The countdown to your restaurant’s opening has started. The tables are set and everything is how you want it to be but now, you’re thinking “How do I get my restaurant to be the talk of the town?”.
Before officially opening your doors to the public, consider doing a Restaurant opening soft launch. In this article, we’ll cover everything about a soft launch for your restaurant opening and what you need to do to promote and organize your restaurant for success.
Table of Contents
What is a Soft Launch in a Restaurant Opening?
A Soft Launch otherwise known as Soft Opening is a trial period before the official opening of your restaurant. It is your opportunity to test your menu, train your staff, and fix any operation issues before you open the doors of your restaurant to the public.
It can last from a few days to a few weeks but for it to be successful, here are some things you should do:
1. Lay the foundation
This is your pre-opening plan. Before opening your restaurant, it’s important to design marketing strategies that include identifying your ideal audience, creating your unique selling proposition (USP), and a marketing strategy that includes social media, advertising, and public relations (PR).
Once you have done this, create a business plan and budget that covers projected income, expenses, and profits. This is the roadmap you will use for your restaurant’s financial future especially if you intend to onboard investors or apply for loans.
In all these, make sure that you choose a location that is easily accessible and visible to your audience. Also, endeavor to get all the important permits and licenses like food service permits, liquor licenses, and health department permits.
2. Handle the heart of your restaurant with care
The heart of your restaurant is your menu. Make efforts to prepare dishes that your target audience finds appealing. Your menu should be unique, flavorful, and have competitive prices. To make sure that your menu is fully covered, consider customers who might have dietary restrictions, portion sizes, and seasoned ingredients.
Use high-quality ingredients to make your meals and to ensure that you never run out of ingredients, build a healthy relationship with your suppliers and plan for inventory management.
3. Build your dream team
Except your restaurant is family owned, with enough space for only 3 persons, having experienced staff is important if you want your restaurant to be successful. Hire staff that know restaurant services like food, wine, and customer service. To ensure that your staff are always in check, have an employee handbook and policies that outline expectations, benefits, and disciplinary actions for your staff.
Also, provide training sessions and feedback for your staff. This will ensure that your staff are confident and knowledgeable about your restaurant offers. To make this process easy for you, consider getting a general manager to oversee daily operations and ensure that your vision is executed.
How to Plan a Restaurant Opening Soft Launch?
If you don’t have a loyal audience base to invite to your restaurant’s soft launch, don’t panic. Here’s what you can do:
- Reach out to friends and family
- Use social media platforms to create a buzz (even if you don’t have a huge following yet)
- Partner with local influencers or bloggers who can help promote the soft launch
- Offer exclusive invites to local foodies or critics
- Host a soft launch event for the local community, such as a “sneak peek” night or a charity event
- Use online event platforms to promote the soft launch and attract new guests
- Reach out to local businesses or organizations to see if they’d be interested in promoting the soft launch to their employees or members
How to Stay Connected with Guests After Your Restaurant Opening Launch
You were able to get your guests to come for your soft launch. Now, how do you keep them coming back and being in their mind all the time?
Consistent communication is key. But first, you need their contact information. Here’s how you can get it:
- Sign-up sheet at your restaurant or event
- Contests and giveaways
- Feedback forms
- Collect business cards
- Online ordering forms
- Offer incentives for contact info
Now that you have their contact information, how do you communicate with them?
There are 2 easy ways you can go about it:
- Email marketing and
- SMS marketing
Why Use Email Marketing?
Targeted audience: You can send emails to people who have shown interest in your restaurant or have signed up for your list.
Cost-effective: No printing or postage costs, just email software fees.
Measurable results: You can track open rates, click-through rates, and conversions to see what works.
Flexibility: You can send emails at any time, and automate them with email marketing software.
Why Use SMS Marketing?
High open rates: 98% of texts are opened, compared to 20-30% for emails.
Immediate delivery: Texts are delivered instantly, making it great for time-sensitive offers.
Personal connection: SMS feels more personal than email or social media.
Wide reach: Virtually everyone has a mobile phone, making SMS a universal language.
How Can TruText help make your Restaurant opening successful?
TruText is a powerful business SMS software that helps restaurants like yours succeed because it understands that people are always connected to their phones, making SMS marketing an incredibly effective way to reach your audience.
With TruText, you can easily set up automated workflows to save time and streamline communication, such as welcome messages, appointment reminders, and special offers, and tailor your communication to each customer’s needs and preferences.
But that’s not all. TruText also provides real-time tracking and analytics, so you can monitor campaign performance and make data-driven decisions. You’ll be able to see delivery rates, open rates, and response rates, helping you refine your strategy.
With TruText, you can make the most of SMS marketing’s potential and set your restaurant up for success. Try it today!
