The Covid-19 pandemic created a massive impact on how businesses market their brands. Offline marketing is still relevant despite more people sheltering in place. But since more people are now spending long hours online, it only makes sense to move most of your marketing on the internet.
In-person promotion became extremely limited. Consumers would rather cook their own meals or have their food delivered to avoid going out. Even as people started to go out more often, many are still afraid to dine in restaurants.
These unprecedented times made businesses realize that they can no longer ignore online marketing. But for those who are very new to this type of marketing, it can be a little tricky to navigate. Failure to address customer health and safety concerns can quickly turn your potential customers off.
Customer Concerns When Dining in Restaurants
Consumers are naturally afraid to get the virus. The longer they stay outdoors and in enclosed places like restaurants, the higher their chances of contracting the virus. But as the crisis drags on, consumers want to take a break from quarantining.
Being able to enjoy good food from their favorite restaurants can be a great way to take a break from the quarantine life. It is also one way to enjoy themselves and forget about their pandemic-related worries even for a little bit. It is now your job to provide a safer dining experience and communicate your plans through your marketing campaigns.
But then, consumers have varying opinions regarding imposed health and safety measures. Some are getting tired of all the safety precautions imposed by businesses. Others are more than willing to comply if it meant improving the health and safety of everyone.
Some customers will get upset if restaurants impose social distancing and wearing masks inside the area. Others can get disappointed if the health and safety measures are not done according to their standards. The key is to communicate openly and be clear for your reasons in implementing standard safety measures for everyone’s sake.
Restaurant Marketing Tips During COVID-19
As businesses start to open, your goal is not just to improve your delivery sales, but to boost the number of people dining in your restaurant. Here are some marketing techniques you can consider that will help you market your restaurant in the middle of the pandemic.
Share the Covid-19 Measures You Invested in
How are you coping with the pandemic? Now that you plan on welcoming dine-in customers, you should include in your marketing what are the things you invested in to improve the health and safety inside your restaurant.
Let’s say you are imposing recommended guidelines by the CDC. You are strictly imposing social distancing, wearing masks when not eating, and is limiting the number of people dining in at a time. Make sure you include these things when marketing your brand for your customers to know what to expect when visiting your restaurant.
It is also worth investing in the right technologies to better facilitate your plan. For instance, you recently invested in some innovations from reputable companies like Lakeside Manufacturing, Inc., such as carry out pick-up carts and hands-free condiment stations. Be sure to mention these on your marketing campaigns to boost customer confidence that you are doing everything you can to improve their safety and convenience.
Give Your Social Media Marketing Campaigns a Makeover
Before, you are getting likes, new followers, and more customers by simply posting your tasty menus. But now, you need to do more than that to entice your audience to drive to your restaurant and dine in-store. What you need is to try other social media marketing tactics and make the most out of your campaigns.
If you have never posted videos before, now is the time to invest in video marketing. Share mouthwatering clips of how you prepare your best-sellers. Don’t forget to share the story of how your brand started and how it came to be the restaurant it is now.
Don’t forget to engage with your audience on social media. Ask questions, answer customer concerns, and don’t forget to add a bit of personality on your social media business page. We can all learn something from Wendy’s marketing success on Twitter on how to get creative.
Boost Your Online Presence
Now is not the time to slack in improving your online presence. It does not matter if you are a new restaurant trying to gain new customers or is already a local favorite in your area. There is simply no point in passing up the opportunity to take advantage of consumer’s increasing internet use.
There are many things you can do to improve your restaurant’s online presence.
- Go for a mobile-optimized website
- Leverage SEO research
- Create and share valuable content
- Take a closer look at your competitor’s online marketing schemes
- Boost user experience
- Use keywords to increase website traffic and conversions
- Improve online engagements
Now is a critical time to step up your marketing game. It can benefit your business by increasing your online presence, entice new customers and retain your old clients. Try to put yourself in your customer’s shoes and find ways to better cater to their needs and wants mid-pandemic.
