There was a time when seasonal menu changes were a niche move that only worked for a handful of establishments. Those days are long gone — having some kind of seasonal menu is basically a requirement in today’s food and beverage landscape. But once you’ve made your seasonal menu, how do you get the word out? Today, we’re going to walk you through some tips for successfully marketing your seasonal menu.
1. Use Social Media and Email to Keep Your Customers Engaged & Informed
Social media is a sort of Swiss army knife for marketing in today’s world. Any changes your restaurant goes through should be published on all of your social media channels — prominently! Social media provides a way to keep your customers engaged even when they aren’t physically at your restaurant. This type of unprecedented connectivity makes social media platforms perfect for marketing seasonal menu changes. And don’t be shy — it may take more than one or two posts to get the word out. Additionally, don't forget the power of email. Technology has allowed bars and restaurants to connect better and forge stronger relationships with their guests. Leverage this to convert newcomers into loyal, repeat customers. Email is a great way to notify guests of new seasonal menus. Drop a link in the email to make a reservation or order online.
2. Create Food and Drink Pairings
Creating some food-and-drink pairings is another fantastic way to put your seasonal menu changes center stage. After all, isn’t a nice, cold beer just begging to be paired with a cheddar-stuffed bratwurst? If your menu changes include both food and drink, creating unique, exciting pairings is the way to go. You should also offer these pairings at a discount — if the drink is $10 and the food is $15, consider a $20-$22 price point for the pairing. Guests who are looking to embrace the changing seasons will surely love this kind of option. In addition, they may consider ordering the drink or the food individually during their next visit.
3. Use Dedicated Menus
If you’re trying to promote a certain group of drinks or food, you shouldn’t try to stuff them into the corner of your regular menu. Instead, highlight your seasonal options by creating dedicated, seasonal menus. This is a surefire way to let guests know that your seasonal offerings are really something special. In addition, you won’t have to reformat your entire regular menu each time you want to do seasonal drinks. The key here is to make sure that every patron gets handed a seasonal menu alongside the full menu.
Changing your menu for the season? Download our guide to building a better cocktail menu.
4. Highlight Local Producers
This falls under the idea of ‘trend stacking.’ There’s no doubt that people love to eat (and drink) locally. Supporting local producers does a whole world of good for the community, and customers are happy to pay extra to do this. We suggest highlighting local producers within your seasonal menu changes. For example, looking for a pumpkin beer in the fall or a sour in the summer? Don’t reach right for the old standby — instead, ask your rep to see what breweries in your area have to offer. If customers can get something local and seasonal, that’s going to create a winning combination for sure.
5. Do More Than Beer
It’s easy to focus on beer when it comes to seasonality. After all, it feels like a hundred different beers come out each week. But, don’t forget to add some cocktails to your seasonal menus. This will help your seasonal offerings appeal to those who aren’t only interested in beer. Wine is another great thing that can be seasonally appropriate. A light, buttery Chardonnay is perfect for summer, but a dark, oaky Malbec may be just the thing for the winter crowd. Keep your seasonal menus diverse enough that they will appeal to a wide range of customers.
6. Include Them in Happy Hour
Happy Hour is a great way to bring in new customers. People are more likely to try new restaurants if the perceived risks (aka menu prices) are lower. That makes Happy Hour the perfect opportunity to roll out your seasonal specials. We suggest including two or three of your seasonal items in your Happy Hour offerings. This reduces the barrier to entry for customers, making them more willing to try seasonal specials. Use your Happy Hour menu as a way to ‘tease’ your seasonal specials. If (and when) customers find a seasonal item they love during happy hour, they will be much more likely to return for that same item, even at its full price. This can also help with word of mouth — customers love to share their new discoveries, after all!
7. Educate Your Staff
If trained properly, your staff can be walking, talking billboards for your seasonal offerings. It’s very important to get your employees on board with these items. They can steer customers towards seasonal options from the second the customers sit down! Your staff can be one of the most powerful marketing tools you have if you know how to use them correctly!
Go Big or Go Home
Well, sort of. Seasonal items need to be new. Don’t just swap out one ingredient of a year-round item to make something winter-friendly. Be bold! Be creative! Start from the ground up to craft a unique, adventurous seasonal menu that capitalizes on your customers’ current wants and needs. It’s important that you take an ‘all-in’ approach to your seasonal menu, meaning it should embrace and celebrate the changing season. Creating a menu that is truly celebratory will entice more customers and get more people into the spirit.
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