How to use SMS marketing to fill your restaurant

SMS marketing is a great way to reach your target audience directly and promote your restaurant. It's also a very cost-effective way to market your business, and it can be very effective at driving sales.

We know, we know - you don’t want to try it because you think it’s invasive and it costs too much money. But did you know that 75% of customers like getting promotional offers via SMS, and that its ROI is much higher than almost any other marketing you’ll do? Or that SMS campaigns average a 98% open rate?

Here are some tips on how to use SMS marketing to get more customers to your restaurant:

1. Get permission to send text messages

You can do this by adding a sign-up form to your website or by having customers sign up when they dine at your restaurant (which is basically automatic with a mobile ordering tool). Be sure to let customers know what kinds of messages they will receive and how often they will receive them. General marketing rule: always provide value!

2. Segment your audience

Segment them based on their interests, demographics, or past behavior. This will allow you to send more targeted and relevant messages. For example, you could send a message to customers who have signed up for your loyalty program offering them a special discount on their next visit.

3. Create personalised messages

Use their names, interests, and past behaviour to personalise your messages (without being a weirdo). For example, you could send a message to a customer who has ordered a specific dish in the past offering them a discount on that dish on their next visit.

4. Offer exclusive discounts and promotions

You could offer a discount on their first order, a free gift with purchase, or a special promotion for a limited time only. This is the most-effective, and least intrusive, way to use SMS marketing.

5. Send timely messages

You don't want to send messages too often, or you'll risk annoying your subscribers. But you also don't want to send messages too infrequently, or people will forget about you. Definitely don’t send more than one SMS per week.

6. Make it easy to opt out

You can do this by including an opt-out link in all of your messages. This will show your subscribers that you respect their privacy and that you're not trying to spam them.

Here are some examples of effective SMS marketing messages for restaurants:

• "New subscribers get 10% off their first order! Text JOIN to (555) 555-5555."
• "We miss you! Come back to [restaurant name] and get 20% off your next meal. Simply reply COMEBACK."
• "Happy birthday, [customer name]! Enjoy a free dessert on your next visit. Text BIRTHDAY to (XXX) XXX-XXXX."
• "Join us for our grand opening celebration on [date]! Enjoy 50% off your entire meal. Reply GRANDOPENING."

SMS marketing can be a great way to reach your target audience directly and promote your restaurant. Get in touch with us to find out how Connect can power your SMS marketing.