A line of hungry customers stretching out the door of your takeaway, all clamouring for a taste of your delicious food. This may sound like a dream come true, but it's not just good luck that got them there.
It's a result of killer marketing strategies that attract new customers and keep existing ones coming back for more. In today's crowded market, standing out from the competition can be a daunting task, but with the right marketing strategies, you can turn your takeaway into the talk of the town."
We've put together this list of killer marketing strategies that we know work. They are easy to utilise and they are proven methods that won't just drive results, they will make your takeaway the talk of the town.
Leverage Social Media
Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter are a great way to connect with customers and promote your business.
Use them to share mouth-watering photos of your food, special promotions, and upcoming events. Encourage customers to leave reviews and share your posts to reach a wider audience.
The first thing you need to do is make sure you have a Facebook or Instagram page as a minimum. Bonus points for having both plus a Tik Tok page.
Then you need to make sure you set your page up properly. It's quite easy, complete all the sections they prompt you to fill in.
Once that is done you need to start posting. The key to this is to have a content calendar to organise your posts.
Post regularly about a range of things including: Promotions, New items,
Food photography, Restaurant events, Contests and giveaways, Food-related articles, Restaurant reviews. Also make sure engage the comments.
But what does a great social media post look like?
Here is an example of an ideal post. Note the use of Emojis, Hashtags and Discount Codes.
"🍕Craving some delicious pizza tonight? Look no further!🍕 Order through our restaurant's app and use the code PIZZALOVE at checkout for 20% off your order. Download our app now and enjoy the convenience of ordering from the comfort of your own home.🏠 See you soon!🍕 #pizza #discountcode #fooddelivery
Make sure each post is accompanied by a mouth watering image if your food and the link to download your app and get posting.
For added boost, you can use paid for social media advertising to reach a larger audience and target specific demographics. This is a very powerful and cost effective trick that very few restaurants use.
Online Ordering & Delivery
Online ordering and delivery is becoming increasingly popular among customers. In the UK the market is worth over £12bn, with over 160,000 delivery drivers employed to bring the hungry UK punterate their flavoursome grub. It's a huge industry.
To capitalise on this you should consider adding to your own website, an easy-to-use online ordering system. This will maximise your profits, but you can also consider partnering with a delivery service like Just Eat, Deliveroo or Uber Eats.
Partnering with a third party will drive much higher commission costs upwards of 30-40%, but its possible to use these partners as a way to customers with a view to then migrating those customers to your own app later.
Optimise Your Website And App
A well-designed website is essential for any business in today's digital age. Make sure your website is easy to navigate and provides all the information customers need, including your menu, location, and contact information.
The key things that should be on your website include your Menu, Contact Information, Opening Times, Order Button, Images of your food and a section that explains who you are. The website should be clean, and easy to navigate.
The key things that should be on your website include your Menu, Contact Information, Opening Times, Order Button, Images of your food and a section that explains who you are. The website should be clean, and easy to navigate.
Along with being great to look at there are some technical items that need to be considered. First amongst these is your website should be on a custom domain. You need something like this
Why? Because the first one is much easier to remember and easier for Google to find you. It's called a Custom Domain and is the first thing on your technical to do list.
Next you need your website to have strong branded and colours, it needs to entice customers.
There is also something SEO that you shold utilise - a lot. It's like a hidden super weapon. Use SEO techniques such as including keywords in your website's content, meta tags, and alt tags to ensure your website appears at the top of search engine results.
Make sure your website is mobile-friendly and easy to use on any device.
The goal is to make sure your website appears in search results whenever anyone in your area so much as thinks about food. Do this and your website ranking should increase, getting you more visibility, more clicks and more orders.
Offer Loyalty Programs
Loyalty programs are a great way to keep customers coming back. In this complex, competitive world, retention is the no one route to profit. Imagine if customers only came to you once, the cost of constantly securing brand new customers would be astronomical.
So we want customers coming back and loyalty schemes are a great way of achieving this result.
Loyalty scheme reward customers for returning. You can do this by offering rewards such as discounts or free meals for repeat customers. This will not only keep them coming back but also encourage them to tell their friends and family about your business.
However you can go a step further. You can offer customers a loyalty system that issues them points. Points are a proven psyological method of getting customers to return. After all if you tell a customer they have a bank of money in the form of points after their first order, who wants to leave that money on the table. Points based systems require management so look for a solution that does this automatically for you.
Consider using a digital loyalty program, such as a mobile app, which makes it easy for customers to keep track of their rewards and redeem them.
Of course the best solution is to integrate your loyalty system with your online ordering system so customers don't need multiple separate apps every time they want to interact with you.
Host Promotions and Events
Hosting promotions and events is a great way to create buzz around your business.
Offer discounts or special deals for customers who come in during certain times or on certain days. Hosting special events, such as a trivia night or a fundraiser, can also be a great way to attract new customers and build community.
Use social media, email marketing, and other channels to promote your events and reach a wider audience.
Use Email Marketing
Email marketing is a cost-effective way to reach a large number of customers. Use it to send out news about your business, promotions, and special events.
Make sure to include a call to action in your emails, such as a link to your website or a special offer. Collect email addresses from customers at the point of sale (this is where having your own online ordering system comes into its own, as food portals won't give you this data), or offer an incentive for signing up for your email list.
Make sure when sending emails you use a professional email marketing service designed specifically for the task. The last thing you want to do is run afoul of the complex GDPR rules.
Network
Networking with other local business owners can be a great way to promote your business. Join local business organisations and attend networking events. This will not only give you the opportunity to connect with other business owners, but it will also give you the chance to learn from others who have been successful. Networking can also lead to potential partnerships or collaborations with other businesses, which can help to promote your business.
Partner with Influencers
Partnering with influencers on social media can be a great way to reach a wider audience. Look for influencers in your area who have a large following in your target market and ask them to promote your business.
They can create sponsored posts, stories or videos featuring your products and services. This can be a great way to reach a new audience and increase brand awareness.
Keep your online presence updated
Keep your online presence updated regularly with new and interesting content, especially your menu, so that people can find you easily and know what you offer. This includes your website, social media channels, online directories and review sites. Respond to customer reviews, both positive and negative, in a timely and professional manner. This will help to improve your online reputation and keep your customers informed about your business.
By implementing these strategies, you can effectively market your takeaway business and attract more customers. Remember, the key is to be consistent and to always be looking for new and innovative ways to promote your business.
How we can help?
At Order Digital, we offer a comprehensive package that includes marketing, website development, mobile app creation, and a loyalty program to help our clients increase orders and grow their business. Our proven track record includes working with hundreds of clients. If you're interested in learning more about how we can help your business grow and migrate customers from food portals, please contact us.