We’re in the middle of a fun and informative series for pizzeria owners about how to get strategic with pizza deals and coupons so you can use them to find new customers, grow loyalty, and boost sales. First, we discussed why pizza coupons and discounts work, and in our last article, we shared an 8-point strategy for success:
- Start with a goal
- Know your numbers
- Choose the type of pizza coupon or deal
- Choose the format
- Be clear about terms
- Decide where to market
- Personalize when possible
- Measure your results
In this article, we are diving into #3 to explore all the types of pizza offers you may consider for your promotions. This huge list of pizza restaurant deals will help you understand your options and choose the best deal or coupon for your goals. Let’s get started!
9 Fun & Effective Pizza Deals to Try
Variety is the spice of life when it comes to pizza AND pizza promotions! You’ll want to mix up the pizza deals you run throughout the year to appeal to diverse customers, highlight various products, and help you reach different goals. That’s why we’re offering this big list of pizza restaurant deals you may consider trying in your pizzeria.
1. Money Off
One of the most basic pizza deals you can run offers money off the purchase of a pizza. You can do this as a flat amount (e.g., $2.00 off) OR as a percentage (e.g., 10% off). That means you’ll want to consider what form the discount takes when you use money off pizza offers.
Research from Jonah Berger, a marketing professor and author of Contagious: Why Things Catch On, explored this topic and found that:
- A percentage discount is more appealing when the item is under $100
- A dollar-off discount works better when the item is over $100
This research may suggest that percentage-off pizza deals are better for pizzerias. However, we encourage you to try them both to see which appeals more to your customers.
2. Buy One, Get One
Buy one get one (BOGO) is among the most popular restaurant deals for a reason. Not only do customers love BOGO sales, but by running this deal, you can also push customers to order more than they normally would or try something new. Your BOGO deal can take many forms:
- Buy one item get a second one free (for example, buy a medium pizza, get a pizza topping free)
- Buy one get one half off (for example, buy a large regular menu-priced pizza, get another half off)
- Buy one get (specific item) free (for example, buy a large pizza, get an order of breadsticks free)
When running BOGO pizza deals, it’s important to calculate the ‘get one’ carefully to know how much you’re losing and if the promotion will be cost-effective.
3. Combo Pizza Deals
Combos are an excellent option for pizza promotions. For one reason, it makes it simple for customers to order a full meal. Also, combo pizza offers can sometimes persuade customers to order more than they normally would. After all, they may only have wanted a large pizza, but if they can pay a couple more bucks to get a side too, why not?
When creating these pizza offers, be mindful of your customers so you can choose combos that will entice them. What items do customers normally order together? What size group will the combo serve? Is there a specific menu item you want to add to the combo to boost its visibility? These are some questions to consider when creating your combo pizza deals.
4. Limited-Time Pizza Offers
Limited-time deals work because of customers’ natural fear of missing out (FOMO). Psychological research tells us that a flash sale can create a sense of urgency. Meanwhile, limited inventory can create a scarcity mindset. Customers don’t want to miss out on a great deal, and this sort of promotion urges them to act fast.
While the special price can be what is ‘limited time’ about this promotion, you can also use this type of offer for limited-time menu items. When you create seasonal or theme-based items on your pizza menu that are only available for a certain amount of time, customers will go out of their way to order before the item goes away.
5. Time-Based Discounts
The best example of a time-based discount is the ever-popular happy hour. Traditionally associated with bars, this type of offer can work for traditional restaurants and pizzerias too. A ‘happy hour’ can be a great reason for friends to meet at your pizzeria for dinner. Time-based discounts can also be used in conjunction with events. In an earlier article, we discussed sports marketing ideas. So, for example, you may have a time-based discount for orders during the college or pro game or right after the local team plays.
Another way to run time-based pizza deals is to have discounts for specific days of the week. For example, if it’s usually slow on Wednesdays, you may offer a special to encourage people to dine in or carry out on that day.
6. Event- or Theme-Based Restaurant Deals
Event-based restaurant deals are a lot of fun and allow you to connect with your customers on what they care about. That was the thrust behind our sports marketing article—to give you inspiration for football-themed promotions you could try this season. You can apply the same idea to any event or theme. The World Cup starts this year on November 20; if your customers are into soccer, then maybe you could run some promotions related to that. Or perhaps you could engage in holiday promotions during December. What about a heart-shaped pizza or a combo built for two for Valentine’s Day? The options are endless, so have fun with it.
7. Gift Card Discounts
Gift card discounts are ideal if you want to promote gift card purchases and repeat business. They’re incredibly popular during the holiday season when people love to give gift cards as gifts. It’s hard to pass up a gift card promotion because it feels like you’re getting free money.
Your gift card promotion could be a discount on the amount, such as getting a $50 gift card for $40. Or you may offer a bonus gift card—for example, when you buy a $50 gift card, you get an extra $10 gift card free. Often with these restaurant deals, the second gift card has a limited time window (for example, the bonus $10 gift card must be redeemed by the end of the month).
8. Birthday Discounts
If you collect customer data (and you should!), you can use that information to reward customers with various pizza deals throughout the year. One great example is the birthday discount. This once-a-year, personalized promotion can draw customers in to celebrate their big day.
9. Loyalty Discounts
We follow up with loyalty discounts because birthday pizza deals are often associated with signing up for a loyalty program. Having a program can help you encourage repeat business and reward customer loyalty. Meanwhile, exclusive pizza offers you can’t get unless you’re a club member can be a great way to entice more people to join your program. If you need help, check out our articles for starting a customer loyalty program and improving an existing one.
Even More Pizza Deals
There are so many pizza offers to consider, so let’s pick up the pace a little. If you’re looking for more ideas, check out this list.
- New Customer Discounts: Offering a special price on a first-time order can bring new customers into your pizzeria.
- Senior Citizens’ Discounts: Special deals can encourage more senior citizens to eat out at your pizza restaurant.
- Free Item Promotions: Everyone loves free, plus this kind of deal can help you promote items you want to get more visibility on the menu.
- Chef’s Specials: Let your pizza chef’s creativity make customers eager to try new items and combos.
- Free Delivery Offer: If you currently charge for delivery, you may consider a promotion where delivery is free for a limited time.
- Joint Discount with Local Businesses: Partner with other businesses in your area to offer a joint discount (e.g., when they purchase at the local business, they get a coupon for your pizzeria).
- Charity Donation Promotions: With a charity donation promotion, customers can support a good cause when they buy a pizza at your restaurant. For example, buy a large pizza, and $X goes to charity.
Promoting Your Pizza Deals
When it comes to pizza deals, you need many ideas to draw from, which is why we shared this huge list with you today. The type of promotion you select must meet your needs and goals. Also, you’ll want to switch up your pizza offers throughout the year to keep your promotions exciting and enticing for customers. Bookmark this page so you can get help anytime you need it.
However, after you select your special or create your coupon, you still have to promote it! We have many ideas to share on this topic, so stay tuned for our next article.
