The restaurant industry has witnessed a huge shift towards digital engagement in the last few years. 41% of the average restaurant’s revenue is now generated through digital channels like mobile apps, aggregators, and websites. So if you’re not embracing digitalization, you’re leaving money on the table.
There are three main strategies to increase restaurant sales:
- Attract new customers
- Get customers to come back more often
- Increase how much customers spend per order
With online orders growing 300% faster than dine-in since 2014, it’s clear that the biggest opportunity for growth is digital. Restaurant owners need to double down on their digitalization efforts to improve in these three areas and ultimately increase restaurant sales. Here’s how.
1. How to Increase Restaurant Sales: Attract New Customers
More orders equal more revenue — it’s that simple. Acquiring new customers not only increases your immediate restaurant sales, but these customers could become regulars and recommend your restaurant to others. The question is, how do you effectively attract these new customers?
Embrace Third-Party Delivery Platforms
To tap into new customer groups, it's crucial to be present where they are already looking for food. Currently, about 31% of US diners order from platforms like Uber Eats or DoorDash at least twice a week. Using third-party delivery services can increase restaurant sales by 10-20% and give you a lot of visibility. But don't stop there. The ultimate goal should be to transition these customers to order directly from your own app or website. This way, you can save on the fees that third-party platforms charge and start collecting valuable customer data.
Offer Exclusive Online Discounts
Studies suggest that 80% of diners are open to trying new restaurants if they're enticed with discounts or deals. This statistic highlights the powerful role of promotional strategies in drawing more customers and increasing restaurant sales. A great way to tap into this is by offering exclusive deals on your restaurant's online platforms, such as an app or website. These online-only promotions serve a dual purpose: they lure in new customers and motivate them to order directly from you. Supporting this, a study by Circana found that restaurants utilizing deals or coupons observed a 13% and 18% increase in business and those offering discounts saw 8% growth.
Start a Referral Program
Referral programs can be a powerful tool for attracting new guests. In fact, customers are four times more likely to make a purchase when referred by a friend. With a referral program that’s integrated into your website or mobile app, you can incentivize existing customers to refer friends and family through discounts and rewards. This strategy helps bring in new customers and creates a sense of community and loyalty amongst the ones you already have.
2. How to Increase Restaurant Sales: Get Customers to Come Back More Often
Encouraging existing customers to visit more frequently will ensure a steady flow of repeat business and increase restaurant sales. Regular customers tend to spend more over time, as they develop loyalty and familiarity with your restaurant. Plus, frequent guests often become brand ambassadors, recommending your restaurant to others and indirectly contributing to further revenue growth.
Offer Convenient Ordering Options
Diverse and convenient ordering methods — like web ordering, custom-branded mobile apps, and self-serve kiosks — are crucial for increasing guest frequency. Nearly 50% of parents said they’d skip a fast-food restaurant visit entirely rather than wait in line with their children. Implementing an efficient app ordering system with convenient features like order ahead and single-tap re-ordering could be the deciding factor for customers choosing between your restaurant and McDonald’s.
What's more, direct ordering platforms let you keep more of the profits. 70% of customers say they prefer to order straight from a restaurant anyway, so their money goes directly to you and not to a third-party service. This knock-on effect will also contribute to increasing restaurant sales.
Reward Your Regulars
A well-structured loyalty program can significantly increase repeat visits. Two-thirds (69%) of restaurant guests say that loyalty programs incentivize them to revisit a restaurant more often. Rewards programs can fit right into your digital ordering system, giving your regulars special rewards and reasons to keep coming back. According to Consumer News, restaurants that offered loyalty programs grew their businesses by 26% from 2022-2023.
Offer a Restaurant Subscription
Restaurant subscription models are quickly taking hold of the restaurant industry. They're a great way to keep customers coming back again and again, increasing restaurant sales. By setting up a system where customers pay a regular fee for consistent deliveries or special weekly menu items, you can generate a reliable stream of orders and build strong customer loyalty. Studies show that restaurant subscribers are more likely to be ultra-loyal to their favorite restaurants and 78% of subscribers consider themselves “very” or “extremely” loyal to their preferred QSRs.
Nudge Them to Reorder with Push Notifications
Push notifications are a direct way to remind your customers about your restaurant. You can use them to tell people about new dishes, special deals, or rewards they've earned. Personalized recommendations based on their past orders can help trigger them to order again. Research shows that push notifications can boost app engagement by up to 88%, and personalized push notifications can lead to a 4x higher open rate compared to generic messages. This makes them a powerful tool for encouraging more frequent orders and increasing restaurant sales.
3. How to Increase Restaurant Sales: Boost Your Average Order Value
Increasing how much each customer spends per order is another clever way to boost restaurant sales. By encouraging customers to buy more expensive menu items or add-ons, the revenue from each transaction rises. This approach maximizes the profitability of each table served, contributing significantly to the overall revenue growth of your restaurant.
Suggest Add-ons & Extras
Smart upselling and cross-selling with digital ordering systems can significantly increase your average cheque size. These platforms can suggest additional items or upgrades as customers are finalizing their orders. Offering the option to add specialty toppings or to size up a meal for a slight price increase can be really effective — proven by the fact that diners spend 25% more on delivery orders than they do when dining in. By presenting these options at the right moment, restaurants can significantly boost their per-order revenue and ultimately increase restaurant sales.
Make Personalized Recommendations
Leverage customer data available through your restaurant’s app (if you don't already have one — check out Craver) to provide personalized recommendations. By analyzing past orders and popular combinations, your app can suggest items tailored to individual preferences. Personalization options encourage customers to create unique, higher-priced dishes, effectively increasing order values. According to a study by Fast Casual, diners are likely to spend more when ordering through a restaurant app.
Get Using Gamification
Gamification is a growing trend in the restaurant industry. It can significantly boost average order values by rewarding customers for their spending, using points systems and tiered rewards. Challenges encourage customers to try new items or visit more often, while personalized offers based on purchase history further motivate spending.
The visual tracking of progress and limited-time offers add urgency and engagement. This approach not only increases spending but also strengthens customer loyalty, making it an effective strategy to increase restaurant sales. Research shows that brands that keep their customers engaged lose up to 63% fewer customers and can increase customer spending by up to 55%.
Final Thoughts: Leveraging Craver’s Online Ordering Solutions to Increase Your Restaurant’s Sales
Craver's custom-branded mobile app and web ordering platform will ensure your restaurant doesn’t get left behind in today’s digital-first world. In addition to integrating seamlessly with POS systems like Square, Toast, and Clover, Craver’s digital ordering solutions offer flexibility with a flat fee structure and easy cancellation.
Suggested add-ons and extras can increase order values by up to 20%. Easy customization features, from order modifiers to "Build-Your-Own" and combo deals, encourage higher spending. Craver app’s integrated loyalty systems keep customers coming back, offering a personalized experience that rewards their loyalty.
Most importantly, Craver ensures that restaurants have complete ownership of their customer data, providing valuable insights into customer preferences and behaviors. This data can be leveraged to tailor marketing strategies, improve menu offerings, and make informed decisions that help increase restaurant sales.
Book a demo today to find out how an app from Craver can increase your restaurant’s sales by 40%.
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