As a restaurant owner, you’re always looking for ways to increase restaurant sales and improve your business. You can take several actions to bring in more customers and boost profits, from offering promotions and discounts to updating your menu.

In this blog post, we will discuss some of the best ways, strategies, and action plans on how to increase restaurant sales and help your business succeed. Check out the 24 tips below for some ideas to get started.

Increase Restaurant Sales

Action Plan and Strategies on How to Increase Restaurant Sales

1. Offer Signature Packages

Your customers always look for a deal, so give them what they want by offering signature packages. These could include a three-course meal for two or a bottle of wine with Mexican food appetizers and a light dinner. Whatever you choose to have, make sure it’s something that will tempt your customers into spending just a little bit more.

2. Menu Optimization

Customers are always looking for new dishes to try. Adding seasonal items such as winter cocktails or specialties is a great way to increase business during slow periods. You may also want to offer a prix fixe menu from time to time, which is a set menu at a fixed price.

Your menu is an essential tool to increase sales and optimize profits in your restaurant. You can encourage customers to order, spend more, and come back more often by making a few simple changes to your restaurant menus.

Another way to ensure your menu is always performing at its best is to conduct menu engineering analysis regularly. It involves looking at what items are selling well and which aren’t and making changes accordingly. By constantly evaluating and optimizing your menu, you can ensure that you’re offering your customers the best possible selection of dishes.

3. Host an Event

If you’re looking for ways to increase restaurant sales, one option is to throw a themed event. The event could be anything from a Halloween party to wine tasting or even something as simple as live music on a Friday night. Whatever you choose, make sure it’s something that will appeal to your target audience, and that will get them in the door.

The event will draw customers to the restaurant and may make impromptu purchases while they’re there. Plus, hosting events is a great way to build goodwill among customers and create more fun and inviting atmosphere at the restaurant.

4. Establish and Optimize a Social Media Presence

If you’re a restaurant manager, one of the best ways to increase restaurant sales is to establish and optimize a social media presence. Promoting your restaurant on social media can reach a larger audience and encourage them to try your food.

With the right approach, you can use social media to boost your business in a big way. It’s essential to focus on off page SEO for eCommerce strategies that will help improve your visibility and search engine ranking. Additionally, ensure you’re tracking your social media ROI to see how effective your social media campaigns are.

Here are three tips for how to use social media to increase restaurant sales:

1. Use attractive visuals: Make sure your photos and videos are high quality and show your food in the best light possible. Hungry customers are more likely to visit your restaurant if they see mouth-watering visuals of your dishes.
2. Use targeted hashtags: Hashtags help people discover new content on social media, so be sure to use relevant hashtags when posting about your restaurant. For example, if you’re from New York City, you could use hashtags like #nyceats or #foodie.
3. Run social media promotions: Offering discounts and giveaways is a great way to entice potential customers to visit your restaurant. Be sure to promote any specials or deals on your social media channels.

5. Sell Restaurant Merch

If you want to increase your restaurant sales, one way to do so is by selling self-branded products. People love wearing branded merchandise, which can be a great way to get free advertising for your business. Merch includes selling t-shirts, hats, or other items with your restaurant’s logo.

6. Restaurant Speed of Service

Customers want to get in and out quickly, especially during lunchtime rushes. So increasing your speed of service can make your customers happy and keep them coming back.

Here are three tips to help you increase your speed of service:

1. Ensure your wait staff is adequately trained and knows the menu inside and out.
2. Pre-bus tables as soon as customers finish their meals. This frees up space for new customers and keeps the dining area clean.
3. Investing in restaurant technology will help streamline the ordering process, such as an integrated online ordering solution and touch screen menu ordering system.

7. Use of Upselling Strategies

To make sure your servers are upselling effectively, start by training them on the art of persuasion. Teach them about menu types and how to describe them in a way that will make the customer want to try them.

It’s also important to let them know when it is and isn’t appropriate to upsell. For example, if a customer only orders an appetizer, it might not make sense to recommend a more expensive entree food.

Other upselling techniques in bars or restaurants is to suggest add-ons, such as drinks or desserts that complement the meal. Upselling is a great way to increase restaurant sales, but only if it’s done in an inviting manner.

8. Organizing a Workshop

Organizing cooking or wine-tasting workshops is a great way to introduce potential customers to your business. When choosing a topic for your workshop, selecting one that interests your target audience is essential. For example, a cooking class is a good choice if you are targeting foodies. Sommelier classes are a better option if you target those who enjoy fine wine. To ensure these workshops are successful, promote the event in places where they congregate.

9. Try Different Marketing Strategies

Try different restaurant or sports bar marketing strategies to see what works best for your business. Here are three best restaurant marketing strategies:

1. Offline marketing: Offline marketing includes flyers and posters in local businesses or even just putting up a sign in front of your restaurant. It helps get people in the door who might not have known about your place.
2. Updating your website and using online marketing techniques: Using an eCommerce SEO strategy on your site or even running digital ads that link back to your restaurant makes your restaurant more visible online and attracts more customers.
3. Focus on O2O (online-to-offline) marketing: This means bringing customers from the online world into your brick and mortar store. eCommerce email marketing is a great way to increase foot traffic in your store. Using exclusive deals and discounts to incentivize people who follow you on social media or sign up for your mailing list helps you reach a wider audience and bring more people into your store.

How to Increase Restaurant Sales Without Advertising

Encourage word-of-mouth marketing. There’s no better form of advertising than word-of-mouth. According to statistics, 88% of people had the highest level of trust in a brand when a friend or family member recommended it (SEMrush). Therefore, it is essential to encourage diners to spread the word about your restaurant. You can do this by offering loyalty programs or discounts for those who refer new customers to you.

10. Keep Details In One Centralized Place

Keeping all details in one centralized place is essential if you want to streamline your order fulfillment process and increase profits. This way, you can easily track and manage every aspect of your orders. To get the most out of your order management system, here are three tips:

• Supplier relationship management (SRM) is key to keeping track of all crucial details about your supplier relationships in one centralized system. This includes information about customers, suppliers, order history, and more.
• Use order tracking features to keep an eye on every step of the process, from placement to delivery.
• Use order alerts to stay on top of any changes or issues that may come up.

11. Start a Loyalty or Reward System

A loyalty program is a great way to increase restaurant sales. By offering customers rewards for their patronage, you can encourage them to come back more often and spend more money. There are a few different ways to implement a loyalty program, so be sure to choose the one that best fits your business.

You can start by offering discounts or freebies for customers who sign up for your program or give points for every purchase they can redeem for future savings. Whatever you do, make sure your loyalty program is easy to use and provides value to your customers.

12. Offer Takeout and Delivery

It’s no secret that the restaurant industry has struggled since the pandemic began. With dine-in service limited or non-existent in many areas, restaurants get creative to continue bringing in revenue. One way is by having a ghost kitchen. A ghost kitchen is a commercial kitchen used to prepare food for delivery or takeout but is not open to the public for dine-in service.

In addition, curbside pick up and delivery are great options for those who may not feel comfortable dining in a restaurant right now. It’s a great way to meet them where they are and continue serving up delicious meals even in these challenging times.

13. Developing Product(s) for a Niche Market

Find a way to make your restaurant stand out from the rest. What can you offer that no one else can? This could be anything from a unique cuisine to a special atmosphere. Developing a niche will help you attract customers who are looking for something specific.

14. Introduce Online Ordering for Restaurants

By leveraging online ordering, customers may order their meals online through online ordering apps or websites. This is a convenient option for customers who are short on time or don’t want to deal with the hassle of cooking. Online ordering also helps restaurants track data and eCommerce analytics more effectively.

By knowing what items are being ordered most often, restaurants adjust their menu accordingly to improve customer service. In addition, online ordering apps typically allow customers to leave reviews and ratings, giving restaurants valuable feedback.

15. GMB Listing Optimization

Your Google My Business (GMB) listing is one of the first things potential customers will see when searching for your restaurant online.

Make sure your GMB listing is accurate and up-to-date, with all the relevant information potential customers might want. This includes your hours of operation, contact information, location, menu, and more.

If you don’t have a GMB listing yet, create one! It’s easy and only takes a few minutes.

Once you have a GMB listing, keep it optimized by regularly monitoring and updating it as needed. This will help potential customers find the information they need about your restaurant quickly and easily.

If you want to take your GMB listing to the next level, consider adding photos, special offers, or even creating a virtual tour of your restaurant. These additional features can help you stand out from the competition and attract even more customers.

By taking advantage of your GMB listing, you can increase your restaurant’s visibility and drive sales.

16. Partner With Most Popular Food Delivery Services

Partnering with a popular food delivery service is one of the best things you can do if you’re looking to increase restaurant sales. This way, you’ll be able to reach new customers who might not have otherwise known about your business. Plus, thanks to modern route planning and service delivery technologies, rest assured that your food will arrive fresh and on time.

17. Providing Offers and Happy Hours

Happy hour is typically a time when restaurants offer discounts on food and drinks. This is a great time to try out new menu items or enjoy old favorites at a lower price.

So what are some great happy hour ideas for bar(s) or restaurants? Here are a few things to consider:

• Offering discounts on popular menu items
• Offering discounted or complimentary appetizers
• Offering all-you-can-eat happy hour deals
• Offering happy hour drinks (e.g., margaritas)
• Hosting special events during happy hour
• Having a themed happy hour (e.g., Mexican night)

18. Fair Restaurant Menu Pricing

Research similar restaurants in your area and price your items accordingly. Make sure your prices are fair and set at a competitive level. If you’re looking to price your menu items competitively, don’t forget to factor in the wholesale cost of your ingredients. You don’t want to charge too much and turn away customers, but you also don’t want to charge too low that you’re not making a profit.

The question is, how to calculate margin? Calculating your margin is one way to ensure you’re pricing your items correctly. To do this, take the selling price of your item and subtract the cost of ingredients. This will give you your margin for that particular dish. Make sure to consider all the costs of making the dish, including the labor cost and overhead expenses. Once you have your margin, price your menu items accordingly. Doing this ensures that you’re making a profit on every dish you serve.

19. Create Takeout Bundles

Kitting and batch picking are two effective ways to increase your sales. By packaging multiple menu items together at a discount, customers are more likely to make a purchase. Plus, they’ll appreciate the convenience of having everything they need in one place. So if you’re looking for a way to boost your bottom line, kitting and batch picking are worth considering.

20. Offer Reservation Upgrades

You can offer customers the opportunity to upgrade their reservation to a VIP seating area for an additional fee or allow guests to choose their seats for an extra charge. You can also create a special menu for those who book in advance and are willing to pay a premium price. By offering these upgrades, you’ll be able to boost your bottom line without relying on discounts or bar promotions.

21. Maintain Inventory

Maintaining a careful restaurant inventory and avoiding shrinkage are essential to keep sales up. This means keeping track of what needs to be restocked and predicting future trends. For example, if a new menu item sells well, ensure enough ingredients are available to meet the demand. You can avoid costly delays or disruptions by being proactive and anticipating customer needs.

22. Consider Private Dining

Fine dining restaurants can offer private dining rooms for special occasions, and family-style restaurants may offer intimate spaces for groups. By offering private dining, restaurants increase sales because catering to a specific group or event often means more spending per person. Additionally, private dining creates a more exclusive and intimate atmosphere in your restaurant, encouraging customers to return.

23. Encourage Employee Growth and Development

With the current restaurant worker shortage in the industry, it is more important than ever to focus on your employees. Employees are the backbone of any restaurant. They’re the ones who interact with customers, prepare food, and keep the place running smoothly.

Several apps for restaurant(s) are available to help you manage your employees effectively. Using these apps improves communication and keeps track of employee productivity. By investing in their development and offering incentives for their hard work, you create a happier and more productive workforce that drives sales up.

24. Ensuring a Positive Guest Experience

Michelin-Star restaurants are known for their excellent food and impeccable service. But what makes a Michelin star restaurant truly special is the overall guest experience.

If you have a positive experience at a Michelin Star restaurant or any restaurant, you are more likely to return and recommend it to others. That’s why ensuring a positive guest experience is essential to a restaurant’s success. Many factors contribute to a positive guest experience, but here are four of the most important:

1. First, outstanding service is key. Guests should feel welcomed and well taken care of from the moment they walk in the door. This means having a friendly and attentive staff ready to answer any questions and accommodate any requests.
2. Second, the food must be delicious. This seems obvious, but it’s worth reiterating because it’s so important. Even if everything else about the dining experience is perfect, guests are unlikely to return if the food is not up to par.
3. Third, the restaurant should have a pleasant and clean atmosphere. This includes everything from the decor to the lighting to the music. It should be a place where diners feel comfortable and can enjoy themselves.
4. Fourth, it’s essential to provide value for money. Guests should feel like they are getting their money’s worth in terms of both the quality and quantity of food. They should also feel like they are getting good value for any other services or amenities that the restaurant offers.

Frequently Asked Questions About How to Increase Restaurant Sales

What Are 4 General Ways to Increase Sales?

Four ways to increase sales include:

1. Bring in more customers
2. Get them to spend more per transaction
3. Get them to buy from you more often
4. Charge more for what you’re selling

What Makes a Customer Happy?

Many things can make a customer happy, but one of the most important is excellent customer service. When customers feel cared for and valued, they are likely to be happy with their purchase and return.

What Do Customers Value Most?

There are a few things that customers value most and these include:

• Quality
• Price
• Convenience