Marketing a business, especially a restaurant, is something that requires a lot of expertise and knowledge. We all know how user preferences are changing, specifically when it comes to culinary choices.
However, if you have the right marketing strategy for your restaurant, particularly for holidays and special events, you will be able to drive more foot traffic to your restaurant. It will further help you boost your revenue and online presence.
In this article, you will learn the best ways to market your restaurant during holidays and special events. These tips, shared by experts working in a restaurant marketing agency, will help you drive more foot traffic and revenue to your restaurant.
Tips to Market Your Restaurant on Holidays and Special Occasions
Here are some notable ways to start off your restaurant’s marketing campaign during holidays and special occasions:
Start off the Season With a Launch Event:
No matter what the occasion is, you should start off the holiday season at your restaurant with a launch event. For instance, during the Christmas season, you can start with a Carol singing night at your restaurant. Or else, you can consider kicking off with a cake-baking competition, which will further make the event unforgettable.
Don’t forget to install decorations based on the theme, like a crib, Christmas tree, and dazzling nights during the Christmas holidays. This will further enhance the feel of the Holidays during the season.
Organize Live Music Nights to Set the Base:
As mentioned above, Carol singing nights during the Christmas season are the best way to set the tone for a vibrant atmosphere at your restaurant. Some other examples of Holiday music you can consider include:
- Jingle Bells
- Silent Night
- Deck the Halls
Furthermore, you should set the theme of the music night according to the importance of the holidays.
Curate Special Menus for the Dining Experience:
A menu that is personalized as per the holidays will take the dining experience to the next level, attracting more families. Some examples of festive seasons include:
- Traditional Holiday Fare: When a restaurant is offering traditional dishes for holiday menus, they will often be featured as classic and comforting dishes.
- Festive Desserts: Dessert is the high point of any holiday meal. Sweets like peppermint brownies, gingerbread cookies, and pumpkin pie are often seen being served at restaurants.
- Family-Style Meals: These are the meals that promote sharing. They improve the festive and social aspects of eating. A meal seems to be festive and inclusive when big platters of food are meant to be shared, like a holiday roast with all the fixings.
Guest Appearances by Santa Claus:
Appearances by St. Nicholas, AKA the hearty Santa Claus, are surely going to be a magical attraction for families during the holiday season. Some notable examples you can consider include:
- Santa’s at Shopping Malls: Many viral Santa appearances are seen at malls, where children can meet him, click pictures, and share their wishes for Christmas.
- Parades and Festivals: In some provinces, Santa appears during parades or holiday festivals. For instance, during the holiday season, many malls might host a parade featuring Santa, attracting families across Toronto to participate in the festivities.
Introduce Limited-Time Holiday-Themed Drinks and Dishes:
It is important to utilize the holidays by introducing dishes and drinks that are personalized as per the holidays. As a matter of fact, it can improve your restaurant’s appeal during the festive season.
A great strategy that you can consider is to introduce fresh and flavourful delicacies that include seasonal ingredients. These dishes will allow your chefs to be creative and keep the dining experience fresh and exciting.
Boost Sales With Gift Card Promotions:
When you sell gift cards to customers coming to your restaurant, you will be able to reap more benefits. Some of these benefits include:
- Immediate Cash Flow: Gift cards give your restaurant an immediate cash flow. This will allow you to handle rent, inventory, staff pay, and other expenditures.
- Brand Awareness: With gift cards, you can boost brand awareness regarding your restaurant. They will prompt customers to choose you over rivals. By putting your distinctive branding on gift cards, you will be able to ensure that when customers decide where to eat, they will first consider your establishment.
Furthermore, you will be able to boost sales and attract new customers, ensuring a better outcome for your restaurant.
To Summarize
Thinking about various ways to market your restaurant during the holiday season? Well, the abovementioned methods and strategies will help you ensure that your restaurant sees the desired foot traffic and make your atmosphere merrier than you would think.
These tactics will not only help you drive more sales and traffic, but also keep your restaurant in the minds of your potential audience. This way, you will be able to spread more joy and happiness to your customers’ taste buds.