35 Restaurant Marketing Ideas To Attract More Customers

The restaurant industry is steadily growing, and operators expect competition to increase, so making yours stand out has never been more important.

This fast-paced industry comes with its challenges, but it also presents a wealth of opportunities for you to exercise your creativity and use unique restaurant marketing ideas to attract and retain more customers.

Here at Eventbrite, we’ve accumulated tons of experience working with restaurants and event organisers over the years — we’ve witnessed firsthand what sets successful establishments apart. In this post, we’ll take you on a journey from the fundamentals of restaurant marketing to cutting-edge restaurant marketing strategies that will give your restaurant a competitive edge.

Let’s begin by laying a strong foundation with the basics before we explore the exciting realm of advanced marketing techniques (including, yes, event marketing for restaurants!).

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Basic restaurant marketing ideas

Easy restaurant marketing event ideas

Advanced restaurant marketing event ideas

How to take your restaurant marketing ideas to the next level

Basic restaurant marketing ideas

If you’re just getting started with your restaurant marketing journey, you might not know where to begin. Whether you’re the owner of a local diner or the marketing manager for a national chain, these are marketing ideas that can benefit any restaurant. But if you’re a seasoned pro looking for something a little different, read on for some special event marketing ideas in the next section.

1. Give solid service

It’s easier said than done, but great service can be one of the most important factors in customers having a positive experience and leaving good reviews. 

To give the best service possible, ensure your waitstaff or counter staff have plenty of time to train and adjust to your service standards.  

Creating a schedule that ensures sufficient staff to give good service is complicated by not knowing how busy you’ll be. Do some market research in your area to find out how many staff members a similar-sized restaurant usually has. If you want to give outstanding service, up it by one or two, especially in the first month after opening, when your staff won’t be in a routine yet.

2. Build a website

You already know that websites are one of the best ways for people to discover and get more information about your restaurant. But if you create a website that truly stands out, it can be more than just a resource for people already interested in your offer.

With a brilliant site, you can draw in people who didn’t even know they were looking for your restaurant — especially if you provide them with valuable resources.

A local restaurant guide, access to proprietary recipes, and blog posts on how to find quality local food are all great ways to attract people to your website without them looking for you by name. You might think you can do all this yourself, but speaking to a professional about your website content can help you get your website ranking high on search engines in a fraction of the time.

3. Keep an updated and well-designed menu online

You’ll be surprised to see how many restaurants don’t keep their online menus updated, so by doing so, you can stand out. A menu is also an opportunity to nudge your customers towards certain items you’d like to sell more of.

One study found that the most important aspects of menu design to get right are visual:

• Layout
• Typeface
• Font size
• Background colour and theme

By focusing on those aspects of your menu design, you can direct your customers’ attention and get them to try out some items they might not otherwise have been interested in.

4. Encourage reviews

Reviews are the second-most important factor for consumers when it comes to trusting brands. But sometimes, customers are reluctant to give a review, especially if they’re still in the restaurant.

Some restaurants offer promotions, such as a discount on your next meal, for customers who leave reviews. But it’s important not to push customers to leave only positive reviews, which would violate the terms of service of most review sites and possibly annoy your customers.

If your website has a booking form, you can collect contact information on who has visited your restaurant and send them a thank you note afterwards, asking them to leave a review. Don’t forget to include a link to the review site to make it easy for them to do so.

You can also interact with past reviews, such as answering questions or addressing concerns expressed in the reviews. This signals to people who might leave reviews that their opinions are both respected and valued.

5. Maintain an active social media presence

It’s not enough to just post on social media when you have a new menu item or event. Social media gives you a direct line to your target audience, so take advantage of it.

Address their concerns, take their ideas seriously, and create lasting relationships with people who care enough to send a note on your social media page.

6. Start a loyalty program

When customers buy from your restaurant, offer them a punch card that gives them something for free on their fifth or tenth visit.

You can expand on this simple idea by offering other, smaller rewards at other checkpoints. For example, you could give them a free drink on their second visit, a side on their fifth, and a meal on their tenth.

7. Optimise for local SEO

Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) is the process of optimising web pages for organic search results. Local SEO means that businesses optimise their website to appear on maps and searches in their local area. This is extremely important if you want people looking for a restaurant to be able to find you.

Use tools like Google My Business to verify information about your restaurant, such as its location, hours of operation, and contact information. Reviews on your Google My Business page will increase your chances of ranking highly, which ties back to what we talked about earlier.

Additionally, include local keywords such as town or neighbourhood name or local landmarks (“we’re right next to Borough Market”) to your website content to make sure that your restaurant appears in local searches.

8. Offer discounts and promotions

This is one of the most well-known marketing techniques — for good reason. Everybody loves discounts, so offering them is a great way to attract new customers and keep existing ones. A few popular types of discounts you can offer are:

• Including a free side with a high-priced main course
• Group or family discounts
• First-time customer discount
• Opening or reopening promotion

But the most effective way to use promotions is to tie them to other customer behaviours that benefit your business. For example, rewarding customers for bringing in new customers or interacting with your page on social media has a marketing value beyond just getting a customer through the door. 

9. Spread the word in print

It may sound old-fashioned, but print marketing is still valuable. Print marketing gives a local touch to efforts that makes people feel more connected to local restaurants. You can use flyers, door hangers, posters, or even printed menus to spread the word about your restaurant. 

Make sure you include a call to action on your flyers like “Show this in-store for a discount” so customers know how to get their discount. You can also have coupons placed directly on the printed materials that people can simply tear off and bring with them.

10. Get a great sign

Make your sign stand out by using unique materials, bold fonts, or interesting artwork. That’ll help attract street traffic and build brand awareness for your restaurant.

But don’t get lost in the excitement of picking an eye-popping design. The most important thing about your sign is that it is recognisable and readable, so avoid low-contrast colour schemes, cursive writing, or positioning it where it’s hard to see.

Easy restaurant marketing event ideas

Now we’ve covered some basic marketing ideas, let’s take a step further and talk about organising events at your restaurant as a marketing strategy. Although this is a little more advanced, it’s actually super easy to do and it’s a great way to promote your restaurant. 

You can create special events and promote them on your website, social media channels and in print. This will not only attract people to your restaurant but also give you more online visibility and let potential customers see that your restaurant is where the action is.

You can also create an event page on Eventbrite, which will make your event visible to anybody searching for something to do in your area. 

In this section, we’ll cover easy event ideas that won’t take too much of your time. In the next section, we’ll add unique and bold ideas that’ll make your place stand out.

11. Live music nights

Live music is a great way to attract customers. If your restaurant has a bar, you can offer free or discounted drinks to customers who come to listen to the band.

Take a look at THE WINE FACTOR as an example — they host live music nights on Fridays to attract new crowds.

12. Quizzes and game nights

Quizzes and game nights are attractive events for people who might not otherwise visit your restaurant. You can offer free food or drinks for winners or even offer the opportunity to play in a “champions night” with other past winners.

Themed trivia nights could also bring in more diverse audiences. Make sure to promote the event well ahead of time to encourage people to do some research and be prepared for their great night. Once you’ve set up an event page, you can use Eventbrite’s accessible Marketing Platform to promote your event on social media and via email.

13. Sports viewing parties

Sports viewing parties can draw a crowd and create an exciting atmosphere in your restaurant. You can offer discounts on food and drinks during the game or even hold special promotions if a local team wins or scores.

If you’re going to host sports fans, it pays to have the right setup. Make sure that all of the seats have a view of the game, and consider investing in a projector and large screen to really set your place apart.

14. Food challenge events

Food challenge events are sure to attract visitors and create some buzz. You can offer discounts or free food for customers who finish your biggest or spiciest dish or offer prizes for the quickest finisher. Check out event organiser Bird&Beer and its Hot Wings Challenge for some inspo.

15. Wine or beer tastings

Tastings are an effective way to draw attention to your restaurant. Be sure to purchase enough for everyone to sample, and offer food pairings with each of the tastings. You could even have an expert (like a sommelier or brewmaster) on-site to discuss each wine or beer.

A themed tasting, like this French Wine Tasting and Food Pairing hosted at PJ’s Chelsea Brasserie, can let you show off your restaurant’s speciality cuisine and offer interesting pairings for the guests. 

16. Themed food days

Themed food days can draw a new crowd to your restaurant — as well as add some variety to your menu for your regulars. Offer discounted prices on select dishes, or offer special items that coincide with the theme.

Take advantage of international food days and create a calendar for your themed food events. This will help you get organised and prepare your marketing (and recipes) in advance. For example, if you want to have a themed night to celebrate International Chop Suey Day, you’ll want to test your recipes and take some good pics so you can post them on social media and build up some excitement over the upcoming event.

To take things up a notch, you could even give customers a discount for dressing up to match the theme, bring in a guest chef, or offer a themed workshop on the cuisine you are featuring.

17. Networking events

Many businesspeople love networking — and social selling (using your social media channels to build connections with potential buyers) is a great way to network. According to LinkedIn, 78% of companies that rely on social selling outperform the ones that don’t. By hosting a business networking event, you can bring in a well-paid crowd that’s eager to come back for more.

Many cities have existing networking events. Rather than starting your own, search for them on Eventbrite and reach out to see if the group would be interested in trying your restaurant as a venue.

18. Kids eat free and family fun days

Offering a family-focused promotion is a creative way to introduce new people to your restaurant. You could even offer special activities for kids, like face painting or a magician, so that parents can enjoy their meal while there’s some special entertainment for the little ones.

If you have the outdoor space, why not set up some fun games or rent an inflatable? Not only is it fun, but it might attract passersby to your restaurant.

19. Karaoke nights

Karaoke nights are a popular way for people to unwind, try something new, and get a drink with some friends. It’s also a good idea to bring in a separate karaoke company to handle the logistics so you can focus on serving great food and drinks.

20. Seasonal menu launch party

Like any other launch party, a seasonal menu launch party is a perfect way to help more people get to know your restaurant. Invite influencers and food bloggers to come out and try your new menu items and share their experiences with their followers.

You can decorate the restaurant with some new seasonal details and talk to your produce suppliers. They might be interested in coming to the party and showing off their seasonal produce too bringing your customers closer to the food they’re eating and increasing their confidence in the quality of your ingredients.

21. Film screenings

What’s better than a good film and some popcorn? And a delicious meal made by your restaurant, of course!

Consider which wall or space you’re going to project the film onto and arrange the tables so that everybody has a clear view of the screen. And don’t forget the sound! Set up a surround sound system so that your guests can hear the film no matter where they’re sitting. 

One more detail —- make sure you have the legal rights to screen the film for your guests. If you show older films that are copyright-free, you won’t have to think about that.

22. Local art collaboration

Collaborating with local artists is a great way to show off the talent and culture in your area. You can have them create pieces specifically for your restaurant or even host events where customers get to watch the artist at work; or they can even create something themselves under the artist’s direction.

The best part of these collaborations is that they let you stand out from other restaurants. By curating the pieces, you can create an environment that’s unique and make sure that customers have something special to remember it by. 

US-based event organiser Mrs. Fish Restaurant in Los Angeles, California, stands out from other local spots. They even use the theme of the art show and match their food with the pieces as they did for their Japanese art, drinks, and sushi night.

Advanced restaurant marketing event ideas

Ready to move on to some higher-level marketing ideas? Now that you’ve covered some more simple event ideas, take your event marketing up a notch with these unique ideas that’ll make your restaurant stand out from the rest.

23. Local market partnerships

If pairing with individual artists for a gallery show sounded like fun, how about bringing a whole artisan market into your restaurant? It’ll be more bustling than you’ve ever seen before. 

You can even use search tools like Eventbrite to find existing artisan markets and see if they want to try a pop-up at your restaurant. If everything works out, it could become a regular event.

24. Food trend events

Food trends come and go, but if you get wind of one early enough, it could be a great way to draw in customers. Host an event that celebrates the food trend and lets customers sample it for themselves.

To keep your finger on the pulse, you could host a regular trends event and invite customers or people on social media to suggest your next theme. It’s a great way to engage with your customers and promote your brand.

25. Cooking workshop

Plenty of people wish they could cook as well as a professional chef, and this is your chance to show them how. Provide a cooking class for your customers to learn how to make one of your signature dishes. Add in some tips and tricks from the pros, and let each student take home their own creation or invite their friends and family to your restaurant to sample it.

Not only is it great fun for everyone involved, but it’s also a unique way to promote your restaurant — everyone will come away with a new appreciation for what you do. However, it helps to keep the actual cooking focused on a theme, like A tavola! does with its Italian Cooking Class.

26. Pop-up restaurants

Whether you’re hosting someone else’s cooks or taking your kitchen on the road, a pop-up restaurant can be a great way to get some buzz and bring in new customers. 

Set up shop in unexpected locations for a couple of days and offer limited-edition dishes. Make the event exclusive with tickets or reservations, or just make it an exclusive, upscale event like Sagebrush Hospitality did with Thistle.

27. Prominent guest cooks

Too many cooks spoil the broth? That’s old news! Instead of a pop-up event, try inviting a celebrity chef or culinary star to your kitchen to infuse your menu with new flavours and get access to their fan base.

It will draw lots of attention from people who may not have heard of your place before, and it’ll show your crowd that you take food seriously. Plus, these guest chefs can add their special spin to some of your existing dishes.

28. Themed tasting menu

Ever had customers say that they just don’t know how to choose between all the great items on your menu? Now you can tell them that they don’t have to. Just offer a themed tasting menu that takes customers on a mini tour of some of your best dishes.

Tasting menus are especially great for restaurants with larger menus, but they can also be a way for more focused kitchens to branch out and experiment with some dishes they aren’t as familiar with.

29. Catering events

If you’re looking for a bigger way to promote your restaurant, why not look into catering? It might seem like a big leap, but it doesn’t have to be. If you already provide delivery or takeout services, then catering should come naturally. 

A catering service spreads the word by placing your food in front of customers who may not know about your restaurant yet. Just make sure to wrap your dishes carefully and deliver them at the right time. Make the most of your branding by adding it to all the packaging. Catering is a great way to free yourself from location constraints and bring your food out into the wider community.

30. Food festival 

Attending an exciting food festival could be the perfect way to promote your restaurant to a whole new audience. You can set up a mobile kitchen under a tent, cook a few specialities, and show off everything you do best.

Food festivals bring you closer to the public as you’re working out in the open, and you can talk to them while you cook. It’s a wonderful way to connect and let them see the real people behind your brand.

Try using Eventbrite to find local festivals to collaborate with. Events like The Surrey Food Festival attract thousands of foodies excited to try something new, and they can be a great way for you to promote your restaurant.

31. Virtual dining events

Got fans outside your city or who don’t want to wait in traffic to come to your restaurant in person? A virtual dining experience can help people enjoy your great food from the comfort of their homes. 

All you have to do is deliver your food to all the participants on the same day and have them connect to a virtual platform at a set time to enjoy their dinner with other online guests.

Make sure to package your food carefully, to be sure it’s still hot when it gets there. You could even provide special heating instructions so the diners can have fresh food that’s just as good as it would be out of your kitchen. Then, take your guests on a tasting tour and encourage them to interact with one another to make the virtual experience social and welcoming.

To make your online dining experience run smoothly, try using a dedicated virtual events platform like Eventbrite.

32. Food charity drives

Eating out can be a luxury, and it’s important to remember that not everyone is fortunate enough to be able to do so. You could host a food charity drive to provide meals for those in need while also promoting your restaurant.

Charity events can build your profile while giving a hand to those who need it most. They also provide an avenue for you to collaborate with other local organisations, which could give you networking opportunities for hosting other events in the future. A charity drive with a prominent nonprofit could be a door opener to a fundraising gala later down the line.

33. Cooking competition

Sometimes, one professional guest chef isn’t enough. Hosting a cooking competition can bring multiple renowned chefs to your restaurant and create a sense of drama around the event.

Plus, even the chefs who don’t win first place are sure to whip up something delicious and interesting that will give your guests a great experience and raise your restaurant’s profile. You could add an extra twist by letting some guests participate as sous chefs, with the competitors’ permission, of course.

Reach out to a few radio and TV stations likely to want to air an event like this, or get some assistance so you can film the event and live stream it on your preferred social media channel. A big event like this can create a buzz for weeks before and after the day itself.

34. Food education courses

If you don’t want to go for a full-on cooking class, why not provide courses that teach about food and different diets? Offer classes on the history of cuisine in your area or region, and let customers explore their own ancestry through food. 

Classes will establish your restaurant’s reputation as a place of expertise and high standing. They also provide you with a way to show off any farm-to-table or local, sustainable food practices.

35. Paint and sip night

Combine two fine things by providing art and great drinks in the same place. A paint and sip night is a combination of art class and wine tasting, letting guests express their artistic sides while they drink something tasty. 

You might not have a specialisation in art, but Eventbrite has lots of art classes offered by professionals. Just search for one that looks like a great fit, and your paint and sip night could bring in additional people, like Brock & Bumble Art Studio does with its paint and sip events.

How to take your restaurant marketing ideas to the next level

Your restaurant marketing strategies don’t have to stop at the basics, and we hope to have inspired you to take your marketing up a notch with these cool ideas. There’s so much technology you can take advantage of, and marketing your exciting events on social media platforms will allow you to reach new and existing customers with just a few clicks.As you try out the ideas, it pays to use tools like Eventbrite’s marketing tools that automate your email and social media marketing efforts. At the same time, you can create events to market your restaurant and use Eventbrite Ads to help people find them on the most popular events platform in the world.