Running a pizza restaurant requires a lot of time, patience and marketing. You’re up against many other owners offering top-of-the-line food who are now also adding numerous pizza options that Americans consume at astonishing rates.
Did you know that over 3 billion pizzas are consumed in the US annually?
The demand is there, but your marketing still needs to be on point.
Your pizza shop should be focusing on repeat customers and trying to find new ways to get referrals.
These strategies can help you achieve that goal.
Your Best Pizzeria Marketing Strategies in 2026
Over 14 billion people visit pizza shops each year, spending over 95 billion dollars in the United States. Owners who understand market trends, customer behaviors and the industry can develop strategies to increase their market share and grow in a very competitive landscape.
If you want to grow your restaurant this year, we recommend that you focus on natural group ordering, diverse menu items and repeat purchasing.
Your target consumers are likely millennials who prefer pizza as a comfort food and a weekend staple in their home.
Digital Ordering as a Main Driver in Restaurant Marketing
Restaurant revenue is being driven by many different marketing channels, but one that is driving the most customers is mobile app ordering. If your customers are using mobile apps, they are far more likely to reorder at a rate of 30% compared to ordering on another web interface.
Owners are reporting that approximately 25% of first-party digital orders are coming from mobile apps. Mobile orders allow for not only an increase in revenue but also improved order accuracy because your customers are inputting their orders directly online.
One major problem with offering third party apps is that they will take 15% to 30% of your overall revenue, impacting your bottom line and causing you to charge more to your customers than they deserve.
While some customers may be willing to pay more when they're ordering online, others will be turned away from your business and assume that you're just upcharging them for no reason.
Owners are at a marketing crossroads here because:
- Third-party apps can drive more revenue because they're already used by millions of people.
- Encouraging direct online orders is another option and one that we recommend pursuing if you want to maximize your revenue and keep prices lower.
One of the best options in the restaurant business is to encourage direct online orders by enticing customers to place them. You can do this in a variety of ways, but the following are the most intriguing because of their high success rate.
- Exclusive 10% discount for ordering on your app the first time.
- One-click ordering options through saved favorites online.
- Special pizzas not available anywhere else but on your online menu.
- Priority processing for app orders so that customers get faster service.
Restaurant management must work through your online ordering system and website to make sure that customers can make purchases without friction. First, you'll want to create pages with accurate and up-to-date pricing as well as photos so that customers can see what your pizza looks like before ordering.
Create Loyalty Programs for True Restaurant Growth
Pizza delivery is common across the United States because people are too busy to stop into your shop and grab the pizza on the way home. One way for you to encourage repeat business is to start creating a loyalty program for customers who would rather eat at home.
Given that the average American will eat pizza out multiple times per year, this is the perfect opportunity to introduce a points program.
For example, you can offer either exclusive items on your menu, or you can give free items for a certain number of points that customers earn for every dollar that they spend. A prime example is that you may give free breadsticks away with every three pizzas that a customer orders.
Requires you to consider what options lead to loyalty rewards:
- Points earned for every dollar that somebody spends
- Tier rewards such as bronze, silver or gold status
- Birthday or anniversary bonuses, such as a free pizza on somebody's birthday
- Early access to new menu items that others will not receive
- Exclusive discount options that are only for members
Word of mouth strategies are great for bringing in new customers. You can promote the ordering platform that you use by simply telling customers about it when they come to your restaurant or by even offering discounts when they refer somebody. For example, if someone refers a friend who spends $50, that person receives a 15% discount on their next order.
Upselling is a Strategic Marketing Winner This Year
Upselling helps you sell more food in your inventory that may be going bad or that naturally goes with other items. For example, you may offer discounted drink additions, extra toppings, premium cheeses or side items, such as breadsticks or salads.
You can also allow your customers to customize their orders to enhance their experience.
And if you're offering an online app or website where customers have to sign in to make their orders, you can always save these personalizations for repeat ordering. Customers appreciate when they have the option of one-click reordering their favorite item just the way they like it.
You may also offer family meal upgrades for larger items.
While the discount may be more substantial, the average ticket value will increase and help drive more revenue.
Sprinkle in Local SEO
Local search engine optimization still works. This means making sure that you have a Google My Business profile and maintain NAP consistency across online platforms. Customer feedback management is also very important, so be sure to ask for reviews and work hard to maintain positive ones.
If you follow these marketing recommendations in the coming year, you will be well positioned to grow your pizza restaurant and increase your revenue.