Kulture Konnect Blog

On average, restaurants need to change their menus twice a year to keep patrons coming back. "Diners prioritize delicious food when choosing a restaurant to visit, followed by quality of service." (Source) Contrary to restauranteur's general belief, 58% of diners choose where they will dine based on the quality of food, while only 22% of diners choose where they will dine based on the quality of service.  This goes to show how important your menu is and how it must showcase the wonderful dishes.

Below, I have outlined 8 simple tips for your next menu launch: 

1. Make Your Menu a Money-Making Machine 

Strategize your menu. Do you know which menu items are your stars, dogs and workhorses? Your menu should be designed to highlight your most lucrative items and drive guests to order meals that will get them coming back for more. For more in-depth details on designing your menu, check out our free menu design guide.

2. Calling All Bloggers and Social Media Influencers 

Email every local food blogger and foodie social media influencer informing them about your menu launch. Invite them to come try your new menu items. Not only will they critique your food but make sure your customer service is on point.  

 Learn how to positively impact your bottom line with your menu design.

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3. Educate Your Staff 

When customers begin to order they will no doubt have questions about the food you're serving. Make sure your staff members understand each menu item. They should know what it tastes like, the main ingredients and the price. Your customers count on your waitstaff to answer all of their questions and be knowledgeable about each menu item. 

4. Become a Vendor at a City Wide Event

Your local city usually will throw an event especially during a holiday such as July 4th or Thanksgiving and Christmas. Visit your city website to find out how to become a vendor. Have your business cards and flyers ready, but most important be sure to pass out small samples of your most popular menu item. Pass out bounce back incentives to potential customers and have them sign up for your email list so you can reach out to them at any moment. 

5. Blog About It

If you have a blog page use it to your advantage. Write about your new menu launch. Include enticing photos of your menu items and briefly explain each menu item. Diners like to learn behind the scenes details, so your blog is a great place to share the inspiration behind the new specials. Don't forget to mention your menu launch date and push out your blog post throughout all of your social media channels. 

6. Send Out a Press Release 

Don't sell yourself short! Not only should you invite bloggers, but don't be afraid to invite the media. Write a press release outlining all of your new dishes and put it out there to the public. Think big and small. Try to reach out to food critics working for your local newspapers or local news channels. You might want to look into radio stations or podcasters. There are several out there that have restaurant segments. 

7. Announce It On Your Website 

Your website can be a powerful marketing tool if you have the right amount of traffic coming through. But if not, don't worry, you can always work on this along the way. In the meantime, make sure a couple of your new main menu items are front and center on your homepage. Include images and a short, enticing description.

8. Join a Food Festival 

There are plenty of local beer and wine festivals, cultural food festivals and many more food festivals all over the U.S. Do your research and check your local cities and county events to find out if any food festivals are happening in the near future. 

In conclusion, the main key is to spread the word about your new menu launch. The eight tips above should help you get a good start on your successful menu launch. 

Need assistance with your menu design? We can take the stress off your hands. Contact us today (951) 479-5411.

 Learn how to positively impact your bottom line with your menu design.

Download here