After enduring the challenges of the pandemic and several years of after-effects, restaurant operators are finally seeing a rebound in business thanks to factors like slowing inflation in food prices, an improving labor market, and more efficient supply chains. Between July 2022 and July 2023, 59% of restaurant operators reported a rise in same-store sales.

Now is the perfect time to take advantage of this upswing, but if you’re wondering how to raise restaurant sales without blowing your budget, you’re not alone. The good news is that boosting restaurant sales doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Here are six smart, cost-effective strategies you can implement right away.

1. Leverage existing technology

Having the right technology is key for restaurants that want to stay competitive and boost sales, but it’s not always necessary to adopt new tools to see high-tech results. You can make the most of what you have. From efficient order processing, to insightful customer data, the right tech may already be at your fingertips.

Make the most of your point-of-sale (POS) system

A restaurant point-of-sale system helps restaurants manage orders efficiently, track inventory, and understand sales trends. But it can also tell you a lot about your customers. Many POS systems provide insights that can lead to smarter menu pricing, better inventory control, and quicker service.

Using data analytics tools from your POS system can also reveal valuable insights about what diners prefer and when they’re most likely to visit. This valuable information empowers restaurants to tailor their menus, run targeted promotions, and schedule staff more effectively, leading to higher customer satisfaction and a higher volume of sales.

Embrace online reservation and ordering platforms

If you haven’t already jumped aboard the online reservation bandwagon, this low-cost, high reward tactic could help to ensure that your restaurant stays top of mind for new and existing customers.  

Online reservations offer convenience, allowing customers to book a table at any time without the hassle of phone calls. Many customers also appreciate the ability to place their orders online. An intuitive online ordering system often leads to larger and more frequent orders. 

Accepting orders online reduces the time hostesses or servers spend on the phone and minimizes the chances of communication errors. Many online platforms also offer streamlined reporting, making it easy for restaurant owners to track reservations and orders from month to month. 

2. Take advantage of catering and off-site opportunities

The growing demand for business catering means food delivery and off-site catering can make a huge impact to restaurants’ bottom lines and significantly increase their customer base. To truly stand out from the crowd, though, you’ll need to work with the right partners and ensure a positive experience for your customers. 

Focus on business catering for high-value orders

Accepting catering orders can be a powerful way to boost restaurant sales, but focusing on business catering specifically, can result in high-value, repeat customers. Embracing the latest corporate catering trends and using platforms like ezCater gives restaurants access to a broad audience and opens up the opportunity for bulk orders, resulting in higher revenues per order. It also paves the way for repeat large orders, creating a steady income from corporate clients. This could be the fastest, easiest revenue booster for your restaurant.

Work with well-known third-party platforms

Partnering with established catering partners like ezCater exposes your restaurant to a wider audience and simplifies the ordering process. These platforms can also assist in managing large orders and catering requests, helping you tap into new markets like corporate events or recurring meal delivery for hybrid workplaces. Established brands like ezCater can also manage delivery and customer service, leaving restaurants to focus on what they do best: serve great food.  

Embrace off-premises dining

Not all customers want to dine in — and that’s a good thing. Embracing customers (corporate and personal) who prefer off-premises dining can create endless opportunities, for both your restaurant and your employees. Catering and food delivery helps get your business in front of new customers, of course, but it also helps offset slow-sales days, creating incremental revenue opportunities in off-peak times. If you’re wondering how to raise restaurant sales, this strategy can be well worth the effort.

3. Make simple menu updates

Your menu is more than just a list of dishes — it’s an opportunity to fuel your restaurant’s revenues. A well-designed menu not only showcases your offerings but tempts customers to explore and indulge.

Add compelling descriptions and high-quality visuals

Updating your menu with engaging descriptions can bring your dishes to life. Describe each item in a way that captures the flavors and essence of your cuisine. Including appealing, high-quality photos can encourage customers to try new dishes and splurge on additional items, like appetizers and desserts. 

Offer seasonal specials and signature dishes

Introduce seasonal specials to keep the menu interesting and include fresh, locally sourced ingredients. This makes your menu more appealing to health-conscious and environmentally-minded customers. Regularly adding dishes can also help you attract a wider audience and encourage repeat visits.

Also, be sure to spotlight signature dishes and chef recommendations. This can showcase your best offerings and guide customers towards higher-margin items, enhancing your overall revenue.

4. Actively engage with your customers

Actively engaging with your customers can turn a one-time diner into a regular patron. By making each customer feel special and heard, you can build strong brand loyalty and encourage repeat visits.

Establish a strong social media presence

Platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok are excellent for showcasing your dishes, sharing behind-the-scenes content, and interacting with customers. And restaurants that use social media successfully can create strong relationships with their patrons. Create shareable content — from videos and memes to simple how-tos — to take advantage of the power of word-of-mouth marketing. 

Offer personalized promotions and loyalty programs

Personalized promotions and loyalty programs show your customers you value their patronage. For example, consider setting up a points system, where customers earn a point for every dollar spent and can redeem for discounts or swag. Tailoring these programs to individual preferences can significantly increase engagement and customer satisfaction. 

Host special events and theme nights

Organizing special events or themed nights can transform a regular meal into an event worth talking about. Many restaurants see significant upticks in sales on nights when they host events such as trivia games, live music, karaoke, or game nights. 

These themed events provide unique experiences that customers are likely to share on social media and with friends, effectively broadening your reach. 

5. Support an “always on” promotional strategy

When budgets are tight, a sustained, diversified promotional strategy is the best use of marketing dollars. Getting your restaurant in front of as many people as possible, as often as possible is key. And that means using a variety of channels to create an always-on marketing strategy. 

Create impactful social posts

With so many people spending time on their phones, an effective social media marketing campaign can have a major impact on your revenue. The key is to create scroll-stopping images and videos that appeal to your target demographic and showcase your restaurant’s unique atmosphere and cuisine. 

Food imagery is hugely popular on social media channels, and users love scrappy, unpolished video best, so you can even create your own videos and reels, and post them to your social channels yourself.

Pro tip: Take advantage of the targeting features offered by social media platforms and Google Ads to reach your audience in a cost-effective way. You can narrow down your audience by age, gender, interests, and location, ensuring your ads are only shown to the most relevant prospects.

Engage with local influencers and food bloggers

Building relationships with local influencers and food bloggers can be a powerful (and low-cost) marketing approach. These collaborations provide an authentic way to showcase your restaurant’s ambiance, menu, and unique dining experiences. Often, simply providing a delicious, free meal to a micro-influencer can have a positive impact on your revenues. 

While some want to be paid for their posts, there may be other options. Consider hosting tasting events or offering exclusive previews of new menu items to influencers, encouraging them to generate engaging content and buzz around your restaurant. You may also consider offering them a standing discount at your restaurant or a special VIP experience. 

Use email marketing to stay top-of-mind

Restaurant email marketing is an affordable and powerful tool that can keep your location at the forefront of your customer’s minds. If time is too tight for weekly updates, plan to send a monthly update. It’s not the frequency that’s most important, but ensuring that you stick to a regular schedule. Use your emails to announce new seasonal menus, send out promotions, and help your followers celebrate special occasions, like birthdays and anniversaries. Regularly sending out newsletters with updates, promotions, and personalized content can help maintain a connection with your audience, encouraging repeat visits and fostering customer loyalty. 

Use ezCater’s Catering Growth Platform to help boost sales 

Embracing the latest corporate catering trends and using platforms like ezCater’s ezOrdering paves the way for repeat large orders, creating a steady income from corporate clients. This could be the fastest, easiest revenue booster for your restaurant. With solutions to help you capture more orders, manage your catering business and even assist with deliveries, ezCater’s Catering Growth Platform is purpose-built to help restaurants expand their catering offerings. Learn more about our catering growth platform and how to raise restaurant sales by joining the more than 100,000 restaurants on ezCater today.