As the world goes towards normalcy, restaurant owners are looking for new ways to manage their businesses. One of the most important aspects to look out for is quick and easy ways of marketing. Text Messages are direct, instant, and give you instant ROI more than any other marketing channel. By using text marketing, you can create a long-lasting and healthy relationship with your customers. Instead of them being only a source of revenue, you get a chance to treat them as the most prized possession of your business. Hence, restaurant marketing is done best through text marketing.
In this guide, we will tell you in detail about how restaurants can use restaurant marketing.
How restaurant marketing with texts works?
The thing about most restaurants is that there is not much room to make a relationship with customers. People usually come in, eat, pay, and leave. If someone likes your restaurant, they are most likely to return. However, others may just remember if your food was exceptional. The level of marketing communication is greatly reduced in this regard. Hence, text marketing comes into play. Text marketing allows you to build a rapport with your customers for the long term and lure them in.
Restaurant marketing with texts works in three different ways. The three types of messages you can send your customers are mentioned below.
Promotional Messages
Promotional messages are exactly what they sound like. These are text messages you can send to promote deals and specials for your restaurants. However, you will need to build your list for this first. You can do this with the many tools that ExpertTexting provides. The first thing to do is make your keyword and advertise it everywhere. To make it easier for customers to sign up, you can create QR Codes against each keyword. Place this QR code on receipts, and everywhere else you think you have traffic.
Once you have your list, you can start sending promotional messages. You can send your specials, promotions, discounts, or even mobile coupons with MMS. The best way to use text marketing is to send time-sensitive promotions. Since text messages are direct and instant, the result is quicker than any other channel.
Transactional messages
Transactional messages are slightly different from promotional messages. These messages are usually automated against an action that your customer takes. ExpertTexting has its API for integrations as well. You can simply integrate it into your reservation system to send out automatic messages.
If you have a takeout or delivery facility, you can use our API to manage orders as well. Send messages on order confirmations, tell them when they can expect their orders, and more.
You can also use transactional messages to inform customers when their table is ready. This allows direct and instant ways of communication without having to engage your staff.
Internal Communications
One of the best ways we have seen people use mass texting for restaurants is for internal communications. It is no surprise that your workers will have their phones with them all the time. Use this to your advantage and manage internal communications.
You can send staff shifts, updates, and even daily specials to the waiting staff. This allows smooth communication and less of a hassle. Moreover, on a busy day, you do not have to call your staff meeting for small things. Instead, just send them a message and you are good to go.
How to choose the right texting platform for restaurant marketing?
Of course, with so many different service providers out there, you are bound to be confused. However, it not very difficult to choose the best platform. Here are the following features that you should have in your service provider.
Two-way texting
One very important feature that you need is two-way texting. Not only should your service provider have to have this, but they should also have an easy interface. Two-way texting allows your customers to send your messages for queries, feedback, and even if you are running promotional contests. Moreover, you also get a chance to use texts for your reservation.
However, to manage two-way communication you need a proper system. A conversational style inbox like ExpertTexting allows you to manage one-on-one conversations as well as send mass texts. This makes two-way messages more manageable.
API integrations
To amp up your service, API Integrations are important. You need to have a service that allows API Integrations in your websites and software. This allows you to send out automated messages and transactional messages easily.
Segmentation
If you are looking to expand your list, you need to be warier about how to organize them. You cannot work with haphazard service providers. Look for a provider that gives you the option to make unlimited keywords and groups. These segmentations help make a better marketing channel. You can send messages to only the people that are interested in a particular aspect of your restaurant.
MMS Service
Restaurant services can make a huge difference when using mass MMS. MMS is known to increase engagement by 250%. Moreover, food pictures are easier to help lure people in to try your food. Hence, as a restaurant owner, you need to ensure that your service provider can send out mass MMS conveniently.
Price
None of the features matter if the cost is touching the roof. You need a service that charges you the least possible amount for each message. Moreover, you need a service that charges you by the messages instead of getting you tangled in long-term contracts and plans.
Key factors to remember when sending out restaurant marketing texts
There are several ways to make your text message send out. But here are the three key factors that you need to remember to achieve a good reaction.
Keep it short: The standard message length is 160 characters. Try to keep your message only as long. However, you can still send extended messages with ExpertTexting. Smartphones concatenate these messages as a single long message.
Keep it vivid: Short does not mean you have to keep it vague. Make sure all necessary details are there and mentioned.
Personalize: Give some value of money to your customers. Give them a personalized experience. ExpertTexting allows you to send personalized mass messages by setting up custom fields.
Begin with ExpertTexting
ExpertTexting gives you all the above-mentioned features and more. Begin mass texting with ExpertTexting today for your restaurant marketing.