- Why Restaurant Email Marketing Still Works (And Works Well)?
- How Automation Makes Restaurant Email Marketing Easier and More Effective
- 5 Automated Restaurant Emails That Keep Customers Coming Back
- How To Set Up Email Marketing With Automation? (Step-by-Step Guide)
- Key Metrics To Track For Restaurant Email Marketing Success
- Final Thoughts: Make Restaurant Email Marketing Work Harder For You
- FAQ
If you’re like most restaurant owners, your day is packed. You’re managing staff, checking on orders, handling third-party platforms, and keeping customers happy. Finding time for email marketing probably isn’t high on your list.
But here’s something worth knowing—email still brings people back. Unlike social media posts that get lost in the feed, restaurant emails land directly in your customer’s inbox. And they work. Especially when they’re automated.
With automation, you don’t have to send emails manually. Once set up, your emails can welcome new customers, celebrate birthdays, and nudge past guests to come back. All while you stay focused on running your restaurant.
In this article, we’ll show you how to use restaurant email marketing to build stronger customer relationships, grow loyalty, and increase repeat business—without extra effort or added stress.
Key Takeaways
- Email marketing helps restaurants build direct, lasting relationships with customers.
- Automation saves time and ensures timely communication without manual effort.
- Personalized emails lead to higher engagement and more repeat visits.
- There are many restaurant email marketing ideas beyond discounts—like loyalty updates, birthday offers, and re-engagement messages.
- Consistency, relevance, and clear calls-to-action are key to successful campaigns.
- Orders.co offers tools that make restaurant email marketing easier and more effective.
- Good strategy + the right platform = more orders, better customer retention, and less stress.
Why Restaurant Email Marketing Still Works (and Works Well)?
Email remains a powerful tool for restaurants to connect directly with their customers. Unlike social media platforms, where algorithms can limit your reach, emails land straight in your customers’ inboxes.
This direct line of communication is invaluable for promoting special offers, announcing new menu items, or simply reminding patrons of your restaurant.
Here’s why email marketing is particularly effective for restaurants:
- Personalization: Tailor messages to individual customers by using their names, referencing past orders, or sending offers that align with their preferences. This personal touch can significantly enhance customer engagement.
- Cost-Effectiveness: Email marketing offers an impressive return on investment. Businesses can expect an average return of $36 for every $1 spent on email marketing campaigns.
- Increased Engagement: Regularly appearing in your customers’ inboxes helps keep your restaurant top of mind, encouraging repeat visits and fostering customer loyalty.
- Integration with Other Tools: When combined with online ordering systems and loyalty programs, email marketing becomes even more potent, allowing for seamless promotions and rewards that encourage customer retention.
If you’re already collecting customer emails through reservations, online orders, or loyalty program sign-ups, you’re well-positioned to leverage email marketing. The next step is to implement automated strategies that maintain customer engagement without adding to your workload.
How Automation Makes Restaurant Email Marketing Easier And More Effective
When you’re running a restaurant, you don’t have hours to manually write and send emails. Automation takes that off your plate.
With automated restaurant email marketing, messages go out based on customer behavior—like placing an order, joining your loyalty program, or not visiting for a while. It means your emails show up at the right time, with the right message, without extra effort from your staff.
If you’re using Orders.co, you already have these tools built in. The platform’s Advanced Restaurant Marketing feature lets you create personalized campaigns that go out automatically.
You can even connect your loyalty program to your email strategy, so diners get rewards and reminders right in their inbox. It’s designed to fit your brand, schedule, and goals—without the extra work.Want to see how this works in your restaurant?
👉 Schedule a free demo and find out how Orders.co can help you use restaurant email marketing to bring guests back more often.
5 Automated Restaurant Emails That Keep Customers Coming Back
Not all emails are created equal. Some types consistently drive results because they’re timely, relevant, and easy for the customer to act on. When paired with automation, these restaurant emails do the work for you—reminding guests to return, rewarding loyalty, and creating stronger connections.
Here are five proven types of automated restaurant email marketing campaigns every restaurant should consider:
1. Welcome Emails
Trigger: When someone joins your email list or loyalty program.
A welcome email sets the tone for your relationship with a new customer. It’s your chance to say thank you, offer something small (like a discount or free appetizer), and let them know what to expect.
Tip: Orders.co’s restaurant marketing solution allows you to automatically send welcome messages with personalized offers, helping turn first-time visitors into regulars.
2. Birthday or Anniversary Emails
Trigger: Based on a customer’s birthday or signup date.
These are high-open-rate emails that feel personal. Offer a free dessert, a small discount, or exclusive access to a limited-time menu item to give customers a reason to celebrate with you.
Example: “Happy Birthday! Enjoy a free entrée when you dine with us this week.”
3. Loyalty Program Reminders
Trigger: When a customer earns points or is close to a reward.
These emails show customers that their loyalty matters. They’re perfect for nudging repeat visits with updates like: “You’re just 1 order away from your free drink.”
With Orders.co, loyalty data connects directly to your email system, so your regulars never miss a reward.
4. Post-Visit Follow-Ups
Trigger: Sent 24–48 hours after an order or visit.
A simple thank-you goes a long way. These emails can include a short survey, a review link, or a coupon for the next visit.
Pro Tip: Set these up once in Orders.co and they’ll automatically go out to every new order or guest.
5. Re-Engagement Emails
Trigger: Customer hasn’t visited or ordered in a set number of days (like 30 or 60).
Sometimes guests need a small reminder—and a reason to return. A friendly email with a limited-time offer is often enough to bring them back.
Example: “We miss you! Come back this week and enjoy 15% off your next order.”
Automating these five email types saves you time and increases revenue. Better yet, platforms like Orders.co give you everything you need to build these campaigns quickly, connect them to your customer data, and start seeing results fast.
What Makes A Great Restaurant Email? (Design, Timing, And Messaging Tips)
Automation helps you send emails efficiently, but it’s the content and design that determine whether your customers actually open and act on them. Fortunately, you don’t need a background in marketing to create restaurant emails that work.
Here’s what matters most:
✅ One Message, One Goal
Each email should have a clear purpose. If you’re promoting a new dish, don’t bury it under unrelated updates. Stay focused, and make the next step obvious, like placing an order or making a reservation.
✅ Strong Subject Lines
Your subject line is what gets your email opened. Keep it short (under 50 characters) and specific. Avoid all caps or overused phrases. A few examples:
- “$5 Off Lunch Today Only”
- “Try Our New Pasta Specials”
- “You’re Just One Order from a Reward”
✅ Mobile-Friendly Layout
Most restaurant email marketing messages are opened on phones. That means large fonts, easy-to-tap buttons, and clear visuals. Use high-quality images of your food, but don’t overload the design—clean layouts perform best.
✅ Call-to-Action That’s Easy to Click
Whether it’s “Order Now” or “Book a Table”, your call-to-action should be prominent and easy to spot. Avoid multiple competing buttons—stick to one clear direction.
✅ Timing Is Everything
Many restaurants see strong engagement when emails go out mid-morning, around lunch, or just before dinner hours. Test different times and monitor what works best for your audience.
✅ Personalization Helps
Even a simple first-name tag or referencing a favorite dish can increase open and click-through rates. Customers respond better when messages feel personal.
If your email marketing for restaurants platform offers templates and customer data integration, use those features to make your emails more relevant, without spending hours building them.
Connecting Email To Loyalty Programs, Online Ordering & Customer Data
A great email isn’t just a message—it’s part of a bigger system. When your email marketing works alongside your loyalty program, online ordering, and customer data, the results go beyond a one-time visit. You’re building relationships that keep people coming back.
This is where automation and data really shine, especially with restaurant email marketing platforms that let you sync everything in one place.
If you’re using a solution like Orders.co, this connection happens automatically. Your email campaigns can pull from loyalty activity, ordering behavior, and past visits to send messages that feel truly personal, without the manual work.
Also, read:
- Boosting Your Restaurant’s Sales with AI-Powered Email Marketing
- The Power of Text: How SMS Marketing is Revolutionizing Restaurant Customer Engagement
- Stay in Your Customer’s Pocket: The Benefits of Restaurant SMS Marketing
- Proven Marketing Strategies: How to Skyrocket Your Restaurant Sales
- Branding Beyond the Plate: Essential Marketing Materials Every Restaurant Needs
How To Set Up Email Marketing With Automation? (Step-by-Step Guide)
Setting up restaurant email marketing automation is simpler than it sounds—and once it’s up and running, it can save you hours every week. Here’s a practical breakdown to help you build a system that keeps your customers engaged and returning, without constant manual effort.
Step 1: Set Clear Goals
Start by identifying what you want your email campaigns to achieve. This could be:
- Getting more online orders
- Re-engaging inactive customers
- Promoting a new loyalty program
- Boosting visits during slow hours
Your goals will shape the kind of emails you send and the triggers you use.
Step 2: Pick the Right Platform
Look for an email marketing platform that’s built for restaurants and offers:
- Automation tools
- Customer segmentation based on behavior
- Easy integration with your POS or online ordering system
Ideally, your platform should connect with your existing tools to reduce data entry and manual syncing.
Step 3: Build and Maintain Your Email List
Collect emails at every possible touchpoint:
- Online orders and reservations
- Loyalty sign-ups
- QR codes on receipts or tables
- Wi-Fi access
Always get permission and make sign-up worth their while with a small offer, like a discount or free appetizer.
Step 4: Create Your First Automated Campaigns
Start with 2–3 essential automations:
- Welcome emails to greet new subscribers
- Re-engagement emails for customers who haven’t visited in a while
- Special occasion emails, like birthdays or holidays
These types of emails are low-maintenance but deliver high engagement when done right.
Step 5: Track Results and Optimize
Once your automations are running, check their performance regularly. Focus on:
- Open rates (Are people seeing your emails?)
- Click-through rates (Are they interested in what you’re offering?)
- Conversions (Are they placing an order or visiting your location?)
Use the results to fine-tune your subject lines, send times, and content. Even small changes can make a big difference.
A thoughtful setup now means your restaurant email marketing will keep working in the background—reaching the right customers at the right time, with messages they’ll actually care about.
Key Metrics To Track For Restaurant Email Marketing Success
The average open rate for marketing emails is 22.86%, while the click-through rate is around 3.71%. Unsubscribes are low, with an average rate of just 0.19%. These numbers show that when done right, email marketing is a reliable and cost-effective way to connect with your audience.
Tracking performance helps you make better decisions, improve your campaigns, and ultimately bring more customers through your doors.
Here are the most important metrics to monitor:
1. Open Rate
This tells you how many people are opening your emails. If your open rate is low, your subject lines might not be strong enough, or you might be sending at the wrong time. A good benchmark to aim for is above 20%.
👉 Tip: Test different subject lines and send times to see what gets the best response.
2. Click-Through Rate (CTR)
Your CTR shows how many people clicked on a link in your email. This helps you understand whether the content and offer were compelling enough to act on.
👉 Tip: Use clear buttons and action-oriented text like “Order Now” or “Claim Your Discount.”
3. Conversion Rate
This tracks how many people actually completed an action, like placing an order or making a reservation, after clicking your email. It’s the best measure of how effective your email was at driving real business.
👉 Tip: Keep your message focused and your call-to-action simple.
4. Bounce Rate
A bounce happens when an email can’t be delivered. Too many bounces could mean you have outdated or fake emails in your list.
👉 Tip: Clean your list regularly and make sure you’re collecting emails from reliable sources.
5. Unsubscribe Rate
If people are unsubscribing often, it’s a signal that your content may not be meeting their expectations, or you’re sending too often.
👉 Tip: Don’t send more than your audience can handle. One to two emails a week is usually plenty.
6. Revenue Generated
This is the ultimate goal—seeing how much money your email campaigns are bringing in. You can track this through your online ordering system or POS if it’s connected to your email platform.
👉 Tip: Run occasional exclusive offers and track the orders that come from them to see direct ROI.
Tracking these key performance indicators will help you fine-tune your strategy, make smarter marketing choices, and drive real results. In the next section, we’ll cover how to craft email content that actually converts.
Final Thoughts: Make Restaurant Email Marketing Work Harder For You
Restaurant email marketing isn’t just a trend—it’s a tool for long-term growth. With the right automation and strategy, it can help you turn one-time guests into loyal regulars. But to get the most out of it, you need systems that work together.
That’s where Orders.co comes in. Here’s how our platform supports your marketing, operations, and guest engagement—all in one place:
Restaurant Online Orders Management
Easily manage all restaurant online orders from one device—across your website and third-party apps. No more switching between tablets or missing orders during rush hours.
Local Business Optimization
Improve your visibility across Google and other platforms with consistent local business listings. Accurate, up-to-date info makes it easier for customers to find and trust your restaurant.
Menu Management
Update your menu across all connected platforms in one click. Save time and avoid errors by managing pricing, availability, and item details from a single dashboard.
Custom Ordering Website
Launch a commission-free ordering website built around your brand. Drive direct sales, offer loyalty perks, and maintain full control over the customer experience.
Guest Feedback Monitoring
Automatically collect and review customer feedback from orders. Identify trends, resolve issues quickly, and use real input to improve service.
Integrations
Integrate with top delivery apps, 30+ POS systems, and marketing tools. All tools work in sync—so you don’t need to change your setup or workflow.
Reporting
Access real-time reports on sales, top items, and platform performance. Make smarter decisions with data that’s always up-to-date and easy to filter.
Dispute Management
Easily track and respond to third-party disputes from one dashboard. Save time, prevent revenue loss, and stay on top of your transactions without hassle.
Want to simplify your restaurant operations and marketing?
Schedule a demo and see how Orders.co can help.
FAQ
What are some creative restaurant email marketing ideas beyond discounts?
Aside from discounts, try sending exclusive behind-the-scenes content, chef interviews, or early access to seasonal menus. Other restaurant email marketing ideas include sneak peeks of new dishes, recipe spotlights, or early booking windows for special events.
How often should I refresh my restaurant email marketing strategies?
It’s a good idea to evaluate and tweak your email marketing every quarter. Test new subject lines, email formats, and timing based on performance to see what resonates best with your audience. Keeping your strategy fresh ensures customers don’t tune out.
What are examples of restaurant email marketing campaigns that boost engagement?
Some effective restaurant email marketing examples include automated loyalty updates (“You’re 2 orders away from a free appetizer”), special occasion messages (like birthdays), and re-engagement emails with exclusive offers for inactive customers.
Are there any low-cost email marketing ideas for restaurants just starting out?
Yes. Start by using your POS or reservation system to collect emails. Then, send basic campaigns such as welcome emails, feedback requests, and monthly updates with your most popular dishes. Focus on consistency and value over flashy designs.
How can I make sure my emails don’t end up in spam folders?
Use a recognizable sender name, avoid spammy words in your subject lines, and send emails through a verified domain. Always give customers the option to opt out, and don’t overload your message with links or images.
