Store Level

Business team working with social media images and terms

Social Media—The Low-Cost QSR Marketing Tool

Yes! Social media can generate high ROI and transactions.

How many times have you heard that the real value of social media is for listening and learning?  Or that it’s a great engagement tool. Or that it’s great for customer service. Tell that to your boss and the board when they ask about the resources you’re allocating to social. They’ll love that. The reason you hear these comments about social media is because those who say or write those statements don’t know how to generate sales using social. (more…)

QSR Marketing POP Effective Advertising Drive Thru sign

Utilizing Drive-Thru Research for QSR Marketing

Drive-Thru Marketing Research: the most underutilized, inexpensive, convenient and quick way to gather information that will improve your marketing.

Think of the time you, your marketing department and ad agency spent on debating which message or execution would be most effective.

You usually don’t have time to conduct online research or focus groups. But you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how willing your customers are to give you their opinions while at your drive thru. You’ll be amazed at how much helpful marketing intelligence you’ll pick up just hanging out there.

It’s Drive-Thru Marketing Research. (more…)

Restaurant covered in effective QSR marketing POP design.

POP Design—The Quick QSR Marketing Transaction Booster

4 proven elements of effective POP design–that are rarely followed.

I’m sure you’ve noticed. Everyone from the CEO to the mailroom clerk is an expert on POP design. Why?  Because it’s easy to change. “Add this here. Make this bigger. Make that smaller. Oh, and add this too.” But there is one word that describes perfect POP design—Simple. That’s it. Simple. Think about it. You’re really working with simple elements—a product and many times a price. The real thinking and focus in POP design are the following 3 points: (more…)

Regional QSR battling giant McDonald's with boxing gloves

Store Tailoring—A QSR Marketing Plan for Brands Being Outspent

A proper Store Tailoring Plan will build transactions using each store’s strengths.

When you’re a regional QSR, everywhere you turn you’re being outspent. Turn on the TV and you don’t just see one of your McGiant competitors’ spots. You see two or three different versions for two or three different dayparts.

So, how do you compete? (more…)

Photo of golden egg in carton among white eggs

Winning at Breakfast QSR Marketing

10 Steps that will increase your breakfast sales against the McGiants.

For the past three years, breakfast is the only daypart that has seen increases according to NPD research. And QSRs account for about 80% of those breakfast visits. So if you want to grow your transactions, you have to win at breakfast. And you have to win against the McMassive resources of McDonald’s, Taco Bell and Burger King. Here are the 3 encouraging facts that usually hold true for QSRs: (more…)

Giant gorilla illustrating guerrilla marketing

The Oft Overlooked 900lb “Guerrilla” for QSR Marketing

For regional brands, Guerrilla Marketing can be your breakthrough media.

 Most regional brands don’t have the store penetration in a given market to go toe-to-toe with the McGiants’ media budgets. And even if you focus your budget on a single medium to try to breakthrough, your pockets still aren’t deep enough. That’s when Guerrilla Marketing can make up the difference. There are 3 keys to developing good Guerrilla Marketing: (more…)

Fast Food breakfast in effective marketing packaging.

Breakfast Insights for QSR Marketing To Compete with the McGiants

Taco Bell’s marketing strategy can help regional QSRs to be more competitive.

We’ve all heard and read about Taco Bell’s breakfast launch, and if you’re a regional player, it’s safe to assume you don’t have the resources to duplicate an effort of this magnitude. However, some of the basic tactics can be effectively deployed. (more…)