Creating Positive PR for Your Restaurant

You spent years growing your restaurant to be a well-known, reputable place for families to go to and have a meal. They enjoyed your food, the atmosphere of your restaurant, and more importantly, they didn’t have to second-guess whether or not it was safe to go out and eat. Now, your restaurant is having to fight this new mindset that eating out, or even going out in public, is a threat to their health. That’s why now more than ever, restaurants need a positive image to encourage customers to return to their dining rooms and it all starts with a solid public relations (PR) plan that helps with creating positive PR for your restaurant. Here are some ways your restaurant can regenerate that positive image that you worked so hard to build and bring the life back to your restaurant.

Highlight Community Involvement

Has your restaurant been able to give back to the community during the pandemic? Let others know about it! Write a press release to highlight your community involvement to send to your local news outlets. Ask organizations that you partnered with to mention your partnership in any publicity that they do. Sharing the word of your good deeds will go a long way to show your customers that you’re not just a business but a part of the community.

Utilize Social Media Influencers

Even if your restaurant doesn’t have a large social media presence, you can utilize these channels to get a positive PR buzz. Social media influencers can help you get in front of larger audiences and back on the map again. Do your research to find bloggers in your area that focus on your ideal customer demographic and ask them to come by for a free meal in return for an honest review and social media posts.

Partner With Local Businesses

Chances are there are businesses in your community that cater to the same target audience as your restaurant. Creating a partnership with these businesses can help boost your restaurant’s awareness and also build a trustworthy perception with customers. You can also use these partnerships to create events to build awareness and generate positive attitudes towards eating out again.

Get Personal

Once people are comfortable to start eating out again, they will be looking for that personal touch to grab their attention. Create a customer loyalty program if you don’t have one already to entice return visits. Utilize these programs to store information like their favorite drinks and meals to provide specials that are geared towards their preferences. Ask your chefs to provide notes about their favorite dishes to include on the menus that speak to the inspiration and cultivation of the meals. Finding ways to bring out the personality of your restaurant and show your customers that you care about their needs will go a long way in creating loyalty again.

If you haven’t started on your restaurant’s PR plan to boost your public awareness, now’s the time to do start creating positive PR for your restaurant. Use social media, online reviews, and local media to your advantage to continuously saturate your community with positive messages about your restaurant. The reminders will pay off. There will come a time that people will feel comfortable eating out again and when they do, they will know exactly where they want to go.