3-minute read ---
August is a busy month for restaurants, with families dining out during the back-to-school season and summer’s final days. A refer-a-friend program is a practical way to tap into your existing customers’ networks, bringing new faces to your tables while showing appreciation for those who already support you. It’s about making your restaurant a go-to spot for more people in your area. With Aldelo Express POS and its native Multi-Store Masa+ Loyalty Rewards program, you can set up and manage a referral program for single or multiple stores without extra hassle. Here’s how to grow your restaurant’s reach with a refer-a-friend program this summer.
Why Referrals Fit August
Your regular customers are your best promoters—they know your food, employees, and dining environment better than anyone. A referral program gives them a reason to invite friends, especially in August when people are grabbing meals between school prep or summer plans. It’s not just about new customers; it’s about reinforcing your restaurant as a local favorite. This grassroots approach is a much more effective way to grow your customer base by building on the trust your customers already have in your restaurant.
Your regular customers are your best promoters—they know your food, employees, and dining environment better than anyone. A referral program gives them a reason to invite friends, especially in August when people are grabbing meals between school prep or summer plans. It’s not just about new customers; it’s about reinforcing your restaurant as a local favorite. This grassroots approach is a much more effective way to grow your customer base by building on the trust your customers already have in your restaurant.
Set Up a Solid Referral Program
Keep your referral program simple and worthwhile. Give customers a promo card (smart digital offer) to use on their next visit for every friend they refer who makes a purchase. Offer the new customer another promo card on their first order to make them feel welcome. To take it a step further, offer a free appetizer after three referrals. Aldelo Express Masa+ Promo Cards protect your business against profit leakage and abuse by providing a unique QR code that supports easy redemption online or at a restaurant terminal, and expire after a single use.
Keep your referral program simple and worthwhile. Give customers a promo card (smart digital offer) to use on their next visit for every friend they refer who makes a purchase. Offer the new customer another promo card on their first order to make them feel welcome. To take it a step further, offer a free appetizer after three referrals. Aldelo Express Masa+ Promo Cards protect your business against profit leakage and abuse by providing a unique QR code that supports easy redemption online or at a restaurant terminal, and expire after a single use.
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This grassroots approach is a much more effective way to grow your customer base by building on the trust your customers already have in your restaurant
Get the Word Out
Promote your program in a way that feels in touch with your customers. Share pictures of customers enjoying your restaurant on social media, including photos of your dishes, using a caption like, “Refer a friend and get $10 off your next meal.” Inside your restaurant, promote your referral program on table tent cards or mention it during checkout. For a low-key event, invite referrers to a “Customer Appreciation Night” with a small discount or complimentary drink to say thanks.
Build on Your Regulars
Make your referrers feel like insiders. Set up a “Referrer’s Club” with occasional perks, like a first taste of a new menu item. Mention your customer’s efforts on social media, such as an appreciation post about a customer who brought in their coworkers, to say thank you and encourage others to do the same.
Make your referrers feel like insiders. Set up a “Referrer’s Club” with occasional perks, like a first taste of a new menu item. Mention your customer’s efforts on social media, such as an appreciation post about a customer who brought in their coworkers, to say thank you and encourage others to do the same.
Track Progress and Move Forward
Monitor new customer visits and referral redemptions to see how your program is performing. Aldelo Express back-office reports show what’s clicking, like if new diners order your summer specials. Follow up with referrers and new customers with a quick email or additional promo card offer to keep them coming back. As August ends, consider a fall referral tweak, like a discount for group bookings, to maintain the flow.
Monitor new customer visits and referral redemptions to see how your program is performing. Aldelo Express back-office reports show what’s clicking, like if new diners order your summer specials. Follow up with referrers and new customers with a quick email or additional promo card offer to keep them coming back. As August ends, consider a fall referral tweak, like a discount for group bookings, to maintain the flow.
Final Thoughts
A refer-a-friend program in August is a straightforward way to grow your customer base while valuing the people who already dine with you. Aldelo’s tools handle the details, letting you focus on serving great food.
Use Masa+ Promo Cards (smart digital offers) from Aldelo Express and:
Learn more by contacting an Aldelo representative today at [email protected] or 925-621-2410
A refer-a-friend program in August is a straightforward way to grow your customer base while valuing the people who already dine with you. Aldelo’s tools handle the details, letting you focus on serving great food.
Use Masa+ Promo Cards (smart digital offers) from Aldelo Express and:
- Limit Promo Card usage to specific menu items
- Offer Promo Cards to all customers, groups, or individuals
- Set Promo Cards to inform users when non-qualified items are selected
- Limit redemption to slower periods
- Set unique Promo Card activation and/or expiration dates
- And more!
Learn more by contacting an Aldelo representative today at [email protected] or 925-621-2410
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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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