Summer is coming to an end so it is a perfect time to start your school marketing plans. Marketing to schools is a fun way for schools to make a little money while helping your restaurant at the same time. Just don’t make it sound like a sales pitch.
School marketing is one of the best forms of advertising and it is fun to be involved with the schools. You want to build trust and eventually, relationships, with everyone from principals to room moms. This also allows you the opportunity to identify who your most common customers are -- i.e. families.
Marketing in a school offers exposure to you and your business. It helps build a presence within the school. How these individuals perceive you and your business will ultimately boil down to how well you present yourself.
Improve your school presence by providing the school with options. For example, cater lunch for the students one day a week. If that idea seems challenging, try scaling -- cater lunch for teachers and the administration for a professional work day or for Teacher Appreciation Week.
These individuals are the decision makers and their opinion of you and your restaurant can either encourage or deter them from visiting your establishment. Another idea would be to host a fundraiser within your business. Offer a school night where a portion of the proceeds are funneled back to the school.
Still wondering where to start? Pay attention to school calendars and events. In doing so, it will provide you with a lot of opportunities to insert yourself into the school community. In addition to this, try stopping by the school. Bring an item from the restaurant for the front office staff. These individuals are often overlooked. Any bit of appreciation that is thrown their way, they are likely to remember. Your name will be in their mind when the time comes to plan lunches for Teacher Appreciation Week and professional inservice days.
So when making your marketing plans, take small steps toward building trust and relationships within those heavily involved within the school. It will drive business to your restaurant -- paying big dividends in the long run.
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