Collecting Email Addresses to Boost Restaurant Sales
You’ve invested time, resources, and more than a few pennies to snag a great marketing consultant. That line of credit really came in handy, right? Now that you’re armed with a rock-solid marketing plan, all that’s left to do is execute. If your marketing strategy includes email campaigns (and it should), then you absolutely need a healthy list of email addresses. Where to start? Here, of course!
On Your Website
A simple tactic that can be employed relatively easily is to add an email sign-up option to your website. There can be an ever-present form on the footer or header of every page so guests can opt in at any time. If you offer online ordering through your site, include an option at the end of the ordering flow where customers can sign up to receive promotional emails.
Ever heard of a lightbox or welcome modal? If you’ve ever visited a website, chances are extremely likely you’ve encountered one—or more. These handy little pop-ups are a great spot to encourage site visitors to enter their email addresses. Entice them further with a sign-up discount or key benefits to adding themselves to your mailing list.
On Your Social Feed
The same way you are engaging with customers on your website, go for it on social media as well. Let’s say customers landing on your site are prompted with a $10 discount upon sign-up. Take this same content and post it to your Facebook or Instagram feed, complete with a link back to your website (and don’t forget to add tracking to the URL so you can monitor performance). Additionally, simple eye-catching ads guiding customers back to your site is also a great way to increase traffic—and email captures, thanks to the new sign-up option we talked about above.
In Your Restaurant
Remember the old fishbowls restaurants used to place by their hostess stands, encouraging you to throw in your business card for a chance to win a free meal? This marketing tactic was way ahead of its time—and now it’s the perfect way to grab email addresses. Customers love the idea of a contest, especially one that doesn’t involve filling anything out. Drop the card in, and suddenly you’re equipped with all the contact and location information you could ever dream of. But remember – if you plan to add these email addresses to your database, be sure you’re notifying customers of the plan.
Comment cards might seem like a waste of time, but think about sweetening the deal. A customer is more likely to fill out a comment card when they receive their check if there is an incentive to do so (they already have a pen, anyway). In addition to gathering valuable customer feedback, comment cards offer up desirable real estate for capturing email addresses.
If you’re in need of a small business loan to help get your email campaigns off the ground, take a look at ARF Financial. Our industry expert loan consultants are here to help create the perfect loan solution for your restaurant. From bridge loans to lines of credit and everything in between, ARF is ready to help fund your success—and fast. Apply today!