By Matt Plapp
Basketball fans are about to go wild, and if your pizzeria isn’t using March Madness to drive engagement, sales and customer loyalty, you’re leaving money on the table. But you can’t be the pizza shop that posts only a few lame promos. Remember, money follows attention, and March Madness posts are easy to get attention with.
Here are five must-run campaigns that will get people talking, ordering and coming back for more.
1. “Who’s Your Champion?” Bracket Contest
Timing: Post on the Monday after Selection Sunday
Keep it simple: Ask customers to comment with their pick for the national champion for a chance to win a $25 gift card. The key? One clear call-to-action (CTA): “COMMENT BELOW.” That’s it. No “tag a friend, share this, like our page” nonsense. Just one action.
Example: Little Italy Ristorante ran this exact contest and got 81 comments, boosting organic reach without spending a dime. Their simple but effective post—featuring a bold graphic and an easy-to-understand CTA—drove engagement and positioned them as the go-to spot for game-day excitement. Imagine if they used the Comment Growth Tool to capture customer data for future marketing!
Pro Tip: Announce the winner with a photo! Seeing real customers win builds credibility and attracts even more engagement.
Important Tip: Do NOT use the term “March Madness”—that’s a trademarked brand. Use words like “madness” and “bracket” to make it obvious what you’re talking about.
Related: 8 Must-Have Marketing Funnels Part 2: The Secrets to Massive Profits (With Free Download)
2. “Who’s Your Cinderella Team?” Post
Timing: Post on the Wednesday before the tournament starts.
People love an underdog story. Ask your audience which lower-seeded team they think will make a deep run. This sparks debate, increases comments and keeps your restaurant top-of-mind for game days.
Pro Tip: Share your own pick to encourage engagement: “We’re rolling with Gonzaga this year! Who’s your Cinderella team?”
3. “Bracket Busted? We Got You!” Engagement Post
Timing: Post on the Monday after the first weekend of games.
Most people’s brackets are trash by now. Capitalize on the frustration with a funny post: “Whose bracket just got busted? Comment YES or NO below!”
It’s quick, easy and guaranteed to get reactions. Want to take it further? Offer a “Bracket Buster Special”—half-price wings or a drink deal for anyone who shows their broken bracket in-store.
Pro Tip: Use humor! A shattered bracket image or a meme makes this post even more shareable.
4. “How Many Final Four Teams Do You Have Left?” Contest
Timing: Post on the Monday before the Final Four.
By this point, most brackets are in shambles, but some people still have a shot. Create a post that asks: “How many teams do you have left in the Final Four? Comment 1, 2, 3 or 4 below!”
For added engagement, offer a prize—maybe a $25 gift card to a random participant. More engagement = more reach = more foot traffic.
Pro Tip: Post your own bracket update. If your picks are terrible, lean into it for humor.
5. “Championship Night Prediction!” Final Contest
Timing: Post on Championship Monday.
This one’s easy—just ask: “Who’s winning tonight? Comment below!” Pick one random winner to get a gift card or discount on their next visit.
Pro Tip: If you have TVs in your restaurant, use this to push reservations. “Want the best seat in the house? Call now to reserve your table for the big game!”
Bonus: Turn March Madness Into a Catering Goldmine
Timing: Start two weeks before the tournament.
If your restaurant has space for groups or offers catering, March Madness is a massive opportunity to grab high-value customers. Here’s how to turn it into a revenue-generating machine:
1. Run a giveaway for a catered office party. Use paid ads, email and text marketing to drive people to a Facebook post where they comment to enter.
2. Offer a watch-party package. If you have TVs and a party-friendly space, create a VIP reservation package for businesses or groups.
3. Follow up with everyone who enters. Even if they don’t win, send them a special catering offer to convert leads into paying customers.
Pro Tip: Businesses are always looking for an excuse to cater lunch or host events—make your restaurant the easy choice.
Final Thoughts: Keep It Simple and Win Big
Restaurants make two big mistakes with promotions like these:
1. They overcomplicate it. Asking for comments, shares, likes and tags all at once leads to zero participation. Stick to one CTA.
2. They don’t leverage the engagement. If you don’t have a system in place (like the Comment Growth Tool) to collect customer data, you’re leaving money on the table.
March Madness is a goldmine for engagement and sales. Run these five campaigns, keep it simple and watch your restaurant win big this season! 🏀🔥
Free Download
But wait…there’s more. Don’t forget our free Manychat Comment Growth Tool download.
If all you do is get comments and move on, you’re missing the real gold. The secret sauce? The Comment Growth Tool. When customers comment, you can automatically capture their info and follow up with:
- A reminder about your next event or special
- An exclusive offer for joining your VIP club
- A direct message thanking them for engaging
First, you’ll need to sign up for a ManyChat account by visiting www.mattplapp.live/manychat. ManyChat is software that helps you do magical marketing stuff through Facebook and Instagram. We’ve been using it for our Dryver acquisition program since 2017. Once your account is hooked to your Facebook page, you’ll install the template for our Contest Comment Growth Tool. Visit www.mattplapp.live/customers, and you’ll be able to download the template that my team built to help you build a customer database from your Facebook comments.
Remember: Engagement = sales. If you don’t build a database from this, you’re just spinning your wheels.
My name is Matt Plapp. I’m the CEO of America’s Best Restaurants. I’ve worked with thousands of restaurants since 2008 when I started this company, and over the next 12 months, we will help 2,500-plus restaurants with their marketing. This is the latest article in a new weekly column for PMQ to help restaurant owners understand the gold mine we have to market in 2025—and beyond.
