# How To Market Your Restaurant with SMS How to adopt a true SMS GTM strategy in the hospitality industry. * * * # How to Market Your Restaurant with SMS and Boost Engagement The U.S. SMS marketing market is projected to hit [$12.6 billion by 2025](https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/us-sms-marketing-market), underscoring the growing influence of text messaging as a communication tool. Moreover, it’s consumer behavior that most drives this trend, as [91% of customers want to receive text messages from businesses](https://www.g2.com/articles/sms-marketing-statistics). After all, smartphones have swiftly become essential items we check before leaving the house: wallet, keys, phone. When searching for a new lunch spot, we instinctively turn to our trusty phones, browse nearby restaurants, read reviews, and make our choice. This constant connectivity is an opportunity for restaurants to build stronger relationships with customers. Unlike emails, which often go unread, SMS messages have an [open rate of 98%, with 85% of smartphone users preferring SMS over email](https://www.g2.com/articles/sms-marketing-statistics). **Case in point, if your restaurant isn’t using SMS marketing, you’re missing out on potential revenue.** ## SMS Marketing for Restaurants – Getting Started Embarking on SMS marketing successfully involves meticulous preparation to ensure your efforts are both effective and compliant with regulations. Begin by securing your restaurants’ customers phone numbers along with explicit consent to receive text messages. Here are several effective strategies to grow your restaurant’s SMS subscriber base: - **QR Codes:** Place QR codes on menus, receipts, and promotional materials. This allows restaurant diners to easily scan the code with their smartphones and join your SMS marketing list with minimal effort. - **Website Pop-Ups:** Implement pop-ups on your website to encourage visitors to join your SMS list. Offering incentives like discounts or exclusive content can entice visitors to sign up. - **Loyalty Programs:** Make phone numbers a required field in loyalty program forms. This helps you collect phone numbers from your restaurant’s most loyal customers, who are likely to be interested in receiving text updates and marketing promotions. - **Social Media Contests:** Host contests and giveaways where participants text a keyword to a specific number to enter. This not only helps grow your subscriber list but also boosts engagement and excitement around your brand on social media platforms. Providing clear and concise opt-in and opt-out instructions is essential to honor customer preferences and adhere to legal requirements. ## Crafting Your Restaurant’s SMS Marketing Campaigns When designing your SMS campaigns, it’s crucial to prioritize both the message content and timing. Ensure your marketing content is concise, relevant, and action-driven, keeping in mind: - **Include your restaurant’s name:** Ensure recipients know who the message is from to build trust and brand recognition. - **Make messages easy to scan:** Use short sentences and bullet points to make your texts quick and easy to read. - **Personalization:** Tailor messages to individual preferences to boost engagement. - **Clear CTA:** Include a clear call-to-action to drive desired outcomes. - **Timing:** Send marketing texts at appropriate times. - **Tailor your marketing messaging to your restaurant’s patrons:** Use insights from sales data to craft relevant SMS content. - **Deploy conversational texting for two-way communication:** Engage in personalized follow-ups with customers based on their feedback. Regularly analyze campaign performance metrics, such as open rates and reply rates, to refine your strategy and maximize your restaurant’s SMS marketing efforts. ## When to Use Text Message Marketing to Maximize Effectiveness ### SMS for Fast Casual Dining - **Use SMS to keep restaurant customers informed about their upcoming orders.** - **Remind your customers of special perks available in your mobile app.** - **Drive customer loyalty with personalized offers based on purchase history and order preference.** - **Ask customers for their feedback, helping to grow your restaurant’s review-count.** - **Celebrate SMS subscribers on their birthdays.** Want more text ideas for fast casual dining? Read [Fresh Marketing Tactics: Quick Service Restaurants (QSR)](/content/blog/qsr-marketing-tactics/index.html). ### SMS for Sit-down Dining - **Make it easy for your customers to book a table through SMS.** - **Encourage your customers to take advantage of your special deals.** ### How to Use SMS Marketing for Seasonal Promotions and Special Events - **Announce seasonal menus:** - **Promote special events:** - **Offer exclusive discounts:** - **Request reviews:** - **Customer behavior campaigns:** ## How to Integrate SMS into Your Current Restaurant Marketing Strategies for an Omni-channel Approach - **Synergize SMS and email campaigns.** - **Social media cross-promotion.** - **Enhance in-app notifications:** - **Amplify in-store promotions:** ### Example Omni-channel Marketing Campaign for a Fast Casual Restaurant **Step one - social media promotion:** **Step two - email announcement:** **Step three - SMS alert:** **Step three - in-store banners:** **Limited time offer SMS:** ## Strategies to Measure the Effectiveness of Your SMS Campaigns - **Leverage software to monitor the success of your restaurant marketing.** - **Key performance indicators (KPIs):** - **Leverage A/B Testing to Uncover Key Drivers of Success.** ## Quick Service Restaurant Brands Leveraging SMS Marketing for Real Results ### Starbucks Starbucks effectively uses SMS restaurant marketing within its omni-channel strategy. ### Taco Bell Taco Bell successfully uses SMS marketing to strengthen customer connections and drive sales. ### Subway Subway utilizes SMS marketing to directly communicate with customers, delivering timely and relevant information. ## Conclusion – Elevate Your Restaurant Marketing with SMS Utilizing Voxie’s comprehensive SMS marketing tools can develop a more engaging, personalized, and effective communication strategy, boosting customer loyalty and driving revenue growth.