Every restaurant owner, operator, and manager is the epitome of a jack of all trades.

You are equal parts manager, culinary connoisseur, business analyst, events host, hospitality maven, logistical mastermind, savvy negotiator, salesperson, marketer, and more. 

In other words, running a successful restaurant is so much more than delivering dazzling dishes and service with a smile. 

Your guests have thousands of restaurant options to choose from approximately 660,000 to be precise – to choose from when deciding what and where they want to eat. You need to find a way to attract new guests and retain existing ones, turning everyone who visits your restaurant into a lifelong fan, friend, and brand advocate. 

And this is increasingly true in 2021 and beyond.

The expectations of your guests have changed. COVID-19 has forced restaurants to quickly pivot into new, convenient dining options. Your restaurant is facing more and more pressure to adapt – and compete against the restaurants that already have. 

Ultimately, what will set you apart is how you market your restaurant, communicate with guests, and provide the best overall dining experience. The good news is that the channels of communication haven’t changed during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

But you do have to tweak your messaging to make sure it’s most relevant to your customer base, even as things change daily. 

Let’s start with your marketing. Marketing is the sequence of actions your business takes to entice and engage with customers, with the ultimate goal of winning their repeat business and long-term loyalty. 

Marketing is an invaluable tool. One that, when used correctly, has the power to turn your business into a 100-year brand. That being said, you cannot market your restaurant once and call yourself a pro. 

The key to marketing is consistency and goal setting. As any personal trainer will tell you, the most effective way to reach your goals is by establishing a well-thought-out plan that helps you achieve success incrementally. 

We've got the tools to help you build a successful marketing plan. Fill out these few pages to set your restaurant marketing plan goals. Then, head to the Restaurant Marketing Plan Sheet to map them to a budget and calendar.

Source: Toast