Special Dates in March for Marketing Ideas

How to Use Our Marketing Ideas Calendar in March, 2019 (Restaurant Edition)

This article provides a handful of ideas for marketing your business on Social Media, Email, In-Store Promotions, TV, Radio, and Events.

 

Special Dates to Make Your Marketing Great!

For the past several years, I’ve been providing a Marketing Ideas Calendar on the smallbusinessu.org blog. I’ve decided to take this resource one-step further.


Marketing Ideas Served on a Silver Platter

Starting with this edition of the One Good Idea Newsletter, Special Dates to Make Your Marketing Great, will be a continuing feature.

My team and I will pick a few dates & topics and give you ideas on how to implement them for marketing your restaurant in print, social media, and email. People pay more attention to marketing messages with an interesting topic. Some will share & spread the word.

Keep in mind, you can modify these to fit your  own style. These are to get your creative juices flowing.

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Newsworthy Promotions & Event Ideas

March 1st is Read Across America Day.

Marketing idea: Have a children’s book donation event. Offer $1.00 off the bill for every kiddie book customers donate and deliver them to a worthy cause.

This is a great photo opportunity. Encourage customers to take photos of their children donating books. Add an incentive to check-in on social media and post selfies. An alternative could be a Free Kid’s meal or gift card for use on the customers’ next visit. This makes a great theme for an event you can market on Facebook, Yelp, Eventbrite, Nextdoor, and even Craigslist.

March 8th is National Unplugging Day.

It’s amazing how people can sit around a table and their eyes are all glued to their phone. Have fun with this holiday by creating a PHONE-FREE ZONE.

You probably shouldn’t demand your customers not to use their phone, but you can offer to seat people in a PHONE-FREE ZONE on National Unplugging Day. “Turn off your phones for 10% Off (or a Free Dessert). Promote this special day on your social media and broadcast email. Your customers will probably share their refreshing experience with their family and friends.

pi day

Combine Coffee & Pie to celebrate two themes in March.

March 14th is National Pi Day (3.14)

Incorporate pie into Pi day. Dessert pie, pizza pie, Shepherd’s Pie, Pot Pie, Vegan Pie. Invite customers to participate in and attend a pie tasting contest. Pick some menu items or make some new ones you can price at $3.14.

March is Caffeine Awareness Month

There’s a lot of profit in coffee and you should sell as much as you can! Premium coffees bring premium prices. Coffee sells desserts and desserts sell coffee (especially pie!). Use March as your springboard into a deeper dive into the coffee business. Instead of asking your customers if they would like some coffee at the end of their meal, show them your coffee menu!

March 18th is National Nurses Day

Get the word out: Nurses get a Free Appetizer or Dessert with an order of a regular priced entrée.

March 27th is National Joe Day

Anyone can be Joe on National Joe Day. Make a coupon on your website, moderncoupon, and on social media, “If your name is Joe or even if you pretend your name is Joe, present this coupon and get $5.00 off your order.”

Take a look at  the March Marketing Ideas Calendar and see how you can put more ideas to work to make your marketing fun and interesting .

Oh, and one more thing, there’s no reason why you can’t make your promotion last for more than one day. Keep it going all week or all month if you want. It’s your restaurant, YOU make the rules.

Use the monthly marketing ideas to fuel your emails and social media efforts.

What…you’re not emailing? We have to talk.     Reach me at Andrew@smallbusinessu.org

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About the Author Andrew Mazer

Andrew Mazer, Founder of Mazer Wholesale, Inc. established since 1986. In 1996, I began marketing my wholesale business online. In 2009, I began helping other business owners market THEIR business online. I am the author of The Business Owner's Guide to Marketing Online, The Groupon Solution, and The One Good Idea Newsletter. Contact me at Andrew@smallbusinessu.org

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