6 Email and SMS Campaigns for Restaurants That Drive Repeat Orders

In an industry where attention is short and margins are tight, direct marketing delivers. SMS and email campaigns for restaurants remain two effective and affordable ways to engage your guests, drive repeat visits, and grow revenue.

Here’s why they work:

• SMS has a 90%+ read rate within 3 minutes of delivery, which means customers opted into your SMS stream will likely see your marketing messages, quickly

• Email marketing delivers $45 in ROI for every $1 spent for retail businesses, making it a strong channel to invest in

• With email and SMS, you control the timing of your messaging—no algorithms stand in the way of communicating with your customers

• SMS and email are ideal for promoting restaurant-related information like seasonal menu updates, loyalty programs, special offers, or online orders 

Keep reading to see examples of email and SMS campaigns for restaurants that can drive results for your business.

3 email campaign ideas for restaurants

When used strategically, restaurant emails can increase repeat visits, boost loyalty, and keep your brand top‑of‑mind. These campaigns are best for nurturing long‑term relationships, announcing new items, or bringing lapsed customers back. Whether you send them weekly or monthly, email campaigns allow you to include vibrant writing and delectable food photos, helping to strengthen your brand and grow your fan club.

1. Loyalty milestone reminder email campaign

Launching a loyalty program is only the first step in building a devoted customer base. To keep your loyalty program members engaged, consider setting up an email campaign reminding participants about upcoming rewards. Messages like these create urgency around earning and spending loyalty rewards, which can boost orders and revenue.

With customizable email and text marketing, you can segment your email list by loyalty status to send targeted messages at the right time to the right subset of customers.

2. Win‑back email campaign for lapsed guests

Win‑back emails are an easy way to re-engage customers who haven’t ordered in a while. A simple reminder paired with a special offer can nudge them back into action and turn a one-time visitor into a regular.

Using customizable email and text marketing, you can easily shoot emails to lapsed customers who haven't purchased from your business within the last 60 days or longer. 

3. Seasonal menu or new item announcement email campaign

Your new dishes deserve the spotlight! Seasonal menu items, limited-time offers, and new item drops are the perfect reason to reach out and engage your email subscribers. These emails create excitement, drive curiosity, and encourage guests to come back and try what’s fresh, especially when paired with crave-worthy photos and a clear call to action.

3 SMS campaign ideas for restaurants

With consumers spending nearly five hours a day on their smartphones, SMS is perfect for time‑sensitive offers and direct calls to action. 

1. Flash promo SMS campaign

Need a quick sales boost? Flash promo texts are perfect for filling tables or bumping online orders during slow periods. With a limited-time offer and a clear call to action, these short SMS blasts drive urgency during off-peak hours.

2. App download reminder SMS campaign

Customers who have opted in to your SMS messages are highly engaged with your business. Double down on this by using text messages to invite customers to download your branded mobile app. This strategy can help you turn devoted customers into power users of your app, which can mean more repeat orders for you. 

3. “Order again” SMS campaign

Make reordering a no-brainer with an "order again" SMS campaign. A quick reminder featuring a customer’s favorite dish can bring them back without a discount. These personalized nudges work best a few days after their last visit, when the craving is still fresh.

Use DoorDash to streamline SMS and email marketing

Managing email and SMS campaigns shouldn't mean juggling tools, hiring agencies, or learning new software. With the DoorDash Commerce Platform Pro package, everything’s built into your Merchant Portal—from tools to templates to tracking.

With the DoorDash Commerce Platform Pro package, you can:

• Build email and SMS campaigns using your brand's assets and voice in just a few clicks—watch this interactive demo to see how

• Launch quickly with proven templates

• Segment by frequency, loyalty status, or ordering habits

• Reach guests via SMS, email, and push notifications

• View all performance metrics in one place

Build email and SMS campaigns with the power of DoorDash

Drive repeat orders with restaurant email and SMS campaigns that actually work. With the DoorDash Commerce Platform, launching and managing direct marketing campaigns is simple and fast.