In Chicago, we love pizza. We really love pizza, and the demand is so high that everywhere you turn, you’ll find another pizza restaurant claiming to have the “best pizza in Chicago”. So, as one of those local pizza restaurateurs, how do you set your business apart from the rest? Obviously, you need to serve delicious food in an enjoyable atmosphere, but there is plenty that you can do outside of that to give your business a boost. Here are some online tactics that will help your Chicago pizza restaurant thrive:

 

Know your customers.

If you don’t know who they are, how can you market to them? People prefer to dine at restaurants that come across as personable, rather than stiff and boring. So, once you know who your customers are, be sure that you’re speaking their language!

 

Make it easy for your customers to find you.

This is a multi-faceted suggestion. Obviously, the best way for you to get your company in front of prospective customers is to have a strong web presence. So, if you guessed “SEO”, then you’re definitely on the right track. Getting to the top of Google’s search results is a major component in your pizza restaurant’s success.

Along those same lines, make sure that any paid advertising that you do is well-targeted. If most of your customers are in the 25-35 demographic, why would you pay for ads on a website that sells products for senior citizens? Make sense? Be practical in your approach to marketing your business, and make sure you’re exposing it in places where your typical customer already hangs out.

 

Your customers should be able to order online in minutes.

This is pretty self-explanatory. For whatever reason, many people today are averse to talking on the phone. Perhaps they’re busy with their commute or don’t want to pause their favorite tunes. What matters is that you don’t try to force them out of their comfort zone. Today’s consumer wants to order online, so make that possible through your website!

 

Stay true to your brand.

If you don’t understand branding, take the time to explore the topic a bit. Your pizza restaurant will be all the better for it. Essentially, this comes down to consistency. Make sure that the tone used in your website copy matches the tone you use on social media; make sure the design is consistent, and nothing comes across as arbitrary.

The point of this is brand recognition and loyalty. If they encounter your restaurant enough online, it will be the first one that comes to mind the next time they want to order pizza. It only works if you’re consistent, though.

 

Stay active on social media.

You can be 100% certain that your competition is investing the time and resources in social media. So, if you’re not, you’re giving them an easy edge. Be there, and stay active. Respond to customer messages, especially complaints. As they say, if you don’t take control of your public image, someone else will.

Do you own a pizza restaurant in Chicago? If so, you know how competitive the Windy City can be for establishments like yours. We have the know-how and the experience to give your business the competitive edge. Give us a call at 773.631.6851 to learn more.