How to Encourage Loyalty

This can increase visits by as much as 35 percent¹

Four out of five consumers prefer a rewards program that offers points for rewards over a program built on periodic rewards or surprises¹

80% of consumers said they’d visit a restaurant more often if the restaurant offered a rewards program1

Only 44% of diners are aware of restaurant loyalty programs¹

96% of consumers have visited a restaurant that they have a loyalty card to within the last six months¹

Offer a digital rewards program and a card option for customers who don’t like to be tracked

Customers appreciate when operators recognize loyalty

Consider using social media to ask customers what kind of rewards they’d like

Offer special rewards for check-ins or likes on Facebook

Share new menu items and ask customers if they’d like to see any old items make a renewed appearance; this can help create a quick boost in sales

Promote limited-time offers on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter

Try out a new menu item for a short period of time to gauge customer interest; get feedback on

Ask customers to choose between LTOs they’d like to see, or ask for suggestions on what they think would be a good fit for your menu

13% of consumers who have dined out within the past month and use social media have posted a food or drink picture to social media²—so give them a place to do it and a hashtag to use

Go beyond posts like “eat here today”: Ask customers questions about dishes they like and give them inside information like chef how-tos

Get involved with the local food conversation. Follow and respond to hashtags on twitter, and post photos of where your food comes from

Post high-quality images, as customers will be more willing to share those with their friends

Try posting videos of your back-of-house to gain interest and give customers a glimpse into your operation

Daily or weekly specials add excitement

Add seasonal ingredients that can be used in limited-time offers- Fall: acorn squash, broccoli, brussel sprouts, butternut squash, cauliflower, ginger, grapes, mushrooms, pomegranates, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, turnips- Winter: chestnuts, dates, grapefruit, kale, leeks, mandarin oranges, tangerines, turnips- Spring: apricots, asparagus, chives, corn, honeydew, limes, peas, pineapple, rhubarb, spinach, strawberries- Summer: beets, bell peppers, blackberries, blueberries, cherries, cucumbers, eggplant, figs, green beans, edamame, peaches, tomatoes, watermelon, zucchini

Create a sense of urgency by offering limited-time offers or describing menu items as “made fresh daily”

By making simple changes, you can increase your profits by up to 15 percent¹

Use graphics to highlight a pricier menu item

Use boxes, photos or asterisks to increase the sale of an item by as much as 30 percent¹

A good description can help distinguish menu items

Higher-end menu items should feature longer descriptions

Mention brand name ingredients to enhance perception of quality or use well-known logos to show customers you’re using the brands they prefer

Use menu “enhancers” to help increase appeal- Try pairing liver with applewood smoked bacon- Pair bacon with avocados- Offer baked sweet potatoes or sweet potato fries in addition to your regular offerings  

Use vivid descriptions to increase customer satisfaction- Use regional words like “Maine lobster” instead of “lobster”- Use descriptive words like “fruity salsa” instead of “salsa”- Use words that invoke freshness like “artisan sourdough bread” instead of “sourdough bread”