Inexpensive Marketing Ideas

- An online reservation system
- A way for customers to place a to-go order
- Merchandise sales: cookbooks, logo apparel, your branded ingredients, etc
- Develop an affiliate program for other local websites or businesses such as hotels, businesses, attractions, and schools.
- Provide printable coupons, loyalty discounts, and other special offers.  Don't forget to include an expiration date and other limitations if they apply.
- Employment opportunities.  Make it easy for people to apply online.

* Advertise a Dining Club.  Build a social network for singles to meet and greet each other.

* Develop a brochure or flyer for special parties such as birthday parties, business meetings, weddings, showers, holiday parties, and more.

* Offer monthly wine tasting or "How-to" cooking demonstrations.  Ask your local beverage or food supplier to be a sponsor.  Many distributors would welcome the opportunity.

* Give a virtual tour of your facility.  Add it to a business card CD, Youtube.com or your website.  Highlight your history, famous visitors, unique offerings, and staff.

* Tie-in to local or national special events.  Throw a Derby Party, get customers and staff to dress up for Mardi Gras.  Do something that causes excitement.  It will not only get new customers but should also attract media attention too.

* Partner with a non-profit.  Hold an event that would help to benefit the organization and provide great exposure for your restaurant.

* Create a "Family and Friends Night" to entice employees to spread the word about your establishment. Offer a special discount or something different (live entertainment, giveaways at door, refreshments). OR You can provide employees with coupons/flyers that are marked with their name/employee number - employees receive a prize or bonus depending on how many are brought back! 

* Draft press releases for your events and other noteworthy accomplishments.

* Go to extreme's.  Is hot wings one of your specialties?  Hold a hot-wing eating contest.  Seafood your thing?  How about an Oyster Eat-Off? 

* Dare to be different.  Differentiate yourself from your competition.  Instead of closing at 9pm or 10pm on a Friday night, stay open until 1am.  Serve appetizers for the late night crowd.  Bring in live entertainment as a way to keep people around longer. 

* Keep customers coming back with a frequent diner or shopper cards. Provide each visit with a different discount or after a certain number of visit/purchases get a discount or a freebie (appetizer or small gift). 

* Slow Night Special: Create traffic on slow nights by providing an incentive with a discount or promotion. 

* Co-Op with local non-competing merchants to offer on-the-block discounts or just split advertising costs. Even consider partnering with the competition to create events like a Holiday Shopping week or Taste of the Town.