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Let’s face it getting a customer into your restaurant can be hard enough. Getting them to come back on a regular basis takes real work sometimes. With an email database you will be able to market or remarket a customer to build future business. Simply asking for an email will not always net an address. Offering a reason for that email will certainly make a customer more likely to give their information.

Newsletters
Delivering information relevant to your customers will result in increased loyalty and future purchases. Position yourself and company as an expert with timely and relevant advice to your email database. Content is king here. If you’re delivering useful information, and on terms that your customers request (timing, length, etc), your recipients are going to think of you. Customers who think about you will return for purchases. This simple technique is a powerful positioning tool and will positively distinguish you from the competitors. Just remember do not get into Spamming customer Email. Send Newsletters out bi-weekly or monthly, not daily.

Sweepstakes
The chance to win valuable prizes can be a highly effective lead generation tool. It can also be a great incentive for motivating people to share valuable market information (their email address). Just make sure you get permission for your future emails.

Hot Deals
Some customers only come in when their favorite meal is the special or if they have a coupon. You can attach a calendar to your newsletter with all the daily specials for month listed on them. You can also attach coupons for people to print off and bring in for “news letter members only” savings.

Product Releases and Upgrades
Do you have menu items that change with the seasons? Do you have special hours or items that are linked to a holiday? It is important to keep your customer engaged and interactive with your business. Accomplish both by offering them the option of signing up to be notified about new menus and hours.

Quizzes
Curiosity and fun are always great ways to draw people in. Use this to your advantage and develop interactive quizzes and tests that can help you build aggregate views of your customers while you entertain them. These same people can be valuable prospects in the future.

Shopping Lists and Party Planners
Give your customers tools that encourage them to come in and buy! Take advantage of the holiday season, any holiday season, and entice them to sign up for party planning, if you offer catering options you can send catering deadline reminders, Gift Card buying reminders, or any other festive offer that works toward the ultimate goal - building loyalty!

Email marketing is the undisputed champion of high-response, cost-effective marketing vehicles. If you’re ready to take your company’s sales to the next level, start by building a thought-out database of customers and prospects email addresses. Sending an email is free to do. The only investment is your time to collect email address and to write your emails. If you can get even a 10% response rate on something that cost you nothing you will have made a profit