How to Increase Restaurant Sales – 20 Tips & Strategies

Supriya Bajaj

Senior Writer

Restaurant Sales and Attract Customer Attraction

Running a restaurant is not easy. Long hours and demanding customers make it one of the most high-pressure vocations. 

It takes a significant amount of time and investment to get the formula right. 

To run a restaurant effectively, there needs to be an optimal mixture of a few ingredients, including operations, marketing, user experience online and offline, and not to mention good food that keeps your guests smacking their lips.

Looking for Restaurant Management Software? Check out SoftwareSuggest’s list of the best restaurant management software solutions.

Besides, the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic resulted in a nationwide lockdown, leading to heavy losses in the food and restaurant industry. 

Truth be told, it was a trying time for many restaurant owners. But do you know who came out as a winner? The ones who were early in adopting technology to provide a seamless customer experience despite all challenges.

How Does Technology Contribute to the Effective Operation of a Restaurant?

Since technology took the business landscape by storm, no industry has escaped the disruption. And restaurant business is not an exception!

Today, a wide range of software is at the disposal of restaurant owners to help in restaurant order management, billing, and food management. These help owners take their business to the next level.

A restaurant software automates important restaurant tasks and enhances the efficiency as well as productivity. 

If you want to deliver a seamless experience to your customers while saving your staff’s effort and time, deploying a restaurant software tool is a must. 

It doesn’t only enhance your operations and save your efforts; the solutions contribute towards increasing your revenue with restaurant order management. 

How Does Restaurant Software Work?

More than 80% of restaurants have started utilizing food and service management for online ordering, reservation, inventory, and analytics.

A restaurant management software acts as an all-in-one platform whereby you can streamline and automate various management tasks. From collecting customer data to producing invoicing and building customer loyalty programs, it does it all. 

All the data are accumulated at a centralized platform, making it easy to analyze and extract actionable insights for better strategizing. 

How Does Restaurant Management Software Help To Increase Revenue?

When you choose the right food and service management tool for restaurants, you can increase your revenue to an unprecedented scale. 

1. Better Reservation Management

Unstructured and chaotic reservation management can spoil a dining experience. A recent survey revealed that 83% of customers prefer to add their names to a reservation list before arriving at a restaurant to save precious time.

Restaurant software can help manage reservations smoothly by enabling customers to book a table online and check its real-time status.

Online restaurant management systems can be a boon for dining establishments as they prevent over or under-booking by patrons. It ensures that your restaurant optimally utilizes available table space and increases operational efficiency in the reservation process.

2. Improved Customer Experience

How to increase restaurant profits? The ninja technique is to improve customer experience. 

Did you know that 86% of buyers are willing to pay more for an enhanced customer experience? 

This holds true for people visiting a restaurant as they want convenience, good service, and a pleasant experience at the end of the day. 

Restaurant software solutions empower customers to make bookings with the click of a button – no more waiting in lines to get a table.

Restaurant management software can also help dining establishments provide a more personalized experience. Waiters, chefs, bartenders, and cashiers can access real-time information about customer preferences based on previous visits and deliver better service to delight your loyal customers.

3. Enhanced Employee Engagement and Communication

Your workforce is your greatest asset and can help your restaurant carve a distinct niche for itself. 

One of the most significant benefits of restaurant management software is promoting an open culture that thrives on mutual respect and transparency.

It makes it possible for team members to share information instantly and make better organizational decisions.

Since a restaurant has many different functional areas, a specialized restaurant management solution can improve visibility and two-way communication between employees and other stakeholders.

Managers can get a complete 360-degree view of restaurant operations and monitor tasks effectively.

Remember, a happy employee will keep your customers happy. 

4. Customer Loyalty Program Management

Creative restaurants find ways to attract and retain loyal customers by offering loyalty programs. 

Your restaurant can increase profitability by 25%-125% if it reduces customer churn by 5%. 

Loyalty programs generally follow the rule of earning points for money spent, which can be redeemed later. Your restaurant can also provide special offers, promotions, and deals for long-term patrons to increase customer engagement.

With modern restaurant solutions, you can create and run customized loyalty programs. This helps build personal connections with your customers. 

These loyal customers also act as your brand advocates, referring to their friends and family members. 

This, in turn, helps restaurants increase footfall and thereby increase their revenue. 

5. Smart Order Management

Do you feel overwhelmed by the sudden inflow of orders in your restaurant? If yes, restaurant management software can help you tremendously with its advanced order management capabilities

Well, it enables customers to order online and ensures that orders are prepared and delivered in a structured manner.

With restaurant software solutions, you don’t have to worry about making any mistakes with customer orders. The entire order process is streamlined and automated, reducing the chance of any error.

You can also record and analyze order transactions to understand changing customer demand and seasonal patterns and identify your menu’s popular items through menu templates.

These data become valuable in running promotions and developing enticing restaurant offers. 

6. Seamless Inventory Management

Your restaurant could lose out on big money by overstocking or having fewer inventory items. Investing in a streamlined restaurant management system is the way to go, as it helps you maintain inventory based on actual usage and curb stock fluctuations.

Accurate forecasts enable restaurateurs to budget better and automate manual supply chain processes.

Restaurant POS software solutions free up your time as you don’t have to go through tedious inventory calculations. You can reduce pilferage, enhance storage techniques, and save time to focus on other strategic business goals.

What are some tips and tricks for boosting restaurant sales?

Thanks to the advancements in technology. Restaurants have started evolving their operations, and they are gradually adopting online food channels. 

Here come on-demand food delivery applications. In the present epoch, these food and restaurant ordering mobile apps play a significant role in letting restaurants connect with their customers.

If you are looking for customer-centric strategies, we have some newly developed approaches for restaurants that will help you keep your audience engaged. As a restaurant owner, these strategies will help you drive traffic and boost your restaurant’s sales.

1. Serve Your Customers Hygienically

In this time of crisis, people are well aware and cautious about their hygiene. Therefore, it becomes mandatory for restaurant owners to excel in their customers’ expectations when it comes to hygiene.

If you are a restaurant owner, you should keep your place well-clean and thoroughly sanitized. In this manner, you can ensure your customers that the food delivered to them is prepared cautiously.

The following are the significant ways to delight your customers in a hygienic and cost-friendly manner –

  • Sanitize your restaurants properly, especially the kitchen area where food is prepared.
  • Never avoid wearing gloves, whether at the time of taking orders, preparing food, or making delivery drop-offs.
  • Use food delivery apps to remain in touch with your customers.
  • You and your workers must work according to the guidelines set for the restaurants. It would ensure trust among your customers.
  • Take the help of on-demand solutions such as food delivery applications to keep your customers updated about the delivery of their diet.
  • Keep your customers updated about the delivery of their food by using GPS tracking technology or phone calls.
  • If you have a personalized food and restaurant app, make sure it has a simple interface, and your clients can easily use it to reach you.

2. Take Advantage of Curbside Pickup

During the lockdown, most restaurants worldwide were forced to remain shut. This led many restaurants to benefit from takeout deliveries. You enable customers to pick up their meals from your restaurants without making physical contact.

In other words, if you can’t deliver food to your customers, you can always let customers come to you.

Even though the lockdown has eased down, the trend of curbside pick-up has only accelerated. 

Curb-side pickup is nothing but allowing your customers to order food online and collect the food from the restaurant when it’s ready. 

You can enhance the experience of your customers through curbside pickup in the following manner:

  • For seamless curbside pickup, you can assign nearby parking spots.
  • Let a dedicated staff watch for customer vehicles.
  • Try to accept payment through the online payment mode for seamless transactions.
  • Use superlatively insulated and ventilated takeout containers to hand over food to your customers.
  • Make your customers aware of your curbside pickup services via your food, ordering apps, websites, etc.

3. Collaboration With Food Delivery Applications

In the present time, you can enjoy the benefits of online food delivery by collaborating with trending food delivery apps. Connecting with your customers when they need your service is one of the best ways to enhance your customers’ food experience. 

You can collaborate with the restaurant aggregator applications; they will allow you to

  • Reach out to the customers looking for your services.
  • Register your restaurant at no cost or a very nominal price.
  • Make your customers delighted by offering them food on their demand.
  • Collaboration with Food Delivery Applications

4. Have A Dedicated Restaurant Mobile App

Keeping the current scenario in mind, it is the need of the hour for restaurant owners to have a dedicated food ordering application. 

Take your restaurant business to the virtual world and allow your customers to order their favorite cuisine from your mobile restaurant app. 

Following are the major concerns that you can quickly address by going for restaurant mobile app development

  • Allow your customers to order food online easily.
  • Enable advance takeaway scheduling.
  • Make proper arrangements for doorstep food delivery.
  • Encourage the contact-less delivery of food.
  • Enable an excellent GPS tracking system.

5. Leverage Social Media Platforms 

The best way to attract customers and increase your restaurant sales is by harnessing the power of social media platforms. 

Today, almost everyone is using social media — be it Instagram, Facebook, or others. 

Create an online presence and make sure to update your pages regularly. Posts pictures of your restaurant, your dishes, special chef offers — anything that will appeal to your audiences and entice them to come and try your restaurant. 

Besides, social media is a great platform to send out restaurant promotion messages. You can make announcements regarding special discounts and offers and increase footfall. 

6. Hosting Events

Another leaf on the book of how to increase restaurant sales is by hosting various events. 

It could be an acoustic night, standup comedy, a guest performance, or any other event that is deemed fit for your audience. 

Promote it across various platforms so that people become aware of the events happening in town. Hosting events is a great way to bring in your regulars and, at the same time, attract new customers.  

How can various restaurant marketing tactics be implemented? 

1. Email and SMS Marketing

Email marketing and SMS to nurture long-term relationships with your customers, which enable you to increase restaurant sales. 

You can use SMS marketing to send out promo codes. It generally also contains links to your mobile app or website. 

You can even send out periodic newsletters updating them about your cuisine, hygiene activities, and other relevant information. For instance, you can create fun facts about food newsletters. 

Such activities help build relationships that ultimately lead to increased sales. 

2. Create Content

Once you have your website up and running, you will need content to fill those empty pages. Start with the basics like contact details, maps, and menus. Once you have the foundation, it’s time to start looking at improving your online presence.

Search engines are usually how new customers are going to find you, so you want to show up as high as possible on those Google searches.

SEO marketing sounds complicated, but it doesn’t have to be. The key is to provide people with valuable content and to use a variety of content options. Video is ideal for restaurant marketing. 

Look at how social media pages like Unilad Grub film their food-related content and gain a considerable number of shares. Use professional video services like Promo.com, and your restaurant could be attracting more people to your tables than ever before.

3. Get Instagrammable

Instagram and restaurants go hand in hand. A startling 69% of millennials will take a photo of their food before they pick up their knife and fork. 

This might be mocked by many, but it’s a massive opportunity for your business. Those photos will be uploaded to Instagram and Facebook, and with the right people posting the right pics, you could be expanding your audience reach in a very organic way. 

Some restaurants take this even further and make use of blank spaces in their premises to create selfie spots. These can be designed to suit your branding and can be a great way of encouraging people to take a photo in your establishment and promote you on their social channels.

4. Attain Sustainable Measures

Younger generations are placing a high priority on sustainability. It can be an advantageous move to tap into (and you’ll be doing the planet some good too). Apart from this, you can even help to reduce your ongoing bills at the same time. That means you’ll be increasing profits and spending less while being kind to the environment.

It’s a win-win situation, and any restaurant that isn’t promoting its sustainable actions is missing out on a valuable marketing element.

Let people know that you have taken steps to use recyclable takeaway containers, use less water in the cooking process, or only buy from local sources. Being a greener restaurant is a fantastic selling point in the modern age and is only going to become more critical.

5. Influencers – Yes or No?

The hospitality industry has primarily driven the rise of social media influencers. They might not be the only industry that uses influencers, but they certainly seem to have adopted them on a grander scale. 

While there are dangers with making use of social media influencers, they can be useful if utilized correctly. 

Look at your local area and identify local food bloggers. Never try to make use of social media influencers with a follower count that is too high. 

The more followers they have, the less likely that they will interact with their audience, meaning that they gain very little. 

Micro and nano-influencers are much more useful for restaurants, and they don’t have to cost you much more than the price of a meal either.

Wrap Up 

Come up with innovative restaurant ideas and increase restaurant profits. 

With ever-changing customer demands and a steep incline in the market competition, purchasing a professional restaurant management system can streamline multiple processes.

Build a plan and have a goal, and don’t rest until you’ve reached that goal. The more that you have a clear target, the easier it will be to assess your marketing effectiveness. 

It is the best way to ensure your restaurant business expands its loyal customer base and thrives to reach the pinnacles of success.

Google News
subscribe image
Let’s Stay in Touch

Subscribe to our newsletter & never miss our latest news and promotions.

people subscribed+21K people have already subscribed 

Related Articles

sitemap
Share This