The best restaurant marketing ideas do one of four jobs: they help new guests find you, make it easy to book, bring guests back and fill your quiet nights. Below are twelve ideas, three for each job, that work on a small budget. You do not need all twelve. Pick one from each group, do it well for a month and check what happened.
In short
- Match the idea to the problem: not enough new guests, not enough bookings, not enough return visits, or empty quiet nights.
- Start with the free basics: Google Business Profile, a clear menu page, and reviews.
- Collect email addresses and phone numbers (with permission), because repeat guests cost far less than new ones.
- Try one idea at a time and measure it, or you will not know what worked.
How do you choose a restaurant marketing idea? #
Start by naming your problem. A restaurant that is full on weekends but empty on Tuesday needs a different idea from one that nobody can find. Write down your problem in one sentence, then use the group below that fits it. If you are not sure, begin with getting found, because the other ideas work better when people can find you.
Ideas to get found #
1. Claim and complete your Google Business Profile #
It is free, and it is where most people look first. Add your hours, menu, photos and booking link, and keep them current. Our guide to local SEO for restaurants goes through it step by step.
2. Put your menu on your website as a page #
Text beats a PDF for search engines and for people on phones. Show each dish with a short description and the price, and say what you serve and where you are in the page title.
3. Get regular, honest reviews #
Ask happy guests, with a direct link, and reply to every review. Never pay for reviews, because Google does not allow it.
4. Show your food with real photos #
A few good photos of your best dishes work harder than a long description. Post them on your profile and your social accounts, and show your people and your room as well.
Ideas to get booked #
5. Make booking one tap away #
Put a booking button or a tap-to-call number at the top of your website and your Google profile. Every extra step loses guests. Check the booking link on your phone, as a stranger would.
6. Be clear about delivery and takeaway #
If you offer delivery or collection, say so on your profile and your site, with links to order. List the areas you cover and the times you are open for orders.
7. Take private events and group bookings #
Birthdays, team lunches and small events fill rooms in a planned way. Make a page that says what you offer, the group sizes, a sample menu and how to ask. Make the enquiry short.
Ideas to bring guests back #
8. Collect emails and phone numbers, with permission #
Ask at booking or with the bill, and say what you will send. A short monthly message about a new dish or an event costs almost nothing, and the guests who read it are the ones most likely to return.
9. A simple loyalty offer #
A stamp card or a “bring a friend” offer rewards people who already like you. Keep the rule simple enough to explain in one sentence, and make sure the numbers still work for you.
10. Run a regular event night #
A quiz, a tasting or a chef’s special on the same night each week gives guests a reason to come back, and gives you something to talk about on social media and in your email.
Ideas to fill quiet nights #
11. A set offer for your slowest night #
Choose the one night that is usually empty and give it a clear offer, such as a set menu at a fixed price. Tell your email list and your social followers, and put it on your website. Try it for a month and see.
12. Partner with nearby businesses #
Offices, gyms, hotels and local clubs have people who want somewhere to eat. Offer a group discount or a reserved table in return for being mentioned to their members or staff.
What about ads and social media? #
Paid ads can work for a restaurant, especially for a new opening or an event, but they need a clear offer, a simple page to land on and a budget limit. Social media is worth doing for photos and updates, but it is a shop window, not a lead engine on its own. Do the free basics first, then add ads when you know what a booking is worth. For the thinking behind a plan, see our guide to marketing objectives for a restaurant.
How do you tell what is working? #
- Ask every new guest how they heard about you, and keep a tally.
- Count calls and direction requests from your Google Business Profile each month.
- Track online bookings and where they come from.
- Compare month to month, and change one thing at a time so you know what caused a change.
Keep what works, drop what does not, and try the next idea. Small steady changes beat a big campaign that nobody measures.
Common mistakes #
- Doing everything at once. You cannot tell what worked, and you run out of time.
- Chasing followers instead of guests. Likes do not pay the rent.
- Discounting every night. Reserve offers for the quiet nights, or you teach guests to wait for a deal.
- Not asking for contact details. Without them you start from nothing every time.
- Letting information go out of date. Old hours and menus cost you guests.
Common questions #
What is the cheapest way to market a restaurant? #
A complete Google Business Profile, a menu page on your website and a habit of asking for reviews. All three are free apart from your time.
How much should a restaurant spend on marketing? #
It depends on your size and your margins, so we do not give a single figure. Start small, measure the result and spend more on what brings paying guests.
Does social media work for restaurants? #
It helps to show your food and share news, and to keep in touch with people who already like you. It works best next to a good Google profile and a website that makes booking easy.
How do I get more reviews? #
Ask happy guests in person or by message, with a direct link, and make it easy. Do not offer rewards for reviews.
Should I hire a marketing agency? #
It can help when you do not have the time or want a plan. Look for one that explains what it will do, shows how it will measure results and does not promise rankings.
Where to start #
This week, pick the group that matches your biggest problem and do one idea from it. If your problem is being found, our restaurant SEO service covers the Google side, and you can book a free consultation to talk through your own numbers.
