To “bring back” customers to the restaurant repeatedly is a much bigger challenge than attracting new customers initially. Returning customers provide a substantial amount of return revenue for restaurants, therefore, retaining those customers will ultimately determine how fast and successful the restaurant will grow. Many other parts of the world have similar levels of competition within restaurants as Uganda does, so customer loyalty must be a focus for the restaurant in order to stay competitive. Fortunately, utilizing bulk SMS marketing to maintain the loyalty of the restaurant’s customers is one of the most affordable ways to do so. Bulk SMS marketing is cost-effective, easy to measure the results of, and is an exciting and efficient way of connecting with restaurant customers.
For restaurant owners, bulk SMS service enables an owner to communicate to their customers quickly and effectively with promotional messages, pending events that take place at the restaurant and personalised messages encouraging returning diners to the restaurant. Unlike other traditional forms of marketing, such as flyers or radio ads, the format of a bulk SMS message allows quick (almost immediate) delivery, high visibility, and a means to track the effectiveness of the marketing efforts so restaurants have a reliable method of increasing repeat business through SMS marketing.
Why Retaining Customers is Important for Restaurants
Restaurants know that it costs more to get a new customer than it does to keep an existing one. By increasing the number of loyal customers at your restaurant by only five percent, a restaurant could see an increase in profits of between 25% and 95%. Additionally, loyal customers come back more often and will refer your restaurant to their friends and family, helping to grow your restaurant organically.
The high pace of our society has made it difficult for restaurants to stay engaged with their diners. When there are no reminders, promotions, or personalized messages sent out, diners may search for other restaurants.
Many restaurants in Uganda have been utilizing the Bulk SMS Services Provider in Uganda to maintain an ongoing relationship with their diners.
How Bulk SMS Helps Restaurants Increase Repeat Customers
1. Promotions and Discounts that are Customized.
With Bulk SMS, restaurants can send out customized promotions, discounts for Happy Hour, and meal deals directly to a customer’s phone. Customization can consist of:
- Names of customers,
- Birthday and Anniversary Offers,
- Reward for Frequent Diners,
- Incentives for Proximity Locationally.
When customers have a personal relationship with the restaurant, they are more likely to return to the restaurant sooner and more often.
Reservation and Table Reminders
Many concerns of all restaurants today are no-shows and last-minute cancellations. With Bulk SMS, restaurants can feel confident sending the following:
- Confirmations of reservations,
- Reminders of reservations sent twenty-four hours prior to reservation,
- Easy rescheduling of previous reservations.
These steps will greatly reduce the number of no-shows.
3. Event & Menu Updates
Restaurants host special events, such as live music and seasonal menus, that can change frequently. Using bulk SMS, a customer can always receive recent updates in real-time:
- New Menu Items or Chef Specials
- Upcoming Promotions or Events
- Limited Time Seasonal Dishes
If the customer feels they are up to date, they are more likely to turn back and visit you to try out something new.
4. Loyalty/Reward Programs
By incorporating bulk SMS into loyalty programs that reward customers for their repeat visits, customers will receive notifications of:
- Points earned
- Points Redeemed
- Exclusive VIP Offers
These types of communications help create loyalty and encourage customers to return often.
5. Customer Engagement, Feedback
Using SMS gives an opportunity for restaurants to provide customers with the ability to offer feedback after their dining experience. This includes:
- Satisfaction Surveys
- Quick Polls of New Dishes
- Online Review Requests
When restaurants listen and respond to the wants and needs of their customers, they develop a stronger relationship and build trust with those customers, which can lead to repeat visits.
Benefits of Using Bulk SMS for Restaurants in Uganda
- Awesome Open Rates: More than 90% of all SMS are opened within a few minutes of being sent; that means your message is read quickly.
- Affordable Marketing: When comparing bulk SMS to print or media advertisements, bulk SMS marketing provides a very affordable and measurable return on investment.
- Instant Communication: Because Bulk SMS delivers your message in real time, it is ideal for messaging customers with time-sensitive promotions.
- Trackable Campaigns: Restaurants can monitor delivery, engagement, and conversion rates.
- Personalization: Tailored messages create a sense of connection and loyalty among diners.
AdvantaSMS – Uganda’s Largest Provider of Bulk SMS Services
As a leading bulk SMS provider in Uganda, AdvantaSMS is the go-to partner for restaurants looking to implement successful bulk SMS marketing campaigns. Benefits of working with AdvantaSMS for restaurant marketing include:
- A Simple Platform: Offers an easy-to-use interface that enables users to develop, create, schedule, and send SMS campaigns.
- Reliable Delivery: SMS messages get delivered on time throughout the 5 major mobile networks.
- More Data: You can analyze open, engage and convert rates to improve your campaigns.
- Ability to Scale: Suitable for both small cafes and large chain properties.
- Customer Support: With dedicated customer support, you can count on having a seamless experience executing your campaigns.
Restaurants utilizing AdvantaSMS’ service can improve their ability to connect with customers, engage them more frequently, and drive more repeat customers.
Best Practices for Restaurants Using Bulk SMS
- Segment Your Audience: Use segmentation to target messages by customer behavior, geographic location, and preferences.
- Timing is Key: Maximize your customer engagement by sending messages at optimal times.
- Keep It Short and to the Point: A single message should focus on one offer or update.
- Call to Action (CTA): Create urgency for customers to make a reservation, place an order or visit you immediately.
- Regular but Not Annoying: Limit the volume of messages sent to prevent customer fatigue.
Following these best practices allows restaurants to enhance customer engagement and drive repeat purchasers.
Final thoughts
Restaurants in Uganda who want to improve customer retention, encourage repeat business and generate more income should consider utilizing bulk SMS. SMS marketing can provide immediate, verifiable and significant returns on investment through such functions as personalized promotions, reservation reminders, event notifications and loyalty program notifications.
Restaurants who are serious about improving customer engagement and retention need to work with an established, dependable provider, such as AdvantaSMS, to develop and deploy effective bulk SMS marketing strategies, monitor results and create seamless experiences that encourage customers to come back again and again.
To learn how your restaurant can benefit from the use of bulk SMS services, contact AdvantaSMS for consultation, set-up and support today, and experience the excitement of building customer loyalty and increasing your revenues from SMS marketing.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is a bulk SMS service for restaurants?
A bulk SMS service for restaurants is an online service that allows restaurants to send out mass text messages to customers, including promotional offers, reservation confirmations, and information about upcoming events.
2. How does bulk SMS help increase a restaurant’s repeat business?
Bulk SMS enables restaurants to send personalized messages with special offers and reminders to customers in order to keep them engaged with that restaurant, which encourages them to return more often.
3. Is there a financial advantage to a restaurant using bulk SMS when compared to other forms of advertising?
Yes, a restaurant can save a considerable amount of money on marketing costs with bulk SMS compared to traditional forms of advertising while achieving a very high return on investment and much higher customer engagement levels with bulk SMS.
4. Is it possible to connect AdvantaSMS to my restaurant’s reservation system?
Absolutely! AdvantaSMS can connect to your current management tools to provide automated reservation reminders and confirmations.
5. What can I do to avoid annoying my customers with SMS marketing?
Use audience segmentation to target specific groups. Send messages at a reasonable frequency. Personalize each message as much as possible and always provide relevant and valuable information to create engagement with your audience.
