If you aren’t taking full advantage of social media marketing in 2021, it’s time to pick up the slack. Not only does social media heighten your restaurant’s visibility, but it’s also an essential business growth strategy. Did we mention it’s free?
Whether you’ve just set up your social media accounts or have already hopped on the bandwagon, here are our tips for marketing your restaurant online.
Brand Awareness
One of the primary reasons customers use social media is to perform brand research – particularly on restaurants they know little about.
With awareness being at the very top of the marketing funnel, you’ll want to ensure your social media profiles are optimised. (See here for a list of social media channels your restaurant should be on.) This typically means filling out each information field as accurately as possible, but the most important areas include:
- Username: Your restaurant should be easy to find, so avoid unnecessary words in your username if possible. If you must, location-specific words are acceptable. For example: opt for @PastaMastersPerth if @PastaMasters is already taken.
- Opening Hours: These should specify changed or special opening hours.
- Address: If your restaurant is a little elusive, try to provide more details on directions.
- Bio/Description: While you should describe your restaurant with descriptive keywords – such as your point of difference and the type of cuisine and dietary requirements you serve – remember to keep it short and sweet!
- Contact Information: Ensure your phone number, website URL and email address are correct all times. You don’t want to miss any enquiries bookings!
Storytelling & Promotion
When it comes to generating interest around your restaurant, social media is the perfect outlet to set the tone for your brand. While appetising food photos and menu promotions are the content you’d be aiming for, it’s the stories behind your business that also capture customers.
Why not show the world the behind-the-scenes of your kitchen or how dedicated your team is? Either way, it’s all about showing your personality and exactly what your restaurant has to offer. Whatever you publish, just make sure you make use of:
- Tagging: Accounts to tag include fellow local businesses, suppliers or any account related directly to your post.
- Geotags: Location, location, location! Your restaurant profile and its geotag go hand in hand to paint the perfect picture of your restaurant for your customers.
- Hashtags: You’ll want to incorporate the most popular hashtags in your city in your post – but don’t go overboard!
- Timing: It’s not just about what you post, but when you post it. Here, we’ve detailed the best times to post your content on social media.
For inspiration on types of organic content to share, check out these 15 great ideas!
Community Engagement
What truly sets social media apart from other marketing channels is the direct communication it offers between customers and businesses.
Community engagement encompasses everything from responding to comments, involving your customers and opening up discussions for feedback. By actively interacting with customers old and new, you can quickly build and maintain rapport with your local community.
Amazingly, restaurants who engage with customers on social media are likely to see the same customers spending up to 40% more when dining in. With that said, strengthening relationships with your customers is a must-do for those serious about growing their business.
Not to mention, by getting to know your customers’ preferences and thoughts, you can alter your menu, refine your customer service and adapt your business model to stay relevant!
