My number one recommendation when I speak to any restaurant owner who is looking to increase the number of diners in their restaurant is...

Build a List!!

This could be an email list so you can send a regular newsletter to your subscribers, or even better an SMS list so you can send text messages with offers etc.

If you consider virtually any other form of marketing for your restaurant it will likely be a one-hit wonder which either brings diners to you - or not. So a newspaper ad, or Facebook ad for example, may bring some diners while the ad is running, but when the ad (and expense) stops, the diners do too.

If you build a list though, that is an asset that you can benefit from for years. I have restaurant clients who I have helped build lists of over 9000 diners close to their restaurant - and we have been able to send special offers, details of events and just general nudges to tempt diners back, month after month for years!

I help many of my clients to build lists via SMS/Text Message VIP Clubs and when we send a text to the list, over 97% open the text message within 5 minutes of it being sent! So if needs be, we can send an offer that will get more customers through the door tonight!

If you'd like help to create a list for your restaurant, either SMS or email, please let me know and I'll be happy to help, or just give you some help and advice.

Alternatively, if you prefer to do-it-yourself, then the rest of this page will show you exactly how to set up your own email newsletter for your restaurant. So, firstly...

What Software Should You Use?

There are lots of options when it comes to email marketing/newsletter software that you can use, but the company I recommend is GetResponse. I've been using GetResponse for my own email lists and those of my restaurant clients for over 20 years. In that time, I've been nothing but impressed with the system itself, the regular improvements, the deliverability of the emails and the customer service.

If you'd like to take a look at what they offer, you can do so by Clicking Here. That link will also allow you to sign up for an account that is totally free until you have over 500 subscribers. Note: Signing up via that link also gives me a few quid if you sign-up and later start paying for your account - I hope that's ok with you. :-)

The other benefit of using GetResponse is that you can then follow along with the videos below and get everything quickly set up for your own restaurant newsletter!!

Video 1: Basic Setup for Your Restaurant Newsletter

In this first video I'll show you the basic GetResponse setup for your Restaurant Newsletter. This only needs doing once...

Video 2: Creating a Template for Your Restaurant Newsletter

In this video I'll show you how to easily design a great looking template that you'll use for your newsletter. Once you create this template you'll use it each time you want to send a newsletter...

Video 3: Sending a Newsletter to Your Email List

In this video I'll show you what you need to do each time you want to send a newsletter to your email list...

Video 4: How to Start Building Your Email List

In this video I'll show you how to create a form (and other widgets) to add to your website so you can start to get subscribers to your newsletter...

If you've followed all of the videos above you should not have your own restaurant newsletter all set up and ready to go and you should also be starting to get subscribers via the form on your website. 

Don't forget to tell everyone about your newsletter too. For example, mention it on your Facebook page with a link to your signup form, tell diners about it etc and you can soon be on your way to building a profitable asset that will pay you back in more diners for years to come!

Resources:

* The email software I demonstrated above is GetResponse. You can get your free account by Clicking Here.
* If you'd like to see a demo of the SMS/Text Message VIP Clubs that I set up for my restaurant clients, Click Here.
* The prize draw software I mentioned in the last video is called UpViral. You can get a free 14-day trial of the software by Clicking Here.

Other ways I can help you if you don't have the time to learn how to build your own list, but you can see that you need one...

1. I can set your GetResponse account up for you so you can then run it.
2. I can set your GetResponse account up for you and run your newsletter for you on an ongoing basis. 
3. I can create viral prize draws for you my own UpViral account and connect them to your Getresponse so we can rapidly build your email list.

Just let me know if you're interested in any of these options and I'll give you some more info.

Alternatively, if you'd just like a chat about attracting more diners to your restaurant, then please contact me by any of the methods you'll find by Clicking Here.

Whichever way you decide to go, I really hope that you will build a list for your restaurant - it really will pay you back in more diners for years to come!

Best regards,

Chris Towland