10 Ways To Promote Your Restaurant On Social Media


Promote Restaurant Social Media

Social media is the key to reaching large numbers of people at a minimal cost.

Social media greatly increases awareness about your restaurant. Adding social media to your marketing mix can generate more engagement with your restaurant and get more customers in your door.

In this blog post, we’re going to show you ten ways to promote your restaurant on social media. We encourage you to create a social media planning calendar so it becomes an integrated daily task.

If you are already taking advantage of social media platforms, it’s time to step up your interactions. If you haven’t taken the social media leap, we’ll give you some examples.

You can’t afford to ignore social media. (tweet this) Last September, the Pew Research Center found that 52% of online adults now use two or more social media sites, showing a significant increase in the last two years. This statistic shows that social media is key to reaching large numbers of people at once, and generally at a low cost to your bottom line.

It’s important to understand the relevant social media platforms for promoting your restaurants. Let’s talk about the platforms and ways to promote your restaurant using them.

1. Create a Facebook Fan Page

You absolutely need a Facebook page for your restaurant. A recent study found that Facebook continues to be the most popular social media platform.

Create your Facebook business page carefully. You have 851×351 pixels to market your restaurant for free in your timeline image.  Carry your brand identity through all of your social media so you are easily recognizable to users.

When posting on Facebook, include either a video or image with your text. Images and video grab their attention. Become familiar with the different options for posting. Feel free to create your posts for the week using the schedule tool.

Most important for your restaurant on Facebook is consistency. Listen to what your users want. Be careful with too much self-promotion. Give your fans useful information, share tips and offer discounts and special promotions.

Lastly, explore Facebook paid advertising. This can be hugely successful for your restaurant.

2. Tweet, Tweet, Tweet

Twitter, the second most popular platform, is basically a micro-blogging site. You are limited to 140-character tweets.

Twitter is great for short messages such as daily meal deals, promotions, last minute menu additions and changes, fun facts and photos, and more. Include links to your website’s menu items.

If you craft messages that your Twitter followers like, they can re-tweet them enabling you to reach an even broader audience. Add hashtags to your posts; this is good to remember for other social media platforms, too. Here’s an example of a hashtag: #lovepizza.

Try promoted tweets. Choose your best tweets and pay to promote them to a targeted audience. Promoted tweets can be effective especially if sent out around mealtime.

3. Encourage Check-Ins: Foursquare

Foursquare is at its best as a mobile application that allows users to “check-in” to places on their smart phones.

Claim your business listing on Foursquare so you can see in real time who is “checking in” at your restaurant. Offer a special deal to people who check-in. Many restaurants reward these loyal diners when they check in with coupons and other promotions.

4. Blog About It

It can be daunting to step into the world of blogging, but it has many great benefits for your restaurant.

Search engines like fresh website content, and your blog provides the perfect avenue for this. Blog about anything that has to do with your restaurant. Share facts, recipes, photos, staff favorites and more. Link your posts to all of your social media networks.

When blogging, find your niche and your voice. (tweet this) What makes you unique? Tailor your blog posts. Are you a hangout for college students? Do you run a sports bar? Depending on your audience, write your content for them. Listen to your social media users. Learn what they want, and then give it to them on your blog.

Consistency is key. Once you’ve established a routine, your blog visitors will come to expect it, so don’t disappoint them.

5. Get Listed on Yelp

Yelp is a site where users leave reviews of restaurants and read your restaurant’s reviews. If you don’t have a Yelp page yet, claim it by submitting your business details to show you are the owner.

After you’ve claimed your page, you can respond to reviews and participate in advertising if you choose. Don’t forget to add quality photos.

Additionally, your users can connect their Yelp and Foursquare accounts. This enables their Foursquare check-ins to show on Yelp. It’s vital to claim your Yelp listing as it greatly helps with your local search marketing.

6. Showcase Videos on YouTube

Create a YouTube channel for your business. Make sure you use the same branding for your header photo so it matches your website and other social media.

What videos should you share? Here are a few ideas:

  • Recipes – create your own “cooking show.”
  • Interview with guests – the customer video testimonial is widely popular
  • Cooking tips
  • Chef highlights

Once you’ve posted your videos on YouTube, they’ll be visible on your Google+ Page. You’ll need to post them on all of your other social media platforms. Post them anywhere you can including your blog. This visual interaction is sure to increase your visibility.

Instagram

The fast-rising social media platform is here to stay.

7. Share and Promote on Instagram

Instagram is the perfect place to share your menu and restaurant photos. It seamlessly integrates with Facebook so your images show on both platforms.

High quality photos are a must. Take your menu photos one step further – encourage your customers to upload their favorite items. This helps build your menu of images while increasing engagement.

Always use hashtags on Instagram. They are relevant and prevalent. Use trending hashtags. For example, use #chocolateday on national chocolate day. Be sure to include photos of your chocolate desserts. Use niche hashtags. For example, if you are located in Atlanta, try #atlantaeats. Running a promotion? Use campaign specific hashtags.

Try photo contests on Instagram. They can generate customer loyalty, as users take and submit photos and come back often to see if they’ve won.

8. Publicize on Pinterest

Take the plunge and set up your restaurant page on Pinterest. Get your restaurant involved by creating boards. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

  • Recipe Board
  • Menu Item Board
  • Inspirational Quotes and Photos Board
  • Special Events Board

You’ll want to create unique pins for each board and re-pin other people’s content. Pinterest is about engaging. Always include some text with your pin and use high quality photos. Take a look at Pinterest’s Promoted Pins. This is another form of paid Internet advertising.

9. Claim Your Google+ Page

Google’s integrated resources make it easy for diners to leave reviews, upload photos and browse the latest hotspots. If you don’t have a Google+ page, claim your page today. As with Facebook, pay attention to profile picture sizes and make sure they are high quality.

Posts work similar to Facebook, so you’ll find Google+ fairly easy. Be consistent and use a mix of photos, videos, reviews, and other interesting content.

10. Google Alerts

Stay on top of your restaurant’s online image. Set up Google alerts, and you can track mentions of your restaurant on the Internet. You’ll learn anytime your name is mentioned. You can track customer reviews, both positive and negative. It’s important to respond in a timely fashion.

If you’re ready to dive into blogging, contact us and request your complimentary website consultation. We’ll get you set up quickly so you can begin writing and attracting new customers.

Images: Jerry Nihen and Faruk Ateş

5 responses to “10 Ways To Promote Your Restaurant On Social Media”

  1. Saniya Arain says:

    Websites are great place to find inspiring design and also to check out ways of displaying picture of designs. I have seen such ideas about restaurants at Bistroservices.com, feel free to visit http://bistroservices.com/

  2. alex carter says:

    also you can try tripadvisor,yelp or restchecker.com

  3. Josh says:

    You can also try a new listing site called RestaVista.com. Its Free and convenient, restaurant owners can create free listing to get more exposure. Your business also can receive organic links from RestaVista.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *