How to Market Your Restaurant Locally

You can see anything on social media today. Anybody you speak to at least has a Facebook page, if not an Instagram and Twitter account as well. As a business owner, you already know that you have to reach your audience through these social media platforms. If you aren’t at least on Facebook you’re missing out on a huge local audience you’re not reaching. And, it’s not just Facebook. Tweets about your restaurant on Twitter can result in an influx of customers walking through the doors. That is if that tweet comes from the right person. Then there’s Instagram. You know those iconic photos you see of popular, “must-try” dishes at restaurants throughout the city? People are trying these dishes, and visiting those restaurants, because they saw the images on social media platforms. If your restaurant isn’t utilizing them you’re missing out.

Today, everyone’s on at least one social media channel, so you have to be as well as a business owner. If not, you’re not going to keep up with the local competitors. So, how can you harness the power of social media marketing to your advantage? We’re here to help!

Social Media Influencers: How They Can Help Promote & Market Your Restaurant

Why use a social media influencer? Apart from the millions of followers, some benefits of social media marketing for your restaurant, through influencers helps you

• Reach a younger target demographic
• Spread the positive word of mouth referrals
• Help promote your brand positively, and this is just the beginning

Nearly 40% of people who are trying a new restaurant are doing so because of an influencer. Therefore, you need to jump on board and use the power of these influencers, to share your message with your local target demographic. The more eyes you can get on your restaurant chain/name, the easier it is going to be to bring people in the doors.

Social Media Marketing: The Power of Reaching a Larger Audience Online

You shouldn’t just rely on influencers. Yes, they are powerful, but social media marketing, in general, is a powerful tool you should harness as a business owner. Remember earlier on how we described virtually everyone on this planet being on at least one social media site? Now imagine being able to market your restaurant to the millions of people who log into Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, and Instagram every day. It’s just another avenue to help you reach more people, sell your product, and build a positive reputation online, without ever having a customer step through your doors.

Why is social media marketing so beneficial for your restaurant, in a highly saturated industry?

1. People research. Many people search for restaurants through social media outlets (it’s like an SEO search but searchers rely on your brand/reputation based upon your following)
2. People will visit a Facebook page before visiting/trying a new restaurant.
3. Simply having an online presence allows you to showcase your restaurant, the location, what you serve, and more.
4. Restaurants can share their menu, special items, promotions, and other deals online.
5. You can offer coupons, new customer deals, and other incentives for people to try your restaurant through social media.
6. It’s a simple way to connect your Google My Business Page as well as Google Maps and Apple Maps. (people see where you’re located)
7. There’s a place for customers to reach you online, inquire about your servings, make reservations, and so forth.
8. Restaurants can share photos of new dishes, new menu items, or a greeting from the owner or chef.

What you can do on social media is only limited by your creativity. And, when you have a great social media team on your side, developing and helping you deliver marketing content online, it’s going to be even easier for restaurant owners to reach the right demographic, and get new customers to come in and try their restaurant.

Social media is also positive in building your brand/reputation. If a customer has a bad experience online, you can turn this into a positive. Reply to customers, offer them coupons, a discount on their next visit, and show potential customers, how you care about your audience and strive to provide the best services. When positively utilized, social media is huge for your restaurant and can help you increase your local audience base and reputation online.

… Let’s Not Forget About Search Engine Marketing

Yes, social media is extremely influential and you have to use it. However, we can’t forget about the power of SEO (search engine optimization) and search engine marketing. How do you win this Google game and get more patrons to visit your restaurant than local competitors? Proper research is step one! Utilizing the right keywords, local marketing, plugging your contact information online, and setting up your Google My Business page, are a few ways you can bolster your credibility and visibility online.

Additionally, with SEM and SEO, you can create compelling content online. You’ll also want to focus on:

• Meta tags and titles
• Images and alternate image tags
• H1, H2, H3 headers (and incorporating primary and secondary keywords in this title tags)
• Local SEO to include your location, address, phone number, and local landmarks nearby
• Information about your hours of operation/days of operation

Then, there are PPC ads, Google Ads, paid Facebook ads, and so much more! It’s a never-ending game that you’re competing in as a restaurant owner. Because the market is so saturated, and there is so much competition, you have to know how to play the game.

Contact us Today!

Unsure of how to begin your social media campaigns, which influencers to reach out to, or how to build your SEM strategy? We can help! Contact our team online or call us today! We have the right strategy for your restaurant, and we’ll custom-tailor a plan that’s suited to your restaurant, your audience, and intended to help your business grow!