Restaurant Marketing Tips for Owners: Do THIS to Increase Sales on Slow Days

Slow Mondays got you down? You’re not alone. Many independent restaurants see crickets on weekdays. In fact, one analysis found only 22% of a typical restaurant’s revenue comes from Monday to Thursday. But here’s the inside scoop: slow days are a golden opportunity if you play them right. Smart restaurant owners are using creative marketing and some showmanship to turn those quiet nights into money-makers. From special catering deals to trivia tournaments that pack the house, you can dominate your slow days with the seven fun strategies below.

Ready to boost those sluggish Tuesdays and Wednesdays with restaurant marketing tips? Let’s dive into 7 proven tactics (backed by real examples) to increase sales on slow days – and how you can easily put them into action.

1. Offer Irresistible Catering Promotions

Why let your kitchen sit idle on slow days when you could be fulfilling big catering orders? Catering promotions turn a quiet weekday into a revenue win by taking your food on the road. Offices, schools, and local events still need to eat and often plan midweek lunches. Interestingly, midweek lunch is peak catering demand industry-wide​ fastcasual.com, so there’s a huge opportunity there. By marketing group deals and corporate packages, you fill tables without needing diners in the restaurant.

Real-World Success

Fajita Pete’s, a growing Tex-Mex chain, reported a 30% year-over-year jump in catering sales by using targeted marketing campaigns​ fastcasual.com. Another fast-casual brand, Just Poké, says about 10% of its annual revenue now comes from catering​ fastcasual.com. That chunk likely comes from what used to be “slow” periods! The takeaway? Promoting catering can add a whole new revenue stream that props up your slow days. Instead of waiting for customers, you bring the food to them.

How to Get Started

• Create a “Weekday Catering Special”: Offer a discount or free delivery for catering orders on typically slow days (e.g., 10% off catering scheduled on Mondays or Tuesdays). This incentivizes offices and groups to choose your restaurant for their midweek meetings or events.

• Reach Out to Local Businesses: Spread the word to nearby offices, schools, and churches that you cater. Send a friendly email or drop off flyers with a special catering menu for work lunches or parties. Even better, include a limited-time promo for first-time orders to spur immediate interest.

• Leverage Email and Social Media: Announce your catering promotions in your email newsletter and on social channels. For example, post on Sunday that “We have Wednesday Office Lunch packages – feed 10 people for $X (free dessert included if you book by Tuesday!).” Consistent reminders help customers remember your catering services when planning events.

  
  

By ramping up catering, you’ll convert quiet kitchen hours into profitable ones. Combine this with targeted digital marketing, like geofencing campaigns​ wiserootsllc.com, to amplify results further.

2. Launch Weekday-Only Specials

If weekends are your bread and butter, make weekdays your secret sauce. Weekday-only specials create a sense of occasion on otherwise uneventful nights. Offer something awesome Monday to Thursday that people can’t get on weekends. This not only lures in customers during off-peak times but can even build new weekly traditions (hello, Taco Tuesday!).

Proven Strategies

Big chains do this too. Pizza Hut famously ran a “Don’t Cook Wednesday” mid-week campaign​ posist.com to get families dining out on hump day. The Barbeque Nation buffet chain prices its weekday lunch lower than the weekend​ posist.com to pack seats on slower days. Closer to home, you’ve seen pubs with half-price wings on Tuesdays or ladies’ night drink specials on Wednesdays. Those deals exist because they work. Customers love a good bargain or exclusive event, and they’ll adjust their schedule if it’s compelling enough.

How to Get Started:

• Get Creative with Themes: Designate each slow night with a fun theme or deal. Example: “Mexican Mondays” with a discounted taco platter, “Wine-Down Wednesday” with half-off wine bottles, or “Throwback Thursday” featuring an old-school dish at a special price. Make it a weekly thing for remembering and returning.

• Offer Value (But Protect Margins): Structure your deals smartly. Instead of blanket 50% off, consider bundles or BOGOs. For instance, “Buy one entrée, get the second 50% off on Tuesdays” or a prix fixe two-person dinner special. This boosts ticket averages while still giving customers great value.

• Promote the Heck Out of It: Treat your weekday special like an event. Put up posters inside your restaurant, post on social media, and mention it to guests on busy nights. Build buzz to attract crowds.

  
  

With enticing weekday specials, you’ll see those “dead” nights come alive. A modest boost – say from a regular group that comes every Tuesday – can snowball into a packed house once word spreads that Tuesday is the new Friday at your place.

3. Embrace Automated Email Marketing

Ever send out a last-minute “Tonight only: 20% off!” email and see a few familiar faces walk in? That’s the power of email marketing for restaurants. It may sound old-school, but it's a secret weapon – it’s direct, personal, and cost-effective. Studies show email marketing generates about a $36 return for every $1 spent, far outpacing social media ads​ olo.com. The best part? You can automate it so that your slow-day promos reach customers at just the right time.

Why It Works

Your customers’ inboxes are a direct line to their daily routine. A well-timed email (say, Tuesday around 11 am plugging your Tuesday-night special) can sway someone’s dinner plans. Unlike a social post that vanishes in a feed, an email sits there waiting to be opened. Smart restaurants use automated systems to send birthday offers, “we miss you” notes, or mid-week reminders. In fact, restaurants using “set-and-forget” automated email campaigns have seen repeat orders increase by 270% in just 90 days​ owner.com.

How to Get Started

• Build Your Email List: Gather contacts by promoting a signup sheet or pop-up on your website. Offer a perk like “Join our email list for $5 off your next meal.” Collect birthdays for special birthday emails.

• Automate Key Emails: Schedule recurring campaigns using an email service. For example, set up a Monday newsletter that highlights weekly deals and a Friday “Weekend is Coming” email with chef’s specials.

• Make Emails Engaging: Mix up your content; don’t just send out “50% off!!!” every time. Share quick behind-the-scenes stories, recipes, or fun facts about your restaurant.

  
  

With a little effort upfront, automated email marketing can become your reliable slow-day rainmaker.

4. Use App Push Notifications

If your restaurant has a mobile app or uses a loyalty program, push notifications are a direct line to your fans’ pockets. Even if you don’t have an app, many third-party delivery platforms allow marketing pushes. Push notifications are those little messages that pop up on smartphones – and they can be powerfully effective for driving spur-of-the-moment visits on slow days.

Why it Works

Urgency and relevance drive push notifications. They reach customers wherever they are. If it’s a timely offer (“right now” or “today only”), it spurs quick action. It’s also personal; you’re reaching people who showed interest by downloading your app or joining your loyalty program.

How to Get Started

• Leverage Existing Tech: Explore push notification options if you have a branded app or loyalty program. Set up segmentation to target local users or those who haven’t ordered in a while.

• Time It Right: Schedule push notifications to land during decision-making times. For slow lunch days, push out a deal at 11:00 am. For dinner, try mid-afternoon around 4–5 pm.

• Keep Messages Short and Value-Focused: Use an attention grabber and highlight the offer within the short message.

  
  

Bonus tip: Combine push notifications with geofencing for maximum impact. If someone enters a defined area, like within a mile of your restaurant, they get your notification. This strategy can literally double your foot traffic by engaging passers-by​ wiserootsllc.com.

5. Send SMS Blasts to Your VIPs

Text messaging often boasts even higher engagement than email or push notifications. SMS open rates average a staggering 98%, whereas texts are often read within minutes. This makes SMS blasts a potent strategy to breathe life into your slow days. Building a list of VIP customers who want to hear from you can create tremendous impact.

Eye-Opening Examples

Imagine it’s 3 pm on a slow Thursday. You send a text to 200 subscribers: “Tonight only: Show this text for 25% off your dinner at Mario’s Italian. Treat yourself – you deserve a night out! 🍝”. A restaurant in Florida created a VIP text club that blasted offers on slow days. As a result, sales tripled on some nights, with about 40–70 extra diners showing up each week using their texted coupons​ eztexting.com.

How to Get Started

• Build an Opt-In List: Promote a keyword and number for people to join your SMS list. Offer a freebie for signing up.

• Segment and Personalize: Segment your text list to target the right audience effectively. Use engaging, personal language to enhance the experience.

• Time-Sensitive Deals: Use SMS for immediacy by promoting today’s deals or last-minute table availability.

  
  

With well-placed SMS messages, you’ll activate your loyal base to show up when you need them most. Picture a buzzing dining room on what used to be a slow night.

6. Host Live Music Nights

Sometimes the best way to beat a slow night is to bring the noise! Live music can completely transform your restaurant’s atmosphere. Whether it’s a local acoustic guitarist or a full-on jazz trio, live music nights give people a reason (and an experience) to come out.

Benefits of Live Music

Restaurants often see check averages rise by 5–10% and overall revenue increase up to 25%​ metrobi.com on these nights. In fact, 80% of diners say they will stay longer if enjoyable live music plays, leading to higher sales.

How to Get Started:

• Choose the Right Genre/Night: Think about your clientele and what genre fits your restaurant's vibe. Start with consistency to build a reputation.

• Partner with Local Musicians: You don’t need to hire big names; local bands can bring in dedicated fans. Promote them on social media for extra attention.

• Create a Full Experience: Incorporate unique menu offerings or themed decorations on live music nights.

  
  

Promote your live music schedule widely to grow attendance and turn quiet nights into memorable experiences for your patrons.

7. Organize Game Nights

Ever notice how the local pub is packed on Tuesday for trivia night? That’s no coincidence. Game nights – trivia quizzes, bingo, or poker – draw crowds by adding a fun, competitive element to the dining experience.

Proven Success

On average, bars and restaurants that host trivia see roughly 20% higher sales on those quiz nights​ beerandbrewing.com.

How to Get Started:

• Pick Your Game & Night: Choose a popular game to host on slow nights. Make it a recurring event to build regular attendees.

• Promote Teams and Prizes: Encourage team formation, and provide small prizes for winners to generate excitement.

• Train Staff and Set the Mood: Ensure your staff is enthusiastic and trained for game night.

  
  

With consistency and enthusiasm, your game nights will attract crowds, turning slow evenings into lively gatherings that boost sales and build community.

Key Takeaways

• Think Outside the Box: Slow days are a chance to innovate. Treat off-peak times as opportunities to connect with customers.

• Consistency Builds Crowds: Make events or specials recurring to create loyal attendees.

• Leverage Direct Marketing: Use email, push notifications, and SMS to directly inform customers of deals.

• Create Experiences: Fun events or experiences draw people in and enhance their time, encouraging spending.

• Monitor What Works: Keep track of which promotions are effective; adapt your strategy accordingly.

  
  

By mixing and matching strategies, you’ll gradually build a robust game plan for slow days. Many successful restaurants utilize all or some of these techniques.

Ready to Crush Those Slow Days? 💡 Sometimes, a brainstorming session with an expert sparks even more ideas tailored to your restaurant. We invite you to book a free 30-minute brainstorming session with Wise Roots’ CEO. Let’s discuss your challenges and craft a strategy to fill those empty tables. Book your session here and transform your slow nights into the hottest ticket in town.

Your slow days don’t stand a chance. With these tactics and creativity, you’ll turn quiet nights into crowded ones fast. Here’s to packed houses every day of the week! 🎉