{"id":1202,"date":"2026-10-28T07:39:28","date_gmt":"2026-10-28T07:39:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.easify.app\/blogs\/?p=1202"},"modified":"2026-10-28T07:39:28","modified_gmt":"2026-10-28T07:39:28","slug":"restaurant-text-message-marketing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.easify.app\/blogs\/restaurant-text-message-marketing\/","title":{"rendered":"Restaurant Text Message Marketing: Templates, Timing and Rules"},"content":{"rendered":"

Restaurant text message marketing means texting specials, reservation reminders and offers to guests who have agreed to hear from you. It works best for messages that matter today: tonight’s special, a table that just opened, a quiet Tuesday you want to fill.<\/p>\n

Below: how to build a list, 9 templates, when to send, and the rules.<\/p>\n

What restaurants text, and which messages need consent<\/h2>\n

Restaurant texts fall into two groups. Service texts<\/strong> answer something the guest asked for: a reservation confirmation, a “your table is ready” alert. Marketing texts<\/strong> promote something: a special, an event, an offer. Marketing texts need written consent and a “Reply STOP to opt out” line. Service texts must stick to what the guest asked about.<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Message<\/th>\nKind<\/th>\nWhen to send<\/th>\nSTOP line<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Welcome to the text club<\/td>\nOpt-in confirmation<\/td>\nRight after someone joins<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Reservation confirmation and reminder<\/td>\nService<\/td>\nAt booking, then a few hours before<\/td>\nNot needed<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Table ready (waitlist)<\/td>\nService<\/td>\nWhen the table opens<\/td>\nNot needed<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Daily special or new dish<\/td>\nMarketing<\/td>\nLate morning for lunch, mid-afternoon for dinner<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Slow-night offer<\/td>\nMarketing<\/td>\nSame day, early afternoon<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Event or holiday booking<\/td>\nMarketing<\/td>\n1 to 2 weeks ahead, then a last-call reminder<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Review request<\/td>\nMarketing (treat it as one)<\/td>\nThe day after the visit<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

A number a guest gave you for the waitlist or a booking is not a sign-up for promotions. Ask separately before you add it to your marketing list.<\/p>\n

How to build a restaurant text list<\/h2>\n

The fastest way is a keyword. Guests text a word like DINNER to your number and join your list. In Easify this is Text to Join<\/strong>: you pick the keyword, the contact group new members land in, and the auto reply they get. Keywords match whatever the guest types, upper or lower case.<\/p>\n

Put the keyword where guests already look:<\/p>\n