An Easy Recipe

In business, experts tell us that 80% of our income will come from only 20% of our clients. This 80/20 rule is a common business denominator and if you apply it, you can employ creative restaurant marketing strategies to develop your existing clientele.

It's easy to question the effectiveness of the 80/20 rule, as it just doesn't somehow sound right. Just think of the power of word of mouth advertising though. Folks like to get "social proof" before they do anything these days. Conventional advertising is all very well, but at the end of the day people do want to be sure that they will have a pleasant experience before they spend their hard-earned cash.

When you focus on your existing and loyal client base you don't have to spend a great deal of money and can come up with some really creative restaurant marketing strategies to really push your income. People remember the small things.

If you know that a very regular party is coming in for a special occasion, determine what this is and go the extra distance. For example, if it is a significant anniversary consider a special bottle of wine at the table when they arrive. If it is a Valentine dinner, a red rose for the lady would be great.

Small costs spent to surprise people represent a great investment in the future of your business. Be assured that they will remember these little touches and tell their friends. This will create a potentially viral effect and endorse your creative restaurant marketing strategies.

Use every opportunity you can to place suggestive messages in front of your guests. Business owners often forget that people need to use the bathroom and as this is literally a confined space a strategic, subtle message displayed on the wall or on a mirror will be productive. Again, be subtle and think of how you can sow the seed of an idea with such a message.

These days social media is very important. You must have your own Facebook page for your restaurant and should also open a Twitter account. Publicize your site address on your check or bill receipt and suggest that people who sign up as members of your various sites may receive a special discount of some kind against a future purchase.

Always try and get the e-mail address of every visitor. If you can, determine their birth dates, month and day. Establish an automatic messaging system called an auto responder, sending out invites to the birthday boy or girl, offering a free meal. They will invariably arrive with others to celebrate and you will probably, once again, be introducing your great service to new prospects.

Expert Jose L Riesco teaches the best methods for getting more visitors to your restaurant at www.myrestaurantmarketing.com. Discover creative restaurant marketing strategies here.