Avinash works with Fortune 500s like Nespresso, Audible, and Prime Video. He’s the best-selling author of Web Analytics 2.0 and delivers one of my favourite marketing newsletters in the land.

He’s SO GOOD at taking the “marketing aches” we struggle with, shining a light on them, and paving a clear, and actionable path forward.

In this episode Avinash makes it easy for restaurants to take action on his wisdom, including:

Fortune 500 Secrets for Small Restaurants: Discover how Avinash Kaushik’s big-brand strategies can be adapted to transform your restaurant’s marketing on a budget.

Turn Overwhelming Data into Simple Wins: Avinash breaks down practical ways to make sense of marketing data and drive real growth, even if you’re not a numbers person.

Unlock Hidden Guest Stories in Your Data: Go beyond basic sales numbers to uncover the human stories and behavior patterns that can guide smarter decisions.

Maximize Loyalty with Email Newsletters: Hear how one simple strategy increased repeat visits and even attracted high-value corporate customers.

Get Smart with Your Ad Spend: Learn the latest in smart bidding, targeting, and creative, plus how to set up conversion lift studies to prove the ROI of your marketing efforts.

Don’t miss it!

Learn more about Avinash Kaushik

Connect with him on LinkedIn

️ Sign up for his phenomenal email newsletter

Key Takeaways from the Episode

1. The Power of a Guest Experience Map

Dean explains how creating a clear guest experience map—from the moment a guest makes a reservation to when they leave—helps identify friction points and opportunities to enhance their visit. Optimizing these small touchpoints can lead to more satisfied guests and increased revenue per diner.

2. Capturing Guest Data Is Non-Negotiable

Many restaurants miss out on one of their most valuable assets: guest data. Dean stresses the importance of capturing contact information in the “during unit” (while guests are dining) and building a strong “after unit” that nurtures relationships and keeps guests coming back. Whether it’s a birthday club or an enticing offer, this data is key to driving repeat visits.

3. The “Easy Yes” Offer

One of the standout strategies Dean shares is creating an “easy yes” menu—a low-resistance, high-margin offer (think a $5 cocktail or a $20 gift card for $5) that guests can’t refuse. This not only increases per-diner spend but also builds momentum for repeat visits.

4. Why a Compelling Offer Beats a Convincing Argument

Dean breaks down why offering a $20 gift card can be more effective than any buy-one-get-one offer. He explains that diners are more likely to take action on a compelling offer that requires little risk, making it a key strategy for bringing new people into your restaurant.

Ready to Unlock Your Back-Door Revenue?

If you’re a restaurant owner looking to boost revenue and build stronger relationships with your guests, these insights from Dean Jackson offer actionable steps you can implement right away.

For more from Dean, head to DeanJackson.com, where you can dive deeper into the 8 Profit Activators and explore his other valuable resources.

In the latest episode of the GuestGetter Podcast, I chatted with Abhinav Kapur, founder and CEO of Bikky, and we dug into a metric that might just be your new best friend for growth.

3 Metrics You Shouldn’t Ignore

• New Guests
  How many fresh faces are walking through your doors each day, week, or month? This number tells you if your marketing is doing its job and bringing in new customers.
• Average Check Size
  What’s the average spend per guest? This metric shows you how much your guests are shelling out each visit—and it might hint at ways to boost those numbers.
• Retention Rate
  Here’s the big one: How many guests are coming back after their first visit? A high retention rate means you’re nailing it, while a low rate might signal it’s time to shake things up.

Why Menu Item Retention is a Game-Changer

• Find Your All-Stars
  Menu item retention is all about figuring out which dishes keep guests coming back for more. It’s like knowing which of your players always score the winning goal.
• Keep It Fresh
  With this info, you can tweak your menu to make sure it’s filled with dishes your guests love, keeping them excited for their next visit.

Keep Your Menu Fresh and Fun

• Always Innovate
  As Abhinav pointed out, even giants like Taco Bell are constantly updating their menus. If they’re doing it, so should you! A dynamic menu keeps your restaurant relevant and your guests coming back for more.

The Magic of Email Marketing

• Stay in Touch
  Email marketing isn’t just about blasting out deals—it’s about building a relationship with your guests. A few well-timed emails can turn first-timers into loyal regulars.

Ready to Grow?

If you’re not already keeping an eye on these metrics, now’s the time to start. By focusing on new guests, average check size, and retention rate, you’ll gain some serious insights into what’s working and where you can improve.

Want to dive deeper? Check out the full episode of the Guest Getter Podcast where Abhinav and I break it all down.

Connect with Abhinav Kapur

Check out Bikky

Find Abhinav on LinkedIn

Drop Abhinav an Email

This framework includes creating videos about your restaurant’s backstory, experience, philosophy, vision, how things are made, the challenges faced, and the solutions achieved. These videos can be used in various ways, such as mini-documentaries, social media clips, and YouTube ads, to enhance your online presence and attract more guests. By consistently producing these types of content, you build an ‘online binge bank’ that captivates potential customers and turns them into loyal fans. Tune in to learn more about utilizing these strategies to grow your restaurant.

00:00 The Pressure to Create New Content

00:34 The 7 Core Story Video Framework

00:49 High-Level Videos: Backstory, Experience, Philosophy, Vision

01:54 Down-to-Earth Videos: How It’s Made, Challenge and Plan, Solution and Result

02:55 Utilizing the 7 Core Story Videos

03:39 Final Thoughts and Marketing Tips

03:49 Podcast Outro and Contact Information

00:00 Introduction and Olive Garden Promotion

00:41 Creating a Menu of Easy Yes Offers

01:42 Psychological Triggers and Value Perception

02:47 The Warm and Fuzzy Feeling 03:03 Conclusion and Podcast Outro

Kyle Tweter started his career in the restaurant industry from the ground up—literally. From working as a bus boy to managing various roles within a company, Kyle’s journey is a testament to hard work, perseverance, and the power of learning on the job. In our latest podcast episode, Kyle shares his story and the practical lessons he’s learned while growing El Furniture Warehouse from a single location to 19 across Canada and the U.S.

1. The Early Days:

Kyle began his career in hospitality by working various entry-level roles. His willingness to learn and his determination to succeed led him to seek out a mentor, a decision that would greatly influence his future. Kyle talks about how finding someone who had already achieved what he aspired to do provided him with invaluable guidance and insights.

2. Building the First Location:

Starting El Furniture Warehouse wasn’t easy. Kyle and his partner didn’t have a big budget, so they had to get creative. They repurposed materials, like using old pallets for wall treatments, to build their first location. This resourcefulness not only helped them keep costs down but also contributed to the unique, eclectic vibe that has become a hallmark of the brand.

3. The Growth Strategy:

One of the key factors behind the growth of El Furniture Warehouse has been its value-driven pricing. Originally implemented as a necessity to comply with licensing regulations, the decision to offer affordable, high-quality food became central to the restaurant’s identity and appeal. Kyle explains how this strategy, combined with an organic approach to expansion—often driven by the availability of strong team members—has helped the brand thrive.

4. Lessons Learned:

Kyle shares several important lessons from his journey. He emphasizes the importance of consistency, particularly in maintaining the quality and atmosphere of each location. He also talks about the critical balance between creativity and business acumen, highlighting that success in the restaurant industry requires both.

5. Where They Are Now:

Today, El Furniture Warehouse has 19 locations, with plans for continued growth. Kyle is quick to point out that this success is the result of a team effort, with talented and passionate individuals playing a crucial role in the company’s expansion. Looking forward, Kyle and his team are excited to keep building on their success and exploring new opportunities.

Conclusion: For those interested in scaling a business or simply curious about the story behind El Furniture Warehouse, tune in to this episode!

Connect with El Furniture Warehouse:

El Furniture Warehouse Website

El Furniture Warehouse on Instagram

El Furniture Warehouse on Facebook

Give these folks the structure and opportunity to help the business grow beyond their typical duties, and you’ll see a big difference. But for whatever reason, many of us don’t consider that our teams can work in this capacity. A systematic way to engage your teams in growth is to hold regular sessions—weekly, bi-weekly, or even monthly—where everyone discusses growth strategies.

I like to simplify growth into its core components. Let’s talk offense first: How do we attract more guests? How do we make them stay longer? How can we get them to spend more per visit? Track your revenue metrics—last month, last quarter, last year—and strategize where you want those numbers to be in the future. Orient the entire team around these metrics because, at the end of the day, it’s all about generating more revenue.

Now, let’s talk about retention, which I call re-invitation.

Simply put, this means inviting your current guests to return. Always have a reason for your team to engage guests: “Hey, we’ve got a cool event coming up. Would you like to come? Here’s how to RSVP.” Or, “We’re running a great new offer. Do you want to claim it on your next visit?” Keep seeding the next visit, the next action.

If you rally your team around playing better offense and re-inviting your current guests, you will see your business grow.

Your front of house team is closest to the money; they have their finger on the pulse. Start tapping into that, and you’ll see your numbers rise. So, start leveraging your team more effectively and watch your restaurant grow.

And he’s helped many tiny businesses apply what he’s learned working with huge brands. Today we’re going to go through a case study method where I’ll approach Dennis as a fairly typical restaurant and together we’ll discover how he would help that restaurant rapidly grow their restaurant through digital marketing.

We’ll break down how marketing actually works—starting with making sure people know your restaurant exists. Then we’ll move into some smart strategies for reaching the right people online without the guesswork. Plus, we’ll uncover a powerful technique involving your most valuable customers that could reshape your customer base.

Tune in for a clear and straightforward exploration of effective digital ad targeting. It’s practical knowledge you can put to use right away. Let’s get started!