Drive Traffic with Value Offers & Other Proven Strategies

In the current economic climate, restaurant operators need to employ creative strategies to attract guests while providing outstanding value. Diners are more discerning with their spending, seeking experiences that offer both enjoyment and affordability. Here are some savvy strategies to create value-driven promotions that can help draw guests in and keep them coming back.

Loyalty Programs

A well-designed loyalty program can be a significant draw for repeat customers. Implement a system where guests earn points for each visit or spend, which can be redeemed for discounts, free meals, or exclusive offers. It can be as simple as a buy one, get one for their next visit with an appetizer or dessert item. This not only encourages repeat business but also fosters a sense of appreciation and connection with your restaurant.

Value Menu

Many big chains have embraced the concept of a value menu for a reason—it effectively caters to budget-conscious diners. Even in tighter times, people love dining out, but they seek more bang for their buck. Consider reviewing your menu to find opportunities for a value menu, perhaps by offering a smaller version of a popular sandwich or wrap that keeps your customers happy without breaking the bank.

Bundle Deals

Bundle deals offer a complete dining experience at a reduced price, providing perceived value to guests. Consider creating bundle options that include an appetizer, main course, and dessert, or offer a family-style meal kit that customers can enjoy at home. You could start with something straightforward like a soup and sandwich combo or offer a more sophisticated option where guests pick from a selection of three appetizers and three main courses for a fixed price. Just ensure that each appetizer and entrée is priced similarly in terms of food cost to maintain balance. This approach not only draws in deal-hunters but also highlights the diverse offerings on your menu.

Themed Nights

Hosting themed nights can create excitement and draw in crowds. Consider offering a "Taco Tuesday" with discounted tacos or a "Wine and Dine Wednesday" featuring a special wine pairing menu for people going out on a date. Don’t forget to promote your theme, for example use a photo of a couple enjoying a night at your restaurant, creating a moment in time can capture people’s attention on social media when they are scrolling (bonus: most mealtime decisions are made the day of so make sure you regularly post).

Partnerships with Local Businesses

Partnering with local businesses can elevate your promotions and widen your audience. Consider teaming up with nearby breweries for a beer-tasting event or collaborating with themed attractions like escape rooms to offer a combined package where guests enjoy the escape room experience followed by a dinner at your restaurant.

Flash Sales and Limited-Time Offers

Create urgency and excitement with flash sales or limited time offers. Announce these promotions on social media or through email newsletters to generate buzz and drive immediate traffic. Whether it's a weekend brunch special or a weekday dinner discount, these offers can fill seats during slower periods.

Understanding Customer Needs and Preferences

Tailoring promotions to meet the specific needs and preferences of your customer base is crucial. Use surveys or feedback forms to gather insights into what your guests value most. Whether it's healthier menu options, kid-friendly meals, or special dietary accommodations, understanding these preferences allows you to customize promotions that resonate with your audience.

Focusing on customer needs, getting creative with your deals, and engaging with the community can lead to increased patronage and loyalty. Embrace these strategies to ensure your restaurant remains a top choice for diners seeking both value and quality.

Fall Flavours and Limited Time Offers to Elevate Your  Menu

The arrival of fall brings a fresh palette of flavours and seasonal ingredients. With the changing leaves and cooler temperatures, diners are on the lookout for comforting, seasonal dishes that capture the essence of autumn. Introducing a fall menu not only keeps your offerings fresh and exciting but also aligns your restaurant with the seasonal cravings of your patrons.

By incorporating autumnal ingredients such as squash, apples, and spices, you can create dishes that resonate with the warmth and coziness synonymous with this time of year. Whether you run a fine dining establishment or a cozy café, the fall season is a prime opportunity to revamp your menu and entice both new and returning customers.

Attracting Customers with a Fall Menu

A fall menu is more than just a seasonal change; it's an opportunity to create buzz and draw in curious diners. Highlighting the unique flavours of autumn can set your restaurant apart and make it a destination for those seeking seasonal delights.

Focus on seasonal ingredients that are at their peak during the fall. Consider dishes like butternut squash soup, apple cider-glazed pork, and roasted root vegetables, which showcase the bounty of the season.

Secondly, storytelling can be a powerful tool. Share the inspiration behind your fall menu through social media, newsletters, or on your restaurant's website. Whether it’s a family recipe, a tribute to local farmers, or a personal culinary adventure, letting your customers in on the story adds a layer of connection and intrigue. Lastly, consider hosting a fall menu launch event. Invite local food bloggers and loyal customers to sample your new dishes, creating word-of-mouth excitement that can drive more traffic to your restaurant.

Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice

No discussion of fall menus is complete without mentioning the iconic pumpkin spice. This beloved flavour, with its blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves, has become synonymous with fall.

Pumpkin spice can be more versatile than you might think. Beyond the classic pumpkin spice latte, consider using this flavour profile in desserts like pumpkin spice cheesecake or muffins. It can also be creatively integrated into savoury dishes, such as a pumpkin spice-infused marinade for poultry or as a seasoning for roasted nuts featured in a salad.

Remember, the key is balance. While pumpkin spice is wildly popular, ensure it complements your overall menu and doesn't overshadow other fall favourites. By offering a diverse selection of fall flavours, you can cater to a broader audience and avoid the pitfalls of a one-note menu.

Creative Ideas for Limited Time Offers

Limited time offers (LTOs) are a powerful strategy for driving interest and urgency in your restaurant. By presenting exclusive dishes for a short duration, you create a sense of scarcity that encourages customers to act quickly. They can also help you identify trends and preferences within your customer base. By analyzing sales data from LTOs, you can gain valuable insights into what concepts resonate most with your audience. This information is invaluable for shaping future menu decisions and ensuring your restaurant stays relevant in a competitive market.

Think outside the box with your LTOs. While fall staples like pumpkin and apple are always a hit, consider introducing unconventional ingredients or international flavours that align with autumn. For example, a Moroccan-inspired lamb tagine with apricots and almonds or a Japanese kabocha squash tempura can offer a unique twist on fall dining.

Engage your customers by involving them in the creation process. Host a contest where patrons can submit their fall-inspired dish ideas, with the winning entry making it onto your menu as a limited time offer. This not only sparks creativity but also fosters a sense of community and involvement. Additionally, promote your LTOs through social media teasers and email campaigns, highlighting the limited availability to entice diners to visit before the opportunity slips away.

View the fall issue of The Dish

Good Leaf, Good Greens

Chefs have always used microgreens as a beautiful finishing touch to garnish their final dish, but did you know that microgreens can add benefits beyond their stunning looks?

GoodLeaf Farms is revolutionizing the way that microgreens are grown and taste through the powers of vertical farming. This innovative way of farming allows for these gorgeous greens to be grown in Ontario year-round, so you never have to worry about seasonality or availability. Their highly specialized growing methods and controlled environments allow for their microgreens to produce intense, delicious flavours that can be used to add to meals and used in creative ways. One of the standout features of Good Leaf products is that they are never touched by pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, or even human hands until they reach their final destination. This commitment to "Pure" farming ensures the utmost purity and quality.

Here's 4 Ways Chefs can use Microgreens for more than just a Garnish:

1. Swap the Lettuce for Microgreens: Using our Kick'n Micro Mustard on a Burger or Sandwich creates an intense mustardy flavour without the sauce, while still providing all the freshness of traditional lettuce. 
2. Use as an Alternative to Herbs: Swap in Intensely Arugula Micros instead of basil in pesto to give a uniquely nutty and pepper twist. Zesty Micro Radish also makes a delicious addition to chimichurri adding zip and zest (as well as a bright purple colour) to this classic sauce!
3. Elevate customers dining experience: Adding Baby Arugula to pizza isn't new - but no one like to take a bite and had this green pull off all at once. Elevate your customers experience by swapping this for Micro Arugula. The much smaller, more delicate leaves mean a kick of peppery arugula in every bite!"
4. Add Spice to any Dish: Use the Zesty Micro Radish as a staple ingredient to tacos to add an extra hit of spice; or mix in Kick'n Micro Mustard to Rice or Quinoa for some extra flavour (no chopping required)!

No matter the dish, GoodLeaf nutrient-dense microgreens are a simple and creative way for chefs to add flavours and colours to increase customers’ dining experience!"

2024 Food Show Product Review

The 2024 food show was our best yet! There was so much energy in the building, we are so grateful that our customers, suppliers and employees put so much effort to make the day as wonderful as it was. If you weren’t able to come, here were some of our favourite products of the day:

With hundreds of innovative products to see and an array of delicious samples to taste, the Flanagan Show truly showcased the best of what the food industry has to offer. For those who couldn't make it this year, we missed having you with us and sincerely hope you'll be able to join the excitement next time. I may be biased (okay, I am definitely biased), but the Flanagan Show stands unrivaled as the premier foodshow in Ontario. Here's to hoping we see you next year!

SEO Basics for Restaurants: A No-Nonsense Guide to Boost Your Online Presence

In the digital age, a restaurant’s success doesn't just depend on the quality of its food but also on its online visibility. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is a key ingredient in your marketing strategy, enhancing your online presence and ensuring that hungry diners find their way to you. Whether you're a new restaurant owner looking to establish an online presence or a seasoned pro aiming to revamp your SEO efforts, understanding these basics can significantly impact your online success.

Local Keyword Research Is Your Best Friend

First things first, identify and utilize local keywords that potential customers are likely to use when searching for a place to eat. You're not just a restaurant; you're a local business that serves a specific community. Incorporate local terms such as your city, neighbourhood, or nearby landmarks into your website's content. For example, if you run a pizza restaurant in Whitby, it makes sense to include keywords like "Whitby pizza," "best pizza in Whitby," and "pizza delivery near [local landmark]."

Optimize Your Menu for Search Engines

Your menu is not just a list of dishes; it's a goldmine of keywords waiting to be discovered by search engines. When creating your online menu, ensure each item has a descriptive title with common keywords related to the dish. If you serve a unique dish not often found elsewhere, be sure to include that in your menu, too. Search engines love unique and specific content.

Local SEO Directories and Citations

Consistency in online listings across different platforms significantly impacts your restaurant's search rankings. Ensure that your business’ Name, Address, and Phone Number (N.A.P.) is consistent across all listings and directories. Explore local SEO directories like Google My Business, Yelp, and TripAdvisor. Regularly update this information, and don’t forget to add photos and keep your business hours current to stay relevant.

Leverage Customer Reviews for SEO Impact

Encourage reviews on Google My Business, Yelp, and other platforms to boost your online credibility. Positive reviews signal to search engines that your restaurant is popular and business worth promoting. Be sure to respond to reviews—both the positive and the less so—to show that you value customer feedback (Google, the most popular search engine, recommends responding to reviews to improve your local SEO).

Mobile Optimization is Non-Negotiable

In a world where mobile searches often surpass desktop, a mobile-friendly website is essential for SEO success. Mobile optimization ensures that visitors have a pleasant experience, which is a factor in Google's ranking algorithm. It's also important for users to find your restaurant easily on their phones, especially when they’re out and about looking for a place to eat. Do you need help with your website? Brand Points Plus members can use points to offset this cost plus get a discount. If you're not a member of Brand Points Plus click here.

Promote Local Events and Offers on Your Site

If your restaurant hosts events or has special offers, create web pages dedicated to these topics, and optimize them using local keywords. This can attract visitors looking for something to do or a good deal in your area.

On-Page SEO Tactics for Your Website

Once you have your local keyword and content strategy sorted, focus on traditional on-page SEO tactics:

Meta Titles and Descriptions: Craft compelling meta titles and descriptions that include local keywords and entice click-throughs from potential diners.

Header and Content Tags: Use H1, H2, and H3 tags to structure your content properly. Include keywords in these headers and throughout your content but remember, keep it natural.

Content Quality: High-quality, informative, and engaging content is key. Write blog posts about local food trends, behind-the-scenes looks at your restaurant, or staff profiles, all while integrating those local keywords.

Page Load Speed: Ensure your site loads quickly on desktop and mobile devices. Search engines like Google prioritize sites that provide a good user experience.

Internal Linking: Link related pages of your website together. For example, if you have a blog post about the best brunch spots in the area, link to your brunch menu. This not only helps with navigation but also improves SEO.

SEO may seem daunting but breaking it down into actionable tasks makes it more manageable, and most importantly, effective. You don’t need to reach for perfection, instead reach for progress. Happy optimizing!