Generating Business for Pizza Restaurant

WebdevelopmentGroup

12 years ago

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RKCastillo 12 years ago

Do they have about $20 to spend on marketing?

I would go the route of building a txt marketing list. Use Twilio to set this up. They do something like 1 cent or 2 cents per text message sent out. So if you get 100 people on your list, you could do 50-100 txts for $1.

Then on your slow nights send out a txt message and offer a deal "$10 off your pizza if you call before 7pm and mention this txt"

Or something like that.

If they don't have $20, you can actually use Twitter to send out txt messages to people's phones. Create a free twitter account and have your customers send a txt to: 40404 and in the message type: follow yourpizzashoptwittername

and that will turn your tweets on to their phone. It doesn't work 100% of the time but it's free.
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Doran Peck

12 years ago

1. Put together a co-op mailer which has several businesses ads or coupons on it....charge the others enough to cover the cost. ...free mailers for you.

2. Food is direct mails best friend....more people respond to food offers than anything else....so let other businesses know that you would allow them to print (your approved) coupons on their mailers....their promo stuff....their promo event flyers, company parties, etc. For a non-food establishment...."Food" adds some more value to what they are doing.

Remember...you are not losing a dime by giving out coupons, because your getting sales that would not have happened naturally. Your just getting a slightly smaller profit as opposed to a complete zero.

3. Draw up a 4.24x5.5 coupon, place 4 on a sheet and print them off and cut them out. ( they can be B&W). Make an identifying set for every employee to pass around. (a limited number per week) This gives an incentive to get people back through your doors quicker than normal, and it gives a bonus to the employee. Free meal somewhere of their choice perhaps.

4. Create 3 for 1 cards...you can get 1000 printed up for $25-35 online...Notice I said 3 for 1...not 10 for 1 or 5 for 1...those are a waste of time. Rewarding a customers after 3 visits is a realistic and doable within a much shorter time span...its the "Just three? oh hell we can bust this out quick" mindset....if they have to wait till after 10 visits...they are going to take their sweet time climbing that mountain...and probably lose the card sometime in between. The whole idea is to get them in the door many times....they will always overspend when they get there.

5. Do custom coupons with signature....every time a customer pays at the counter or sits at a table, you give them a card where they write their favorite thing on the menu.
The server or manager decides on the spot, after they've written their favorite, what discount they receive on it at their next visit ( can be a random amount)

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midasman09

Banned 12 years ago

Ya.....I've been hunting for the WSO that has EXACTLY what you want!

It's a 81/2 by 11 Flyer that has a Cartoon Character holding a cell phone with the words, "SCAN HERE (QR Code) to get $2 Off Your Pizza!"

This flyer is stuck on the wall next to where orders are placed.....or, on a plastic display on the order counter.

Customers see the flyer...scan the QR Code and download to their cell phone. Resulting in the Pizzeria grabbing the contact info of their customers. So that, the pizzeria can contact their customers later to offer special deals to get the customers BACK IN!

I forgot who offered these Flyers. They were great. It could have Been "Will R".

I'll keep checking.

Don Alm

Thanks

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AmericanMuscleTA

12 years ago

Well, if you don't have any money to do marketing then start collecting contact info from the customers you do have!!

The best customers are the customers already doing business with you.

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serryjw

12 years ago

I love RK's suggestions...Regardless of which method you do try this:
1) send out txt at 10am to businesses ( with a discount) where they planning their office lunch order.
2) send out txt at 4pm with a discount for people picking up pizza on th way home from 5-6pm

Thanks

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IMBlest

12 years ago

Create flyers offering a discount and distribute to businesses located in close proximity to the pizzeria.

The employees of these businesses, I'm sure, are looking for places to eat during their lunch break.

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xlfutur1

12 years ago

I have a pizza client who added a dining room back in 2011 and when I first contacted them through direct mail, their biggest concern was increasing dine-in customers at the restaurant.

Two things that I implemented for them have worked extremely well....SMS (win a free lg pizza in a weekly drawing) and an email birthday club (free small pizza during their birthday month). Subscribers to both lists still come in every single day and business is booming They are now expanding the restaurant and adding banquet room as well since they have a separate catering business but no place to hold events.

Lastly, I have increased their FB likes by running FB ads promoting the birthday club, so that works as a double whammy...more FB likes and more subscribers. These things can be implemented very inexpensively and they work like gangbusters.

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misterme

12 years ago

First make sure the pizzeria hasn't also been losing business because of poor service, unkept/dirty appearance, bad attitude of waitstaff, lousy food.

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tarpontim1138

12 years ago

I love RKs idea on the text messaging from Twillo

Thanks

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joe ferdinando

12 years ago

Local Business and marketing $M$

1) Everyone has a website and will tell you this even if they dont!!!!
2) The minute you walk into a local business what ever you market to them they will brand you with that. Example if you walk in and try to sell a website even mobile then thats what they will brand you with!
3) Remember a hundred walked before you and tried to sell them!
4) Price only matters after you got them interested, if they ask what does it cost then its show time. You show them the packages with differant prices!

What grabs there attention
1) Loyalty cards and programs
2) SMS coupled with Loyalty card programs
3) SMS programs, systems with appointment reminders, customer waiting notifications and coupon promotion deliverys

They only want to see how your going to bring them more customer clients and help make them more money!

1)This is your starting point - If I can show you how I can bring in more client customers and help you retain all your current customers would you be interested?

2) Look around you! everyone has a smart phone and 90% are on their phone right now!

3) What if I can put you on all their smart phones and guide them here, do i have your attention?

4) let me show you something - Whats your mobile number, do I have your permission to send you quick sms text message to show you how this works - send them a sample mobile coupon you prepaired before going to their business!

5) What if I can do this for you or you can do this yourself for every customer who visits your store? Would you like that?

6) What if I told you its not that expensive and within your reach and in your budget to make this work for you?

7) Lucky 7 - Are you ready to make some time for me to come back and sit down and show you the details?

So you must show them how $M$ marketing can enhance their business and attract new customers plus retain old customers!

Thats why Loyalty card programs work well in the real world, they retain customers and bring in new customers by word of mouth - they go viral!

And why Digital Loyalty card programs work even better when you have $M$ coupled in the system because nobody can mess with cards, stamps and its reliable!

Selling SMS and Loyalty card programs is not just a sale its a commitment to help them launch and build there list and program!

1) Flyers and post cards
2) QR codes
3) List build - email, real mail, SMS

Ok so once you work with and help setup and work with them and build the list you have to help them send out promotions, discounts special deals to there member list

1) coupons
2) flyers
3) emails
4) mail

Once you have success you can get testimonials and recommended friends and other businesses coming to you!

1) word of mouth
2) refferals

Hope this helps

Originally Posted by pdiddy25

I have been on this forum for a few weeks and have enjoyed reading the info I have come across. Hopefully I placed this in the right forum I work for a small pizza chain in located I NW Indiana. The area that we are in most of our business com from industrial/factory. The other is residential. The problem we are having and I am trying to solve is that our dine in business / pick up business is slow. And our industrial business is slowing down because of layoffs. I am trying to to get ideas to generate new customers, new ways go generating business via technology, and any other ideas that may help grow our business all around. The problem that we are having also is that the company does not have the money at this time to pay for advertising or different ideas. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I have also read some of the post by other members who have helped pizza restaurants. And would love some advice for someone in my shoes.

Thanks in advance
Prentice

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midasman09 Banned 12 years ago

Prentice.....the Photo below shows a "Display Stand" (11"wide by 17"hi) I created and placed on the FRONT DESK of local Hotels & Motels.

I'm sure you have Hotels/Motels in your area.

People who check in to these Hotels/Motels;
1) Are HUNGRY (they usually don't carry food with them)
2) Have Money
3) Have a Mobile Device

So....make a Display Stand similar to the one I made and place them on the Front Desks of local Hotels/Motels.

The Owners/Managers will GLADLY place these on their Front Desks....WHY? Because they SHOW their Hotel/Motel is interested in their Guests!

I've NEVER had a Hotel/Motel turn me down.

Now....you make a 11 x 17 sheet to fit into a Plastic Display Stand you can get from Staples or Office Depot.....print a QR Code on them that takes Scanners to your "Mobile Website".

Now.....this may be "above" your Tech-Grade however.....their are BeauCoup WSOs here that can teach you how to do this.

So.....if you had EVERY Hotel/Motel with a Display.....you WILL get more biz from....local Hotels/Motels.....for just the cost of the plastic Display Stands ($15 ea)

Don Alm.....Marketing Guy

I'm sorry.....for some reason I can't get the photo to upload...will try later
- Thanks
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IMBlest

12 years ago

Originally Posted by joe ferdinando

Local Business and marketing $

1) Everyone has a website and will tell you this even if they dont!!!!
2) The minute you walk into a local business what ever you market to them they will brand you with that. Example if you walk in and try to sell a website even mobile then thats what they will brand you with!
3) Remember a hundred walked before you and tried to sell them!
4) Price only matters after you got them interested, if they ask what does it cost then its show time. You show them the packages with differant prices!

What grabs there attention
1) Loyalty cards and programs
2) SMS coupled with Loyalty card programs
3) SMS programs, systems with appointment reminders, customer waiting notifications and coupon promotion deliverys

They only want to see how your going to bring them more customer clients and help make them more money!

1)This is your starting point - If I can show you how I can bring in more client customers and help you retain all your current customers would you be interested?

2) Look around you! everyone has a smart phone and 90% are on their phone right now!

3) What if I can put you on all their smart phones and guide them here, do i have your attention?

4) let me show you something - Whats your mobile number, do I have your permission to send you quick sms text message to show you how this works - send them a sample mobile coupon you prepaired before going to their business!

5) What if I can do this for you or you can do this yourself for every customer who visits your store? Would you like that?

6) What if I told you its not that expensive and within your reach and in your budget to make this work for you?

7) Lucky 7 - Are you ready to make some time for me to come back and sit down and show you the details?

So you must show them how $ marketing can enhance their business and attract new customers plus retain old customers!

Thats why Loyalty card programs work well in the real world, they retain customers and bring in new customers by word of mouth - they go viral!

And why Digital Loyalty card programs work even better when you have $ coupled in the system because nobody can mess with cards, stamps and its reliable!

Selling SMS and Loyalty card programs is not just a sale its a commitment to help them launch and build there list and program!

1) Flyers and post cards
2) QR codes
3) List build - email, real mail, SMS

Ok so once you work with and help setup and work with them and build the list you have to help them send out promotions, discounts special deals to there member list

1) coupons
2) flyers
3) emails
4) mail

Once you have success you can get testimonials and recommended friends and other businesses coming to you!

1) word of mouth
2) refferals

Hope this helps

If you need a good sms system or a Digital Loyalty card system contact me for more information

Joe, great advice!

You really sound like you know what you are talking about.

I've read before in other threads, your other posts regarding mobile marketing and I've always been impressed with your great advice & knowledge.

Thank you.

Thanks

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pdiddy25

12 years ago

To everyone who posted thank you for your ideas. I am going to write this info down and take these back to our managers meeting and see what we can implement. If I need more assistance in regards to setting up these marketing ideas. I definitely know where to come to get my questions answered.

Thanks

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jamesfreddyc

12 years ago

Question to ask at your meeting:

Are we effectively collecting, storing, managing, updating and mining our customer data?

If not, why the hell not? What business (yes even a pizza parlor) can be successful if it doesn't know about its customers?

If you had been collecting cell #'s you could be engaging them via SMS for little or no cost. Creating a simple facebook page and getting customers to simply like the fb page gives you free viral exposure.

Thanks

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jamesfreddyc

12 years ago

Make an honest assessment. Look at the people waiting in line to order/pickup or even while at the table waiting for their food. What are they doing? From what I see at pizza parlors, grocery stores, wherever--- their faces are buried into their phones, fidgiting-away.

Take advantage of that.and engage them in that media --- people are thethered to their phones 24-7!

At your meeting, who DOESN'T have their cellphone? Why? The dang thing is always within reach.... and its true for your customers too.

Thanks

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sdentrepreneur

11 years ago

I have several pizza clients. We use SMS but we have great success with Social Media Marketing.
Facebook and Facebook Ads, Twitter, Instagram, Google Brand Pages and Yelp. You need an agency style marketing plan for each platform.

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TrumpiaTim

11 years ago

Originally Posted by sdentrepreneur

I have several pizza clients. We use SMS but we have great success with Social Media Marketing.
Facebook and Facebook Ads, Twitter, Instagram, Google Brand Pages and Yelp. You need an agency style marketing plan for each platform.

Which channel did you find to be the most successful? Curious to see how social media stacks against review sites and sms text marketing.

Thanks

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FuNwiThChRiS

11 years ago

Not having a marketing budget is RIDICULOUS for any restaurant. A restaurant should be spending at least 3% to 6% of gross sales on marketing.

If you do not do this, you will find yourself in the exact same position, or shut down, in no time.

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Freebiequeen1999

11 years ago

Originally Posted by FuNwiThChRiS

Not having a marketing budget is RIDICULOUS for any restaurant. A restaurant should be spending at least 3% to 6% of gross sales on marketing.

If you do not do this, you will find yourself in the exact same position, or shut down, in no time.

Very true. Sadly a lot of small biz owners seem to get to a place where they think they "can't afford" to advertise and promote - when in truth they can't afford NOT to advertise.

I have seen many with totally unrealistic expectations. I also meet those who can't "understand" why things are not like they used to be - they don't keep up with changes.

Sometimes those changes are things they can't control = like when the "anchor", supermarket or whatever, leaves a suburban mall the other businesses flounder.

Other times they fail to keep up with the times in terms of image, refurbishment - I have seen a lot of salons with a totally 10 year old - or 20 year old LOL - decor, shabby bathroom, worn tile etc. You see restaurants that don't change their menu or decor (Gordon Ramsey is not there to rescue them all haha)

Other's don't keep up with the technology - out of date website, no online ordering or appointment setting or whatever.

Groupon etc can be a pitfall for a biz looking to play it free/cheap - depending on the margin this can really put them in the hole. Not to mention "bad reviews" and problems with customers who expect more and the biz tries to cut corners as they bleed money on a "deal" .

<sigh>

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adsads64

11 years ago

if you do not have a budget give them a coupons for the email they give you

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yukon

Banned 11 years ago

Free bread sticks with $20 order on your slow days/hours. Dough is most likely your largest markup besides drinks.

Be active on Facebook & Twitter.

Thanks

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DaveTheSinister

11 years ago

Man, so many great suggestions. One suggestion: while also looking for more ways to get new customers in the door, maybe you could think of ways to maximize average earning potential from each of the customers you already have.

Possibly look around for incentivized CPA offers that your customers may be interested in. Print them out on to fliers and just staple/tape them to the box.

You can start a Teespring Campaign with the stipulation to help some charity. Might serve you well to do one that your closer community would really connect with. BUT I STRESS: if you are going to do that (start a shirt campaign and claim its for charity), you better give to that charity.

Hope this helps
D

Thanks

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Barry Unruh

11 years ago

I have never done any promotion for a Pizza place, but I do remember one of the smartest moves a local pizzeria pulled when they opened their doors.

They called every business in the area and told the receptionists and business owners they were offering 10% off on delivery orders to local businesses for their meetings.

I was doing a lot of network consulting and installations at that time. I saw their phone number written down beside a bunch of secretaries and receptionists phones.

Takes some time and effort, but it is 100% free. (except for the discount..)

Thanks

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Generating Business for Pizza Restaurant

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