How to increase sales in a restaurant: 15 upselling ideas

As a business owner, it is common to wonder how to increase sales in a restaurant and what actions to take to do so. That’s why we bring you 15 ideas to increase sales gradually, but effectively.

Among the recommendations and ideas, you will find tips to implement on the Internet, in the establishment and during the service to your customers. Take note of each of them, discuss them with your team and put them into practice in order to increase sales in a restaurant.

Website that impresses

A restaurant website is an excellent tool when you are looking to increase restaurant sales. It should have an easy-to-remember domain name, be adaptable to any device and have an eye-catching design for people entering the site.

Make sure it captures the attention of customers, but keeps it simple. It should also have buttons for easy access to information. In terms of content, have a section of your website that directs customers to the blog with information of interest.

Hire a content writing service that knows SEO techniques, so that your blog starts to rank high in Google results.

Create the real value proposition to increase sales in a restaurant

The customer value proposition consists of establishing – or trying to identify – the reasons why your customers prefer your service over that of your competitors. Creating a value proposition for your business is simple. The first thing you need to do is to find out what your competitors offer and what customers think about your business

That is why you have to make frequent visits to other businesses, ask your customers what they thought of the service and ask your service staff for their opinion. This means that if your restaurant identifies with a certain style, it should demonstrate and convey that to customers.

Don’t forget the importance of being on social networks

Social media is an excellent channel to raise awareness of your restaurant and increase sales. Build a content calendar for each of the social networks where you have a profile, to establish what will be published each day.

The content needs to be eye-catching and interesting, such as some recipes or pictures of your menu options. Don’t forget to invest in advertising! Paying for ads on social networks is a good idea so that your profile reaches a larger audience with interests related to your restaurant.

Another strategy you should implement is to share photos of your customers enjoying their meal at your restaurant. Customer loyalty is of great importance, so you should always be aware of their comments and mentions of your restaurant.

Study and focus on your audience to increase restaurant sales

Your restaurant will not always be the first choice for all customers, so you have to define your target audience.

Based on the customers you receive daily and the followers you have on social networks, you will obtain information to define the type of customers that visit your restaurant. It is necessary to establish a strategy to attract the attention of people who fit this profile, to attract them to the business and increase sales in the restaurant.

Provide your contact information

Both on social media and on your restaurant’s website, you have to publish the restaurant’s contact information. The information you disclose should include your restaurant’s contact number, address, email and social media accounts.

This is the way in which you will ensure that customers have different ways to communicate with the establishment, make reservations or clarify doubts about the service.

Offer a versatile menu for all types of customers

Make sure your menu includes vegetarian, vegan and meat options. Ideally, you should include options for people who cannot eat gluten, dairy and allergens.

Advertising: an effective ally to increase restaurant sales

Advertising is one of the best means to use if you have no idea how to increase restaurant sales. You can make use of advertisements on media websites, apps, dedicated restaurant websites and, as I already mentioned, through social networks.

Some ads are more expensive than others, but they are effective in attracting the customers you are looking for.

Expand your services: home delivery apps

Implement home delivery service by affiliating your restaurant with home delivery apps. With these apps, your customers will find the type of food they want to order and your restaurant will be listed as one of the options.

If the delivery service you offer is exceptional, you will have new customers to increase your restaurant’s sales.

Give value to customer reviews and suggestions

Take customer reviews and suggestions into account, as they are the people who enjoy the service. Place a suggestion box in case customers want to write a comment about the service. Similarly, waiters and waitresses can ask what they thought of the evening at the end of the service.

Not only can you do this physically, but use platforms such as TripAdvisor, where they can leave comments on the quality of the service along with a rating.

Promotion through influencers

Another way to increase sales in a restaurant is through influencer advertising. To do this, you should contact some influencers who are well-known in the gastronomic world or who have a reach with your target audience.

Offer them an evening at your restaurant, tasting the dishes they fancy. In return, they will publish stories and videos about their experience in your business. As it is a recommendation made by someone influential, they will know it is a quality business and will be encouraged to visit it.

Keep up to date with offers, promotions and discounts

Update your restaurant’s offers, promotions and discounts every day , so that customers can save a few euros.

In addition to offering promotions or discounts for specific menu items, you can reward customer loyalty with some discount coupons for each visit.

Participate in events and fairs

Taking part in events and fairs allows you to offer a taste of the variety of products on your menu. By participating in these events you will establish direct communication with customers and you can promote the service in the establishment.

You can also ask for their email address to send them the newsletter with the offers and promotions that you have in your establishment, a newsletter that is sent on a weekly or monthly basis.

Decoration according to the type of business

A décor that complements the gastronomy helps customers to get into the mood, relax and get ready to enjoy your best service. On the other hand, if the décor does not match the style of your restaurant, customers will be put off and the atmosphere will not be pleasant.

Depending on the service, make sure that the furniture and the business style go hand in hand. Also important is the choice of colours, remember that every shade conveys emotions, select the right ones and please your customers.

Top-notch staff

Hire people who have work experience in the hospitality sector, who guarantee that your business will offer a quality service. Before you start hiring, define the organisation chart and the number of positions you require in each of the areas of the restaurant.

In this way, you will carry out the process of choosing the vacancies in a few days and you will not take months to define the positions to be filled by the applicants.

Offer a personalised service for each customer

Every customer has a unique experience, so it’s best to provide personalised service. If customers are undecided about what they want to order, the waiter can recommend dishes and pairings that are relevant to each customer. This is a perfect way to make them feel like a priority and to enjoy the moment