New customers are as important for the restaurant business as the regular ones. In fact it is not possible for any business to prosper without new customers. A steady flow of new customers is needed to balance the old customers that are no longer coming to your restaurant for some or other reasons such as relocating or changing dining habits. Below is a list of some powerful strategies for attracting new customers to your restaurant.

- Market Your Restaurant in Public Places

A fool proof way to entice new customers is to market your restaurant in public places such as parks, shopping centers, supermarkets, etc, and offer them to have a taste of some of your most delicious food. When they stop for that, don’t forget to give out your restaurant menu, coupon or a business card so that they’ll know exactly where they can go in order to taste more of your tasty food.

- Cross Market Your Restaurant

Cross marketing your restaurant with various nearby hotels, motels, holiday, inns or tour bus is another great idea to bring potential customers. For example, you could list your restaurant in the “nearby attraction list” at the hotels or you could advertise in their lobbies.

- Referral System

Your existing customers can bring a lot of business for you. But for that you should encourage them by offering some kind of attraction to do so. For example, you could offer 10% off for the customer who refers a new customer.

- Offer Specials Deals

After the struggle of whole day many people feel it unpleasant to go back home and cook for themselves. And it’s pretty fair because everyone wants to relax at the end of the day. So, it’s a good idea to offer late hour special deals to attract those potential customers. You may offer cocktails, finger foods, chicken dishes, chips, and various other foods at special discounted prices for such clients.

- Offer Gift Certificates

You can offer gift certificate to your regular customers in flexible prices. Most of them will happily purchase it for their close ones who can try your restaurant completely risk-free since they usually don’t have to pay anything for the experience.

- Sponsor Various Events

You could sponsor various events such as concert, exhibition or sporting event. This is a great way to get publicity and ultimately new business.

- Enter Contests

We all love freebies and contests. So, why not use this as a way to attract new customers to your restaurant. You could run several contests offering free gift certificate or free meals.

- Customer Services

Last but not the least; customer service is an incredible way to attract new customers to your restaurant. You can make many those one time visitors to your regular clients by the power of customer services. Everyone likes a pleasant place and friendly people to deal with and if you’re offering these two things along with quality food, your customers cannot go anywhere else!

Lydia Quinn writes for R & I Solutions, makers of Cost Genie restaurant costing software. Get a free demo at: http://www.costgenie.com

The large sign in front and her reputation seemed to be enough. True, it was a relatively small town, but not everyone knew her cuisine skills. They decided to pass out flyers in front of the restaurant, but that didn’t turn the tide either. With money running out, one of her sons finally placed a small ad in the local newspaper and that brought in a trickle of customers. But it was so expensive, they had to stop after a few weeks. Today, that place is filled with a bookstore. The moral? A restaurant without advertising is a recipe for failure.

I should know. I’ve been an advertising consultant for over 25 years and had hundreds of restaurant accounts. Many were small, family-run ventures with limited resources and capital. They began with a dream and ended in a nightmare; underestimating expenses, over-estimating income and customers. Advertising was on the bottom of the list. Or else they decided that it could be cheap or even free. I sold Yellow Page ads and they didn’t understand the power of the directory. Most thought it too costly although they knew how well used it was. So they might opt for something small and hard to find, which proved to be a real waste of money.

Today, with the Internet as a primary research tool, I find it odd that more don’t have a presence. Whether it’s a website or an ad on a prominent site, they still don’t get it yet. People need to find them. They search by location and food type. They might be interested in other factors, like credit cards and reservations. But ultimately, the price is a concern. One way for them to choose is by seeing a menu, which gives them lots of good information. But how does one post a menu without spending a fortune for a full-page in a directory? Luckily, the Internet has several sites where one can place a menu.

If you don’t have a website, consider taking advantage of a website where you get that free menu placement and get the exposure you deserve. My personal choice is menuelephant.com, the site you’ll never forget. It’s free and has a great map and search program. And what’s better than free advertising for your restaurant?

Jeffrey Hauser was a sales consultant for the Bell System Yellow Pages for nearly 25 years. He graduated from Pratt Institute with a BFA in Advertising and has a Master’s Degree in teaching. He had his own advertising agency in Scottsdale, Arizona and ran a consulting and design firm, ABC Advertising. He authored a book about his directory years, “Inside the Yellow Pages” which can be seen at his website, http://www.poweradbook.com and he is currently the Marketing Director for http://www.thenurseschoice.com a Health Information site and http://www.menuelephant.com which posts restaurant menus on the “site you’ll never forget.”

On the other hand, many men restaurant owners and managers seem more likely to stick with the status quo and many keep using conventional marketing techniques even while they continue to lose money.

The problem with conventional restaurant marketing techniques is that they are getting more and more expensive while they are proving to be less and less effective.

Maybe a psychologists can explain why women are taking the lead of using unconventional restaurant techniques in the restaurant business. This seems odd because we know that men are usually more willing to take risks.

Never-the less, women seem to be the more aggressive gender when it comes to restaurant marketing.

Here are some of the many unconventional marketing techniques women are now using:

1. Women are using far less radio, TV and print advertising.

2. They are doing a much better job of capturing customer data such as names, addresses, birthdays, anniversaries and most important email addresses.

3. Women are doing a lot of direct mail promotions and they are doing even more email promotions to their customer data base.

4. They are taking advantage of the power of press releases. Maybe they are more successful in this area because a great press release must strike an emotional button in the reader and we all know that women excel when it comes to tuning into emotions.

5. Women know what their “Unique Selling Proposition” or “USP” is and they can clearly explain it in one to three sentences. They don’t try to be all things to all people when it comes to marketing their restaurant.

6. They know the demographic of their customers. They do a better job of learning what it is that their customers like and dislike.

7. Women do a much better job of negotiating and with these skills, they are able to buy advertising for 10% to 50% on the dollar. After all, every dollar saved on advertising and marketing (as long as the advertising brings in the same amount of business) goes straight to the bottom line as profit.

8. They seem to write headlines that bring in two to 10 times more business for the same ad. They probably do this because they are able to do a better job of putting powerful emotion into their headlines.

9. Women are using the power of the Internet to bring in customers and save up to 90% of the typical cost of bringing in a new or repeat customer.

10. Finally, women do a better job of tracking marketing campaigns than men do. This fact alone provides them with the proof they need to drop conventional marketing techniques that are not working and expand the use of unconventional restaurant techniques that are working.

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This article may be freely published as long as it contains a link to http://www.MarketingYourRestaurant.com

This information is from Jerry Minchey, editor of the subscription website, http://www.MarketingYourRestaurant.com. Jerry Minchey is an engineer and a restaurant marketing consultant.

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Jerry Minchey is an engineer and a restaurant marketing consultant. He is also the editor of the subscription website, http://www.MarketingYourRestaurant.com.

Example: If you’ve seen the movie “Pulp Fiction”, there’s a restaurant that Vincent and Mia go to early in the film which looks like a fun place to go. It’s modeled after the 1950′s “rockabilly” era, and if you watch this scene carefully, you’ll see some incredible uniform “casting” in this fictional restaurant. Would you have thought of having Buddy Holly and Marilyn Monroe look-a-likes as waiters and waitresses? Or how about the midget in the red bellhop uniform who seats the couple? Hint: he’s modeled on an old Phillip Morris commercial, as you can hear him shouting his line as he leaves the scene: “Call for Phillip Morris!” Now, that is creative theming!

For those who want to make an impression far deeper than the average fashion statement, let’s try thinking experimentally. Here’s a list of ideas that many will find bold, edgy, or even too daring. But they are very original. We’re not recommending them too heavily, or you can take them and modify them; perhaps one of these will be inspirational!

So, some very off-the-wall ideas for a hospitality business uniform theme:

Gothic – Whether you like the style or not, the youth Goth movement is here to stay. It’s actually a hand-me-down from the punk rock era, but in a style of Victorian era moodiness. Think lots of black, very edgy, and search the web to get an idea. The fact is, young people tend to go where they’ll feel like they are understood and welcome. If that’s the kind of target market you have in mind, dressing the staff a little Gothic themselves will help tie your brand identity to the culture which these people currently live in. Remember, they will be middle-aged grown-ups with a career and a house in the suburbs some day, and by then you’ll have some serious customer loyalty!

Superheroes – OK, you cringed a little at first. But I’ll bet a minute later, you saw what I’m getting at: now, what would you expect of a staff member who was a superhero? You’d expect excellent service, courteous behavior, perfect honor and trust… hey! We have such super employees, they’re like superheroes already! This isn’t as hard to do as you might think – take your standard uniform and add a short cape and a “utility belt” or a medallion or some other gimmick and you’re there. Would work well for a family-themed place like a pizza parlor or someplace that catered especially to young kids.

Cosplays – “Cosplay” is a word which is a portmanteau (a word that combines two other words) of “costume” and “play”. This is a Japanese subculture based on dressing up as characters from manga (Asian comics) and anime (Asian cartoons). Even less commonly, such subjects as Japanese live action television shows, fantasy movies, or Japanese pop music bands are also fair game.

The word has become popularly associated with dressing restaurant employees as French maids. This idea may sound goofy to you, but it’s currently all the rage in China and Japan, as reported on culture-tracking sites like boingboing. Take a look in a search engine at some of the creative themes they’ve come up with to get some ideas. Oddly enough, these are not aimed at children but adults, in a culture where comics and cartoons are not seen as juvenile at all. This would be a big hit in a modern, up-to-the-minute environment such as a college town or a place with a lot of technology culture such as Silicon Valley, since its popularity is largely being spread by the Internet.

Science Fiction – If you’ve been to Las Vegas, one casino has a Star Trek theme ride and a restaurant attached to it called “Quark’s Bar and Restaurant”. Sure enough, the whole place makes you feel just like you’re living in the Star Trek universe, right down to the staff uniforms! Gimmicky it may be, but a whole generation of Star Trek fans have grown up and even passed the culture on to their kids – this place makes a lot of money.

If you take a look at Star Trek uniforms, they are actually very serviceable. Now apply this idea to other fantasy and science fiction franchises with a huge following: Star Wars, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, or anything with its own ‘cult’ following. Or just go with something futuristic, without nailing it down to any one particular work of fiction. This could work well in places like an espresso bar with Internet access, because computer buffs and science fiction fans tend to go well together.

Period Costumes – These are more in the range of “it’s been done before”. Pirates, cowboys, gypsies, ancient Egyptians, and so on. Surely you’ve stumbled upon a seafood restaurant with a pirate theme or a Western bar and grill in Texas with the staff dressed like they were living in the days of the wild frontier. Still, it’s an idea to keep in mind – period costumes can add a fun theme to your atmosphere, but also be not too over-the-top so you can still keep a serious attitude.

That’s all – maybe you can come up with different ideas of your own starting with these inspirations!

Cheap Uniforms – Best Buy Uniforms offers the lowest prices and highest quality uniforms in corporate U.S.A.

Restaurant Uniforms – Restaurant Uniforms Online offers restaurant uniforms, chef uniforms, aprons, and formal wear.

12. Have family nights

These are a great idea for a slow Monday or Tuesday nights. You could show family TV shows or movies or even cartoons. You can have special discounts on adult meals, and provide other forms of entertainment such as clowns, magicians and musicians. It gives reasons for families to go out when they otherwise would not.

13. Produce family deals

You have already seen this at most of the fast food restaurants like, KFC where they offer 10 pieces of chicken, with bread rolls, coleslaw, potato and gravy, and bottles or cans of drink for the one low price. Family packs welcome family business in a different way. The idea is to produce an interesting variety of foods for a family to enjoy for one low price. Maybe you could provide a large appetiser, two adult main courses, two children’s meals and a big serving of fruits or ice cream to share for the one price.

14. Have a games room with tokens

Guess who always finishes eating first in the family? Every time! If your restaurant is right for this it is a great way for the kids to keep busy while the parents enjoy their meal. There is no limit as to what you can include, whether they are video games or mechanical games, they will all appeal to children. If the games take tokens, you can include them with a children’s meal and more can be purchased if necessary. They can be purchased from the server, or added to the bill. You can give away prizes for high scores and even provide large packs of tokens for a big discount. There are many places that sell both new and reconditioned stand-up arcade games, and allsorts of games on the internet.

15. Have a children’s dining area

You could develop a children’s playing area, or even a separate dining area. While parents bring their children to the restaurant, it doesn’t mean that they would not love a little break. (I’d put money on that one). The area must be well supervised. There is a lot that you can do with this idea. They could have their own servers, and even have their own décor. You could provide games, books and toys so that they remain entertained, or keep them busy while they wait for their parents or their food. If the parents think their children are safe then they will relax more and probably even order more off the menu or have an extra wine or dessert. They will feel more relaxed and love you and your staff for it.

16. Have colouring contests, or any contest

These are always an old favourite for the kids. Have one every week or every month. Prizes can be from surrounding businesses or even you own gift certificates. You can apply this to any idea for a contest and they are popular when done in conjunction with a local festival or celebration. It makes everyone happy, and gives them a reason to come back.

17. Have a fish tank

Servers or parents can escort the kids over to the fish tank to view the fish. It stops them getting bored. All kids love gazing into a fish tank. And many adults do too. It’s a winner all round!

18. Have a children’s mascot

If you have a theme for your restaurant, you can co-ordinate with that theme. For example if you are a steak restaurant you could have a cowboy. If you are a seafood restaurant, you could have a whale or a pirate.

19. Have a kid’s entertainer

They could dress up like a famous character, or a clown, or a magician, or even a lion tamer or someone else from the circus. I know of a restaurant that gets costumes for free in return for advertising the costume hire company. They can clown around, perform tricks, juggle and even mime. You are limited only by your imagination. The entertainer can even take them on a tour of the kitchen. Any college that teaches education courses is usually a good source for finding a quality entertainer.

20. Do face painting occasionally

This is always a big hit. It does not have to be often, but it always a big winner. You can have lots of fun with it. We know of a restaurant that gives a prize when Mum or Dad get their face painted too. The kids think that is great fun!

Ian Macdonald as founder and owner of Macdonald’s Gourmet Burgers combines his passion and knowledge of food, wine and nutrition with savvy business tactics. He is also the MD of a corporate consulting firm that advises on strategic negotiation, dispute resolution and workplace change. Clients are mainly from top 100 corporations. For lots of free resources from their extensive website go to: http://www.MacdonaldsGourmetBurgers.com

This article was compiled with the guidance of Darrell Berg-Smith, CEO, DBS Worldwide Marketing Co., Ltd. For lots of great free low cost marketing resources go to: http://www.darrellberg-smith.com

6. Be aware of your customer’s preferences and usual favourites.

Customers love to feel special. Most diners go to a restaurant for an experience, not just a meal. You know how it is if you go somewhere regularly and they can never remember you, or they do, but they can’t remember your name. How special do you feel then? If a customer orders the same drink all the time, not only do they think it is nice if you remember, they will soon start to wonder why you can’t if you don’t. Customers always are impressed when a server remembers their preferences or favourites from visit to visit.

7. Don’t get too chatty with guests

It’s great to have a chat with customers, and it should be encouraged, but it should not be overdone. A server may even spend extra time with a customer before the food arrives, however they should be basically left alone after that, other than checking for additional needs.

8. Think of customers as family and close friends

Think of your family members and your friends for a moment. You know that Harry likes seafood but does not like oysters. Warren only drinks single malt scotch and Jenny loves Chardonnay. Bob likes ice cold Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, and hates garlic. Get to know your customers the same way and it will pay off.

9. Keep record cards

I like to keep small record cards about customer’s details and preferences. They record information about a customer’s likes and dislikes. It has birthdays, anniversary dates and any other information that is deemed important to help make them feel special. Reward your servers every time they add something to a card. Don’t get too nosy, but generally people love to share information with people they trust.

10. Treat complaints as an opportunity to fix something and develop a closer relationship

OK…it happens! It does not matter how efficient you are, you will always have to deal with complaints.

Bill Gates has always said that one of Microsoft’s greatest sources for learning is from complaints. He sees them as an opportunity and turns them into a positive. Similarly, in a restaurant, if you handle the situation well you can have those same customers as your “Raving Fans”. Here are some tips on how to do it:

Deal with complaints promptly. This shows that you are serious about what they have to say and are responsible as a business owner. It does not matter how the complaint is made, in writing, by telephone, email or in person, do not delay. The longer you wait the angrier the person is going to become, and an angry customer is a talkative one.

Provide refunds before guests request them. If a customer complains about a meal or any part of it, do not wait for them to request a credit, offer it to them first, or offer to make an immediate substitution. When you take this initiative you are showing them that you value their satisfaction more than anything. If they share the story with friends, you can only come out of it in a favourable light.

Always look at the big picture. Don’t get lost in the small stuff!! You are trying to build a business and become more successful. So when customers complain about their meal, or the service or anything at all, always try to resolve the complaints in their favour, in whatever way you think is appropriate. Customers always retain favourable memories of restaurants that are quick and efficient at resolving their complaints.

Just a note to remember though! I do not agree with the adage that “The customer is always right”. If they are valued regular, or someone you know and like, then it does apply. However there are always some people that try and take advantage of a situation, if they know they can constantly get away with it. You will know who they are if that is happening. In this instance I start to suggest that I am very sad that we do not seem to be able to satisfy them with regular occurrence, and that it might just be that our establishment is not appropriate for their requirements. I would discontinue being as generous as to offer credits or replacements. I am basically asking them to go away and eat elsewhere. It happens and if handled correctly and professionally, it does not become a problem, (for you at least). Anyone they talk to will probably know what they are like and have heard the story from them time and time again.

11. Offer discounts

BUT USE THEM SPARINGLY!! This is very important. I am not in favour of discounts generally, and I usually get into lots of strife from our marketing consultant at the first suggestion of it. Overuse of discounts can easily weaken your pricing structure. However in some circumstances when used cleverly, discounts can boost sales and help you build your business. But when used as a sole source of marketing, it can have a negative affect on your restaurant. However some of the following may be a possibility for you at the appropriate time:

Give discounts to individual groups. This is a good way to entice a specific audience to your restaurant. You could use it as a goodwill gesture too by giving offers to Rotary Clubs and similar organisations. Other groups could be teachers, students, senior citizens etc. It all depends what type of restaurant you are and what demographic you are serving. You can limit it to certain days or times.

Create coupons. This may be more appropriate for fast food restaurants, but they can also be very effective in fine dining establishments too. Coupons are primarily designed to introduce new customers to your establishment. Giving one meal free or cheaper when another meal is purchased is always very popular. Free coffees or free deserts or appetisers can also be effective. You can also give coupons for future visits, when presenting the bill.

Offer discounts at special times. This helps get the quieter times a bit busier. You may as well be selling some things and building you business during these times too, even if it is to a lesser extent.

Surprise envelope discounts. This can be a bit of fun. Present a sealed envelope at the same time you present the bill. Your customers will be surprised at either a discount on their next visit, some lottery tickets, free deserts or coffees, or any other offer you think appropriate. These are fun for all involved, unexpected and easy to prepare.

Accept competitor’s coupons. This is easy, saves on printing, and gains attention. You can steal customers away from them too. It is worthwhile to investigate which coupons are generally the more productive first.

Give away free drinks at surprise times. At quieter times get things moving by announcing free or discounted drinks as a surprise. Don’t do it every day and choose different times too of course.

Form a strategic alliance with a local cinema, or some other entertainment venue. Dining out and going to then show or a movie is a good mix. So why not partner with your local cinema, or other entertainment venue. They can just show their ticket. Maybe they will offer a discount to your customers too. Their movie listings could be available in the bar or on request.

So look at your program of staying ahead of the competition and look at other ways to stay a step ahead.

We looked at other ways to stay ahead of the competition in part 1 of this article which you can access here…

Ian Macdonald as founder and owner of Macdonald’s Gourmet Burgers combines his passion and knowledge of food, wine and nutrition with savvy business tactics. He is also the MD of a corporate consulting firm that advises on strategic negotiation, dispute resolution and workplace change. Clients are mainly from top 100 corporations. For lots of free resources from their extensive website go to: http://www.MacdonaldsGourmetBurgers.com

This article was compiled with the guidance of Darrell Berg-Smith, CEO, DBS Worldwide Marketing Co., Ltd. For lots of great free low cost marketing resources go to: http://www.darrellberg-smith.com

There aren’t really any hard and fast rules about picking a good name in terms of what name will do better than others, but there are some things to keep in mind generally about selecting a name that will be more user friendly. Don’t pick a name that is hard to spell or hard to say. Even if you are using a name for a restaurant business that may serve French food, try to not to pick a difficult to spell or pronounce French name for the restaurant. Don’t pick a name that will be easily confused with another restaurant. Aside from potential trademark issues, you just don’t want to accidentally send business to the wrong restaurant.

Don’t pick a name that might have a second meaning or that could be misconstrued as negative, or worse as bigoted or insensitive. Don’t pick a name that is too “adult” or risqué, as just the insinuation may turn off a lot of people even if the inside may be more family friendly. Don’t pick a name that doesn’t fit with what you are selling. If you call it a diner, some people are going to expect meatloaf on the menu. If you don’t plan to serve meatloaf, make sure the name fits. Café and bistro are two more examples of restaurant names that will imply a certain kind of menu.

Don’t worry about picking a name that starts with an early letter of the alphabet. Although people used to suggest that as a way to get into the front section of the yellow pages listings, the yellow pages are on the way out, and this isn’t the way most people choose a restaurant anyway. Do try and pick a name for which you can register the accompanying domain name (www.restaurantname.com) that ends in .com. If you can’t get the exact name, check the website for the name you have picked to make sure it doesn’t link to something unsavory, or worse, to local competition. You can check domain name availability at register.com.

Overall, just pick something you like that is easy to spell and say and has a domain name you can get, or something close. But don’t spend too much time worrying about the name, as it is one of the least important factor in your restaurant’s overall success.

The ultimate guide to creating a “guaranteed to get funded” restaurant business plan quickly and easily was created by the author, former restaurant owner and full time startup business consultant Matt Remuzzi, owner of the website http://www.CapForge.com

1. Know who your competition is!

I have encountered situations where a restaurant owner has identified the competition. Or at least what they think is their competition, but they’re not. If I am selling Gourmet Burgers with the finest of ingredients, including trimmed premium Scotch Fillet Steak for the beef patties, (like I do), in a licensed restaurant with full service and extras, I am not really in Competition with the greasy burger joint down the road, or a group like Burger King am I?

So make sure your competition is truly your competition in the first place.

2. Get Employees to Sample the Competition.

You should always know what your competition is doing, it is essential to your success. It may be difficult to go yourself though as you would no doubt be known. So send one of your employees instead. Brief them what to look for. It will also give you the opportunity to treat a staff member to something different. How about showing up for work to be told you have to go out to dinner or lunch…all expenses paid!!!

3. Employ the services of a mystery shopper.

This is the reverse of what we have just spoken about. Here you get someone to come to your restaurant and report back to you. So none of you staff know what’s going on. I organise this by going to our local business or community college and speaking to someone from the food and beverage school. They always suggest a student that would excel at the project. They earn some money, have some fun, and get a free meal. I often donate something to the college or I might even go and speak to there for them. Everybody wins.

4. Do a survey or introduce a suggestion box.

This is common, but effective. If you can get their phone number, you can call them back and probably get a few more pointers at the same time. It will also give your customers the impression that you take their feedback seriously, and value their opinions.

5. Provide Hospitality, Not Just Service.

This is one of the best ways to make sure you stay ahead of the competition. So what is the difference between hospitality and service? Hospitality is when you make a personal connection with your guests. It includes things like remembering their preferences, recognizing them when you see them and even anticipating their needs. Service on the other hand, is a matter of just doing what you have to do …. Taking the order give the food and take the money.

I have some friends that every time they go to their favorite restaurant, there is always their usual drink at their table waiting for them. They love it. They feel extra special.

Hospitality keeps guests coming back, whereas service keeps them going anywhere else!

We will look at more ways to stay ahead of the competition in part 2 of this article which you can access here.

Ian Macdonald as founder and owner of Macdonald’s Gourmet Burgers combines his passion and knowledge of food, wine and nutrition with savvy business tactics. He is also the MD of a corporate consulting firm that advises on strategic negotiation, dispute resolution and workplace change. Clients are mainly from top 100 corporations. For lots of free resources from their extensive website go to: http://www.MacdonaldsGourmetBurgers.com

This article was compiled with the guidance of Darrell Berg-Smith, CEO, DBS Worldwide Marketing Co., Ltd. For lots of great free low cost marketing resources go to: http://www.darrellberg-smith.com

1. Always have a kids menu

Times have changed. These days’ parents are taking their parents along to the best of restaurants, so a children’s menu is essential. This is not to just keep the kids happy, but the parents too. Otherwise the parents will feel that they will be pressured to pay full price for a meal their kids may not enjoy and probably will not finish. It will be no encouragement for them to return. And as we all know only too well these days, the children often have a lot to do with family dining decisions, so meeting their needs is critical.

2. Use name tags

This is easy and fun and it makes the kids feel a bit special. But it is not just about the name tags it is also about using their names. We all enjoy hearing our own name or being addressed by our own name, and our children are no different. Servers should always ask for their names and use it as much as possible. If for any reason they do not want their name tag, the parents will be pleased to take it home.

3. Give them small gifts

We all love presents, and so do our kids! They do not have to be much. Crayons are always a popular favourite. The dollar stores are a favourite as a supplier for these things. They are cheap and there is a large selection. You can get stickers, pencils, books, and heaps of toys. You can put all the toys in a box and they can even choose one. Just make sure they are all totally safe for their age. Lollies are not a great idea as they may not be allowed to have them.

4. Provide Children’s cutlery

This again makes them feel special and it makes the parents feel good that their child is being well cared for and that you value their business.

5. Give free balloons

But only as they leave!! You do not want to be driving all you customers nuts because little Freddie is making heaps of noise or balloons are bursting every now and then. The children also will have something to remember their adventure and you will of course have advertising on them won’t you?? They are easy and inexpensive to order in bulk.

You can access Parts 2 and 3 of these 20 Great Kid Friendly Marketing Ideas for Your Restaurant series of articles below or on this Ezine Articles website.

Ian Macdonald as founder and owner of Macdonald’s Gourmet Burgers combines his passion and knowledge of food, wine and nutrition with savvy business tactics. He is also the MD of a corporate consulting firm that advises on strategic negotiation, dispute resolution and workplace change. Clients are mainly from top 100 corporations. For lots of free resources from their extensive website go to: http://www.MacdonaldsGourmetBurgers.com

This article was compiled with the guidance of Darrell Berg-Smith, CEO, DBS Worldwide Marketing Co., Ltd. For lots of great free low cost marketing resources go to: http://www.darrellberg-smith.com

That’s right; they were talking about that good old “word-of-mouth.” But that’s not exactly traditional marketing. It relies entirely on someone telling someone else. The problem is that no one has control over what is said be it good or bad. So WOM can be as much damaging as it can be helpful. Even after that is explained, they feel it’s better than no advertising at all, which is typically a high-cost item. After all, they had already bought expensive equipment, furnishings, paid a store rental, hired employees, and retained insurance. Now, nothing was left. Wouldn’t that great large sign above the door be enough? It was their version of free advertising. Of course, if someone weren’t walking or driving by, they would never see it. So much for free advertising number two.

Then they might also tell me about their ten year old that could bike around the neighborhood and place flyers on local car windshields or in house doors. They could print a homemade colored sheet right off their computer printer for virtually nothing and little Jimmy was paid a few bucks here and there. And then I would try to clarify that those same flyers might make people mad because of the intrusion or annoyance factor. I know I hate to get something on my windshield. Sometimes they didn’t get my point, but then I was trying to sell them something.

Finally, they might suggest that another friend or relative walk up and down the street with a placard, offering a free dessert or something to entice the patrons in. I rolled my eyes and they finally got the message. Nowadays, I write on-line articles and read others about where you can get the best free advertising on the Internet. It seems that no one wants to actually pay for anything of value anymore. So, for those restaurants that now turn to the web for freebies, I will write this as a public service. If they have neglected to design and post their own website, here’s a free alternative.

Menuelephant.com is a completely free site for restaurants to post a menu and all their other information. Then a Google map is attached to show their location. In effect, it creates a web page for the individual restaurant even if it has multiple locations, and all for free. It’s also entirely free to the user and makes its money from Google ads instead. It’s a good place to consider for a restaurant that desires free advertising that works. And isn’t that what every business wants?

Jeffrey Hauser was a sales consultant for the Bell System Yellow Pages for nearly 25 years. He graduated from Pratt Institute with a BFA in Advertising and has a Master’s Degree in teaching. He had his own advertising agency in Scottsdale, Arizona and ran a consulting and design firm, ABC Advertising. He authored a book about his directory years, “Inside the Yellow Pages” which can be seen at his website, http://www.poweradbook.com and he is currently the Marketing Director for http://www.thenurseschoice.com a Health Information site and http://www.menuelephant.com which posts restaurant menus on the “site you’ll never forget.”