The Power of Valentine’s Day Promotions for Restaurants

Valentine’s Day is one of the most lucrative days for restaurants. Consumers are expected to spend a significant amount of money, with an estimated $25.9 billion being spent in total. The average person is planning to pay $192.80. Approximately half of all consumers intend to celebrate the holiday, and nearly a third plan to give the gift of a dining experience. This presents a prime opportunity for restaurant operators to boost revenue and customer engagement through well-planned marketing campaigns.

At Appfront, we’ve helped numerous restaurant partners execute high-performing Valentine’s Day promotions. From SMS-driven flash deals to limited-time offers, our customers have seen significant revenue and guest traffic increases. This article highlights accurate data from a successful BOGO milkshake promotion and insights from other top-performing campaigns.

Case Study: BOGO Milkshake Campaign & A/B Testing Insights

One of our Appfront customers, a fast-casual restaurant brand, ran a Buy One, Get One Free (BOGO) milkshake campaign for Valentine’s Day in 2024. The goal was to drive in-store traffic and boost dessert sales using two marketing channels: SMS and push notifications. Here’s what we found:

Campaign Structure

• Target Audience: App users and loyalty program members.
• Promotion: BOGO milkshake deal valid on February 14th only.
• Marketing Channels Tested:
  
  • SMS (Text Message): Sent a direct offer with a link to redeem.
  • Push Notification: Sent an in-app alert with the same offer.

Results & Key Takeaways

• SMS outperformed push notifications, driving:
  
  • 2x higher redemption rates.
  • 107% more revenue from customers who received the SMS offer.
• Why SMS Won:
  
  • Higher visibility: 90% of SMS messages are read within 3 minutes.
  • Stronger call-to-action: Direct link to redeem the offer.
  • Less friction: No need to open an app to view the message.

Key Lesson: Restaurants that use SMS marketing for time-sensitive promotions see significantly higher engagement and sales than those that use push notifications alone.

Actionable Tips for Running a High-Impact Valentine’s Day Promotion

• Leverage SMS for High-Conversion Offers
  Use exclusive, time-sensitive deals to drive urgency.
• Use Personalization to Enhance Engagement
  Incorporate guest names, past order history, and personalized offers.
• Encourage Early Reservations & Pre-Orders
  Offer discounts for pre-booking or limited VIP experiences.
• Boost Social Media & Influencer Collaborations
  Encourage customers to share their experience for added visibility.
• Measure Success & Iterate for Future Campaigns
  Track redemption rates, average ticket size, and customer engagement to refine strategies for next year.

Valentine’s Day presents a massive revenue opportunity for restaurants, and the right digital marketing strategies can make all the difference. As seen with Appfront customers, leveraging SMS campaigns, exclusive promotions, and social engagement can drive significant business growth.

If you're an Appfront customer, use automated marketing tools and campaign analytics to optimize your Valentine’s Day strategy. If you’re not yet using Appfront, let’s discuss how we can help your restaurant increase revenue and guest engagement this holiday.

Want expert marketing guidance? Contact us today to schedule a free consultation!