| By :
Gregory Garner
For an independent contractor or restaurant owner, the competition can get quite challenging, especially given the large number of chains and with celebrities branching into food and hospitality. With the stakes involved and everyone pushing big money into advertising, it can be quite a task to get your restaurant noticed to even get a fair shot at fame. Even though all this can amount to serious competition, don't let this get you down. For while these might seem like disadvantages, there are enough people out there looking to try out new places. There are some strategies you can adopt to make use of your independent status to advertise without spending too much. Be Flexible:
It is a thumb rule in marketing that what works for one doesn't work for all. At the same time, you can make use of some standard ideas to start with. However, be flexible and try out different strategies to get to the maximum number of potential customers. Don't stay with a dead horse and remember that creativity gets noticed. Build a Rapport with your Customers: After you have been through the motions of the Press release in all local papers announcing your restaurant and what you will be offering, try and build a rapport with the first batch of customers. Make sure you take down their contact numbers or addresses and inform them of any special schemes. Make sure you do this unobtrusively or it might be tiresome for your customers. You can also do this with newsletters. Not only will this help you keep in touch with older customers, and tell your customers you care, it is likely that other visitors at their house, etc. might catch a look at it. Be Innovative and Build Contacts: To attract more customers, it might even be a good idea to get employees to distribute samples or discount coupons on the first meal. This is often a sure shot way of attracting those first-timers for people who need some incentive to try out something unusual. In addition, think of innovative things like contests where you sponsor meals for the winners! In addition, you can sponsor local community or neighborhood events or use these for publicity. They usually don't cost much and will give you the exposure you need to attract more customers. You can also contact real estate agents or the local chamber of commerce for information on new-comers to your area. You can do so in order to send these people a welcome packet with your newsletter, coupons and a delivery menu! Once you cultivate a relationship with these businesses, you can get a list of potential clients every month or so. Keep your Employees Motivated: The only limit to marketing ideas is your own. Remember to ask friends and family, in addition to employees for newer and effective marketing ideas. For the latter category, you can offer incentives for the best marketing ideas, since they are the ones who are truly involved in the daily work of your business. Your enthusiasm should be a good example for them. After all, a lot of your success depends on how involved your employees are.
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