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​As 2024 approaches, the world of dining and foodservice continues to rapidly change. With advancements in technology, shifts in consumer behavior, and new trends emerging every year, restaurants with an effective marketing plan are far more likely to stay ahead of their competition.

​Here's a guide to creating a robust restaurant marketing strategy for 2024.

​1. Understand Your Customer Base:
Before launching any marketing campaign, seek a better understanding of your customer base. What are their preferences, needs, and habits? Consider back-office sales reports to determine popular items, ingredients, and busy periods in each quarter.

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In recent years, the food industry has undergone a significant transformation, driven by changing consumer preferences and advancements in technology. Among the trends that have gained immense popularity and profitability are meal kits and prepared meals for sale at restaurants. These convenient and innovative offerings have revolutionized the way people experience dining, bringing a unique blend of home-cooked meals and restaurant-quality flavors to their tables.

The Emergence of Meal Kits and Prepared Meals:
Meal kits first emerged as a novel concept in the early 2010s, with just a handful of companies pioneering the trend. These kits typically contain pre-portioned ingredients and easy-to-follow recipes, enabling customers to prepare restaurant-style meals in the comfort of their homes. The convenience and culinary exploration they offer quickly resonated with busy individuals seeking to avoid grocery shopping and meal planning hassles.

As meal kits garnered traction, restaurants recognized the opportunity to tap into this growing market. Many establishments started offering their own meal kits, which featured signature dishes or gourmet options. This move allowed restaurants to market to a wider audience beyond their physical locations, attracting customers who craved their culinary experiences without the dine-in experience.

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​In the age of digital transformation, it's no surprise that the way customers dine has evolved as well. The rise of online ordering for restaurants has been a transformative trend that continues to shape the culinary landscape. As we delve into this topic, it's evident that online ordering is not just a passing fad but a dynamic shift that is still gaining momentum.

Convenience at Your Fingertips
One of the primary reasons online ordering for restaurants continues to surge in popularity is the unmatched convenience it offers. The modern lifestyle is fast-paced, leaving individuals with limited time to spare. Online ordering provides a solution to this by allowing customers to explore menus, place orders, and make payments with just a few clicks, all from the comfort of their homes or on the go. No longer are individuals constrained by restaurant operating hours or the need to physically visit a location. This level of convenience has resonated deeply with consumers, keeping the trend of online ordering on a consistent upward trajectory.

​Diverse Range of Options
Online ordering platforms present an extensive array of dining choices to customers, further propelling its popularity. From local eateries to international cuisine, customers have the world of gastronomy at their fingertips. This diverse range of options caters to various preferences, dietary restrictions, and culinary explorations, making online ordering an attractive prospect for a broad spectrum of consumers. The sheer variety available contributes significantly to its sustained growth as customers are continually enticed to explore new flavors and dishes.

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​​Restaurant delivery services have become a staple in our fast-paced lives. They offer customers the convenience of enjoying restaurant-quality food in the comfort of their home, office, or school. But are these services still growing in popularity, or has the trend reached a plateau? Let's take a closer look...

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​The festive season brings with it a flurry of excitement, celebrations, and of course, unique consumer expectations. As the end of the year approaches, restaurants can expect a change in customer behaviors and preferences. 

​Here's a look at some key customer trends and demands that restaurants should anticipate and prepare for this holiday season:

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In the United States, the month of November is most known for Thanksgiving Day. While it’s true that food-based Thanksgiving Day gatherings offer restaurants plenty of opportunity to promote their takeout, delivery, and menu options, November hosts multiple other “national days” ideal for restaurant marketing campaigns.

​Here are 7 ways, other than Thanksgiving Day, to market your restaurant in November 2023:

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​The holiday season is a crucial time for many businesses, especially restaurants. The bustle of festive celebrations, family gatherings, and a general spirit of celebration sees dining establishments filled to the brim. In these demanding times, the efficiency and organization of a restaurant's operations can make a significant difference. Since their debut, Aldelo Express restaurant POS and Masa+ Online Ordering have become invaluable tools for restaurant operators during the busy holiday season. 

​Let's dive into how these platforms elevate a restaurant's holiday experience for both owners and customers alike.

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In the ever-evolving world of restaurant business, staying ahead means adopting technological solutions that cater to customer needs and streamline operations. One such essential tool is the Masa+ app from Aldelo Express, a comprehensive online ordering platform designed to make restaurant management a breeze.
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​Let's delve into the essential features of this app and explore the return on investment (ROI) of Masa+ for restaurants.

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​As customers move back into school year and busy autumn routines, restaurants have several opportunities to attract new and existing guests with creative restaurant marketing campaigns. Here are a few ways restaurants and bars can attract customers in September 2023:

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The impact of a technologically driven era has brought about dramatic shifts in consumer preferences and demands. Here are the top five trends sweeping the restaurant industry in 2023:

​1. Sustainability on the Menu
With environmental awareness at an all-time high, restaurants are embracing sustainability not just as a buzzword but as a crucial part of their business ethos. Especially compared to recent years, customers are witnessing a surge of locally sourced, organic, and plant-based offerings on restaurant menus. The zero-waste movement is another notable trend, with establishments devising creative methods to minimize waste, from root-to-stem cooking to repurposing leftovers in creative ways.

​2. Tech-Driven Dining Experiences
Technology continues to revolutionize the restaurant industry, providing seamless, personalized experiences for diners. Contactless ordering and payment systems, AI automation services, and digital menus are gaining popularity. Moreover, the rise of “smart kitchens”—using digital kitchen display systems devices for inventory management, order tracking, and streamlining operations—significantly enhances efficiency.

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The restaurant industry is in constant flux, with technological advancements and changing customer preferences continually reshaping the way operators do business. Using scalable restaurant technology is essential to keeping up with the ever-changing restaurant industry. That’s why so many restaurant owners trust their operation with Aldelo Express POS and Masa+.

​Here are several key ways that Masa+ Online Ordering helps restaurant owners increase their sales and streamline operations.

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Good customer service is the cornerstone of any thriving restaurant. It significantly impacts the diner's experience, influencing their decision to return or recommend the restaurant to others. With the steady advancement of technology, modern tools like the Aldelo Express Point of Sale (POS) solution are making it easier to maintain and enhance customer services.

​Here are just a few ways that Aldelo Express restaurant POS solutions are shaping the future of customer service in the restaurant industry:

AI Automation Services
Aldelo Express POS is known for its constant innovation and development. In December 2021, Aldelo announced its first AI Automation Service for restaurants: "Facial Recognition Login" ​-- the first of its kind in the restaurant industry. Since then, Aldelo has added new AI Automation Services to its arsenal: "Menu Item Prediction" and "Tip Adjust Automation." ​As native services part of the full-featured Aldelo Express POS platform, every Aldelo Express AI Automation Service helps merchants run a secure and efficient restaurant operation.

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In recent years, food trucks have become a popular way for entrepreneurs to start their own businesses. They offer a flexible and affordable alternative to traditional brick-and-mortar restaurants. However, managing a food truck operation can be challenging. From tracking inventory to managing orders and payments, there are many tasks that need to be managed efficiently to ensure the success of the business. That's where Aldelo Express comes in.

Aldelo Express is a cloud-based point of sale (POS) system designed for the food service industry. It offers a range of features that can help food truck operators streamline their operations and improve their bottom lines.

​Here are some of the ways that Aldelo Express can help food truck operations:

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In an era dominated by smartphones and touchscreens, customers are yearning for traditional ordering and dining experiences. While QR code digital menus, self-service kiosks, and online ordering have rapidly gained popularity in the last few years, many customers are finding a nostalgic charm and inherent benefits associated with ordering in-person with physical menus in one's hands.

​Here are some reasons why some customers choose to use physical menus over digital and QR code-based alternatives:

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​In today's digital age, where purchasing a new meal is just a few clicks away, ordering food online has become a staple part of our lifestyles. From modern “social media influencer marketing” to traditional billboards and online media campaigns, images play a crucial role in a business’s overall profits, shaping consumer choices and influencing daily purchasing decisions.

​Here are 4 essential roles images play in helping restaurants in gain and retain new customers:

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This June, restaurants are preparing to attract customers with Father’s Day specials, attracting customers with limited-time discounts, drawings and pools, free menu items, and loyalty/rewards campaigns. The National Basketball Association will be hosting the 2023 NBA Finals bracket competition, providing the ideal setting for watch parties and basketball themed promotions.

By encouraging customers to celebrate these simple and creative holidays at their restaurant, operators encourage new and existing customers to purchase food and drinks, sign up for a restaurant loyalty program, and buy gift cards that result in future visits.

​​Here are other ways to boost customer traffic this June 2023:

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May is just around the corner, bringing along several opportunities restaurant owners use to boost sales and increase customer engagement. By encouraging customers to celebrate these simple and creative holidays at their restaurant, operators encourage new and existing customers to purchase food and drinks, sign up for a restaurant loyalty program, and buy gift cards that result in future visits.

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Whether in person or online, QR codes are one of the easiest touch-free payment methods restaurants can offer customers today. Masa+, a native online ordering solution from Aldelo Express POS, supports QR code-based ordering, payments, gift cards, and more that business owners use to grow their customer base.
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Whether placed on table tent cards, counter stickers, window decals, floor stickers, or other signage throughout the restaurant premises, Masa+ QR Codes help businesses to streamline operations, reduce customer wait times, and increase customer satisfaction for customers dining indoors or enjoying an outdoor dining environment.

​Here are 3 ways to grow your customer base this spring using Masa+ QR codes:

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There are hundreds of reasons why Aldelo Express POS is a valuable point of sale solution for modern restaurants. When combined with Aldelo Pay or approved Aldelo Partner merchant services, merchants obtain access to dozens of native Aldelo Express features, modules, and software solutions such as:

• Self-Service Kiosks
• Digital Kitchen Display System (KDS)
• Interactive Rear Displays
• Masa+ Online Ordering and Payments
• Labor Scheduling and Time Card Modules
• Inventory and Recipe Module
• Delivery Module
• Hostess Reservation Module
• ​Unlimited Software Releases
• Unlimited Software Upgrades
• 24/7 Live Technical Support
• and More!

Here are some of the top ways Aldelo Express POS is a great return on your investment:

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Restaurant owners may struggle to generate customer traffic during the rainy month of April. However, customers always enjoy having something to celebrate. By engaging your customers with clever marketing opportunities this April you can effectively promote your restaurant and encourage repeat visits.

Here are 5 engaging marketing opportunities for April 2023:

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Labor savings is a critical component of running a successful restaurant, and it can make all the difference between profitability and failure. The restaurant industry is notoriously competitive, and with rising food costs and overheads, operators need to find ways to cut costs wherever possible. Labor is a significant expense for restaurants, and finding ways to reduce labor costs without compromising the quality of food or customer service can be vital to a restaurant’s long-term success.

Here are 5 ways restaurants can save money on restaurant labor costs without sacrificing customer service:

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Aldelo Express is a point-of-sale (POS) software designed specifically for restaurants. It provides restaurant owners with an array of features to manage their business, such as menu management, table service, order management, and inventory management. One of the features offered by Aldelo Express is a complete gift card program available through the Masa+ Digital Payments solution. In this blog post we will discuss what a Masa+ Gift Card program offers a restaurant.