Attract More Diners with These Holiday Marketing Tips

This year, 52% of Baby Boomers, 54% of Gen X, 59% of millennials, and 63% of Gen Z plan to order their entire holiday meal as dine-in or takeout. As the holiday season approaches, restaurants have the opportunity to drive traffic and boost sales using digital marketing strategies. We’ve broken down some ideas to help restaurants stand out and maximize holiday revenue. 

1. Create Limited-Time Holiday Menus and Packages: Offer unique, holiday-inspired menus or meal bundles available only during the season. Consider including classics like spiced hot drinks, festive desserts, or specialty entrées, giving customers something to look forward to. Curated holiday meal packages also make great gifts or catering options for corporate gatherings, boosting order volume and visibility.

2. Leverage AI-Driven Social Media Ads: Use AI tools to create and schedule seasonal social media campaigns that engage potential diners. Moreover, leveraging AI enables restaurants to create hyper-targeted ads that drive maximum reach. Optimize ad copy in real-time with seasonal keywords like “holiday dining,” “festive specials,” or “family gatherings” to enhance visibility in holiday-specific searches.

3. Optimize for Local SEO and Holiday Keywords: To capture more search traffic, incorporate holiday-specific keywords, such as "Christmas dinner near me" or "New Year's Eve dining. " Regularly update your Google My Business profile to ensure your holiday hours and specials are visible to local diners looking for seasonal dining options.

4. Send Personalized Holiday Email Campaigns: According to TechCrunch, email marketing accounts for 20% of website visits during the holiday season, with Thanksgiving ranking second for email engagement due to numerous opens and clicks. Make sure your holiday-themed email campaigns feature personalized offers based on past orders or preferences. Providing early exclusive promos or first access to holiday events can cultivate customer loyalty and increase booking rates. Don’t forget CTA’s like “Order Now” or "Grab Your Early Bird Discount," to encourage engagement.

5. Host Holiday Events and Special Theme Nights: Organizing holiday events like “Christmas Eve Dinner” or “Winter Wonderland Brunch” can effectively attract group reservations and walk-in customers. Tailoring specific nights to themes or hosting live music and seasonal entertainment can enhance your restaurant's appeal and foster word-of-mouth promotion.

6. Offer Gift Cards and Festive Merchandise: The gift card market, particularly for restaurants, experienced significant growth, with digital card sales rising by 7% year-over-year from 2023 to 2024. Additionally, 64% of people reported using gift cards to try new restaurants, highlighting their role in helping diners discover new dining experiences. Digital gift cards are especially popular, with sales up by 229% as of October 2024. As such, gift cards are a popular holiday purchase and serve as a convenient gift option while boosting your bottom line. Position gift cards and merchandise as meaningful yet hassle-free gifting options. Promote these on social media and through email, possibly offering an incentive, such as a $10 bonus with every $50 gift card purchase.

7. Use AI Chatbots for Seamless Booking and Promotions: Improve customer service and streamline bookings during the busy season with AI-driven chatbots. Chatbots can handle reservations, respond to frequently asked questions, and even provide promotional codes. This technology not only enhances customer experience but also ensures that every customer receives prompt attention, especially during peak hours.

8. Encourage User-Generated Content and Reviews: Invite guests to share their holiday dining experiences by tagging your restaurant on social media. You can enter them into a contest to win a free meal or holiday treat. Positive user-generated content and reviews build credibility, expand your reach, and give new customers a reason to visit your restaurant.

There’s never been a better time for restaurants to enhance brand visibility and increase sales. Implementing these strategies can improve your restaurant's holiday marketing, attract more diners, and create memorable seasonal experiences. Ready to make this holiday season your most successful yet? Let Appfront’s powerful AI, marketing, and analytics tools help bring your holiday campaigns to life.