For restaurants, having a strong social media presence is more important than ever. Not only do some millennials say that they actively avoid restaurants without an Instagram presence, social media is a great way to communicate with and entice diners to choose your restaurant among the many options available to them. These restaurant marketing tips can help you learn how to use social media for small business growth.
Choose the Right Platforms
Because there are so many social media platforms, (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, TikTok, Snapchat, etc.) you’ll want to start out with a small net, utilizing only the platforms that make the most sense for your business. Instagram and Facebook are likely your best bet, especially if you’re new to social media marketing, though you may want to branch out based on the type of content you’re posting and your clientele.
Complete Your Profiles
Don’t rush the profile creation process. You’ll want to complete the entire profile, including profile pictures, cover photos, bios, hours, location, website link, menu, and contact info. You’ll also want to invite all your Facebook friends, follow relevant pages, and add social buttons to your website to help build a following.
Be Consistent but Varied
Once you choose the right platforms, you’ll want to start consistently posting high-quality content. We recommend posting ~3 times a week and using a variety of post types. It may help to create a bank of evergreen content you can pull from each week, while also trying to create some content that is more time sensitive. Here are some examples of the types of posts you can utilize:
- Photos of Daily Specials or High-Quality Dishes & Beverages
- Seasonal Menus or Monthly Specials
- Curbside Takeout and Delivery Options
- Employee Spotlights (i.e. Chefs, Bartenders, Servers, etc.)
- 5-Star Reviews & Customer Generated Content
- Behind-the-Scenes Photos & Videos
- Restaurant & Patio Photos
- Food & Drink Recipes
- Events & Promotions
- Vendor Spotlights
- Food & Drink Pairing Ideas
- Special Deals, Coupons & Contests
- Restaurant Loyalty Program Information
Be Reactive
Social media is a way for you to communicate with customers in real time, so you’ll want to be as flexible and reactive as possible. If it’s snowing, for example, you might offer a special 5% discount for anyone who braves the weather to eat at your restaurant. If your hometown team is playing a game that night, communicate an offer for anyone at the restaurant to receive a free beer for the team’s first homerun or touchdown of the game. Remember, the idea is to drum up excitement and loyalty to your brand, and these small incentives can make a big difference to your bottom line.
Need restaurant marketing help? McDonald Wholesale has got you covered. Not only are we a locally-owned and operated foodservice distributor, but we also offer restaurant marketing services, menu analysis and development, and technology solutions. Contact us today to become a customer for life. In the meantime, check out our foodservice blog, where we cover everything from how to rank for ‘near me’ searches to what you need to know about ghost kitchens.