Marketing is what drives customers to your doorstep. But if you’re like most restaurants, you don’t have a large budget for advertising. The good news is that there are many low-cost advertising ideas for restaurants that can increase your sales.

We’re going to share some creative ideas for restaurant marketing that won’t cost you a fortune.

5 Low-Cost Restaurants Advertising Ideas

There are many ways restaurants can advertise without emptying their bank accounts. Here are some of the top budget-friendly advertisement ideas for restaurants.

advertising ideas for restaurants

1. Social Media Marketing

One of the most effective low-budget restaurant ideas is social media marketing. Why? Because social networks:

  • Are free to use
  • Have millions of users
  • Allow you to interact directly with your customers

Social media allows you to expand your reach and attract customers you may not have been able to otherwise.

To maximize the benefits of this low-budget marketing idea, it’s essential to:

  • Focus on the platforms that your audience uses the most. Facebook and Instagram are two popular social networks for restaurants.
  • Be active. Post regularly to keep your audience engaged and your brand fresh in their minds.
  • Be authentic. Show your audience what goes on in the kitchen. Show off your food. Allow your staff and customers to talk about what they love about your restaurant.
  • Create great content. Make sure that your content is something your customers will love. Photos and videos of your food are a great place to start. 

You can also purchase ads on social networks to get your restaurant in front of more potential customers in your area.

There are many tools available that can automate your social media marketing to save you valuable time while still taking advantage of the benefits of social media.

A recent study has found that for every dollar spent on social media marketing, businesses see a $2.80 return. So, not only is this a low-budget marketing option, it’s also one that will drive real results.

2. Email Marketing

Email marketing is another one of the most effective low-cost ideas for restaurant marketing. Like social media marketing, email can also generate a high ROI, especially if you engage in segmented email marketing.

In fact, segmented emails can increase revenue by up to 760%.

With email segmentation, you divide your subscribers into smaller groups based on certain criteria. It allows you to send more personalized messages to your subscribers, which makes them more likely to open your messages and visit your restaurant.

You can also use email marketing to nurture your existing customers and keep them coming back to your restaurant. Make sure that you’re informing these customers of your upcoming events, specials, or updates to your loyalty program (if you have one).

restaurants advertisement ideas

Here are some tips for making email marketing work to your advantage:

  • Create catchy subject lines to increase open rates.
  • If you’re talking about a promotion or special, mention it in the subject line.
  • Personalize your messages by including the customer’s name.
  • Send emails on the right days. Saturdays and Sundays tend to have the highest open rates.
  • Finally, incorporate enticing photos of your food in your emails.

Also, don't forget about the holidays and special events. Stay current and relevant with your messages. Olive Garden often takes advantage of holidays and special days through its email promotions. For example, they sent messages on National Meatball Day to advertise their free meatballs deal. 

This is a great example of a restaurant using email marketing by sending messages that are timely, relevant, and enticing to their customer base.

3. Gather Reviews

You don’t need a big marketing budget for a restaurant to succeed. Another great way to get more customers through your door without spending a dime is to gather reviews.

Encourage customers to leave reviews and share photos of your food on:

  • Google
  • Yelp
  • TripAdvisor
  • Facebook
  • OpenTable
  • Zagat
  • Zomato

This is one of the best restaurant marketing ideas free because it’s so impactful. Research shows that 94% of consumers research a restaurant’s reviews before visiting. 

How do you get more reviews?

  • Ask for them. Servers can ask guests to leave reviews after giving them the check. You can also ask for reviews on your receipt and include information on how to leave feedback.
  • Provide first-rate service. When you focus on providing the best possible customer experience, customers will naturally leave reviews.
  • Make it easy. Include links to review sites in your email messages and on your social media profiles. Links will make it easier for customers to leave reviews.

Gathering positive reviews is important for any restaurant because it can help drive more traffic through your door. But reviews can also help improve your rankings in local search, which is another low-cost way to get more customers to your restaurant.

Reviews are important, but make sure that you’re not doing anything unethical to get them. Do NOT offer incentives for customers to leave reviews or pay for reviews. 

4. Complete Your Google My Business

Google My Business may not be one of the most creative restaurant marketing ideas, but it’s a low-cost one that will drive results.

When looking for restaurants, most people will turn to Google, especially if they’re already out and about. If you have a Google My Business listing, they will be able to find your restaurant when searching for options nearby.

Your Google My Business listing will provide important information about your restaurant, including:

  • Your address, telephone number, operating hours, and link to your website
  • Reviews for your restaurant
  • Photos

The photos section is another great opportunity to convince people to visit your restaurant. You can claim your Google My Business listing for free. Make sure that you fill it out completely and that your information is accurate.

5. Offer Limited Time Offers

Limited-time promotions are one of the most tried-and-true restaurant advertisement ideas. Their limited availability:

  • Creates urgency, encouraging more customers to visit your restaurant.
  • Minimizes the impact on your bottom line.

Limited-time offers are great for holidays, but you can have them any time of the year. Just make sure that your offer won’t cost you more than it will bring in.

Conclusion

Even if you have a shoestring restaurant marketing budget, you can use any one of these ideas to market your restaurant and drive more customers through your door. Start incorporating these restaurant advertising ideas into your marketing plan today to increase sales and, hopefully, gain more loyal customers.