Text Appeal: How to Use SMS Marketing to Promote Your Restaurant Menu

Tired of throwing money at flyers or print ads that don’t move the needle? Good news! Your most effective marketing tool is already in your customers’ hands: their phones.

SMS marketing is quickly becoming one of the best ways to spotlight your restaurant’s menu, engage your audience, and boost online orders. It’s quick, personal, and incredibly effective, especially when tied directly to what you serve.

Here’s how to use SMS marketing to bring more attention to your menu, keep your regulars coming back, and turn one-time diners into loyal fans.

Why SMS Works So Well for Restaurants

Text messages get opened. A lot. In fact, SMS open rates hover around 98% compared to just 20% for emails. And most texts are read within three minutes.

Here’s why it matters:

• Real-time reach: You can announce happy hour, lunch specials, or last-minute promos and know your message will be seen almost instantly.
• Two-way engagement: Unlike social posts or emails, SMS opens the door to direct conversations. You can ask for feedback, send polls, and answer questions in real time.
• Personalized messaging: Target customers based on what they like, when they visit, or even where they’re located.
• Cost-effective ROI: For a fraction of what traditional marketing costs, SMS delivers higher engagement and conversions.

Smart SMS Strategies to Highlight Your Menu

Let’s get into the practical stuff. Here’s how to make SMS marketing actually work for your restaurant.

Start With a Solid Subscriber List

You can’t market via text without people to text. Here are a few easy ways to grow your list.

• In-store prompts: Use table tents, signs at checkout, or receipts to encourage signups. Offer a quick incentive like 10% off or a free appetizer.
• Online signups: Add SMS opt-ins to your website, ordering platform, or social media bio.
• Run giveaways: Offer a chance to win a free meal or gift card in exchange for joining the list.
• Promote the perks: Let customers know they’ll get first dibs on specials, new menu drops, and birthday treats.

Just make sure you’re following SMS compliance rules (like getting proper opt-ins) to avoid penalties.

Write Messages That Get Clicks

Now that you’ve got subscribers, your messages need to land.

• Be brief and clear: Stick to one key message per text. Think: “Free dessert with any entree, today only! Show this text.”
• Add urgency: “Limited time” and “today only” messages often boost response rates.
• Personalize when possible: Use names or reference past orders. “Hey Sarah, we’ve got your favorite spicy tuna roll on special today.”
• Include a link: Make ordering easy with one-tap access to your menu or ordering platform.

Promote Specific Dishes or Deals

SMS is ideal for highlighting menu items or new launches. Try sending:

• Daily lunch specials: Perfect for the midday crowd.
• New menu drops: Build excitement when you roll out a new dish.
• Seasonal promotions: Use text campaigns to feature ingredients or limited-time items.
• Happy hour or game-day deals: Text out drink specials, wings, or tailgate packages.

Remember to use photos when possible! MMS messages with an image can increase click-through rates by up to 52%.

Leverage Holidays and Special Occasions

Holidays are prime time for boosting business through text. Here are a few ideas:

• Valentine’s Day prix fixe menus
• Mother’s Day brunch
• Super Bowl takeout bundles
• Customer birthdays with exclusive offers

These messages feel timely and relevant, which increases conversions.

Make it Easy to Order

Here’s where MyQuick.Menu comes in.

Instead of linking to a clunky website or outdated PDF menu, you can send one mobile-friendly link that gives customers everything they need. Your full menu, ordering options, contact info, and social links.

When a customer gets a text that says, “New summer salad just dropped, click here to order,” they should land on a beautiful, simple page that lets them act fast. That’s what MyQuick.Menu is built for!

Track Performance and Improve

Don’t just send and hope, track what’s working:

• Open rate: How many people saw the message?
• Click-through rate: Did they follow your link?
• Conversion rate: Did they place an order?
• Unsubscribes: Are your messages relevant and well-timed?

Use that data to tweak your offers, timing, and message style.

Tools like MyQuick.Menu also offer analytics so you can see what dishes people click on most and which campaigns drive real revenue. It’s data that helps you sell smarter, not harder.

Final Thoughts

SMS marketing isn’t just for retail brands or appointment reminders. It’s one of the easiest and most effective ways to promote your restaurant menu. With a strong strategy, a growing list, and tools like MyQuick.Menu, you’ll be ready to send out texts that actually bring people in.

Want to try it out? Get started with MyQuick.Menu for free and see how effortless mobile marketing can be when your menu does the talking.