Five Tips for Promoting a Restaurant in the Summer Season

Summer is a season of vibrant energy, longer days, and memorable moments spent with friends and family. Customers are gearing up for patio brunches, refreshing drinks, and delicious meals. As a restaurant or bar owner, capturing the spirit of summer and becoming a go-to spot for patrons can greatly boost your business. Here are five tips for promoting a restaurant during the summer season.

Give Your Menu a Summer Makeover

A surefire way to entice customers during the summer is to revamp your menu with seasonal flavors and ingredients. Restaurants have a unique opportunity to upgrade their menus and create fresh, vibrant, and light dishes. One effective strategy is to take a farm-to-table approach by sourcing fresh and local ingredients. By partnering with local farmers and suppliers, you can offer various seasonal produce, ensuring quality while supporting the local community. 

Additionally, incorporating fun and refreshing summer juices, cocktails, and mocktails adds a delightful touch to the menu. From sangrias and mojitos to freshly-squeezed lemonade, these beverages complement the warm weather and allow customers to cool down. To fully embrace the summer theme, your restaurant can create themed menus reflecting the season and location. 

For example, a coastal restaurant might offer seafood-centric dishes featuring freshly caught fish or shellfish. At the same time, a Mediterranean-inspired establishment could offer light and vibrant options such as summer salads and grilled vegetables. Upgrading your menu with these tasty offerings can attract customers seeking a taste of the season and a memorable dining experience.

Spruce Up Your Outdoor Dining

Summer is the perfect time for your outdoor dining area to shine. Whether you have patio seating or a rooftop, warmer weather brings crowds of people who want to soak up the sun as they enjoy a meal and refreshing drink. A great way to attract customers is to give your outdoor dining area a facelift. Adding lighting or floral decor can create a welcoming space that's also Instagram-worthy. 

Expanding your outdoor seating capacity to accommodate more guests is also a good idea. Invest in comfortable and stylish furniture, including cozy seating and sturdy tables. Provide shade options, such as umbrellas, awnings, or pergolas, to shield patrons from the sun's heat. You can also add unique outdoor entertainment features like live music and games. 

If your restaurant doesn't have outdoor dining, you can still take steps to create an attractive seasonal atmosphere. Transform your interior decor to incorporate a brighter, more cheerful theme for summer. Adding string or fairy lights can make for a softer dining ambiance. You can also introduce floral elements throughout the restaurant or at the entrance to attract passerbys.

Get Creative on Social Media

Remember to include social media in your restaurant advertising plan. Create visually appealing and shareable content that highlights your summer menu, decor, and outdoor dining. You can also encourage or incentivize customers to share their content to highlight their dining experience. Run contests or giveaways exclusively on social media to increase engagement and expand your reach.

Collaborating with food influencers on TikTok and Instagram can be a powerful tool for a restaurant business. They've built dedicated followers who trust their recommendations as they seek new dining experiences. Don't hesitate to contact local influencers for partnership and dining opportunities. You can offer them complimentary meals, discounts, invite them to tasting events, or partner for special giveaways to promote your business and reach a wider audience. 
Tapping into their highly engaged audience to gain exposure can translate into increased foot traffic and a boost in business. For example, Las Vegas-based foodie Keith Lee has gained over ten million followers on TikTok through his food reviews. He's helped businesses like Frankensons and Pink Potato see instant growth within days of his visits and video posts.

Serve Up Summer Promotions

Running promotions during the summer is an effective way for restaurants to drive traffic and attract customers. Happy-hour specials encourage customers to visit during off-peak times to enjoy discounted drinks and appetizers. Create a special brunch menu with unique or discounted dishes, especially on weekends. Bottomless mimosas, brunch buffets, or exclusive brunch deals can attract customers looking for a leisurely dining experience. 

Additionally, partnering with popular third-party sites and apps like DoorDash and Uber Eats for delivery and takeout allows restaurants to tap into their existing customer base and gain exposure to potential new diners. By providing exclusive discounts or special offers through these platforms, you can incentivize customers to choose your establishment over competitors. 

Promote these offerings through social media, email newsletters, and in-store signage to create buzz around your restaurant.

Create Themed Days and Events

Staying informed on local events can help you develop creative ideas, themes, and deals for your restaurant. For example, suppose a sporting event, festival, or concert is happening in town. You can offer a special discount, organize a watch party, or advertise your business as a good after-party location. 

In addition to local events, you can also use the national food and drink calendar for inspired ideas to plan special menus and events throughout the summer. For instance, you can celebrate National Cheesecake Day on July 30th by including cheesecake on the dessert menu. On National Watermelon Day (August 3), you can add fresh watermelon juice to the menu or a summery watermelon salad. 

These themed days provide a fun and engaging experience for customers and give them a reason to visit your restaurant on specific dates.

Promoting a Restaurant for a Remarkable Summer Experience

Even though summer's already upon us, it's not too late to implement these strategies. Your restaurant can still become a go-to spot for these warm months, creating lasting memories and building a loyal customer base. If you want to take your efforts further, check out VersiTech’s blog to learn how QR codes can boost your marketing, promotional efforts, and revenue.