these people too much? Could I get better value elsewhere? Am I hiring too slowly, or too quickly? Are my new hires ready for their roles yet? How do I know if they’re not? And don’t forget to train them well—this is a vital part of getting good staff on board. Good training and development programs are key to keeping your best employees around, as well as attracting new talent.
4) Run a successful promotion
Promotions are a great way to increase your restaurant’s visibility and bring in new customers. One of the most effective ways to promote is to run a food promotion. If you’re serving something unique or different from what other restaurants are offering, draw attention by offering them at a discounted price for a limited time only! For example, if you have an amazing fish dish on your menu that isn’t offered anywhere else in town, offer it as part of a special dinner with wine pairings on Friday night. This will get people talking about how much they enjoyed it—and might even get them coming back for more!
5) Listen to your customers
Customers are your best advisors. Let them help you improve your restaurant. Ask them what they want and need, ask for feedback on food, service and ambiance and reward loyal customers with discounts and VIP cards. The more you listen to what they have to say, the more they’ll be willing to pay attention when you make changes or improvements. Customer feedback is vital for growing a successful business; take advantage of it!
6) Stay ahead of trends
With restaurants, it’s important to be aware of how food trends will affect your business. Try looking at other restaurants in your area to see what dishes are selling well or talk with local chefs who can help you identify upcoming trends. It may even be worth reaching out to trendy local bloggers or Instagrammers for insight. Understanding new menus and foodie trends can help you incorporate these items into your own menu without having a major impact on profit margins.
7) Use digital marketing
Traditional marketing is quickly becoming outdated, but one of its key tactics is still alive and well: digital marketing. If you’re looking for an easy way to promote your business online, think about purchasing some targeted ads on Facebook or Google—or hiring a social media manager who can do it for you. Another useful tool is a company website; use responsive design so that it’s easy for customers on their phones to find your location, hours, and menu options.
9) Partner with influencers
Partnering with influencers is a great way to expand your reach, and it also gives you a reliable source of content for your own marketing efforts. If you’re thinking about doing an influencer partnership, keep in mind that there are four types of people who might make good candidates: celebrities, journalists, athletes or social media stars. Determine which type makes sense for your business and then figure out how to get in touch with them.
8) Try social media marketing
If you’re struggling with how to grow your restaurant business, social media marketing might be a viable solution. In fact, 39% of American businesses are now using social media for marketing purposes—including most types of small businesses. Use visuals: Add photos and videos to your posts if possible; visual content is more likely to get shared and make an impression. Don’t forget about mobile: Make sure that your Facebook page or Twitter feed looks good on mobile devices as well as desktop computers. Test out paid advertising: Try Facebook ads or promoted tweets to help you reach new customers who aren’t already following you on social media. Don’t be afraid to ask for referrals: When customers love your food, they will often refer their friends. You can encourage them by offering rewards or discounts when they do so.
10) Keep learning
Whether you’re just starting out or a veteran in your field, learning is essential for success. Keep up with industry trends by reading blogs or books; follow thought leaders on social media; and get involved in your community by speaking at local events. Most importantly, make time to learn from your own customers—this can help you understand their needs better and will also help with retention (happy customers are much more likely to come back).