Until now, that is. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In this blog, we\u2019ll take you through: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Whether restaurant email marketing works or not<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Five essential email campaigns your restaurant should send<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Examples of each essential email campaign (and why they work) <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
(Plus, we\u2019ve compiled a list of winning subject lines and preview texts for those five campaigns that you can download for free at the end!) <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, let\u2019s start by answering the simplest question of the bunch:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Does Restaurant Email Marketing Actually Work?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
(Spoiler alert: it does.)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Email marketing is one of the most cost-effective, impactful marketing channels for businesses of all kinds \u2014 restaurants included. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
When considering email marketing as a strategy for any<\/em> business, research has found: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- 63% of consumers<\/span><\/a> say email is their preferred way to hear from brands and businesses<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Email marketing generates an average return on investment (ROI) of $36 for every dollar spent<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- 44% of respondents<\/span><\/a> (in a Statista survey) said email marketing has influenced them to make a purchase <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Email marketing has shown to be just as effective for restaurants as it is for other kinds of businesses, too. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Email is the preferred method by restaurant consumers<\/span><\/a> to hear about restaurant promotions and deals<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- 46% of consumers<\/span><\/a> said they\u2019d like to get emails from their favorite restaurants weekly, and 44% said the same for monthly<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Restaurant industry emails are opened ~40% of the time<\/span><\/a>, a higher open rate than retail and eCommerce (~35% and ~29%, respectively) <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
So, does restaurant email marketing work? It absolutely does.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Especially when your restaurant implements these five essential email marketing campaigns. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
5 Essential Restaurant Email Marketing Campaigns (And Why They Work) <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1 \u2014 Welcome Email Marketing Campaigns<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
A welcome email<\/a> is exactly what it sounds like: an email welcoming a new subscriber to your restaurant\u2019s mailing list and wider community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Welcome emails are the first emails new subscribers get after signing up for your restaurant\u2019s mailing list, which is why they\u2019re used to introduce yourself and your restaurant. They\u2019re also a good chance to set expectations with your subscribers, like what to expect from your emails and how often you\u2019ll send them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Example: McDonald\u2019s<\/a> \u2014 Welcome Email<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
![\"McDonald\u2019s](\"https:\/\/www.getcraver.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/McDonalds-Welcome-Email-Campaign-.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhy it works <\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\u2714 It has a friendly, grateful tone <\/strong>\u2014 Before saying anything else, McDonald\u2019s shows gratitude and friendliness by thanking subscribers for signing up to their list and alluding that \u201csomething great\u201d is on the horizon <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2714 It offers more ways to connect <\/strong>\u2014 McDonald\u2019s offers subscribers easy ways to connect with them on other platforms, whether that\u2019s through their media accounts or their mobile app (all of which are easily linked) <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2714 It sets clear expectations <\/strong>\u2014 McDonald\u2019s explicitly states their emails will include the \u201cinside scoop\u201d on events, promotions, and product development, so subscribers know exactly what to expect in their inboxes<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\t\n\n\t\t\t\t\tFind the best subject lines for your restaurant\u2019s welcome email with The Ultimate Email Subject Line Playbook for Restaurants.<\/div>\n\t\t\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tGet Your Free Copy!\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n2 \u2014 Product Launch Email Marketing Campaigns<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
A product launch<\/a> email is an email that tells your subscribers your restaurant has just released (or is going<\/em> to release) a new product or offer \u2014 like a new menu item or merch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The main purpose of product launch emails is to build anticipation and excitement. If your product hasn\u2019t launched yet, you might send a teaser email with a countdown. Or, if the product is already out, you might send an email hyping up the product and encouraging purchases. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Example: Starbucks<\/a> \u2014 Chocolate Coconut Cold Brew Launch<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
![\"Starbucks](\"https:\/\/www.getcraver.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Starbucks-Chocolate-Coconut-Cold-Brew-Launch-Email-Campaign.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhy it works <\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\u2714 It focuses on benefits <\/strong>\u2014 Starbucks\u2019 product launch focuses entirely on the benefits of their new cold brew, selling subscribers on the \u201cease, taste, and convenience\u201d of the cold bew (vs. the product itself) <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2714 It creates an experience <\/strong>\u2014 The middle block in Starbucks\u2019 product launch email offers to teach subscribers how to make cold brew at home, turning a single product into an entire at-home experience <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2714 It\u2019s simple and to the point <\/strong>\u2014 Instead of crowding the product launch email with fluff or excessive graphics, Starbucks keeps it simple and to the point; the focus is entirely on the new cold brew <\/p>\n\n\n\n
3 \u2014 Discount Email Marketing Campaigns<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
A discount email<\/a> is an email that lets your subscribers know about a specific deal, discount, or offer your restaurant has or will have soon. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Discount emails are often time-based, designed to create a sense of urgency that encourages sales \u2014 and encourages them now<\/em>. However, discount emails need to balance that sales angle by answering the \u201cwhy\u201d for your subscribers, clearly explaining what you\u2019re offering, why they should care, and what to do next. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Example: Chipotle<\/a> \u2014 Free Fountain Drink <\/h4>\n\n\n\n
![\"Chipotle](\"https:\/\/www.getcraver.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Chipotle-Free-Fountain-Drink-Email-Campaign.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhy it works <\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\u2714 It\u2019s visually appealing<\/strong> \u2014 Chipotle puts the offer front and center, both with the XL photo of the free fountain drinks in question and the copy clearly stating the offer (and emphasizing that it\u2019s \u201cFREE\u201d)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2714 It\u2019s a reasonably-timed offer <\/strong>\u2014 With a 10-day offer expiry, Chipotle found the sweet spot between fostering a sense of urgency and being realistic with how fast people are willing to rush to their restaurant <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2714 It clearly shows what\u2019s next <\/strong>\u2014 Chipotle has three call-to-action buttons through their email that all say \u201cORDER NOW,\u201d making the subscriber’s next steps incredibly clear and easy for them to complete <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\t\n\n\t\t\t\t\tCross \u201cwinning subject lines\u201d off your to-do list with The Ultimate Email Subject Line Playbook for Restaurants.<\/div>\n\t\t\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tGet Your Free Copy!\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n4 \u2014 Win-back Email Marketing Campaigns<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
A win-back email<\/a> is an email designed to re-engage subscribers who interacted with your restaurant\u2019s email marketing in the past but haven\u2019t in a long while.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And, while all win-back emails are intended to pique the interest of long-lost subscribers, there are almost endless ways to do that. A few popular win-back strategies you may have seen before include: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Offering a limited-time discount<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Asking for feedback\/ways to improve <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Recommendations for a specific product <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Example: Taco Bell<\/a> \u2013 Double Decker\u00ae Taco<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
![\"Taco](\"https:\/\/www.getcraver.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Taco-Bell-Double-Decker-Taco-Email-Campaign.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhy it works <\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\u2714 It\u2019s prompting a specific action <\/strong>\u2014 Taco Bell\u2019s win-back email focuses specifically on the Double Decker taco, inviting subscribers to re-engage for a specific reason; it\u2019s not just a general call to \u201ccome back\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2714 It uses multiple win-back features \u2014<\/strong> The specificity of Taco Bell\u2019s win-back campaign is the #1 strategy at play, but they also sprinkle in some social proof (\u201cfan favorite\u201d) and exclusivity (\u201cthru 10.30\u201d)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2714 It\u2019s clean and straightforward<\/strong> \u2014 Taco Bell doesn\u2019t use a ton of showmanship in this email, but it doesn\u2019t need to; it\u2019s clear what the subscriber is supposed to be looking at and what they should do next<\/p>\n\n\n\n
5 \u2014 Email Newsletters<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
An email newsletter<\/a> is an email that updates subscribers on your restaurant\u2019s latest and greatest, whether that\u2019s sharing an event recap, offering a sneak peek at a new menu item, or inviting them to your new location\u2019s soft opening. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sending a consistent, high-quality restaurant newsletter is a great way to build an exclusive sense of community with your subscribers, creating an \u201cinner circle\u201d of people who get your restaurant\u2019s news before everyone else. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Example: Claud<\/a> \u2013 Email Newsletter <\/h4>\n\n\n\n
![\"Claud](\"https:\/\/www.getcraver.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Claud-Email-Newsletter.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhy it works <\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\u2714 It sticks to one topic <\/strong>\u2014 Claud\u2019s newsletter sticks to a single, time-specific theme, ensuring that each piece of content in the newsletter is relevant to the subscriber at the time they\u2019re receiving it<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2714 It\u2019s skimmable but engaging<\/strong> \u2014 Claud uses headings, short text, and bolded details, keeping their newsletter \u201cskimmable\u201d enough for subscribers on the go but engaging enough for reading in full<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2714 It\u2019s got a purpose <\/strong>\u2014 Everything in Claud\u2019s newsletter has a purpose for being there; from the teaser for New Year\u2019s Eve tickets to the update on their holiday hours, everything is genuinely useful <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Craver\u2019s FREE Ultimate Email Subject Line Playbook for Restaurants <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
As your restaurant works through this list of email campaigns, make sure you don\u2019t neglect the subject lines and preview texts! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Engaging, informative subject lines and preview texts can be the difference between a subscriber opening and engaging with your restaurant\u2019s emails and them pressing the little trash can icon without hesitation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Luckily, Craver has compiled a free, downloadable list of winning subject lines and preview texts for each of the essential restaurant email marketing campaigns we outlined in this blog\u2026 <\/p>\n\n\n\n
And it can be yours in just a few clicks. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n
- 46% of consumers<\/span><\/a> said they\u2019d like to get emails from their favorite restaurants weekly, and 44% said the same for monthly<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Email marketing generates an average return on investment (ROI) of $36 for every dollar spent<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- 63% of consumers<\/span><\/a> say email is their preferred way to hear from brands and businesses<\/li>\n\n\n\n