Let me tell you how a simple idea like email marketing completely turned things around for my little restaurant. When I first thought about collecting emails from my customers to send them updates and special offers, I wasn’t sure if it would make much of a difference. I was in for a pleasant surprise!
🤣 “Email marketing became my digital love letter to customers, each message crafted with care, enticing them back with stories of new dishes and exclusive offers.” Quote of the day
Real Talk: The Numbers Don't Lie
I read somewhere that for every dollar you put into email marketing, you could get back $42. That sounded almost too good to be true, but I decided to give it a shot. It wasn’t an overnight miracle, but the returns were indeed impressive.
I also stumbled upon a study showing that 81% of small businesses rely on email to find new customers and keep the ones they have. I wondered, “If they can do it, why can’t I?”
So, I started sending out personalized emails, not just random spam, but messages that meant something to my customers based on what they liked and ordered from us before. It was also a great opportunity to include upselling and cross-selling suggestions, tempting our customers to consider adding extras when placing their future orders.
Keeping It Real with Our Email Strategy
Building our email list
I got creative, offering little perks for signing up on our website or even when folks came in to eat. “Join our family,” I’d say, “and get the inside scoop on all the good stuff.” And slowly but surely, our list grew.
Heartfelt Newsletters
I sent occasional newsletters introducing a new dish or sharing a funny story from behind the kitchen doors. My idea was to make our customers feel like they were part of the journey.
Special Deals Just for Our Email Buddies
I rewarded our email list with exclusive deals. They got a tasty deal, which combined with our revamped online menu, led to more orders coming in through our online system.
The Cherry on Top
What started as a small experiment turned into one of the best decisions I made for my restaurant. Not only did our online orders see a nice bump, but the connection we built with our customers was something I hadn’t expected. They weren’t just orders coming through a screen; they were regular customers, returning for more and helping us grow.
So yeah, email marketing? It’s not just for the big players. Us small folks can make some pretty big waves with it, too.
Read of our online ordering system selection tips which outline the variety of choices available, enabling you to pick a system that is ideal for your restaurant.
