Sending periodic text messages announcing food and drink specials, theme nights, or holiday parties and events are just some of the many ways restaurants and other food and beverage establishments can benefit from text message marketing.

Other ways include:

  • Improved customer service
  • Word-of-mouth advertising
  • Input/Feedback

Improved Customer Service

Promoting your business is tough, especially with all the competition out there. Improving customer service can give you a small advantage over all the other restaurants, pubs, and local eateries in your area. Use SMS notifications to:

  • Confirm/reschedule table reservations
  • Alert patrons food orders are ready
  • Alert patrons of sudden menu changes
  • Send proper attire instructions or suggestions
  • Send seasonal menus
  • Send entertainment schedule

There are many ways to improve customer service to make your business stand out from all the others. Patrons should never forget the great food, table service, atmosphere, and little extras like text message alerts when making reservations or when looking for a quick bite to eat.

Word-of-Mouth Advertising

Word-of-mouth advertising is still a viable way to market your place of business. Encourage subscribers to pass along text messages that include your restaurant’s name, website, social media page links or links to coupons to friends and family. Passing along marketing messages is the next best thing to a verbal endorsement. Other ways to encourage passing along text messages:

  • Create surveys and polls and encourage people to pass them on
  • Send coupons for meal and drink discounts
  • Create event calendars and send calendar links to subscribers
  • Offer special discounts to those who refer your place of business to others on a regular basis

As you can see, you can be as creative as you want when it comes to asking subscribers to tell others about your business.

Input/Feedback

Create a patron satisfaction survey to get feedback on everything from food to ambience. Instead of asking people to fill out paper comment cards or go online to your website to fill out a survey, send the survey directly to them via text message. Not only will sending a survey increase customer responses; it will also help you connect with patrons to see how they really feel about your business. Once you understand your customer’s needs, you can make the necessary changes to improve their dining experience.