It is not new that consumers and restaurant patrons order food especially pizza online. But how about ordering food from your cell phones and have it delivered or you pick up at the nearest location. That is what many independent and quick service restaurants are now offering to consumers. Apart from the ability to order food from their landline phones, smart restaurant owners are also using mobile or cell phone marketing to engage their patrons, acquire new ones and promote their business. These free or inexpensive way of marketing is now revolutionizing the way businesses interact and market to consumers.
Results of Mobile Marketing: Let us look at some examples; Walter Payton Roundhouse in Aurora, Illinois send out weekly text messages to their patrons. Tonight & Sat @ the Roundhouse.. Comedy w/ Bob Jay! Doors @ 7PM. Cover $15. Tonight live band No Direction, Sat w/ Reckless! Doors @10PM/Cover $7. 21+ . This simple messages reminds their patrons about the event and deliver exciting sales results. How about The Taco Maker, a Taco chain that utilize mobile marketing techniques to launch their new Burrito wrap and got a 21% increase in average store sales.
There are over 283 Million cell phones in the United States according to Mobile Marketing Association(MMA). With over 95% of these cell phones capable of sending and receiving text messages. People always have their cell phone with them. In fact according to a recent survey, consumers will rather leave their wallet at home than forget their cell phones. This makes the cell phone a natural option to reach patrons anywhere and anytime.
Text In Or Touch in Your Order Working with several mobile marketing companies to provide cell phone or mobile phone ordering, restaurants are taking convenience to another level. Several companies like Burger king, McDonald, Subway, Pizza Hut and PaPa John all allow cell phone users to order burger and pizza and have it delivered or picked up at the nearest store location. It so easy and convenient that using basic text messages, patrons can text in their order in and have it delivered. Cell phone users can also use their cell phones to go to a mobile website, pick an order, pay with their credit card and receive notification when the order will be ready. Since many people now have smart phones like the iphone, consumers can now order with a touch on the iphone burgers , fries and pizzas and have it delivered.
Beyond ordering food over the cell phone, or driving customers back, savvy restaurant owners can also use free tools like Twitter to increase sales. With over 1000 restaurants now growing their businesses via Twitter, restaurant owners can send out daily menu information, specials and event information to patrons. Even street vendors are using Twitter and growing their businesses exponentially in this economy. For example Nakedpizza with over 5000 follows on twitter is able to drive awareness, engage customers and increase sales using Twitter. Patrons can follow or sign up on Twitter @nakedpizza . Also in Tampa, Florida, AquaKnox has over 700 follows.
Savvy restaurants can use twitter to do the following;
- Announce your new menu or drink specials of the day to your followers
- Promote a happy hour event or special restaurant event to customers via twitter
- Start a promotion and allow people to sample your food and in-turn invite their friends to your restaurant.
- Ask for ideas for new menu items or specials of the day from your followers on twitter
- Offer a special prize for people who follow you on Twitter by a specific time and date, to be entered to win something free like a free bottle of wine or gift certificate.
About the author, Dr Ola Ayeni is the Chief Idea Officer of Mobile Dialog, a mobile and social media marketing consulting company in, Naperville , Illinois that helps restaurants increase revenue and engage their customers using mobile and social media tools. He can be reached at email: Corporate@m-dialog.com Corporate@m-dialog.com, phone: 1-888-424 9666, Website: www.m-dialog.com, on twitter @olaayeni. His latest project in helping restaurant owners is a free Twitter marketing tool @ www.tweetdine.com