Chi-Chi’s Salsa. Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs. College Inn Chicken Broth. Marie Callender’s Chicken Pot Pies. You’ve seen them all at your local grocery store, but did you know that each of these familiar products (and hundreds more) originated as extensions of their original brand, the full service restaurant? In some ways, building out a retail
Restaurant Marketing Strategies for Slow Times
The ability to turn a profit at any restaurant depends on one thing and one thing only: Filling seats. So when you have a full staff, a kitchen full of food, and no one in your dining room, it’s time to get creative. We have five restaurant marketing strategies that can fill in the gaps
How to Calculate the ROI of Your Restaurant Marketing Strategy
Getting the most bang for your buck on a restaurant marketing strategy is critical, especially when your marketing dollars are limited. And, with so many traditional and digital marketing opportunities available to the restaurateur, it can be a daunting task to understand where to spend those dollars. And then, how do you calculate the return
Pay to Play? Paid Online Advertising for Restaurants
The Internet has expanded the ways small businesses can reach out to potential new customers, and in no way is that more true than with social media. Restaurants who succeed with online marketing use social media to attract new customers and engage with past guests. 51.2 percent of Rewards Network restaurants reported that social media
5 Ways Restaurants Can Capitalize on Black Friday
Black Friday. For American retailers, the day after Thanksgiving can be an exceptionally profitable or nightmarish time of the year, depending on how well managers and staff have planned for the day. From advertising to crowd management, it’s likely the most stressful day of your staff’s year, if you let it become that. But it’s
How to Write About Your Restaurant Online
You’ve followed our tips from prior blog posts. You’ve strategized, designed your website, and set up your social media accounts. In short, you have decided to take advantage of the nearly unlimited marketing potential of the Internet. But now comes the really hard part: actually writing about your restaurant. We get it. Staring at a
Google Analytics for Restaurants and How You Can Use It
Did you know that 90% of the data on Earth was generated in the last 2 years alone? No wonder business owners get overwhelmed at the thought of analyzing their website — especially on top of the hustle and bustle of everyday service. But if you have a plan for how to use that data
5 Smart Email Marketing Tips
Over 100 billion emails circulate around the world every day. Yes, you read that correctly — that number is on a daily basis. The average consumer is continuously bombarded with emails, so how do you break through the clutter? In 2014 alone, Rewards Network sent over 155 million* promotional emails, yet our open rates ranged
December and January Marketing Ideas
Marketing during the holidays might seem easy: decorate the restaurant, add some snowflakes to your flyers, or recruit Santa for a meet-and-greet. By opting only for the Yuletide standards, though, your restaurant risks getting lost in the same Christmahanukwanzaaka marketing from other businesses – including your competitors! Adding unique ideas like these to your marketing
June and July Marketing Ideas for Restaurants
While most people are rejoicing in the return of the sun, some restaurant owners may fear summer bringing a slightly darker cloud as more customers are enjoying the outdoors instead of dining in. However, by using marketing strategies that tie your restaurant to summer events, this exciting season can bring in even more business. Here
