Restaurateurs Ready to Call On Mobile: The Why and How of this 24/7 Channel

Like email a decade ago, permission-based mobile marketing is emerging as a powerful new way to reach your customers outside of your restaurant. Why? Because cell phones are with your customers 24/7 and they are using text messaging like never before – over 12 billion sent each year (and growing rapidly) in the United States according to the research firm Informa. Still not convinced? The National Restaurant Association 2008 Restaurant Industry Forecast reports that one in five people would like to receive cell phone notifications from their favorite restaurant if they had the option. Considering those numbers, it’s hard to see why any restaurant wouldn’t want to utilize this valuable communication pipeline.

Mobile allows restaurants to send text messages to their customers about promotions, new menu items and events, all on their cell phones. In addition to regular communications like these, restaurants can conduct polling, customer surveys, ‘text-to-win’ contests and more, all of which will build customer databases, increase top-of-mind brand awareness, drive customer traffic and sales. With its seemingly endless possibilities, the Mobile Marketing Association projects that 89% of brands will use text messaging to reach their audience in 2008.

Restaurants that launch mobile marketing programs can expect results much like that of their e-mail marketing programs. Combine mobile with e-mail and restaurateurs have an even more powerful, impactful and affordable marketing channel to connect with their on-the-go customers. Since mobile posses many of the same qualities as e-mail - mainly the ability to reach customers outside of the dining room (and now even away from their desks) - customers are responding in much the same way with increased loyalty, frequency and, in turn, creating increased revenue.

For more information on mobile marketing programs, contact your Sysco Minnesota Sales Representative or visit Sysco's iCare website.