how to market a restaurant?

[Bonjour2007]

Hi there, starting any business is complex and requires a lot of effort from the business owner, but the great thing is you're looking for and asking for marketing advice. This shows you're willing to learn ways to boost your business.

There are so many ways to market your business on a shoestring or a budget, and you can find many of them online by searching for : marketing on a shoestring.

The one main thing you MUST have is a website - if you don't have a site with information about your location, your food and your 'story', you're missing out on a big opportunity.

People like to do business with people they know, like and trust - if someone wants to read more about you, they can do that on your site - 24/7.

You Must Have
A Newsletter on
Your Website

If you encourage people to sign up on your website for your tips about new dishes, special events, coupons etc, then you'll have their email name. This is THE most important thing a website owner can do. It's a fantastic way you can go back to them once a week or so and keep in touch, let them know what's been happening in your restaurant, what's coming up, etc. Give them a reason to come into your restaurant.

Take photos of your customers, ask if you can put them on your Facebook business page, and when they see their photo, they'll tell their friends (which brings more visitors to your Facebook page, and possibly your website).

Then you write about your customers and photos in your newsletter, and they'll send your newsletter to their friends so they'll go see the photos on Facebook.

See how this can boost your customer base, and potentially bring more website visitors?

Come Up With
Unique Marketing Ideas

Think up something really unusual, a way to be different from all the other restaurants in town. Start a Loyalty Card and offer something different as the Bonus or gift.

Press
Releases

Create a Press Release every week about something interesting - news - about your restaurant - there are a ton of things which would be suitable.

That's just a few small things you could do for no cost - I hope it helps, and I wish you all the very best of luck for your new restaurant.