Restaurant Text Messaging
Over 3 billion people in the world currently use smartphones, and that number is growing daily. By reaching customers on their phones, restaurants, as well as fast food and dessert places can increase retention and attract new business.
Restaurant text messaging solutions like Textedly are allowing businesses to bring their deals right to customers’ pockets.
Why Text Message Marketing for Restaurants?
Consumers are eating out. In fact, a recent survey showed that 56% of people eat out 2-3 times per week. How do you drive those consumers to your restaurant as opposed to your competitors? The key is to keep them informed and updated using the most effective marketing tools such as text message marketing for restaurants. Using a platform like Textedly to create mobile text message campaigns such as text-exclusive coupons that are tailored to your customers will keep your restaurant in the forefront of conversations.
Common Benefits of Restaurant Text Messaging
The goal of any business is to drum up interest and bring customers in the door, and restaurants are no exception. What are some benefits of using restaurant text messaging to do this?
- Global - Your customers are texting. In fact, over 15 million texts are sent around the globe every minute. Conversations are happening all around you, and by sending messages for your restaurant, you become a part of the conversation.
- Instant contact - It is estimated that 90% of messages are read within 3 minutes. In the past, a mailed coupon may have reached one community after several days. Now, restaurant text coupons can be sent instantly around the world.
- Personal connection - SMS messages are typically exchanged between close friends and family. They represent a personal method of communication, and now your restaurant can become a part of it. This personal connection is part of why 75% of users prefer to receive texted offers over other methods of communication.
- Easy to use - SMS messages aren’t just easy for your consumers. Using them for your restaurant is easy as well. With template and campaign suggestions built into the software, starting is simple.
- Budget friendly - Traditional forms of advertising such as billboards or mailed flyers are not very cost effective. Individual messages, however, are able to be customized to your specific needs and only cost pennies per message.
- Trackable - Campaigns through a marketing platform provide unique analytics that were not previously available for marketing campaigns before the digital age. By monitoring how customers interact with your restaurant text alerts, the software can provide actionable information to inform your future offers.
- Mobile - While it goes without saying that restaurant text messages are mobile, for coupon campaigns this is key. Traditional mailed coupons are easy to misplace and never use. Mobile phone users, however, have their phones with them at all times, actively using their phones for over 5 hours per day. Customers who receive deals and coupons via SMS are more likely to retain and use the coupon at your restaurant.
How to Use Text Marketing for Restaurants
With all the benefits to text marketing for restaurants, it is easy to see why so many businesses are implementing the solution for their restaurant promotions. Here are some examples of the type of message you may send to your subscribers:
- Reservation confirmation
- Table ready alert
- Loyalty programs and offers
- Weekly specials
- Exclusive restaurant coupons
- Event invitations
Text Marketing for Restaurants: Key Terms
Before you choose a solution to implement texting for your restaurant, it is important to be familiar with these key terms.
SMS
Short Messaging Service. This was the earliest and remains the most common form of messaging.MMS
Multimedia Messaging Service. This type of message includes multimedia such as an image, video, or audio clip.Keywords
Keywords are specific terms comprised of letters and/or numbers. The keywords are associated with a code that your customer can send back to you to interact with your service. For example, you can utilize a keyword to have customers opt in, such as “send the keyword "LUVFRIES" to 101010 to opt in”.Campaigns
A campaign represents a specific event, typically to get customers to buy in. You might advertise a specific campaign where customers opt in to your restaurant text messages to receive a free appetizer or a certain percentage off their next visit.Subscribers
Subscribers are those customers who have opted in to your messages. They remain in your contacts for future advertisements.Segments
Segments are ways to group your list of subscribers for more targeted campaigns. For example, you may have one segment to advertise deals on alcoholic drinks but another segment to advertise a kids-eat-free night.Templates
Templates are pre-scripted messages that can be easily customized or sent as-is to your customer base.Autoresponders
An autoresponder is a message that is automatically sent to a customer after they send you a message or keyword. The most common autoresponse is one sent in confirmation after a customer has opted in to your messages.How to Start Sending Restaurant Text Messages
After understanding the benefits and uses for restaurant text messages, you are just a few simple steps away from sending out your first message to customers. It is important to find a software platform that is right for your restaurant so that you can begin crafting your campaigns with the help of experts in the field. How do you get started?
Sign Up For a Text Marketing Platform
Research and sign up for a text marketing platform like Textedly to streamline SMS communication.Upload Current List of Contacts
Upload your existing list of contacts into the subscribers feature on your texting platform.Compile Message Templates
Create text message templates to avoid having to constantly create new text messages.Set Up a Campaign Keyword
Set up a keyword that will allow users to text in to subscribe to your texting campaign.Promote Your Keyword
Spread the word about your campaign keyword to encourage new users to subscribe to your texts.
Send Restaurant Texts
Use Textedly to send instant text messages to your subscribers or even schedule out texts in advance.Restaurant SMS Samples
Restaurant text messaging platforms come with many templates that you can customize or instantly send to your customers. Here are a few examples of text message marketing for restaurants:
(855) 397-6679
Thanks for signing up for deals with [restaurant name]!
Present this coupon on your next visit for a free appetizer.
(855) 397-6679
Your reservation is for 6:00pm tonight at [restaurant name].
Reply “YES” to confirm!
(855) 397-6679
This weekend only!
Stop by [restaurant name] and show this coupon for 10% off the entire check.
(855) 397-6679
Your table for 4 is now ready at Cafe Lucia.
Text STOP to end
(855) 397-6679
You've entered the sweepstakes to win free dinner for a year with Jumpin' Jack's BBQ. Winners will be announced on December 15th 2020.
Text STOP to end
(855) 397-6679
February customer appreciation!
To show our love, the first 100 customers to send LOVE to 414141 will receive a coupon for free desert at Luxe Cafe.
Text STOP to end
SMS Text Marketing for Restaurants: Disclaimers
Engaging with customers on their personal devices requires following certain compliance rules and regulations. An organization called CTIA represents the U.S. Wireless communications industry and requires that all
SMS marketing programs include the disclaimer “message and data rates may apply”.
(855) 397-6679
Thank you for signing up for Mama Mia text messages!
4Msgs/Month. Reply STOP to cancel. HELP for help. Msg&data rates may apply.
This disclaimer is required to be included in the initial opt-in message at the very least. Your restaurant text messaging platform will guide you in remaining compliant with all regulations.
Sending Restaurant SMS Messages With Textedly
Textedly is a leader in SMS marketing and already serves many restaurants as their top choice for texting. Textedly software is simple to implement and offers many unique features such as longer message length (300 characters as opposed to the standard 160), unlimited subscribers, scheduled messages, free incoming messages, and so much more.
Using Textedly to streamline communication with your customers is quick and easy. The software comes with an easy to use online dashboard to manage all your features in one place. If you aren’t convinced that they are the right solution for your restaurant, consider signing up for a free 14-day trial and test all the features for yourself.