Let me tell you about a conversation I just had that honestly kept me up at night…
I was chatting with a local restaurant owner (maybe you can relate?) who told me business was “ok” and “a little slow.” When I asked what he was doing to get customers flooding back in?
His answer floored me: “Nothing.”
Zip. Zero. Nada.
His big strategy? Cutting costs and hoping for the best.
Listen… I get it. When times get tough, it’s tempting to pull back and play it safe. But here’s the truth bomb nobody’s talking about:
Cutting your marketing is like stopping your advertising because you’re too busy – it makes ZERO sense!
Think about it:
- Your competitors are probably pulling back right now
- Your customers are actively looking for great dining experiences
- And you’re… what? Waiting for them to magically discover you?
Here’s the real deal: Every promotion you send out is like launching a ship filled with treasure. The more ships you send out (smart emails, social media posts, local ads, loyalty programs), the more treasure returns to your harbor.
But here’s the kicker…
Empty tables today? That’s because you didn’t send enough ships out yesterday. Full tables tomorrow? That’s because you’re taking action TODAY.
And speaking of taking action – let me share two POWERFUL ways to fill your tables that won’t cost you a dime…
1. Email Marketing: Your Hidden Goldmine
You’re sitting on a treasure trove of customer emails right now. Every delivery order, reservation, and loyalty program sign-up is pure profit potential waiting to be unleashed.
Here’s your no-cost game plan:
- Start collecting emails TODAY (if you haven’t already)
- Send a welcome-back offer to everyone on your list
- Share your weekly specials
- Celebrate your regulars’ birthdays
- Give them a peek behind the scenes at your newest dishes
The best part? It costs exactly ZERO dollars to hit ‘send’ and watch the reservations roll in.
2. Social Media: Your 24/7 Virtual Storefront
Your phone’s camera is more powerful than any expensive marketing campaign from 10 years ago. And guess what? It’s FREE.
Quick hits that work like crazy:
- Snap that sizzling steak hitting the grill
- Show off your chef’s daily special prep
- Capture happy customers (with permission!)
- Share those “made with love” behind-the-scenes moments
- Post your daily specials with mouthwatering pics
Pro Tip: Don’t just post randomly. Create a simple weekly schedule:
- Monday: Weekly specials preview
- Wednesday: Behind-the-scenes peek
- Friday: Featured dish showcase
- Sunday: Customer spotlight
I’ve never – and I mean NEVER – had a single restaurant owner tell me: “Wow, I really regret getting more customers through my door.”
The real question isn’t “Can I afford to do this?” It’s “Can I afford NOT to?”
So let me ask you one final time: How many customer-attracting “ships” are you sending out today?
Because nothing bad EVER happens when you market your restaurant. EVER.
FREE Resource
If you haven’t downloaded your free Restaurant Success Kit chuck full of free copy and paste proven and tested restaurant sales building marketing… what are you waiting for?
Start sending those ships out so they can return back to your restaurant chock full of new customers.
Michael Thibault
Known as “The Done For You Marketing Guy for Restaurants.” International Speaker on Restaurant Marketing. Published contributing author of 4 Marketing Books. Industry expert on Google Searches and Review Sites. Recovering Independent Restaurant Owner and Caterer of over 21 years. And, all-around good guy.
