How can email help my restaurant business?

     Fancy websites, expensive search engine campaigns, complex ecommerce systems…these are all traditional, but sometimes-ineffective Internet marketing techniques for most retailers, restaurants and other businesses. While many realize that the Internet is the future, many businesses are not sure how to integrate it into their existing “bricks and mortar” style business effectively and cost-efficiently.

     There are several ways to use email to communicate with your patrons.  Listed below are several ideas that restaurant can use to make permission-based email the right marketing tool for the Hospitality and Retail Industries:

·         Tell customers you "wish they were here." by sending a promotional postcard to your patrons who hasn't frequented the restaurant in the past three months or is having a birthday.

·         Use a frequent-diner program to to lure customers back each week.

·         Invite all the people who have order a bottle of wine at your restaurant  to a Chefs wine dinner.

·         Local promotions

·         New location alerts - "Great news! A new restaurant has opened 5 miles from you."

·         Frequent diner rewards - "Congratulations! You've visited our establishment 5 times in the last month and have earned 50% off your next meal."

·         Charity benefits - "Our restaurant will be donating all proceeds from September 5 to the American Cancer Society. Please help the fight by dining with us."

·         Special events - "Come celebrate St. Patrick's Day with us!"

·         Specials for event planners/wedding coordinators

·         Lunch deals/specials - "We just got a shipment of fresh crab. Come in today for a crab feast for only $12.95."

·         Happy hour promotions

·         Catering info - "We now cater lunches as well as dinners"

·         Timed specials (Mondays are slow, so a special offer is made on if you dine on that day)