How Restaurants Can Use SMS Marketing to Increase Profit

Attracting customers to your restaurant requires more than simply letting them know you are there. By taking advantage of the increase in use of smartphones, you can create a relationship with your customers via SMS to ensure they keep coming back to you. Here are the great ways SMS Marketing can help:

Reservation Reminders. No shows cost you money. Not just because you are losing out on the customers who didn't turn up, but also on any potential customers who could have had the table - particularly at busy times. If you use SMS to simply send your customer a Reservation Reminder, they will be more inclined to show up, or to let you know in advance that they wont be attending. By adding a phone number to your message to allow them to call, or adding a URL leading them to a map with directions or the menu to tantalise their taste buds works well and provides that extra level of value and service. 

Advertise Special Offers. Sending out special offers which are personalised to your customers who have chosen to opt in to your SMS service is a great way of increasing value. People love an offer, and therefore are more likely to attend your restaurant if they have been offered something. This will help to build a great relationship with your customers, and also fill those empty seats at quiet times. 

Use of Competitions and Feedback Surveys. These are a good way to engage your customers. Text messaging is the best way in terms of response rates to acquire feedback from your customers. If you intertwine a feedback survey with a competition, this will increase your response rates even further! A good example would be a prize draw for everyone who replies to win a 2 for 1 meal, or anything along those lines.

Communicating with Staff and Suppliers. Text messaging can also be used to ensure there are no dissatisfied customers by keeping in regular contact with suppliers to ensure stock is always adequate. Most delivery services offer text messaging as a way of keeping up to date with delivery status of stock. Ensure you always check for these messages, and you can also use text messaging as a quick way of responding.

By taking all of these tips into account, SMS marketing will increase your profit and satisfied customers in no time!