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8 strategies to increase pizza sales

Pizza is a competitive business. Leveraging just one of these eight tips might increase a pizzeria's sales.

Photo: Adobe Stock

August 29, 2024 by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Networld Media Group

Tired of seeing your pizza sales go cold? A few simple tweaks to your menu, marketing and customer experience can significantly boost your bottom line. From utilizing online ordering to offering delivery deals, there are ways to increase pizza sales and have your customers craving your pizza.

Here are eight ways to easily increase pizza sales.

Leverage online ordering

If you don't already offer online ordering, it's time. Make it easy for customers to order online with a user-friendly platform. By offering a convenient and efficient online platform, restaurants can tap into a wider customer base, including those who may not have time to visit in person. Online ordering systems can also streamline the ordering process, reducing wait times and minimizing errors. Additionally, these platforms often allow for customization, enabling customers to personalize their pizzas to their exact preferences. Offer a delivery tracker like Domino's so your customers can see where their pizza is during the delivery process. By embracing online ordering, pizza restaurants can enhance their customer experience and drive sales growth.

Create a loyalty program to increase pizza sales

Implementing a loyalty program can be a powerful tool for a pizza restaurant to foster customer loyalty and repeat business. By rewarding customers for their patronage, restaurants can incentivize frequent visits and encourage referrals.

Effective programs often include tiered rewards, such as free pizzas, discounts or exclusive offers. Additionally, leveraging technology can streamline the enrollment and redemption process, enhancing the overall customer experience. The loyalty program should be built into your POS system for easy tracking.

By offering a compelling loyalty program, pizza restaurants can build a dedicated customer base and increase pizza sales.

Expand your menu to increase pizza sales

Is your menu static? It may be time to offer limited-time-only pizzas and sandwiches to increase pizza sales. That includes unique pizzas toppings, popular pairings like pepperoni and hot honey, specialty pies and sides to cater to different tastes and dietary preferences.

Consider a competition in your kitchen, allowing staff to create their own pizzas and vote on the best one to make that quarter's LTO. It will engage your staff and help increase pizza sales at the same time.

Partner with local businesses

Partnering with local businesses can be a mutually beneficial strategy for increasing a pizzeria's sales. By collaborating with neighboring establishments, such as breweries, movie theaters or retail stores, pizzerias can expand their reach and attract new customers.

Cross-promotions, such as offering discounts or combo deals, can incentivize patrons to visit both businesses. Additionally, partnering with local events or organizations can enhance brand visibility and strengthen community ties. By cultivating strong relationships with other local businesses, pizzerias can create a more vibrant and supportive business ecosystem, ultimately leading to increased sales and customer satisfaction.

Utilize social media to increase pizza sales

Social media is easy to use, but if it's a daunting task, consider finding a media company to manage your online presence.

Utilizing social media is a powerful tool for pizzerias to increase sales and engage with customers. By consistently posting mouthwatering images of their pizzas, sharing behind-the-scenes content and running engaging contests, pizzerias can create a strong online presence. Social media platforms also provide a direct channel for customer communication, allowing businesses to respond to feedback, address concerns and build customer loyalty.

Additionally, paid advertising on social media platforms can target specific demographics and interests, helping pizzerias reach potential customers who may not have otherwise discovered them. By effectively leveraging social media, pizzerias can expand their reach, drive online orders and foster a positive brand reputation.

Offer delivery deals

No one wants to discount pizza, but sometimes it's a necessary evil to increase pizza sales. By providing incentives for customers to order delivery, such as discounted prices, free delivery or combo deals, restaurants can tap into a wider customer base, including those who may not have time or desire to dine in.

Delivery deals can help generate additional revenue during off-peak hours. To maximize the impact of delivery deals, pizzerias should ensure they have a reliable and efficient delivery service in place. By offering attractive delivery deals, restaurants can drive sales, enhance customer convenience and strengthen their market position.

Host events and promotions

Hosting events and promotions can be a fun and effective way to increase a pizzeria's sales and create a buzz around the establishment. By offering special deals, hosting themed nights, or partnering with local organizations, pizzerias can attract new customers and encourage repeat business.

Events can also be a great opportunity to showcase the restaurant's unique offerings, such as specialty pizzas or craft beers. Additionally, hosting events can help to create a sense of community and foster positive relationships with customers. By planning and executing engaging events, pizzerias can enhance their brand image, drive sales and create lasting memories for their customers.

Optimize your online presence

Optimizing your online presence is crucial for increasing a pizzeria's sales in today's digital age. This involves ensuring your website is user-friendly, mobile-responsive and loaded with relevant information, such as menu items, hours of operation and contact details. Additionally, optimizing your website for search engines (SEO) will help it rank higher in search results, making it easier for potential customers to find. Maintaining an active social media presence, responding promptly to customer inquiries and utilizing online reviews platforms can also help to build trust and credibility. By investing in a strong online presence, pizzerias can attract new customers, generate online orders and enhance their overall brand reputation.

Conclusion

By implementing these eight tips, pizzerias can significantly boost their sales and enhance their overall business performance. From optimizing their online presence to offering attractive delivery deals and fostering strong partnerships, these strategies provide a comprehensive approach to attracting new customers, driving repeat business and building a thriving pizzeria.

About Mandy Wolf Detwiler

Mandy Wolf Detwiler is the managing editor at Networld Media Group and the site editor for PizzaMarketplace.com and QSRweb.com. She has more than 20 years’ experience covering food, people and places.
 
An award-winning print journalist, Mandy brings more than 20 years’ experience to Networld Media Group. She has spent nearly two decades covering the pizza industry, from independent pizzerias to multi-unit chains and every size business in between. Mandy has been featured on the Food Network and has won numerous awards for her coverage of the restaurant industry. She has an insatiable appetite for learning, and can tell you where to find the best slices in the country after spending 15 years traveling and eating pizza for a living. 

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