You have your customers' email addresses, and you have the right software to send them messages but you don't know what to write to them?
Don't panic, we tell you everything.
Whether you have a restaurant, a bakery, a bar or even a leisure activity, we have selected for you 10 examples of Email Restoration that work every time.
1. Special menu
Valentine's Day, Christmas Eve, New Year's Eve, Easter... the holidays are always an opportunity for restaurant owners to concoct special menus and boost traffic... as long as they inform their customers.
Our advice: don't wait until the last minute to send the message and don't hesitate to illustrate your menu with beautiful and appetizing images if you have them!
Finally, end your message by giving the possibility to the Internet users to book!
2. Your opinion is important to us
This is a classic, of course, but don't forget: customers are always happy to have their say! To collect their opinion, you can program an automatic email after their registration in your database - at the creation of their loyalty account for example.
The most convenient way is to use a form to be completed directly online such as Google Form.
Give preference to closed questions (answered by yes or no for example) to analyze the answers more easily. You can add a few open-ended questions (to which people answer freely with sentences), but don't overdo it: the answers to these questions give you a richer qualitative feedback but they are sometimes difficult to analyze when there is a lot of volume.
3. Birthday
=> Do you know the date of birth of your customers?
This is an opportunity to program a automatic email to wish them a happy birthday.
Take advantage of this opportunity to reveal a small gift to be used during their next visit: free aperitif or coffee, special prize, surprise tasting...
Let your imagination run wild!
=> You don't know the date of birth of your customers?
Here is a little tip to show that you still think about them: schedule an automatic email for their birthday... their first visit to your home !
4. Click & Collect
Do your customers know about your takeaway or delivery offer?
Don't wait for them to find you via delivery platforms.
Give them the possibility to order directly from your website for example, without going through intermediaries.
5. Opening / Closing
Are you closing for the vacations or staying open? Send a message to your customers to keep them informed and avoid disappointment.
If you tell them about a closing time, be sure to end your message on a positive note by insisting on your reopening date.
And, if your closure is due to renovation work, take advantage of this to make them want to come and discover your new layout. You can even reveal a few clues to whet their appetite!
6. Loyalty
If you have a good CRM (customer relationship management tool), you have access to detailed information on your customers' consumption habits.
You may decide to write to them to Reward them for their loyalty (10th visit to us - amount ordered... etc). This is an opportunity to show your customers that you know them well and that each of them is special to you.
7. Come back to see us
Unlike the thank you email for loyal customers, don't hesitate to get in touch with your occasional customers.
You can use formulas like "We miss you." or "It's been a long time since we've seen you"including in the subject line of the message itself.
Again, if your CRM is well leveraged, you can create marketing automations to send reminders based on the last visit date.
Avoid sending this kind of message too regularly so as not to overwhelm them with e-mails. And, if after several reminders, your customer still does not return, do not insist.
8. Notation
Want to boost your rating on Google or Tripavisor?
If you want to collect as many positive reviews as possible, you should ask your most loyal customers by email. This will avoid unpleasant surprises with unhappy customers.
You can set up a one-time email campaign by selecting your best customers from your database. Or you can set up a automatic email which is sent after every 10th visit for example: this will allow you to have a regular flow of new reviews on online review platforms.
9. Event
Are you organizing a special event in your establishment? Don't forget to announce it to your customers.
Broadcasting of a soccer match, concert evening, wine tasting, art exhibition... all occasions are good to show your customers that you take initiatives for them.
And as always, don't forget to end your email with a call to action such as a registration or reservation.
10. Your story
Have you ever told your customers the story of your restaurant? Or how you became attracted to the restaurant business?
Through a dedicated email, share your passion for the job and even your professional background.
This is what we call in marketing the "storytelling". Like everyone else, your customers love to be told stories: it strengthens the bond with your establishment and enriches your relationship with your customers.
People often come to restaurants more for the experience than for the meal itself.
You can also introduce each member of your team to create a more intimate and welcoming environment in your facility.
Did you like these examples of Email Restoration? Now it's your turn to play!
