15 Customer Appreciation Ideas for Restaurants to Increase Loyalty

There is a finite number of people in your area who can patronize your restaurant. If they all visit your restaurant only once, you will soon run out of business. That’s why it is important to implement measures to persuade clients to come back.

An efficient way to turn clients loyal is to show them appreciation. It could be anything from simple gestures that don’t cost anything to rewards for constant purchases.

Check out these customer appreciation ideas for restaurants that will skyrocket your number of return clients.

Why restaurant customer appreciation is a must

The main benefit of implementing customer appreciation ideas for restaurants is increased loyalty, but you have much more to gain:

• Increased sales: when customers keep returning, they create a constant stream of income that ensures your business remains profitable each month;
• Turn clients into promoters: people who have a good experience at your restaurant will recommend your place to friends, family, and online;
• Grow your reputation: happy clients will boast about your business and make it more attractive to potential customers;
• Stand out from the competition: appreciating your customers will convince them to keep coming back to your restaurant instead of trying out the food at your competitors.

15 Loyalty-promoting customer appreciation ideas for restaurants

Check out these ideas that will make showing customers that you appreciate their business a breeze:

1. Train servers to get to know the customers

Customer appreciation ideas for restaurants don’t have to cost a lot of money, they can be as simple as paying more attention to your clients. Instead of simply greeting them and showing them to their seat, train servers to strike up a conversation.

For example, you could ask for their name, how they are doing today, and culinary preferences. This will also allow you to make catered recommendations and upsell your menu items.

In the end, don’t forget to thank them for choosing your restaurant and invite them to come again.

2. Send out a customer appreciation email

Your customers lead busy lives and can sometimes forget about your restaurant, even if they had a good experience. A great way to bring them back is by implementing email marketing campaigns with irresistible offers.

You can set up campaigns in seconds using the Autopilot module from GloriaFood. The system will automatically sort clients according to purchasing history to send them relevant emails that engage with new customers and create repeat business.

3. Organize a customer of the month contest

At the end of the month, take some time to look over the statistics and identify which client spent the most amount of money at your restaurant. Doing this can be easy if you use the online ordering system from GloriaFood which has an embedded restaurant analytics module.

To reward them for their loyalty, offer them a prize such as a picture on the wall at your place (with their permission), discounts for future orders, and an all-expenses paid meal.

4. Take client feedback into consideration

Don’t view feedback as a criticism, see it as an opportunity to improve. Clients sometimes complain about things they found inconvenient or suggest ways to better your establishment, either in person or online.

If it is in person, have servers assure them that you will try to solve the problem and then transmit the message to their manager.

If it is a negative online review, you get the chance to change their opinion by solving the issue and inviting them back to see you listened to their feedback.

Read more: How to Respond to Negative Restaurant Reviews to Increase Brand Loyalty

5. Share restaurant merchandise

Merchandising is a great way to grow your brand and turn your clients into walking promoters of your restaurant. You can offer personalized items as rewards, such as one a client placed three orders for your business.

Here are a couple of ideas for easy-to-create restaurant merchandise:

• Tote bags
• Shirts
• Hats
• Mugs
• Coasters
• Aprons

Read more: 8 Restaurant Merchandise Ideas to Grow Your Restaurant Brand

6. Offer coupons for client birthdays

This is one of the most popular customer appreciation ideas for restaurants because you get to celebrate milestones with your clients. Create some posts on social media inviting customers to come to your restaurant on their birthday to redeem their free coupons (with ID to demonstrate it is the right day).

If you are looking for an easy way to create restaurant discount coupons, look no further than GloriaFood:

7. Get involved in the community

Restaurant customer appreciation must go beyond offering great deals, you must show clients that you care about the community and want to help make it better. Here are some out-of-the-box ideas that will make you a staple name in your location:

• Support school fundraisers;
• Offer sponsorships for at-risk-youth;
• Make constant food donations to local food banks;
• Give away free meals to those in need;
• Participate in local fairs.

Read more: 10 Community Outreach Ideas for Restaurants to Attract Locals

8. Give out flyers with discounts

A first-time customer can easily become a repeat one if you offer them a small incentive. For example, people who visit your restaurant may not know you also provide a great delivery service.

To get the word out, you can offer them a flyer with a 10% discount for online ordering when they leave. GloriaFood makes the process simple for you and you can print out a bunch to have the on hand when you want to increase your online ordering sales.

9. Offer rewards for repeat customers

Clients may come back because they enjoy your food and service, but they will be more motivated to be loyal if there is a reward involved. For example, if they would get a free dessert once they place three orders. Or if they could get 20% off their next meal if they spend $100.

All the above reward methods and more can be set up using the Promotions module from GloriaFood. It will only take you seconds to show customers appreciation for their constant spending:

10. Implement happy hour promotions

If you use a good restaurant analytics tool, you can identify the hours when your restaurant is almost empty. This usually happens between lunch and dinner.

To get more customers in the restaurant, you can set up some attractive promotions only available during those happy hours. For example a free drink for each combo meal, a combo menu at a reduced price, or 20% off all pizzas.

11. Organize contests on social media

One of the most popular customer appreciation ideas for restaurants is organizing social media contests. By simply asking customers to like, share, or leave a comment, you offer them the opportunity to win a delicious meal for two people.

Contests have the added benefit of increasing engagement for your social media profiles and your restaurant’s popularity with little effort and investment.

Read more: 20 Restaurant Contest Ideas That Will Delight Your Customers

12. Hold exclusive tasting events

If you’re looking for restaurant customer appreciation ideas that make clients feel special, organize a tasting event. Look over your statistics and invite only your most loyal clients to participate.

Create a tasting menu that showcases your chef’s talent and take many photos to show other customers what they are missing. By posting the images on social media, you persuade clients to order more so they can get an invitation to the next event.

Read more: 15 Restaurant Event Ideas to Get Customers Through the Door

13. Organize a customer appreciation day

Once a year, choose a day that you will dedicate to appreciating your loyal customers. This is what you must include:

• Exclusive promotions only available on the day;
• Free merchandise for clients;
• Free dessert for every order;
• Photo corner with a dedicated photographer. Ensure your logo is any picture so when clients post them they will naturally promote your business.

14. Throw in a freebie occasionally

Customer appreciation ideas for restaurants can sometimes be as simple as adding a free dessert to an online order or bringing a free appetizer to the table. It doesn’t have to be big or expensive, clients will be happy that they get extra items with no pay.

A good way to do so without affecting the budget is to use ingredients that are nearing the end of their shelf life. Instead of waiting for them to transform into food waste, use them to cook up a delicious dessert.

15. Showcase good reviews

People take time out of their day to write a great review for your business, so it is good practice to always thank them for sharing their opinions. You can go a step further and ask them if you can share their review on your social media profiles.

This way, you also show potential customers that clients enjoyed their experience at your restaurant and you grow your reputation.

Final words

Try out these customer appreciation ideas for restaurants to increase your number of loyal clients and ensure you make a steady profit. You can juggle with free ideas or ones that require some investment according to your budget.