Once you have your restaurant’s property make sure to explore the surrounding area for businesses and other activities that can help you promote yourself. A lot of hotels and motels will allow local restaurants to drop off brochures, menus, and coupons in hotel rooms and lobby areas. If a convention center or hotel is having a large event you can do something similar, drop off advertisements to entice people to eat their meals at your restaurant If you are in a business park drop off your materials to be displayed in business break rooms or give special discounts to businessmen ordering your food from work. If you are in a residential neighborhood work with local landowners to see if you can pass out refrigerator magnets or menus for local residents.

You have to assess the particular area you’re in to see how best to distribute promotional material. A good strategy is to give out discount coupons to local businesses, residents, and colleges to get people to try out your food. Another is to place advertisements and coupons in local newspapers or magazines. Also investigate whether these newspapers and magazines hold restaurant contests. If they do make sure to enter, as it provides free marketing if you win or do relatively well.

Another strategy is offering samples in a busy location such as a mall, shopping center, or village square. When you’re starting out one of your main goals is to get your name out there and have locals associate it with good food. Free samples is a great way to get these initial customers to try out your food, and if they like it hopefully you’ll get them into the actual location.

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