Restaurant promotion is a great way to boost customer loyalty, increase brand awareness, and drive restaurant revenue. Whether your restaurant is struggling or not, it’s always a good idea to keep a couple of fun restaurant promotion ideas at hand.
In this article, we’ll share key tips for planning successful promotional events, along with 20 proven restaurant promotion ideas to help you stand out and attract more customers.
Key Takeaways
- Engagement: Restaurant promotions are a great way to entertain loyal customers and attract new traffic to your restaurant.
- Approachability: The best promotions engage your audience in a fun and approachable manner.
- Relevance: You should always keep your restaurant and your target customers in mind when picking a restaurant promotion.
- Consistency: Regular promotions help maintain customer engagement over time.
- Planning: Creating a schedule can help you remain consistent with your restaurant promotion campaigns.
- Innovative Strategies: Leverage Facebook for restaurants and explore restaurant guerrilla marketing techniques to creatively promote your business.
What Makes a Great Restaurant Promotion?
For restaurant promotion ideas to be effective, you’re going to have to follow a couple of rules. Some promotions that other restaurants are using to a great effect may be counterproductive in your case.
So, in order for your restaurant promotion ideas to make sense, you’re going to have to check a couple of boxes first.
Here are a couple of things you should keep in mind before launching a promotional campaign:
- Know Your Customers: Understand your restaurant target audience to tailor promotions that attract new customers and encourage repeat visits.
- Understand and Match Your Brand: Ensure promotions match your restaurant’s style and identity to avoid mismatched offerings.
- Define a Restaurant Marketing Budget: Plan within your financial limits to avoid overspending on elaborate promotions.
- Offline vs. Online Restaurant Promotions: Decide between offline or online promotions based on your audience’s preferences.
- Team Communication: Ensure your staff can handle the promotion without being overburdened.
- Evaluate the ROI: Analyze the return on investment (ROI) of your promotion to determine if it is worth continuing. If it’s successful, consider expanding your offerings or offering them more frequently. Be data-driven!
20 Promotion Ideas for Restaurants
Below you’re going to find 20 promotion strategies that will make sure your customers spend a little bit extra the next time they’re visiting your restaurant.
Remember that in order to drive restaurant sales, you have to offer customers what they need. Be open to new restaurant promotion ideas and mix them up for the best results.
Struggling with marketing? Check our restaurant marketing agency services.
1. Offer a Loyalty Program to Encourage Repeat Business
A restaurant loyalty program is a great way to increase repeat business and customer retention. By rewarding customers for their visits with discounts, exclusive perks, or points, you can build stronger relationships and keep them coming back.
Promote your program through your website, social media, and in-store signage to ensure visibility.
Offer personalized rewards based on customer preferences, and consider gamifying the experience with tiered levels to encourage higher spending.
Keep the program simple and easy to understand, and don’t forget to regularly remind customers about the benefits.
Lil Ava’s Pizza has achieved significant growth using UpMenu’s all-in-one solution, including the Loyalty Program, Online Ordering System, and Branded Mobile App.
From January 1 to November 11, 2024, they processed 16,567 orders, generating $1,112,451.95 in revenue, and saving $166,867.79 in third-party fees.
2. Celebrate Birthdays with Exclusive Specials to Strengthen Customer Loyalty
Provide a special offer for customers on their birthday, such as a free dessert or discounted meal.
Organizing birthday specials can provide you and your restaurant with some juicy benefits, like increased revenue, enhanced customer loyalty, and positive word-of-mouth marketing.
To maximize the value of birthday specials, you might want to consider personalizing the offers and promoting them through various marketing channels. See what works for your clients. There’s probably no need to go all out with signature dishes.
If you pull it off, this can have a great effect on your customer retention and can encourage repeat business through restaurant loyalty programs.
The Cheesecake Factory offers a free dessert to customers on their birthday when they sign up for their rewards program. This creates a personal connection with customers and strengthens loyalty.
3. Organize Social Media Contests to Boost Engagement
Restaurant social media contests are a great way to quickly create some online buzz and bring in new customers.
By offering discounts, gift cards, free desserts, and drinks, you can entice people to share your special offer with their peers. This, again, is a great way to win new customers and convert them into loyal customers through your restaurant loyalty program.
- Increased visibility: Digital strategies like restaurant SEO, social media, and food advertisements help customers find your restaurant online.
- Improved customer engagement: Tools like restaurant email marketing and social media enable real-time interactions.
- Cost-effective marketing: Digital marketing reaches a wider audience with a smaller restaurant marketing budget than traditional methods.
- Targeted marketing: Focus on specific audiences by location, interests, or behavior for more effective campaigns.
- Increased revenue: Attract new customers, retain current ones, and encourage repeat visits through loyalty programs.
- Real-time analytics: Use restaurant analytics to track campaign success and make data-driven improvements.
Remember to clarify all the rules so there’s no doubt about how everything works. It’s a good idea to explain the basics, such as how to tag people.
Remember, many of your customers may not always be tech-savvy. You’d be surprised how many customers are lost to technological difficulties!
In 2009, Dunkin’ Donuts launched the “Create Dunkin’s Next Donut” contest, inviting U.S. residents aged 13 and older to submit their donut creations online. Participants could enter up to three unique donut designs, with no purchase necessary.
The contest received nearly 130,000 entries, showcasing the brand’s ability to engage a large audience through interactive campaigns.
The winning donut, “Toffee for Your Coffee,” was introduced nationwide, generating strong customer engagement and providing Dunkin’ Donuts with valuable insights to better tailor its offerings to customer preferences.
4. Start Working with Third-Party Apps
If you’re just starting out and have recently opened your restaurant, a good strategy is to partner with third-party apps like Uber Eats or DoorDash, which are well-known in the market.
You can purchase additional advertising within these apps to reach a larger audience and offer discounts on orders placed through the app. This approach works especially well if you’re new to the market and looking to introduce your brand to potential customers.
However, in the long run, it may not be financially sustainable due to the high commissions charged by food delivery apps.
The solution is to build your own website with an online ordering system to gain full control over orders, promotions, and customer data.
With your own system, you can easily make changes to the menu, promotions, and delivery times. When choosing an online ordering system, be sure to consider its features, costs, and integration possibilities.
Here you can check the best restaurant online ordering systems.
Since partnering with UpMenu in 2013, Sushi Kushi has increased online orders to 60% of total sales, generating $2.5 million in revenue in 2023-2024 and saving over $1.5 million in third-party commissions.
By using UpMenu’s online ordering system, branded mobile app, and multi-location website, Sushi Kushi enhanced customer engagement and brand recognition, with 25% of orders via the app.
5. Run a Review Contest to Earn Five-Star Ratings
Ask customers to leave a review of your restaurant on social media or restaurant review sites such as Yelp or Google Reviews for a chance to win a prize.
- Set clear objectives: Define goals like increasing reviews, improving reputation, or boosting engagement.
- Choose a platform: Select the review platform(s) like Google, Yelp, TripAdvisor, or your restaurant’s Facebook page.
- Create contest rules: Make the rules clear, including eligibility, entry methods, and criteria for winners.
- Determine the prize(s): Incentivize participation with attractive prizes like gift cards, free meals, and restaurant discounts.
- Promote the contest: Use social media, email, in-store signage, and your website to spread the word.
- Monitor and respond to reviews: Track reviews and respond promptly.
- Choose and announce the winner(s): Select winners based on contest rules and announce them online.
- Evaluate the contest’s success: Analyze the number and sentiment of reviews to measure success.
- Follow up: Send a follow-up email to all participants, thanking them for their participation and feedback.
Organizing online review contests boosts your online presence and builds trust with potential customers who rely on reviews to make dining decisions.
Café Appeliano, a popular eatery in Dhaka, Bangladesh, hosted a “Review & Win” contest, where participants were encouraged to leave reviews for a chance to win prizes, including a 12-inch pizza and two bowls of pasta for the first prize, two bowls of pasta for the second prize, and one bowl of pasta for the third prize.
The contest boosted online visibility and attracted new customers by leveraging positive customer feedback.
6. Offer Interactive Experiences to Boost Customer Interest
Offer interactive experiences like ‘build your own pizza’ or salad stations, where customers can customize their dishes using interactive tableside ordering. This adds an element of fun and creativity to the dining experience.
An interactive tableside ordering system can also encourage your customers to order extra toppings for their pizzas or patties for their burgers.
It’s a simple way to influence the amount your customers spend while also giving them extra control over the food they eat.
MOD Pizza enhances customer engagement by allowing diners to create their own pizzas with a variety of toppings and sauces.
This interactive experience boosts satisfaction, encourages repeat visits and strengthens brand connection.
7. Boost Takeout Sales with Exclusive Specials
Offer special deals or discounts for customers who order takeout or delivery. You can quickly reach your customers and advertise takeout specials through restaurant SMS marketing.
You can also boost your takeout specials sales and create even more buzz around your restaurant by encouraging customers to take photos and share their reviews on social media.
Domino’s frequently runs takeout promotions like “Mix and Match” deals, encouraging customers to order online and boosting sales, particularly during slower periods.
8. Create a Pay It Forward Campaign to Build a Positive Restaurant Image
Launch a Pay It Forward campaign where customers can buy an extra meal or drink for someone in need, like a homeless person or first responder.
A very cool way of collecting funds for the campaign is by adding a QR code to the original post, like in the example below.
This initiative fosters community impact, enhances the restaurant’s image, and generates social media buzz.
Promote it via your website, social media, or restaurant email marketing to attract customers who are interested in socially responsible dining.
OK Chicken Rice, a popular eatery in Singapore, initiated a “Pay It Forward” campaign, allowing customers to purchase meals for those in need.
In November 2024, they launched the “10 Minutes Before Seniors Eat Free” campaign, offering free meals to seniors during the last 10 minutes before closing.
9. Establish a Happy Hour to Boost Your Sales in Off-peak Hours
A happy hour for a restaurant is a promotional event that typically takes place during off-peak hours. The goal of happy hour is to drive restaurant foot traffic during a slower time of day and increase sales, while also providing a fun and social atmosphere for customers to enjoy.
During happy hour, restaurants typically offer specials on selected food items and drinks, such as half-price appetizers, discounted beer or wine, or signature cocktails at reduced prices.
The Smith in New York City hosts daily happy hours offering food and drink specials to attract customers during slower times, increasing traffic and sales in off-peak hours.
10. Offer Catering Discounts to Expand B2B Opportunities
Offering catering discounts for large parties or events can be a great way to increase your B2B sales.
This approach can be particularly effective for businesses that frequently host events or meetings with food service. To make this strategy work for you, consider offering tiered discounts based on the order size.
For instance, you could offer a 10% discount for orders over $500, a 15% discount for orders over $1000, and so on.
Promote your catering discounts through targeted advertising and outreach to local businesses to ensure your message reaches your intended audience.
Panera Bread offers catering rewards—earn a $20 reward for every $500 spent on catering orders, which you can use for your next event or treat yourself!
11. Arrange Charity Events to Foster a Positive Brand Image
Hosting charity events at your restaurant business offers numerous benefits, including enhancing your brand’s reputation and showcasing your commitment to supporting local causes.
It’s a great opportunity to attract new customers while strengthening relationships with the existing ones.
Additionally, such events foster a sense of community and goodwill (particularly during the holiday season!), helping you build a network of local supporters who may become regular customers or generate positive word-of-mouth marketing.
Katie’s Pizza & Pasta Osteria, inspired by the support from its Kickstarter campaign, launched the Katie’s Giveback program to give back to the St. Louis community.
Each month, Katie’s donates the entire profit from its Giveback Tuesday events to local nonprofit organizations.
Since its inception, Katie’s has donated $487,714 to charity and continues to support local causes.
12. Organize Themed Nights to Boost Customer Loyalty
Themed nights can become a regular experience that entices your loyal customers to keep coming back and new local customers to try out your offer.
You can organize community events, host restaurant anniversary parties, and offer different menu specials to make your event really special.
Eataly organizes themed pasta nights where guests start with a pasta-making class led by a Scuola Chef, learning to shape their own fresh pasta. Afterward, they sample three pasta dishes paired with expertly selected wines.
This immersive event allows guests to enjoy the best of Eataly in a fun, educational setting, making it a memorable experience that brings customers back for more.
13. Reward Your Customers for Bringing a Friend to Boost Sales
Offer a special deal for customers who bring a friend to dine with them.
By offering a special deal for customers who bring a friend, you can encourage them to invite others to try your restaurant or business.
Coffee Dose Cafe offers a referral program where customers can earn bonus points for referring friends. These points can be redeemed for free drinks, snacks, or merchandise, incentivizing both the referrer and the referred.
This is also a great opportunity to retain your new customer through your restaurant loyalty program.
You can offer extra on-site stamps to both the customer and the friend they brought. That way, you can entice both of them to get started on your restaurant loyalty program!
14. Put Together Contests and Giveaways to Boost Brand Awareness
Host consistent contests and giveaways on social media or in-store for a chance to win a free meal or gift card.
Contests and giveaways can offer significant advantages for restaurants, including increased brand awareness, attracting new customers, and fostering customer engagement.
By hosting contests on social media platforms, restaurants can grow their following, collect valuable customer data, and boost sales.
Additionally, these promotions can enhance customer loyalty, generate word-of-mouth marketing, and create shareable user-generated content.
McDonald’s Monopoly Giveaway, which began in 1987, has become an annual tradition in many countries, including the US, UK, and Ireland.
For over 30 years, this promotion has been one of McDonald’s most popular marketing campaigns, driving sales and boosting customer engagement.
15. Offer Seasonal Dishes to Create a Festive Atmosphere
Organizing holiday specials can be an effective way for you to attract new customers and retain the existing ones. Holidays are a time when people often want to celebrate with family and friends, and dining out is a popular way to do so.
People generally love the festive atmosphere of seasonal holidays, so it’s a great way to give potential customers what they need while also capitalizing on the trend.
Starbucks offers seasonal coffee beverages like the Pumpkin Spice Latte in fall, Peppermint Mocha for the winter holidays, and Caramel Frappuccino in warmer months. These limited-time drinks create excitement and enhance the festive atmosphere, driving sales and customer engagement.
16. Hold Business Lunches to Create Networking Opportunities
One of the key aspects is offering a well-balanced and efficient menu tailored to the needs of business professionals in your area.
The menu should include various options that cater to different dietary preferences and restrictions, while also considering the time constraints that business guests may have.
Sushi Minto offers a Business Lunch Menu available from 12 PM to 4 PM for 39 Q.R (Dine-In only).
The meal includes a choice of soup, salad, appetizer, and a main course. The lunch is completed with a dessert and a soft drink or small mineral water.
It’s a quick and satisfying option for professionals looking to network or enjoy a meal during their workday.
Don’t forget about providing exceptional restaurant customer service with staff who are attentive, professional, and well-informed about the menu and any potential allergens to ensure a smooth and enjoyable dining experience.
17. Invite Guest Chefs to Cross-promote & Win New Customers
Invite guest chefs to come and prepare special dishes or menus for a limited time. This is a great way to add variety to your menu and attract new customers.
This approach can be particularly effective for small businesses looking to expand their customer base and generate buzz around their establishment.
Patina 250 organizes a Guest Chef Series featuring local and celebrity chefs. These events offer innovative dishes and provide a platform for chefs to showcase their culinary talents, attracting diverse audiences.
18. Organize Pop-Up Restaurants to Attract New Customers
Restaurant owners can organize pop-up restaurants to attract new customers to a restaurant.
Pop-up restaurants are temporary dining experiences that can take place in various locations, from warehouses to parks, and offer a unique and exclusive dining experience.
Hosting a pop-up restaurant in a different location or venue is a great way to attract new customers and generate buzz.
One of the main advantages of organizing a pop-up restaurant is that it provides an opportunity for a restaurant to showcase its creativity and culinary expertise and to experiment with new menu items and concepts.
The pop-up concept has been key to Bagel Bunny’s success, allowing the brand to build awareness, test new markets, and engage directly with customers. By hosting limited-time events in cities like Los Angeles and New York, Bagel Bunny has created excitement and exclusivity, fostering customer loyalty.
19. Embrace Sustainable Practices to Improve Your Brand Reputation
Sustainable practices involve minimizing negative impacts on the environment and society while maintaining economic viability.
Introducing restaurant sustainability practices, such as sourcing local ingredients, using recyclable utensils, and efforts to reduce food waste, can lower your environmental footprint and attract eco-conscious customers.
These practices not only build loyalty and a positive community reputation but also help cut costs by reducing waste and improving efficiency.
Bamboo Sushi, based in Portland, Oregon, is the first fully sustainable sushi restaurant in the U.S. The restaurant sources only sustainable seafood and follows low-waste practices, including biodegradable packaging and recycling.
Bamboo Sushi partners with organizations like Seafood Watch to ensure responsible sourcing and educates customers on sustainability.
This commitment to the environment has earned Bamboo Sushi a loyal following of eco-conscious customers.
20. Launch a Restaurant Photo Contest for Extra Engagement
Few restaurant promotions go as viral as a good, old photo contest!
Launching a restaurant photo contest can be an effective way to engage customers and increase brand awareness on social media.
The aim of a photo contest is to encourage your customers to take pictures of their food, drinks, and dining experiences and share them on social media using specific restaurant hashtags or by tagging the restaurant’s account.
This will lead to increased social media engagement and provide your restaurant with user-generated content you can use in your marketing efforts. Make sure you set a fair prize!
The St. Thomas Restaurant Group, including Agave, RAW, and Pesce, previously organized a fun photo contest where customers were invited to share photos of their takeout orders and tag the restaurant group.
Participants had the chance to win a $50 STRG gift card. Photos were posted on the restaurant’s social media, and followers voted for their favorites each Sunday.
This contest helped boost customer engagement and promoted the restaurant’s takeout options.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How do you make a promotion for a restaurant?
Creating a promotion for a restaurant involves the following steps:
- Set Clear Goals: Decide what you want to achieve with the promotion, such as attracting new customers, increasing sales during slow periods, or boosting loyalty.
- Know Your Audience: Tailor the promotion to your target customers’ preferences and dining habits. For example, offer family-friendly deals for a family-oriented audience.
- Choose the Right Promotion Type: Select a type of promotion that aligns with your goals, such as discounts, special menu items, happy hours, loyalty programs, or limited-time offers.
- Create a Budget: Determine how much you’re willing to spend on the promotion, including marketing, discounts, and additional resources needed.
- Leverage Marketing Channels: Promote your offer using online platforms like social media, restaurant newsletters, and your website, as well as offline strategies like posters or in-house signage.
- Make it Time-Sensitive: Adding a deadline creates urgency and motivates customers to act quickly.
- Engage Your Team: Train your staff to understand and promote the offer effectively to customers.
- Track Performance: Monitor the success of your promotion by measuring restaurant metrics, such as sales, customer footfall, and feedback, to determine its effectiveness and refine future efforts.
Where is the best place to promote a restaurant?
According to WordStream, the most popular social media platforms for restaurants are Facebook and Instagram, though platforms like TikTok, Twitter, YouTube, and even LinkedIn can also be valuable for certain brands. Learn more about restaurant social media marketing here.
