Today’s top franchise restaurants aren’t just great at food—they’re pros at data. Brands like Chick-fil-A, Blaze Pizza, and local franchise players are using digital receipts, loyalty programs, and QR-code menus to gather customer information.

Then comes the magic: text message retargeting. After collecting a phone number and preferences, innovative brands send time-sensitive promos—like lunch hour deals or birthday coupons—that convert.

At The AD Leaf, we’ve built retargeting workflows that double return visits and spike order 

values. We help franchise owners integrate POS data with CRM tools and build campaigns that feel personal and drive ROI. It’s not just about foot traffic—it’s about smart traffic.

The Power of Data-Driven Marketing

The modern customer experience starts long before the first bite. Today, customers expect personalized service and meaningful interactions, so restaurant owners must leverage customer data to stay ahead. Franchise restaurants that have embraced digital receipts, loyalty programs, and QR code-based menus are already gathering invaluable information about their customers, from their favorite menu items to their dining preferences.

However, having the data isn’t enough. You need to act on it, and that’s where text message retargeting comes in. By collecting phone numbers and customer preferences, restaurants can send targeted messages that resonate with their audience. Whether it’s a time-sensitive lunch deal, a birthday coupon, or a special discount on their favorite dish, personalized text messages convert significantly more than general advertisements.

The Challenges You Might Face with Text Message Retargeting

While text message retargeting offers enormous potential, it’s not without its challenges. For many franchise restaurant owners and managers, these challenges can make it seem like a daunting strategy to implement. Here are some of the most common pain points:

Building and Maintaining a Quality Subscriber List

Gathering customer phone numbers is one of the first hurdles in starting a text message campaign. While you can collect phone numbers through loyalty programs, digital receipts, and in-store promotions, getting customers to opt-in to your text message list isn’t always easy.

Customers who are unsure about receiving text messages may not sign up or opt out quickly after their initial experience.

Creating Relevant and Valuable Messages

Once you have the phone numbers, the next challenge is crafting messages that feel personal and are relevant to the recipient. Generic or irrelevant offers (like discounts on items customers don’t care about) are more likely to annoy than convert. You need to understand what your customers want and when they want it to drive the best results.

Compliance with Text Message Marketing Laws

Strict regulations govern text message marketing, including the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), which requires businesses to obtain express written consent from customers before sending promotional texts. Failure to comply with these regulations could result in hefty fines or legal trouble. Franchise owners must ensure that their text message campaigns comply with these risks.

Avoiding Over-Saturation

Sending too many text messages can lead to customer fatigue, causing them to opt out of your list or, worse, stop visiting your restaurant altogether. Striking the right balance of communication is crucial—your customers need to hear from you just enough to stay engaged, but not so much that they feel overwhelmed.

How Text Message Retargeting Can Help You Overcome These Challenges

While the above challenges are real, text message retargeting is still one of the most effective ways to drive business to your restaurant, especially when executed strategically. Here’s how to overcome these obstacles and build a successful campaign that delivers real ROI.

1. Building Your Subscriber List the Right Way

Gathering customer phone numbers should be a part of your overall customer experience strategy. You can incentivize customers to opt into your text message list by offering rewards for joining your loyalty program or giving them a discount on their next order. A QR code placed on menus or receipts can also encourage sign-ups on the spot, and you can use digital receipts to ask customers for permission to send them marketing texts.

To make customers feel more comfortable, be transparent about how often they’ll hear from you and the kinds of offers they can expect. Offering a clear value proposition and honoring their preferences will go a long way in helping you build and maintain a healthy subscriber list.

2. Crafting Messages That Convert

Creating valuable and relevant messages is the key to success. Personalization is critical—customers expect messages that speak directly to them. Using the data you’ve collected from loyalty programs or previous purchases, you can send tailored messages, such as:

• Time-sensitive promotions (e.g., lunch hour discounts or happy hour specials)
• Birthday rewards (e.g., free dessert or a special discount)
• Loyalty bonuses (e.g., a free item after a certain number of visits)

Actionable Tip: Use customer behavior data (like purchase history or frequency of visits) to segment your audience and send hyper-targeted messages. For instance, customers who frequently order a certain pizza could receive a special offer for their favorite item.

3. Staying Compliant with Marketing Laws

Ensuring compliance with text message marketing laws is crucial to protect your business from legal pitfalls. At The AD Leaf, we help franchise owners set up compliant text message retargeting systems that include:

• Opt-in and opt-out management so customers can easily choose to join or leave your text list
• Clear disclosures about how often customers can expect to hear from you
• The customer has approved tracking tools that ensure each text sent

By working with professionals who understand the nuances of text message marketing laws, you can avoid compliance issues and build trust with your customers.

4. Sending the Right Number of Messages

The key to success with text message retargeting is finding the right frequency. You don’t want to bombard customers with daily offers, but you don’t want to be invisible. A great starting point is to send 1-2 messages per week—enough to stay top-of-mind without overwhelming your audience.

Actionable Tip: Use customer data to time your messages. For example, if you know a customer usually dines with you around lunch or dinner time, send offers just before those times to increase the likelihood of a conversion.

How The AD Leaf Can Supercharge Your Retargeting Campaigns

If you’re ready to take your text message retargeting to the next level, partnering with The AD Leaf is the best way to ensure success. Here’s how we can help franchise restaurant owners and managers:

• Strategy Development: We work with you to develop a comprehensive text message marketing strategy that aligns with your goals, brand voice, and customer behavior.
• List Management: We help you build, segment, and maintain a high-quality subscriber list that ensures maximum ROI.
• Compliance and Best Practices: We ensure your campaigns fully comply with legal requirements and industry best practices.
• Campaign Optimization: We constantly monitor and optimize your campaigns to improve performance and engagement.

Ready to Dial Up Your Marketing with Text Message Retargeting?

Text message retargeting is one of the most effective ways to increase customer retention, boost order values, and drive more foot traffic to your franchise restaurant. However, executing a successful campaign requires the right strategy, expertise, and tools.

At The AD Leaf, we craft customized marketing solutions for franchise restaurant owners who want to elevate customer engagement and drive results. Let us help you build a text message retargeting campaign that delivers measurable success.

Contact us today to learn how we can help you optimize your restaurant’s marketing strategy with text message retargeting!