One of the most important parts of an overall marketing initiative is a restaurant public relations plan for your business. Don't think that you can just open an establishment without worrying about how you are going to attract new clients and make sure they return as regular patrons. An entrepreneur spends a great deal of time brainstorming about marketing and will always have a PR plan finalized, tailored to his industry, before he starts out.
The grand opening of your business is a pivotal event and a comprehensive restaurant public relations plan will adequately cover it. For example, at least two weeks prior you will want to send press releases to your local media outlets, ensuring that you get good coverage as well as appearing in local event calendars. Then you can prepare for good attendance and be ready for the big day.
During a grand opening, your restaurant public relations person must be on hand to give out media kits, which are professionally produced documents with facts and figures, biographies of the owner and head chef and those all-important menus. Bring in a professional photographer to take valuable snaps for future use.
Cross promotion is a significant part of any restaurant public relations initiative and you should try and become involved with local chambers of commerce and/or nonprofit organizations as much as you can. Utilize their list of media contacts and get them involved in your restaurant's opening festivities.
Special events can be pivotal to restaurant public relations success and you should focus on the calendar during your first few months. How about featuring an art show alongside certain events, or creating an annual or semiannual wine festival. Open up your business to a whole new raft of potential clients and give yourself valuable PR exposure to boot.
You should make friends with your local newspaper editors, especially if they have significant food and drink sections or pullouts. Try and become a source of good news or material to editors on a regular basis and don't necessarily pitch your business at all times. If you are seen as being an authority on a certain type of food, for example, then you will get valuable PR exposure whenever an editor contacts you for your opinion on the subject.
Restaurant public relations at its best involves a very subtle approach. Your permissions-based mailing lists should be supplied with great food related stories, ideas and information at regular intervals. When Thanksgiving is approaching, give them advice about family get-togethers and parties and menu ideas. Remember, it is not the hard sell, but establishing yourself as an expert.
You must always have a plan as good restaurant public relations work is based around it. Establish some key dates in your calendar of events and take action to implement your plan. Get involved with important people locally to develop personal relationships.
The grand opening of your business is a pivotal event and a comprehensive restaurant public relations plan will adequately cover it. For example, at least two weeks prior you will want to send press releases to your local media outlets, ensuring that you get good coverage as well as appearing in local event calendars. Then you can prepare for good attendance and be ready for the big day.
During a grand opening, your restaurant public relations person must be on hand to give out media kits, which are professionally produced documents with facts and figures, biographies of the owner and head chef and those all-important menus. Bring in a professional photographer to take valuable snaps for future use.
Cross promotion is a significant part of any restaurant public relations initiative and you should try and become involved with local chambers of commerce and/or nonprofit organizations as much as you can. Utilize their list of media contacts and get them involved in your restaurant's opening festivities.
Special events can be pivotal to restaurant public relations success and you should focus on the calendar during your first few months. How about featuring an art show alongside certain events, or creating an annual or semiannual wine festival. Open up your business to a whole new raft of potential clients and give yourself valuable PR exposure to boot.
You should make friends with your local newspaper editors, especially if they have significant food and drink sections or pullouts. Try and become a source of good news or material to editors on a regular basis and don't necessarily pitch your business at all times. If you are seen as being an authority on a certain type of food, for example, then you will get valuable PR exposure whenever an editor contacts you for your opinion on the subject.
Restaurant public relations at its best involves a very subtle approach. Your permissions-based mailing lists should be supplied with great food related stories, ideas and information at regular intervals. When Thanksgiving is approaching, give them advice about family get-togethers and parties and menu ideas. Remember, it is not the hard sell, but establishing yourself as an expert.
You must always have a plan as good restaurant public relations work is based around it. Establish some key dates in your calendar of events and take action to implement your plan. Get involved with important people locally to develop personal relationships.
About the Author:
Expert Jose L Riesco shows you the most effective methods for getting more people into your restaurant at www.myrestaurantmarketing.com. Learn more about restaurant public relations here.
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