| Without new business, your restaurant won't be | | | | all else fails, create your own contest and invite |
| able to grow. You need a constant stream of | | | | local restaurants to participate. Then, even if you |
| new customers to replace those you lose as a | | | | lose, you'll still generate great publicity and get |
| result of customers relocating, switching jobs, or | | | | new patrons in your door. 4. Sell Gift Certificates |
| changing dining habits. Here are six strategies for | | | | Your loyal customers may want their friends and |
| getting more customers through your doors. 1. | | | | family members to give you a try. Provide them |
| Market Your Restaurant In Hotel Rooms | | | | with your gift certificates, so they can buy these |
| Business travellers and people on holiday may not | | | | as presents for loved ones. A gift certificate |
| be familiar enough with your town to know | | | | allows the recipient to try your restaurant |
| where to find an excellent meal. You can give | | | | completely risk-free since they usually don't have |
| them a hand simply by doing some hotel room | | | | to pay anything for the experience. Plus, each gift |
| marketing. Talk to hotels within your three-mile | | | | certificate serves as a referral to your |
| radius area and ask if you can place menus and | | | | establishment. Make sure your gift certificates |
| advertisements in their rooms and lobby area. | | | | come in flexible amounts so that buyers have the |
| Some hotels have a "Nearby Attractions" list | | | | freedom to decide how much to spend. 5. Give |
| which they provide for their guests. You can ask | | | | Samples Out At Busy Locations |
| to be added to the list. When guests get hungry | | | | Send your food on the road if you really want to |
| and start trying to figure out where to eat, you'll | | | | lure in new customers. Go to locations that have |
| be one of the first restaurants to come to mind. | | | | a lot of human traffic, such as shopping centres, |
| 2. Form A Strategic Alliance With Event Venues | | | | supermarkets, parks, etc, and offer samples of |
| After a concert or sporting event, people are | | | | some of your most tasty food to everyone that |
| hungry and want to eat. Remember that people | | | | passes by. When they stop to take a sample, |
| sometimes travel a long distance to come to | | | | give out a menu, business card, or a coupon so |
| these events, so they don't want to travel home | | | | that they'll know exactly where they can go in |
| on an empty stomach. One venue in the United | | | | order to taste more of your scrumptious food. 6. |
| States showed a nearby restaurant's advert on all | | | | Offer "Happy Hour" Specials |
| of the venue monitors between concert acts. | | | | At the end of a hard day, many workers want to |
| After the concert was over, that restaurant was | | | | relax and unwind before heading home, so invite |
| packed with concert goers. You can do your part | | | | them to your restaurant for some "happy hour" |
| by promoting upcoming events of that venue at | | | | specials. Drink specials and low-price finger food |
| your restaurant. 3. Enter Contests | | | | buffets are both good ideas. You could also have |
| One of the biggest ways to get some media | | | | Frequent Diner cards for happy patrons so that |
| attention and, therefore, to attract new business | | | | after so many drinks they receive a free drink or |
| is by winning a contest. For example, enter your | | | | a discount on their meal if they decide to stay for |
| chef in a cooking contest. Read restaurant | | | | dinner. Inform all local businesses about your offer. |
| publications and browse the Internet to find out | | | | Copyright © 2004 Habiba Abubakar and |
| about any contests you may be able to enter. If | | | | Emprez. All rights reserved. |