In today’s fast-paced digital world, where customers are bombarded with endless streams of information, restaurants need to adapt their marketing strategies to stand out. Lengthy emails and outdated marketing tactics often fail to capture attention and maintain customer loyalty in the competitive restaurant and food and beverage industry. That’s where push notifications come in—a powerful, yet underutilized tool that can help you stay connected with your customers and keep them coming back.
Well-crafted and timely push notifications can dramatically increase engagement, drive sales, and enhance customer loyalty, hence revenues. Below, we explore five effective tips for making the most out of push notifications to elevate your restaurant’s marketing efforts.
Tip 1: Keep it Short and Sweet
In push notifications, brevity is key. You have mere seconds to capture the attention of your customer, so aim to communicate your message in as few words as possible. Ideally, your notification should be no longer than 10–12 words. Adding an emoji (i.e. food-related) can also make it more engaging and approachable, but avoid overloading it with unnecessary symbols.
Example:
“🍕 Enjoy 20% off on all orders today! Hurry, limited time only!”
Tip 2: Optimal Frequency for Maximum Engagement
It’s important to strike a balance between engaging your audience and overwhelming them. Too many notifications can lead to opt-outs. For restaurants, sending 2-3 push notifications per week is an optimal frequency to stay top-of-mind without becoming intrusive. Test and adjust the frequency based on customer behavior and feedback.
Tip 3: Build a sense of urgency
Creating a sense of urgency towards customers is an effective way to boost the effectiveness of your push notifications and boost engagement. For example, a message like “Flash sale: 20% off main courses tonight – limited time only” can encourage immediate action and drive engagement. However, it’s important to strike a balance. Overusing flash sales or limited-time offers can devalue your restaurant brand and reputation and reduce customers’ interest in your offers. Keep these tactics special to maintain their impact.
Tip 4: Offer Value in Every Message
Don’t just send notifications for the sake of it—make sure each one offers value to your customer. Whether it’s a special discount, a new item on the menu, or essential updates like holiday hours, ensure the content is relevant and actionable. This approach not only drives immediate sales but also builds long-term trust with your customer base.
Example:
“🎉 Happy Hour extended today! Grab 2-for-1 drinks until 8 PM"
Tip 5: Choose the Right Time Wisely
Just like with Instagram photos or Facebook posts, timing is key when sending notifications to your customers. To maximize their effectiveness, choose the most optimal time. Since the F&B industry follows a structured schedule, your push notifications should too. Avoid sending them during sleeping hours (for most people, at least!), and instead, aim for the afternoon to promote special evening deals or for a Sunday afternoon update on weekly discounts, opening hours and more!
By utilizing push notifications effectively, you can engage your customers and boost your restaurant with minimal effort. Take advantage of this powerful tool by easily crafting and sending notifications with Zaytoun app – you are just one click away from your customers.