Customers are the driving force behind any business. Although there are countless ways to attract new customers and create growth, some techniques undoubtedly work better than others. Here are our five best practices for bringing in (and retaining) new customers:
1. Harness the Power of Referrals
Research shows that 65% of new business opportunities come from referrals. It is no surprise that 82% of small businesses say referrals are their main source of new customers, which is why a robust referral program is so important. Create an environment where existing customers are encouraged to share referrals. Obtaining referrals can be simple, like making their positive experiences easily shareable, or something more structured, like offering an incentive program. Before this can happen, make sure that you have an existing group of customers who you're confident love your services and will be willing to share their recommendation!
2. Run Compelling Campaigns Targeting New Customers
Customers are always looking for a good deal. Attract them to your business and stand out from the competition with a promotion. Compelling campaigns can be nearly anything that you can imagine—a 2-for-1 discount, 500 customer loyalty points, or free delivery for the first month—so long as it is something they'll have a hard time refusing. Make sure your deal is tempting enough to get them to stay as a customer long enough to recognize the value or quality of your services and ultimately change their shopping habits for good.
3. Re-engage Old Customers
One of the best ways to earn new customers is to bring back your old customers. According to Destination CRM, reducing your customer defection rate by even five percent can increase your profitability by as much as 125%. Go through your contact list of old customers, and offer an exclusive promotion for them via whichever channel makes the most sense; reaching out could be through email, mail, phone, or even texting. The advantage to these existing customers is that they already understand your business and what it offers—providing an excellent opportunity to show off something new about your product or services that wasn't there before. Introduce a new family meal combo, pizza recipe, or wider delivery services. These customers loved your business before—give them a reason to return.
4. Showcase Testimonials
Similar to customer referrals, one of the best ways to earn the business of new customers is to highlight the experiences of existing ones. A whopping 88% of consumers trust online testimonials and reviews as much as recommendations from friends or family. That means your business needs to identify its most loyal customers and make their story visible anywhere customers might look—especially your website and social media.
5. Leverage Social Media
Social media is a powerful tool for attracting new customers. It is the perfect platform for you to combine the other best practices listed in this article, like showcasing testimonials or announcing discounts, referrals, and loyalty programs. In addition, it also shows that you are taking an active interest in your current customer base. It's a simple, affordable way to get your most important messages out to your current and potential customers.
Final Thoughts
Attracting and retaining customers is an essential component of your restaurant business. Discounts, referrals, testimonials, social media posts, and targeted campaigns are all effective ways to bring new hungry patrons to your business and convert them to loyal, repeat customers. To learn more about how you can create compelling new customer promotions and deals, read Growing Your Customer Base with Coupons: A How-To Guide.
