Surprising Ways to Ace Valentine's Day

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True or False: Americans spend 8 million dollars a year dining out on Valentine's Day. Seems accurate, right? Wrong. Americans spend about 8 billion dollars a year in restaurants on February 14th. You might think fine dining establishments take the cake for this holiday, but the truth is that all kinds of restaurants can successfully use Valentine's Day to boost winter sales. Here's how:

1. Stick to holiday themes and remember that tables for more than 2 will be dining out also. A price-fixed menu is great for couples, but offering a special family style menu is a great way to attract larger tables.

2. Consider giving something away. Offering something small, like an inexpensive dessert on the house, can leave a great lasting impression and increases the chances of first time customers becoming regular customers.

3. Start marketing to your customers early through social media and email. It's a quick and easy way to get the memo out to your customers so they can make their reservations early.

Why Staying On-Trend is Crucial to Your Business

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It's no secret that the technology we use everyday is rapidly advancing. What's less obvious though, is how consumer preferences are changing just as quickly as a result. Luckily, we have some insight on what your customers want from the 2018 edition of Zagat's National Dining Trends Survey. 

What Does All This Mean?

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You might be worried after processing the stats above, but no need to panic. Yes, Americans seem to be moving further and further away from direct contact, but there are some ways this works to a business' advantage. For example, no cash means quicker transactions, which means more opportunity for sales. Similarly, online reservations free up time that employees spend on the phone, and also reduce the chances of the customer's first impression of your business being spoiled by a sour phone conversation. Lastly, marketing through social media is free, and with such a large audience, there's no reason not to be taking advantage of it by now.

Start With Your Website

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As you might have guessed, most people use the internet first when looking for new restaurants to try. Everyone who finds you will then check your website, and this will be their first impression of you. In order to pass the test, it's crucial that your website is:

1. Visual - Are there enticing photos of your menu items?
2. Up to date - Is all of your important information (menu, events calendar, hours, etc.) accurate?
3. Easy to use - Is the functionality simply enough for people of all ages to use?

See more of our website tips here.