Is email or SMS better for restaurant marketing?

Neither is universally better — they serve different purposes. SMS drives immediate action and is best for same-day promotions and time-sensitive offers. Email builds relationships over time and is best for lifecycle campaigns, retention, and announcements. The most effective restaurant marketing uses both channels together in sequence.

How often should restaurants send SMS marketing messages?

Less is more with SMS. Most restaurants see strong engagement with 2–4 texts per month, focused on genuinely relevant moments — a slow period promo, a limited-time offer, a win-back message for lapsed guests. Sending too frequently reduces opt-in rates and erodes the directness that makes SMS effective.

Do restaurant email campaigns actually drive orders?

Yes. ChowNow platform data shows restaurants with a 1,000-diner email list generating approximately $10K in annual attributed revenue from automated email campaigns alone. Targeted, segmented campaigns drive 77% of total email revenue — significantly outperforming generic list blasts.

What's the difference between automated and on-demand campaigns?

Automated campaigns run continuously based on guest behavior — a welcome email after a first order, a win-back message after 30 days of inactivity. On-demand campaigns are one-time sends you create and schedule yourself for specific moments like promotions, events, or new menu launches. Both types are included in ChowNow's Marketing Suite.

Do I need separate tools for email and SMS marketing?

Not with ChowNow. Email and SMS marketing are built into the same platform as your ordering system, so your campaigns are automatically powered by real guest data — no integrations, no exporting lists, no switching between tools.