TLDR

Summer is the perfect time to launch an online promotion that will boost your sales and keep customers coming back. Offering exclusive drink specials is a great way to spread the word about your restaurant and give people an extra incentive to order from you.

You know your regulars love scoring freebies and feeling like insiders. A summer loyalty promotion is the perfect way to make them feel special while boosting your sales during the slower months. The secret is to make the rewards big enough that people can’t help but come back again and again to rack up points and claim their prizes. We’re talking bonus stars, double point days, and rewards that make the hottest summer day feel a little cooler.

The best part? When fall rolls around and sales pick back up, your loyal customers will still be coming in strong. A summer loyalty program is the gift that keeps on giving. This year, double the stars and double your sales with a rewards program your customers won’t be able to resist. Summer slump? Not at your restaurant.

Offer Exclusive Online-Only Summer Drink Specials

Summer is the perfect time to launch an online promotion that will boost your sales and keep customers coming back. Offering exclusive drink specials is a great way to spread the word about your restaurant and give people an extra incentive to order from you.

This June, release one or two new cocktails available only through your website or delivery app. Keep the recipes simple but memorable, using fresh and vibrant ingredients like muddled berries, citrus juices, or tropical fruits. A strawberry basil smash, watermelon margarita, or piña colada are all easy crowd-pleasers for the season.

Publicize your online-only summer specials through social media and email marketing. Post photos of the drinks, share the recipes, and highlight any seasonal or local ingredients. Offer a discount or free delivery for the first 100 orders of each new cocktail. This kind of limited-time promotion creates a sense of urgency and buzz that will drive traffic to your virtual doors.

Once you have customers placing orders for your exclusive summer drinks, suggest similar cocktails or share recommendations for appetizers that pair well with them. This kind of upselling and cross-promotion can significantly increase the value of each sale.

By offering refreshing new cocktails available only through your online channels, running promotions to spread the word, and upselling additional items, you’ll give your customers more reasons than ever to order from you all season long. After a successful summer campaign, consider making one or both of the specials a permanent part of your menu to keep the momentum going into fall. Cheers to your most profitable summer yet!

Double Your Loyalty Program Stars for Online Orders

If you want to boost your online sales this summer, a loyalty promotion is a no-brainer. And what better way to reward your dedicated customers than by doubling the stars they earn for every dollar spent?

For a limited time, announce that your loyalty members will earn two stars for every $1 they spend on online orders. So if a drink usually earns 5 stars, now it’s worth 10. A $20 lunch nets them 40 stars instead of 20. You get the idea.

• Double stars mean members reach that free reward twice as fast. Whether it’s a free coffee, snack or meal, getting to redeem those points quicker will motivate them to order more often.
• Promote the offer prominently on your website, app, email marketing and social media. Explain how members can double their stars on all online orders for easy earning all season long.
• Make it easy to order and pay through your app or website. The less hassle, the more people will take advantage of the deal. Allow customers to store payment info for a seamless experience each time.
• Track stars and rewards in your loyalty program software to ensure members see their balances updating instantly. Nothing is more frustrating than not knowing where you stand!
• Consider extending the offer to new members who sign up during the promotion. What a great way to gain new loyal customers who will keep coming back for more.

A summer loyalty promotion that doubles the stars on online orders is a win-win. Your customers get rewarded faster, and you get increased sales and brand loyalty. With some strategic marketing to spread the word, this could be one of your most successful campaigns yet. Time to make those stars rain!

Run a Mobile App Exclusive Summer Promotion

Offer App-Only Deals and Discounts

Run an exclusive promotion through your mobile app to give customers an extra incentive to download it. For example:

• Offer 25-50% off one menu item when they download the app. This gives them an immediate reward and reason to keep the app on their phone.
• Provide app users with a promo code for a free side or dessert with any purchase over $10. Send the code through an in-app notification to make them feel like a VIP.
• Give double loyalty points, stars or stamps for every purchase made through the app during the promotion period. This allows frequent customers to rack up rewards even faster.

Host Live Streams and Giveaways

Engage your audience by hosting live streams on social media. For example:

• Stream an interview with your head chef making their signature dish. Provide the recipe and ingredients list in the app so viewers can follow along.
• Do a behind-the-scenes tour of your kitchen or dining room. Give app users who tune in a chance to win a gift card.
• Host a live Q&A session with your staff. App users who submit questions in advance get entered into a drawing for free menu items.
• Give away promotional items like t-shirts, water bottles or gift cards during the live streams. Mention that app users get bonus entries into the giveaways.

Push Notifications for Flash Deals

Send push notifications through your app alerting customers to limited time flash deals. For example:

• 50% off all appetizers for the next 30 minutes.
• $5 milkshakes for the next hour.
• Free side of fries with any burger purchase in the next 15 minutes.

Flash deals create a sense of urgency and give people a reason to drop what they're doing to come grab a quick bite at your restaurant. Be sure to vary the timing and types of deals to keep it interesting.

A successful mobile app promotion should make customers feel rewarded, engaged and eager to keep checking back for the next big deal or exciting event. Combine multiple elements for the biggest impact and keep the momentum going all season long.

Increase Your Social Media Contests and Giveaways

Run Social Media Contests and Giveaways

Social media contests are a great way to boost engagement and get more eyes on your restaurant this summer. They increase your reach, gain new followers, and generate leads. The more people participating, the more buzz is created.

• Caption contests, where people submit a clever caption for a photo you post, are an easy contest idea. Offer a gift card as a prize. These contests incorporate humor and spur creativity in your followers.
• Hashtag contests encourage people to post photos on their own profiles using your custom hashtag. Offer a prize for the best photo. This spreads brand awareness and gives you content to repost.
• Video contests challenge people to make a short video related to your restaurant. For example, ask people to share their favorite memory dining with you or create a 15-second ad for your business. Offer a larger prize since it requires more work. These kinds of creative activities really get potential customers involved with your brand.
• Voting contests let your followers pick the winner. Post photos of two menu items or cocktails and have people vote on their favorite. The item with the most votes gets featured as a special for a week. This gives you insight into what your customers really want while making them feel included.
• Random giveaways and flash sales are easy ways to increase excitement. Post that the next 10 people to comment or like a post will get a free dessert or appetizer. This sparks a rush of interest and new followers hoping to snag the deal.

Doubling down on social media contests and giveaways is a proven way to spread the word about your restaurant this summer and keep people engaged with your brand. Try running one contest a month to keep momentum going and continue gaining new followers and potential customers. The more buzz around your business, the more sales will start rolling in.

FAQ: Planning Your Successful Summer Online Ordering Promotion

Plan Ahead

The key to running a successful summer online ordering promotion is planning. Start by determining your goals. Do you want to increase sales by a certain percentage? Gain new regular customers? Clear excess inventory? Once you know your goals, you can design a promotion to achieve them.

Choose Your Offer

Double the stars or double the points for online orders? A free appetizer or dessert with every $25 spent? A discount on future orders? The options are endless. Pick an offer that resonates with your customers and fits your goals. Time the promotion to take advantage of summer events like 4th of July or back to school.

Spread the Word

Promote your offer on your website, in email newsletters, and on social media. Post eye-catching photos and videos to grab attention. Explain the details clearly and highlight the benefits to customers. Use hashtags to increase visibility. Don’t forget in-store signs for customers already dining with you.

Make it Easy to Redeem

The easier you make it for customers to take advantage of your promotion, the more successful it will be. Ensure your online ordering system is simple to use. Offer multiple ways to order like through your website, an app, over the phone, or via third-party delivery services. Consider extending your hours to capture more late-night customers.

Learn and Improve

Once your promotion ends, evaluate how it performed. Look at key metrics like online sales, new customers acquired, and customer feedback. See what worked and what didn’t. Then use those insights to make your next summer online ordering promotion even better. With the right planning and optimization, you can turn a short-term promotion into long-term success.

Conclusion

So there you have it, some tried-and-true ways to make the most of the summer season and keep your customers coming back for more. Run an exciting loyalty program, offer tempting specials, spread the word on social media, and make the experience memorable. By doubling down on your efforts, you'll double your success. Before you know it, the dog days of summer will be over but you'll have built up a base of loyal regulars to keep your business booming long after the warm weather fades. Now get out there, turn up the sizzle, and make this your most profitable summer yet! The rewards will be well worth the extra effort.