Here’s a fun little fact to chew on: 56% of consumers trust print marketing more than any other form of advertising. You read that right. More than digital ads, influencer promos, and whatever half-baked email campaign is sitting unopened in your inbox right now.
So, if you think print marketing is outdated, let’s get something straight—you’re leaving money on the table. And in the restaurant business, that’s the equivalent of serving cold fries. Unacceptable.
Restaurants ditching print marketing are leaving money on the table—literally.
1. Digital Fatigue Is Real, and People Are Over It
Consumers are drowning in digital ads. They’re scrolling past your Instagram post, swiping away your Facebook ad, and, if they’re anything like the rest of us, using email as a graveyard for unread promotions.
Print, on the other hand, demands attention. It’s tangible. It’s in your hands. You can’t just scroll past it like another influencer’s “What I Eat in a Day” post. And the kicker? Direct mail response rates can be up to 9X higher than email.
2. Local Marketing That Actually Reaches People
Not everyone in your city follows your restaurant on social media. But you know what they do check? Their mailbox. A well-designed postcard, flyer, or menu left on their doorstep has a much better shot at grabbing their attention than yet another Instagram reel drowning in the algorithm.
And if you’re a restaurant that thrives on local traffic (which, let’s be real, you are), print marketing gives you an easy way to cut through the noise and speak directly to the people who are most likely to walk through your doors.
3. Print Materials Stick Around Longer
A Facebook ad? Gone in seconds. An email? Probably never opened. A beautifully designed menu that lands on someone’s kitchen counter? That thing has a lifespan of weeks—maybe even months. People actually keep print materials, especially if they have a killer offer attached.
That means your restaurant stays top of mind longer, without paying for constant digital retargeting (which, let’s be honest, half the time doesn’t even work).
4. Print Builds Trust Like No Other Medium
Let’s be real. Digital ads have become a circus of clickbait, scams, and desperate grabs for attention. Meanwhile, print feels intentional. It’s curated. It’s the equivalent of a well-plated dish versus a sad, soggy burger in a takeout bag.
Consumers perceive print as more legit, and restaurants that invest in high-quality printed materials—whether it’s a beautifully designed takeout menu, a VIP loyalty card, or a direct mail promo—immediately stand out as professional, established, and worth visiting.
5. Print and Digital = A Power Couple
Here’s where things get spicy. Print doesn’t have to be the enemy of digital—it can actually supercharge your online marketing.
- Use QR codes on menus and flyers to direct people to your social media or online ordering page.
- Add a special discount on a direct mail piece that customers can only claim online.
- Create print-exclusive promotions that make people actually excited to hold onto your materials.
Print isn’t just an old-school marketing tool—it’s the missing piece that gets people off their phones and into your restaurant.
How to Make Print Work for Your Restaurant (Without Wasting Money)
Okay, so now that you know why print matters, let’s talk execution. Because yes, there’s a wrong way to do it. If you’re still handing out cheap, pixelated flyers with generic clipart—stop. Immediately.
Here’s how to do print marketing the right way:
1. Invest in High-Quality Design
Your print materials should look as good as your food tastes. That means:
- Professional design (stop using WordArt, it’s embarrassing)
- Eye-catching colors and branding
- Legible fonts (seriously, no one wants to squint at your menu)
- High-resolution images of your food (bad food photography is a crime)
2. Target the Right People
Don’t just blanket the entire city with flyers. Be smart.
- Send direct mail to neighborhoods where you KNOW your customer base lives.
- Leave menus and promo cards in local businesses, hotels, and community centers.
- Hand out flyers near office buildings if you want to boost your lunch traffic.
3. Offer an Irresistible Incentive
Give people a reason to care about your print piece.
- 10% off when you bring this flyer in
- Free appetizer with your first online order
- Exclusive in-store promo for customers who sign up via QR code
Make the offer good enough that people actually want to hold onto it instead of tossing it in the nearest trash can.
4. Track Your Results
This is where most businesses fail with print—they don’t track what’s working.
- Use unique codes on your print materials to measure redemption rates.
- Ask customers to mention the flyer when ordering.
- Use QR codes to track engagement online.
That way, you’re not just throwing money into the wind—you’re refining your strategy based on what actually brings in customers.
Final Thoughts: Stop Sleeping on Print Marketing
Look, I get it. Digital marketing is thrilling. It’s fast. It’s measurable. But if you think print is just for boomers and outdated businesses, you’re flat-out wrong.
Print has something digital marketing doesn’t—real-world staying power. It breaks through the noise, builds credibility, and keeps your restaurant in front of people long after an Instagram post has disappeared into the abyss.
Need proof that print advertising is alive and kicking? Check out this article from FMC Printing to see why print is still one of the smartest investments you can make for your restaurant.
So, if you’re ready to actually get butts in seats, it’s time to stop treating print like an afterthought and start using it as the high-impact marketing tool it actually is.
Now, go print some flyers and watch what happens.
