What would the holiday season be without feasting on delicious food? Regardless of your preferred holiday fare, parties and banquets are most plentiful during the end of the year as people gear up for Christmas.
Restaurant owners and managers are wisely marketing their holiday menu so that they can have a slice of this lucrative season.
According to the commerce platform Lightspeed last November 2021, 83% of Americans had plans of dining out during the holidays while 84% of restaurant operators expected to meet or exceed their pre-pandemic sales. And to think that things were still rather precarious last year due to the global health scare!
As a restaurant manager operating in modern times, you must know just how important email marketing is for your establishment. After all, this tried and tested marketing channel is cheap and has been proven to have a 4,200% return on investment that no other marketing method can match.
Without further ado, let’s take a look at six ways to promote your Christmas menu through email…
1. Let Customers Know That You Have a Special Menu Coming Up
Just as a good appetizer can whet your customer’s appetites, teasing them with upcoming holiday menu options can create excitement and build consideration, especially among your loyal patrons.
Since this email is a teaser, you don’t have to give too many details, just let them know that there’s a special menu coming up and to stay tuned for more. The idea is to let customers know that your restaurant is gearing up for Christmas and you’re creating a special Christmas menu.
That way, they can keep an eye out for it and keep you in mind when thinking about where to get their holiday fare. By the time you launch your menu, they’ll be primed and ready!
2. Infuse Holiday Aesthetics Into Your Christmas Menu
Your holiday menu is special and limited time only so it shouldn’t resemble your regular menu. Its seasonal quality demands that you integrate some holiday-themed graphic elements to make it look as special as it is. You should also include mouthwatering pictures of the dishes you’re offering.
This will allow customers to have a look at your special dishes and get them excited about visiting your restaurant. You can also include images of different dishes on the Christmas menu to further entice customers.
PosterMyWall is a great email marketing platform for your holiday menu. It offers over a million customizable templates and a wide range of professional-looking designs. This online resource can satisfy a huge range of graphic design needs, including Christmas-themed email templates with minimal to zero expense.
3. Leverage FOMO With “Have You Tried This Yet?” Emails
FOMO or the fear of missing out can be leveraged to improve marketing strategies. This is especially true for restaurants as Christmas time is considered to be the season for sharing meals and generally enjoying delicious food.
Emails that make customers feel like they’re missing out if they still haven’t tried your Christmas menu are a great way to harness the power of FOMO to boost your business.
4. Offer Personalized Suggestions To Help Customers Make a Selection
If a customer is on your mailing list, there’s a good chance that you have information about what they like or at least frequently order. You can use this to understand your customer’s preferences and offer personalized suggestions about dishes that may appeal to them.
A simple “You might like our <insert dish name>!” email can go a long way in making a customer remember your restaurant the next time they’re going out for a meal.
Marketing emails with personalized suggestions are more likely to encourage customers to visit your restaurant so they can try your recommendations.
5. Let Customers Know What Your Bestsellers Are
To keep your Christmas menu marketing campaign going, you can let customers know what your bestsellers are as soon as you have sales data.
This gives customers extra reassurance that what they’re ordering has been enjoyed by fellow diners like themselves, increasing the chances that they’ll love them too.
6. Issue “Don’t Miss Out!” Reminders Before Ending Your Campaign
Here’s another opportunity to make the most of those FOMO moments. When people realize that they only have a few days left to order certain food items, they’ll be pushed to make a decision on whether or not to buy.
So, add a copy like “Just X more days to try out our Christmas menu!” to create a sense of urgency that can increase conversion rates.
Tips To Make Your Email Campaign a Success
Here are some best practices for email marketing success:
- Use custom Christmas-themed email templates to make your emails stand out.
- Stick to the holiday theme when it comes to colors, GIFs, illustrations, copy, etc.
- Always attach a copy of your Christmas menu with every email as well as links where they can order or make a reservation.
- Make your subject line interesting and keep your tone friendly and cheerful.
Conclusion
Did you know that online food orders and deliveries have grown 300% faster than dine-in transactions since 2014? Almost everything can be marketed online these days and food remains a popular commodity among online shoppers.
Many foodies today use digital channels to research and find food that they want to eat. You can capitalize on this trend by making email marketing part of your year-end sales.
Follow our tips and tricks to make this season a merry and profitable one for your food company!
