If you’re stuck between a rock and a hard place trying to determine methods for getting more customers to give your restaurant or grocery store a try, you’re not alone. One commonly made mistake when it comes to marketing for grocery stores and restaurants is relying too heavily on digital marketing channels while neglecting direct mail. And considering how impactful direct mail automation platforms are at streamlining the process of implementing mailing campaigns, leveraging them has never been easier. Here are a few ways a program like Direct Mail Automation can help your grocery store or restaurant earn more new visitors:
Using a Direct Mail API Allows You to Answer Vital Customer Questions
One reason why some potential customers may be hesitant to pay your location a visit is because they have questions that need to be answered. Considering how busy lots of your potential customers are, it’s unlikely they’ll reach out and ask you themselves. That’s why you need to be proactive about delivering answers to potential questions with well-designed postcards.
- Pricing
It’s fair to assume that many of your potential customers are cognizant about where their dollars are going. Taking that into consideration, you may need to ease their concerns about pricing by offering a brief look at your current menu items and promotions. Doing so enables recipients to do any price comparisons necessary, which may result in them walking through your doors as a result of your campaign.
- Location
Often, people have reservations about trying out new restaurants or grocery stores because they don’t want to travel too far. Providing a map or diagram with instructions on how to locate your restaurant or grocery store helps recipients realize you may be closer than they think. And that could be what it takes to get more new visitors to walk through your doors.
- Hours
Another reason that may prevent potential customers from abandoning their regular restaurant or grocery store in favor of yours is because of their schedule. It could just be the case that they know their regular locations are going to be open, so they don’t want to risk dealing with anyone else. By including your hours on your postcards, you could ease the concerns potential customers have about your availability.
Direct Mail Automation Allows You to Update Audiences About New Product Offerings
Sometimes people need an exciting reason to give a new restaurant or store a try. By providing insight about a new or limited time product, you could entice more new customers to give your location a try than you can imagine! Let’s say for instance that you’ve got leads that are growing tired of their regular diet or shopping routine. Providing these types of leads with a sneak peak of menu items or new products that are on the horizon could be exactly what it takes to draw them into your location.
Don’t leave your audience in the dark regarding store updates. After all, your audience won’t know about the exciting updates your store or restaurant has on the horizon, unless you tell them. By sending postcards that update recipients about new products or foods hitting your shelves, you could unlock enough curiosity to get more customers through your doors.
Restaurants and Grocery Stores Can Use a Direct Mail API to Kickstart a Customer Loyalty Program
Don’t take your foot off the gas just because your automated direct mail campaign has attracted new customers. The next step is to ensure they keep coming back by implementing a loyalty program that rewards your returning customers. Let’s say for instance that you’re opening a new restaurant specializing in burritos. To announce your opening, you could design a postcard that includes a punch card that recipients can tear off.
In this situation, on the recipient’s tenth punch, they could receive a free drink or chips and salsa on the house. This type of program could help capture the attention of recipients while encouraging them to keep your restaurant in mind the next time they get hungry. Another route you could take is to have your customers sign up for your loyalty in store. Then, once they’ve given you their information, you could send a postcard welcoming them to the loyalty program with a small discount. Ultimately, the possibilities are endless when it comes to the ways Direct Mail Manager can facilitate a loyalty program for your restaurant or grocery store.
You Can Use Automated Direct Mail to Showcase User Generated Content
You don’t have to let your marketing team do all of the talking. Many of your leads are curious about what your current customers think about your products. That’s where user generated content enters the picture. User generated content refers to content that brands generate as a result of interactions directly from customers or users. A few examples include:
- Testimonials & Reviews
Nowadays, most consumers don’t make buying decisions without checking ratings and reviews first. By including your rave reviews directly on your postcards, you decrease the chances of your leads going online to search for reviews, which could be good or bad. Additionally, allowing leads to read your reviews by including them on your postcards prevents recipients from potentially getting distracted by the stellar reviews of a competitor.
- Photos
Suppose you see pictures on social media of customers enjoying your food. Including these images enables recipients to see themselves enjoying your meals, too. Photos that are taken by customers also provide a sense of authenticity that stock images can’t compete with.
- Awards
If your service or products have resulted in awards for your grocery store or restaurant, include them on your postcards! Doing so could be instrumental for instilling trust among those who are skeptical about your grocery store or restaurant. It’s also a great way to differentiate your location apart from competitors.
Begin Maximizing the Power of Direct Mail Automation Today – Create a Direct Mail Manager Account Below!
Begin attracting more new, loyal customers by executing your automated first direct mail campaign today. Restaurants and grocery stores just like yours are seeing undeniable results from their campaigns. You can join them by signing up for a Free or Pro Direct Mail Manager account today. If you need assistance getting your first campaign started, you can schedule a free demo with one of our direct mail experts who’d be eager to help you get up and running. Send an email to [email protected] to book your demo, or sign up for a Free or PRO account today to begin mailing!
