5-minute read ---
For millions of Americans, September marks the end of summer. By the end of August, summer tourists, campers, and out-of-towners are going back to their school year routines, making September a challenging period for many restaurant owners who are at risk of losing new summer customers. As a result, one of the best things a restaurant can do is target their customers with integrated loyalty and rewards incentives so they will be reminded of their favorite “summer stop” throughout the school year. When successful, these restaurants not only maintain a growing customer base, but present their restaurant as an ideal vendor for fundraisers, sports team gatherings, homecoming catering, and more.
One of the best ways restaurants can strategically compete in the growing loyalty market is to reward customer purchases and influence return visits with unique customer promotions. These help restaurants increase customer traffic and earn additional revenue that is often essential for sustaining the business during slower periods.
Here are five promotional strategies for restaurants using in-house Loyalty, Rewards, Coupons, and eGift Card programs:
One of the best ways restaurants can strategically compete in the growing loyalty market is to reward customer purchases and influence return visits with unique customer promotions. These help restaurants increase customer traffic and earn additional revenue that is often essential for sustaining the business during slower periods.
Here are five promotional strategies for restaurants using in-house Loyalty, Rewards, Coupons, and eGift Card programs:
One of the best things a restaurant can do is target their customers with integrated loyalty and rewards incentives
5. Reward the Purchase of Specific Menu Items
Loyalty and Rewards are a great way for restaurants to encourage purchase of high-profit, specialty, or limited-time menu items. By rewarding purchases of specific menu items, customers enjoy their dining experience and are encouraged to return to reap more rewards during future visits.
Some reward strategies include:
- providing a free item based on a qualifying number of purchases
- an earned reward on a subsequent visit within a specified period
- immediately earned rewards based on a particular purchase
- discounts based on dollars spent
4. Giveaways and Contests
Giveaways and contests provide customers an exciting and engaging way to learn more about an establishment, earn rewards for making purchases, and engage with the brand online and in-store.
Potential giveaways and contests include:
- Posting on their social media page with a unique promotional hashtag
- Submitting a vote for their favorite menu item at the restaurant
- Scheduling a delivery or online order using the business’s Masa+ Online Storefront
Rewards may include an entry to an eGift Card raffle or with exclusive discounts and complimentary menu items. Combining loyalty and gift card programs and incentives drives usage of both solutions, influencing more program adoption and future visits.
Combining loyalty and gift card programs and incentives drives usage of both solutions, influencing more program adoption and future visits
3. Host and Promote Special Events
Restaurants can leverage Loyalty, Coupons, and related programs to promote restaurant entertainment and in-store events, such as fundraisers. Customers will love earning unique rewards and discounts on qualifying purchases.
Here are some events to attract customers to your business:
- Host live music nights or karaoke competitions
- Offer discounts during sports game watch parties
- Organize weekly trivia nights and/or family game nights
Because entertainment and events often drive customer traffic, events held during slower days of the week can gain restaurants more profits that otherwise would be lost.
2. Leverage Social Media to Increase Sales
More restaurants are using social media to reach new customers, posting enticing images of popular food and drink items, event crowds, and the restaurant’s atmosphere. Social media also provides a means to gaining new customers.
Strategies include:
- Reward customers for completing purchases online via a unique QR code posted on the restaurant’s social platforms or website
- Offering free menu items and discounts to customers who “follow” and “share” a restaurant with their family and friends on social media
Partnering with local establishments enables both businesses to increase traffic, gain revenue, and differentiate their offerings
1. Partner with Local Establishments
Loyalty and Rewards don’t have to be limited to a restaurant’s four walls or social media. By partnering with local establishments that offer complimentary products and services, owners and operators of both businesses increase traffic, gain revenue, and differentiate their offerings for improved customer experiences. QR code-based offers, specials, and promotions can be displayed in the restaurant and at partner establishments, complimenting each business’ services and offering bundle deals. For example, customers can enjoy 50% off of a round of golf when a customer frequents the restaurant. Conversely, a customer that completes a round of golf can enjoy a free appetizer or drink at the restaurant.
BONUS STRATEGY: Incentivize Physical and Digital Gift Card Programs
Gift cards generate billions of dollars in revenue for U.S. businesses each year. In addition to promoting your restaurant to potential new local customers, physical and egift card programs secure revenue and generate business that helps cover slower periods of the year.
Restaurants can promote physical and eGift solutions by incentivizing gift card purchases with loyalty and rewards credit. Gift cards and rewards can be used to promote a new online ordering or delivery service to encourage more frequent orders. By rewarding customers for purchasing gift cards and utilizing online services, customers are encouraged to visit the restaurant more often and recommend a store’s loyalty and rewards program to family and friends.
As a native digital payments module, restaurants using Aldelo Express can “turn on” Masa+ gift cards at any time and immediately begin improving their business’ bottom line. Masa+ secure digital wallets also support multi-store digital loyalty, rewards, and coupons that compliment gift card campaigns and influence repeat visits.
Aldelo Express POS All-Inclusive Customer-Facing Solutions
With Aldelo Express POS and its native Masa+ Online Ordering and Payments solution, restaurant owners customize and launch all-inclusive in-house Loyalty, Rewards, Coupon, eGift Card programs. The solutions support a variety of campaigns that support dollar- and point-based program options and seamlessly integrate into a store’s online and in-store point of sale solutions from Aldelo Express.
Aldelo Express users create their own ecosystem with Android- and iOS-based devices that support ordering and payments for sit-down, takeout, curbside, event, and delivery operations. When used with Masa+ Online Ordering, users increase sales by an average of 8.3%.
Learn more about the Aldelo Express POS suite of merchant- and customer-facing solutions by contacting an Aldelo representative today at [email protected] or 877-639-8767
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Restaurants that use ultra-competitive Aldelo Pay or Aldelo Partner Merchant Services obtain access to a Centralized Multi-Store Restaurant Technology Platform that includes Masa+ Online Ordering, Unlimited Software Releases, Unlimited Software Upgrades, and 24/7 Technical Support! *** Please contact an Aldelo representative today for more details, including a free Aldelo Express POS demo trial [email protected] | 877-639-8767 | [email protected] |
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