Christmas marketing for restaurateurs: How to make the party a box-office hit

Ho, ho, ho! The Christmas season is just around the corner, the children are looking forward to delicious cookies, the parents are enjoying mulled wine and goose - and the restaurateurs are sensing the business of the year. And rightly so, because your wallet is never as loose as around the holy feast: 500 euros (!) Germans spent on average on Christmas presents last year. So it's no wonder that 72 percent of marketers said in a survey conducted by Sitecore that they wanted to design their business in 2021 in such a way that it looks more attractive than ever. 45% of respondents even go one step further and regard this year's celebration as a last opportunity to prove the benefits of their business. Are you a restaurant operator and don't feel fully prepared for the big run just before the decisive month? Don't worry, you're far from alone, as 77% of retailers are still just like you. To ensure that the best time of the year is also the most successful for you, you as a local owner need to consider a few things. Print marketing is important, but only with direct marketing can you address your target group in a targeted manner and avoid expensive wastage losses. In the following, we will therefore show you step-by-step instructions to help you prepare your restaurant and your customers in the best possible way for the presents. Successful Christmas marketing from A to Z or, if you like, from advent calendar doors 1 to 24.

The early bird catches the Christmas boom

Quiz question: What is even more annoying than finding out that your favorite bar has closed? That's right! When it's not written anywhere that it's time to rest and you go all the way for nothing. Especially on cold Christmas days, this is more annoying than ever. Locked doors are just as well received by your customers as burnt food, unfriendly waiters or salty soups — not at all. Despite Christmas stress, negative Google reviews à la “Nobody there when you want to go out to eat — not recommended!” To avoid this, you should plan your opening hours for the Christmas season as early as November and share them with your customers. Do you run a restaurant and offer a pick-up or delivery service at Christmas time? Perfect! Make sure that all pleasure fans in your area hear about it. “Christmas goose to pick up — so you're with your family and not in the kitchen!” The associated slogan could be something like this. To communicate opening hours and services in such a way that everyone is aware of them, it is best to use two ways online: newsletters and social media. When you offer your guests free WiFi from Socialwave, you automatically collect the email addresses of your customers when they log in to the network. You can then design and send newsletters completely according to your ideas. It is important to ensure regularity. It is best to send relevant news every one to two weeks. In order to reach all social media enthusiasts, it is urgently recommended to also publish the information on Instagram and Facebook. This increases your reach and your customers are always up to date.

Advent calendar: Offers every day — customers every day

One thing is certain: Advent calendars are fun for young and old. Almost everyone knows the principle: 24 doors and behind each one there is a different surprise. That's all well and good, but how you can use it for your local, you ask yourself? Here's how it works:

• Be creative!

Come up with an offer for each of the 24 days of Advent. From discount vouchers (e.g.: 10% on cocktails), to 2-for-1 promotions (e.g.: desserts for couples) to special offers (e.g.: mulled wine for 3.50 EUR) — everything is allowed, as long as you offer your guests an incentive for additional orders.

• Let everyone know!

Numerous studies show that accounts that post to Instagram and Facebook once a day have the greatest chance of success. However, many find it difficult to create enough interesting content for so many posts. Lucky for you: The advent calendar is ideal for successful social media marketing: Simply always share the latest surprise on social media and encourage your target group to visit.

• Make more local profits!

In order to really be able to reach all of your customers, you must also draw their attention to the advent calendar doors on site in your restaurant. The easiest way to do this is with pop-ups, which are displayed to your guests when you log into the Socialwave WiFi network. Easily create Christmas-themed pop-ups that automatically get your customers in the Christmas spirit and encourage them to buy. All at no extra cost for you. Example: Jens and Julia would like to drink a cappuccino together in their café before they are visited by their in-laws. But it doesn't stop with coffee, because after logging into the WiFi network, Jens is informed that there are only two pieces of cake for the price of one today. An offer that the two lovers cannot miss out on. Since the cake was absolutely delicious, the two come back in the evening, this time accompanied by cake-loving parents-in-law. A great success for your restaurant!

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Christmas gifts: presents for your customers and more profit for you

According to a representative study by mydays, over half of Germans expect to receive gifts at Christmas. Gifts bring joy and strengthen relationships in the long term, both privately and professionally. However, many companies miss out on this unique opportunity every year and meet their customers, the most important people in their business, empty-handed at Christmas. Watch out: Take advantage of the negligence of your competition and show your target group that you can do better! Come up with a small gift that makes each of your customers smile and ensures that they are happy to come back to you again. Tip: Discount vouchers are ideal in the advent calendar to attract your customers to visit regularly, but on Christmas Eve, there should be something “on the house”, i.e. as a complete gift. Collect important sympathy points for your restaurant, bakery or café business, for example with the following gift ideas:

• A free beer
• A free chocolate Santa Claus
• A free dessert
• A complimentary cocktail
• A free piece of cake
• A bag of cookies

conclusion

Start now and get your catering business ready for the big showdown in December! Make sure that your target audience knows early enough when your restaurant is open and when it isn't. With a unique advent calendar, you can accompany your customers throughout the month and welcome them to your premises over and over again until Christmas Eve. A Christmas present at the end of the month not only rounds off the year successfully, it also reminds your guests to remain loyal to you in the new year. In addition to the box office hit in the Christmas month, there is even another gift for you: The successful Christmas business will win you a number of happy customers, all of whom provide numerous 5-star reviews on Google! Congratulations, because only with enough positive reviews will your restaurant, café or tavern appear first when people search for a place near them. Don't be a hamster and don't miss out on the Christmas shopping season, because with the right preparation and the marketing tools from Socialwave, you can give yourself the best Christmas present this year: a huge business success at the end of the year. With this in mind, we wish you a successful Advent season and a Merry Christmas.More information about the Socialwave marketing package can be found here.With our WLAN marketing package, your customers/patients/guests advertise for you, are happy and recommend you to others.