Give local employees an extra bonus on payday

Employees working at a corporation near your restaurant are a primary target for building sales. How do you market to them when they are at work?
The one peice of documentation you know they will see is their paycheck. Connect with them personally by offering a special offer placed in their paycheck envelope. Here is how to get this program up and running:

1. Contact the accounting or payroll department. The best case scenario would be to have your offer inserted at least one time per quarter.


2. If paycheck stuffers are not an option, consider sampling to employees on site. Your food is the best marketing tool there is!


3. Flyers in employees mailboxes.


4. Ask if there is an employee communication peice - maybe an online newsletter or something that is sent out. Find out if you could write an article or place ad.


5. Can't get in the front door due to security or front desk person who is unwillig to work with you? Ask your loyal customers if they could take flyers back to their office and insert in everyone's mailbox for you. Buy them lunch as a thank you.

Focus on reaching 15 companies each quarter with 50 employees (or more). That's reaching 3,000 potential customers a year.

Once you see a new face (with the coupon or offer) invite them to join you on Twitter, Facebook, Linked In, read your blog, etc. Begin to build a lasting and profitable relationship.

Twitter - the only start up cost is time

Indpendents can be on the same playing field as "big guys", thanks to Twitter. This recent article in Ad Age highlights 5 tips for local businesses looking to use Twitter.
Tweet away my friends.
http://adage.com/digital/article?article_id=136662

Part of your marketing mix should include community outreach

In addition to social media, face-to-face marketing should still be part of new client acquisition. Here are some ideas to leverage National Bike Month (every May) for businesses that target fitness-friendly consumers.

1. Work with your local police department on bicycle safety. Invite the department to host a workshop for families at your business. Pre-promote via your Face book page, e-mail database, in-store, through your community newspaper, etc.



2. Co-partner wtih a local bicycle shop and bicycle associations on celebrating the month. Offer customers of the bike shop and members of the organization a discount at your place of business for the entire month.



3. Co-partner with a local bike shop to give away a bicycle at your business. Have customers register all month long and do a random drawing to award one person. Ask the bike shop to put posters up in-store and e-mail their database to promote the drawing at your business.
   

Overall, make it month of fun and fitness if it makes sense for your brand.