Your Restaurant Social Media Marketing Recipe
Restaurant Social Media
Diners these days are more selective than ever when it comes to their restaurant choices, and they have every right to be. Thanks to mobile devices and constant connectivity, they have more resources than ever at their fingertips to influence decisions on where to grab a bite or drink at a moment’s notice. After all, according to Small Business Trends, 94% of people will pick a restaurant by relying solely on its online reviews.
Zagat interviewed 13,000 customers for their 2018 Dining Trends report and found that “among diners who browse food photos on social media (53%), 75% say they have actually picked a place to eat based on shared food photos.” That number is nothing to sneeze at. When you’ve got a great marketing strategy with a focus on Facebook and Instagram, both photo-reliant social media applications, your restaurant could realize even more of its potential. As an industry insider, are you up with the latest trends in social media marketing for restaurants? Let’s take a deeper look into some key Facebook and Instagram strategies you can focus on to drive more revenue and catch the attention of new customers.
It’s All About Connecting
Diners love restaurants that are engaged with their customers. Effective engagement builds trust and loyalty, and one of the best ways to engage is through social media. Facebook is the ultimate platform for small business marketing, thanks in part to its staggering number of users: At the end of 2018, it was determined Facebook has more than 2 billion active users across the globe. By focusing on creating a Facebook page that introduces live streaming, beautiful photography, and an active community, you can attract customers from nearly any location. Drive your Facebook fans to your restaurant’s website, where they can learn even more about what makes you stand apart from other restaurants. New menu items deserve a beautiful photo on Facebook and Instagram, followed by a link to your website where potential guests can get a full view of your offerings, make a reservation, and learn about upcoming events. Your Facebook page is also perfect real estate for growing your email list. Again, by driving customers to your restaurant’s website through a clever Call to Action, you can serve them up an easy way to sign up for targeted promotions delivered right to their inboxes.
Embrace Video
Facebook Live coins itself as “A fun, powerful way to connect with your followers and create new ones along the way.” If this is the goal for your restaurant, it’s a great strategy to implement into your marketing plans. The Balance Small Business has fun suggestions for Facebook Live posts, which include streaming video of your bartender mixing a quintessential cocktail, or your chef preparing a popular dish. Inviting your customers backstage of your restaurant makes them feel like they’re a part of the magic.
The same can be said of Instagram Stories, which can easily play an important role in your marketing strategy. At barely 3 years old, Instagram Stories are enjoyed by 400 million people every day. Why not add your restaurant to this unique form of entertainment? Another benefit to this feature is that stories expire after 24 hours, so marketers don’t have to be overly concerned with creating a perfect video experience. In fact, part of the charm of Instagram Stories is how unpolished the end results can be.
Photo Finish
Whether you’re posting on Facebook or Instagram (but hopefully it’s both), you want to make sure your photos are the best of the best. Take a look at this guide to learn how to take beautiful photos without the need for professional equipment. You can also encourage your guests to post photos of their meals and tag or hashtag your restaurant in the caption. And by running contests on Facebook or Instagram, you’re able to create rules that require entrants to tag a friend in your ad’s comments, which could lead to even more followers and potential future customers.
Timing is Everything
When it comes to social media posting frequency, the numbers can vary. According to CoSchedule (via Inc.com), marketers should aim to post on Facebook 1 time per day, and 1-2 times per day on Instagram. And in terms of timing, CoSchedule’s blog makes recommendations here for Facebook and here for Instagram.
Be Prepared
Social media marketing doesn’t have to break the bank, and that’s why it’s one of the most favored forms of marketing for this generation of business owners. That being said, it pays to have additional cash on hand to make investments elsewhere in your business, such as revamping the website that will soon be seeing an influx of traffic thanks to your stellar Facebook and Instagram strategies. A Line of Credit from ARF Financial gives you 24-hour access to 5 separate loan drafts over a 6-month period—you can even request funds online! Use the cash for what your business needs and make low, fixed weekly payments. So when opportunity knocks, you’re financially prepared to answer. APPLY NOW!
Restaurant social media does not have to be complicated. Here are key Facebook and Instagram strategies to drive more revenue and catch new customers.