6 ways to boost restaurant sales without advertising

It is important to always try out different strategies to boost restaurant sales. This enables public venues to identify what methods work for them and what don’t, saving costs later on. However, some tactics tend to provide results most of the time and don’t require significant investments. In this article, you will find out other effective ways to drive restaurant sales without advertising. Let’s get started.

Top 6 ideas to boost restaurant sales

1. Implement strategic pricing

If you are wondering how to boost restaurant sales as fast as possible, a simple way is to implement strategic pricing, which often affects customer decision-making. Consider the following pricing strategies for your restaurant:

• Bundle deals. You can create bundled meal options to encourage clients to spend more while feeling they are getting a good deal. For instance, you can suggest fixed meals at a lower cost than if diners ordered individual dishes.

• Happy hour specials. By introducing happy hour promotions, you will attract visitors during slower periods and drive restaurant sales.

To establish effective pricing, you should conduct a thorough analysis of your current costs, competitors, and market demand. Having a clear understanding of the target audience’s needs and preferences is always key to restaurant success.

2. Provide an exceptional customer experience

An awesome customer experience (CX) is vital to increasing restaurant sales. PwC reports that a positive CX has a considerable impact on purchasing decisions in almost every industry, but is particularly influential in healthcare (78%), banking (75%), restaurants (74%) and hotels (74%). The experts revealed that even if clients love a brand, 59% of US respondents will stop interacting with it after several bad experiences. Furthermore, 17% of US consumers are likely to leave a company after just one bad experience while 32% of all consumers globally would stop doing business without giving into a second chance.

According to PwC, the main components are speed, convenience, consistency, and friendliness. And one big connector between the attributes: human touch. In the restaurant sector, however, providing a delightful guest experience is even more difficult. No one will return to your restaurant if, for example, background music is awful and interior design is totally tasteless. Therefore, it is essential to focus on every detail that affects CX. Train your staff to be friendly and productive. Your employees also have to be knowledgeable of aspects such as the menu, cooking processes, and unique selling points.

3. Boost restaurant social media presence

Menu Tiger reports that nearly 80% of respondents expect restaurants to have profiles on social networks. Analysts revealed that social media is the second most trusted source of information for customers when deciding what restaurant to dine in.

Social media is a powerful tool for marketing and branding. It allows restaurants to showcase their menu, atmosphere, promotions, and customer reviews. On top of that, social networks are another channel to communicate with potential and existing clients, for example, responding to their comments and messages. 

Here you can also take reservations. Thanks to social media presence on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok, it is possible to build loyalty and generate word-of-mouth referrals, thereby pushing sales up.

In order to maximize value of this strategy, you should:

• Post regularly and consistently
• Use high-quality photos and videos
• Encourage user-generated content and reviews
• Respond to comments and messages promptly
• Include hashtags and contests
• Collaborate with influencers and local businesses
• Offer discounts and incentives to your followers

By increasing social media presence and interacting with your audience, you will manage to attract more customers, build loyalty, and boost restaurant sales.  

4. Upsell with upgrades and add-ons

Restaurant upselling is another tactic to boost restaurant sales. To encourage people to order more, you can suggest upgrades or add-ons either by listing the recommended drinks or dishes on the menu or by a server mentioning them to the guest.

Knowing how to upsell effectively is an important skill that requires a clear understanding of what food and beverages go well with each other. For instance, waiters can freely offer visitors a side of gravy with a steak and fries.

5. Sell gift cards

Gift cards are a simple, yet effective way to boost restaurant sales, consumer satisfaction, and retention. They enable customers to purchase a meal or service for themselves or their friends or families online or in-store. 

To generate a higher profit from gift cards, it is advisable to:

• Offer different denominations and options
• Promote them on social media and website
• Display cards prominently at the checkout counter
• Provide attractive packaging and personalization
• Partner with other businesses (e.g., retail stores, beauty salons)

You can also suggest gift cards for leaving positive reviews, creating a story on Instagram with the link to your restaurant’s social media channels, or creating a funny TikTok video about your hospitality place.

Conclusion 

There are plenty of ideas and strategies to boost restaurant sales. Remember that maximizing revenue goes hand in hand with improving client service and ensuring an awesome dining experience. For this purpose, it is crucial to make every detail ideal or nearly ideal while assuring all aspects—background music, interior design, food, etc.—fall into place. Good luck on your way to increasing profit and achieving success!