How to Create (and Use) a Restaurant Texting List
How to Create (and Use) a Restaurant Texting List
Guests live on their mobile devices. In fact, Americans spend an average of 5.4 hours on their mobile phones daily. So, why not meet them there? SMS (text message) marketing for restaurants is continuing to grow as one of the most successful ways of connecting with guests.
Guests live on their mobile devices. In fact, Americans spend an average of 5.4 hours on their mobile phones daily. So, why not meet them there? SMS (text message) marketing for restaurants is continuing to grow as one of the most successful ways of connecting with guests.
When restaurant owners think of ways they can reach and connect with their guests, many overlook SMS. It feels dated. It could be misconstrued as spam. How do you even collect phone numbers for your guests? The secret: A restaurant texting list.
There are actually many reasons why SMS is one of the best ways restaurants can engage with their guests. We’ll get into those below, as well as some tactics that make collecting guest phone numbers a breeze. A restaurant texting list is an important, useful marketing tool—and it’s not as hard as you think to build it from scratch.
Ready to connect with your guests via text? Read on for all you need to know.
Why Do You Need a Restaurant Texting List?
When restaurants consider their marketing options, texts aren't always their first choice. Here’s why it should be.
Texts Helps Build Personal Relationships with Guests
SMS is a great way to reach guests in a way that feels personal to them. It’s easy to customize texts to address recipients by name, for example, and to automate sending texts to mark important dates in their lives, like birthday or anniversary offers.
But there’s another important reason: Customers say they like getting texts from businesses. In fact, 85% of customers prefer receiving text messages over a phone call or email. What’s more, 64% of consumers think companies who text value their time and say they would recommend the company to others.
Texts Encourages Loyalty
Another big benefit to text is that generally, your restaurant’s texting list will be made up of guests with whom you’ve had some sort of contact before. That means text is a great way to remind guests about your restaurant and encourage them to make repeat visits. Harvard research has shown that increasing repeat visits to your restaurant by just 5 percent can, in turn, boost profits by up to 125 percent.
Texting Has Fantastic ROI
If you’re looking for marketing on a budget (like many restaurants are), sms is a great option. Studies have shown that for the restaurant industry, you can expect to see $44 in returns for every $1 spent on text marketing.
As far as marketing plans go, text is also pretty easy to keep track of. Most services allow you to track metrics like open rates and click through rates, so you’ll be able to gain a clear picture of what’s working—and what isn’t—with your sms marketing campaigns.
A Few Ways To Build Your Contact Database
Run a contest
For decades, restaurants have run contests to collect business cards from guests. In 2022, you can do the same to collect numbers. Offer a prize like a gift card, a party, or a special dinner event. Then, ask guests at your restaurant to sign up using their contact information for a chance to win.
Create a contact form for your website
On your website’s contact page, rather than just listing your phone number and email address, add a contact form with a required field for numbers—as well as other useful guest contact data. That way, any guest who reaches out via that form can be added to your restaurant texting list.
Ask guests in person for their phone numbers
Particularly when you’re just getting started building your restaurant texting list, you can also just ask guests in person if they’d like to join. This will likely be especially effective if you have regulars with whom you’ve formed a relationship—let them know about your new SMS efforts, and they’ll likely be happy to help you out.
Create text-only offers
Of course, guests are more likely to sign up for texts from your restaurant if they know there’s something in it for them. Encourage sign-ups by creating text-only offers for subscribers. Then, when you use any of the other tips on this list, mention to your guests that signing up will get them a gift card, a discount, or another perk.
How to Use Your Restaurant Texting List
Building your restaurant SMS list is just the first step. Next, you have to use it.
Most restaurant owners aren’t marketers. When they think of marketing, they often think of traditional ads, like those on TV or in print. In the digital age, marketing encompasses so much more than that. Below are some creative text marketing ideas that will help promote your restaurant, but will likely feel much more natural than a traditional ad.
Welcome offers
When guests first sign up for your mailing list, send them a welcome offer, like a discount on their next purchase, that encourages them to make a visit to your restaurant right away.
Special days of the week
Claim a day of the week to be a special day at your restaurant. For example, offer #TiramisuTuesday at an Italian restaurant, or #WineWednesday at a bar or happy hour spot. Then, send texts on or right before that day to highlight any specials you’re offering for the day.
Flash sales
Studies show that consumers are more likely to act on a deal if they know they have limited time to do so. Use texts to send out flash sales—very limited-time offers. For example, send a text in the mid-morning promoting a lunch special that’s only available that day.
PopTip: Human beings naturally have a fear of missed opportunities—discounts or offers with an expiration tend to capture guests' attention and drive high probability of transaction.
Birthday offers
When guests sign up for your texting list, ask them for their birthday. Then, before the big day, send them a special birthday offer. A free drink or dessert is a great option.
Highlight your menu
If you want to promote any specific menu options, a text is a great way to do so. You can also send out texts to let guests know if you’ve made changes to your menu, like if you add new chef’s specials or seasonal dishes they might want to try.
Do You Need Text Marketing Software?
To get the most out of your restaurant contact list, texting marketing software is a must.
It will allow you to store, organize, and segment your texting list. It will allow you to automate messages like birthday offers and welcome texts. It will allow you to track important metrics about your sms marketing, to see what’s working and how you can better reach guests.
and that is exactly what we do for restaurants. Let us handle the entire set-up for your texting campaign. You let us know what you would like to send out and we'll handle the rest. If you'd like to learn more, schedule a free demo below!
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