Develop a Restaurant Public Relations Plan
A restaurant public relations plan is a pivotal part of an overall marketing initiative and must be put in place before you start. A successful entrepreneur always worries about his marketing and has a PR plan specifically tailored before the opening. You need to worry about how you are going to attract new clients and convince them to return as regular patrons.
A comprehensive restaurant public relations plan starts with the grand opening of the business. Two weeks prior, make sure that the local media outlets are aware of what is happening by sending them a press release. This will give you great coverage and help to get you listed in local event calendars. Prepare for a good attendance and be ready before the big day.
During a grand opening, your restaurant public relations person must be on hand to give out media kits, which are professionally produced documents with facts and figures, biographies of the owner and head chef and those all-important menus. Bring in a professional photographer to take valuable snaps for future use.
Local chambers of commerce and/or nonprofit organizations can be your friend and you would be smart to get them involved in your restaurant's opening festivities. Try your best to utilize their list of media contacts and it doesn't matter if these overlap, as cross promotion is a significant part of a restaurant public relations efforts.
Focus on the calendar during the first few months of your business as special events can be pivotal to restaurant public relations success. You might like to start off an annual or semiannual wine festival, or feature an art show tied to certain events. These initiatives will expose your business to a whole new raft of potential clients and give you excellent PR exposure.
You should make friends with your local newspaper editors, especially if they have significant food and drink sections or pullouts. Try and become a source of good news or material to editors on a regular basis and don't necessarily pitch your business at all times. If you are seen as being an authority on a certain type of food, for example, then you will get valuable PR exposure whenever an editor contacts you for your opinion on the subject.
Restaurant public relations at its best involves a very subtle approach. Your permissions-based mailing lists should be supplied with great food related stories, ideas and information at regular intervals. When Thanksgiving is approaching, give them advice about family get-togethers and parties and menu ideas. Remember, it is not the hard sell, but establishing yourself as an expert.
You must always have a plan as good restaurant public relations work is based around it. Establish some key dates in your calendar of events and take action to implement your plan. Get involved with important people locally to develop personal relationships.
A comprehensive restaurant public relations plan starts with the grand opening of the business. Two weeks prior, make sure that the local media outlets are aware of what is happening by sending them a press release. This will give you great coverage and help to get you listed in local event calendars. Prepare for a good attendance and be ready before the big day.
During a grand opening, your restaurant public relations person must be on hand to give out media kits, which are professionally produced documents with facts and figures, biographies of the owner and head chef and those all-important menus. Bring in a professional photographer to take valuable snaps for future use.
Local chambers of commerce and/or nonprofit organizations can be your friend and you would be smart to get them involved in your restaurant's opening festivities. Try your best to utilize their list of media contacts and it doesn't matter if these overlap, as cross promotion is a significant part of a restaurant public relations efforts.
Focus on the calendar during the first few months of your business as special events can be pivotal to restaurant public relations success. You might like to start off an annual or semiannual wine festival, or feature an art show tied to certain events. These initiatives will expose your business to a whole new raft of potential clients and give you excellent PR exposure.
You should make friends with your local newspaper editors, especially if they have significant food and drink sections or pullouts. Try and become a source of good news or material to editors on a regular basis and don't necessarily pitch your business at all times. If you are seen as being an authority on a certain type of food, for example, then you will get valuable PR exposure whenever an editor contacts you for your opinion on the subject.
Restaurant public relations at its best involves a very subtle approach. Your permissions-based mailing lists should be supplied with great food related stories, ideas and information at regular intervals. When Thanksgiving is approaching, give them advice about family get-togethers and parties and menu ideas. Remember, it is not the hard sell, but establishing yourself as an expert.
You must always have a plan as good restaurant public relations work is based around it. Establish some key dates in your calendar of events and take action to implement your plan. Get involved with important people locally to develop personal relationships.
About the Author:
Expert Jose L Riesco teaches the best methods for getting more visitors to your restaurant at www.myrestaurantmarketing.com. Learn more about restaurant public relations here.
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