As temperatures begin to cool down and the leaves start to change colors, we say goodbye to summer and hello to a new school year!
As restaurant owners, this season presents a huge opportunity to deliver great promotions for both parents and students alike. Restaurants like Shoney’s and El Fenix offered deeply discounted or even free kid’s meals through the month of August, while more popular spots like Denny’s and IKEA offer year-round deals for children. Promotions like these can help restaurants introduce their brand to new customers, present more chances for up-selling and assist in spreading the word about your offer through word-of-mouth and social media, thereby attracting even more guests.
Here are 4 ways to promote your restaurant during the back-to-school season:
1) Focus on the early evening dinner daypart, offering free or discounted kid’s meals until 7pm.
2) Offer free weeknight delivery through to cater to students and busy families. This promotion can last through September or the fall, in turn creating regular users and keeping your brand top of mind after the season wraps.
3) Add a check-in special on foursquare or Yelp focused on students to get your brand in front of a tech-savvy group of consumers.
4) Offer visiting guests incentives to return, such as a redeemable code on the receipt or a take-out menu boasting a seasonal promotion valid for their subsequent visit.