Last week, I started a series on how to get on Mom’s restaurant go-to list. Every mom has a few categories for restaurants - lunch with the girls, takeout for errand evenings, dinner dates and bring-something to a friend or party. See the first part of this series for my overview on what the Mom’s restaurant go-to list is all about and to see how you can get listed on “lunch with the girls.”
Let’s jump into this week – takeout for errand or busy evenings.
Every mom wants to give her family healthy, homecooked meals, and all the magazines, blogs and news shows tell us we can get dinner on the table in 30 minutes. Sure, you can do this, but what about the nights when you don’t get home until 7 or later. Who wants to cook? Who wants to do the dishes? That’s why takeout is so popular. You can call it in while you finish at the ballpark or the dance lessons and zip in pick it up and feed your starving mongrels, er, kids when you walk in the door.
Now, finding a good takeout place is tricky. If moms want healthy, hot fare, they have to do a little digging to find a takeout place that provides consistent, delicious takeout. But, it does exist and here are a few secrets for getting on her list.
How to Get on Mom’s Takeout Go-To List
- Offer a package deal. If you have a package deal that includes enough for my family to have a complete, we’re in business. Especially if the husband has to call.
- Make your pickup process simple and efficient. Have my order ready and waiting in the amount of time you tell me on the phone. Nothing irritates a mom more than when she has to wait with hungry kids.
- Offer some take-and-bake options. There’s a reason the grocery stores are cutting into restaurant market shares – take-and-bake is hot. Nothing’s easier than dropping by a place to grab a casserole to pop in the oven. The way restaurants can trump the grocery stores is to provide great take-n-bake or prepared options near your takeout counter for customers to drop in and go. There’s appeal to moms because they don’t have to haul the whole family into the grocery store. Take advantage of the drive-up option.
- Have a menu on your website. More moms are using their smarthphones to shop for everything, including takeout. That’s why you need a website with a menu. Make it easy for me, and I’ll order from you. An example is the menu above – update it with the Menu Editor and get it on your site in a flash.
- Tell me about how you’re going to make my life easier. How can you get on my takeout go-to list if you don’t market your convenience to me. Tell me about it on Facebook. Send me emails at strategic times, such as right before a busy evening (Wednesday evenings, big soccer nights in your town, etc.) A key way to get this information is to ask your mom customers what their busiest nights of the week are. Create a campaign all about this. “Let us do the cooking while you’re on the run” is a great message.
How to Get Off Mom’s Takeout Go-To List
- Make it complicated. If you don’t have a convenient takeout menu or process, it’s going to be difficult to stay on my list.
- Make me wait for my food with my kids. This is like handing me the dagger. If I have to wait with my kids asking me for cookies and sodas, you’re probably not getting my business again.
- Don’t offer packages or convenient prepared options. Many moms like to start a meal with take-n-bake and add some steamed veggies or a salad to finish off the main course. Or they want the total package ready to go, especially if Dad is charged with ordering dinner. Without these options, you may still be on the list, but you’ll move higher on the list if you are making it super easy for me.
What are your thoughts? How do you get on Mom’s Takeout Restaurant Go-To List? Share your comments below.
Stay tuned next week for getting on the Dinner Date List.
