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9 Strategies for Restaurant Marketing

  1. Get Social

  2. Get a Website

  3. Hold Contests

  4. Don’t Forget About Email Marketing

  5. Collaborate with Influencers and Local Food Bloggers

  6. Get Listed On Food Apps

  7. Tap into Social Paying

  8. Take Advantage of Social Media Marketing

  9. Mind and Manage Your Online Reputation


As digital technology continues to transform the business world, the landscape of restaurant marketing must also adapt. Gone are the days of restaurant owners depending on local referrals and word of mouth to make a name for themselves. While some restaurants are getting it right by taking advantage of digital marketing media and mobile technology, the majority are still struggling to get their restaurant marketing off the ground.

With fierce competition and an average failure rate of 60% for restaurants, it is essential that you get a top-notch marketing strategy that’s just right for your business. Succeeding as a restaurant owner must go far beyond creating the most delicious dishes. The difference in succeeding or failing comes down to your restaurant business marketing strategies. In this blog, we will highlight nine proven strategies for restaurant marketing in the digital business world.


Get Social


We are in a day in age where social media platforms are being used to share food, beverages, and other delicacies in ways that can make the most frugal of people spend some extra dollars. If you want to increase those money-making orders, you should take advantage of the many social media platforms to promote your restaurant and make a name for yourself online.

While there are countless social media platforms, when it comes to food, Instagram is King and Facebook is Queen. It is important to remember that the key to getting social and making a profit includes posting top-quality pictures and video clips of your food and beverages. If you’re unsure of how to get started, consider hiring a social media marketing company for industry-specific insight and proven strategies.


Get a Website


Having a website for your restaurant is like setting up shops all across the globe. If you want your restaurant to thrive, then having a professional, modern, and easy-to-use website is a must. A website can provide you with new ways to reach a larger market of consumers. It makes it easier for existing and potential customers to find you.

If you’re second-guessing putting up a website because of the work involved, the reward can make all the effort worth it tenfold. If you’re unsure of where to start, hiring a professional website service or marketing company can take the chore off your plate and get it right the first time.


Hold Contests


Holding contests for potential and existing customers is a great way to spread the word about your restaurant while also engaging with your desired market. You can hold online and offline contests. This means holding a contest at your physical restaurant location making it easy for your customers to share the details online. If even one customer has a large social media following and is uploading content related to your restaurant online, then holding a contest could really help get your business some recognition.


Don’t Forget About Email Marketing


Email marketing is another important strategy you can use to market your restaurant effectively. There are two ways you grow your email list. The first approach is to get customers to fill out forms in-person, and the second is getting them to fill forms online.

Restaurant marketing via email is an effective way to bait potential customers and keep them coming back for more. With email marketing, you can show off new delicacies to your menu while keeping customers updated about exciting offers. If you’re unfamiliar with email marketing, don’t hesitate to contact an expert to discover how this powerful strategy can benefit your restaurant.


Collaborate with Influencers and Local Food Bloggers


One of the most effective strategies you do to market your restaurant is networking with other businesses. As a restaurant owner, connecting with local food bloggers and influencers can do wonders for your business. You can leverage this connection and get these social media moguls to share content related to your restaurant by giving them incentives like free meals. This, in turn, can help you gain brand recognition within their network.


Get Listed On Food Apps


Food apps are becoming the norm as the demand for easy ordering and effortless food delivery increases. Instead of wasting time scrolling the web to find a good place to eat, all consumers need to do now is install a food app that makes the decision even easier.


Why not take advantage of this booming mobile technology by partnering with food apps to ensure your restaurant is listed. Getting on these food apps can widen your reach and make sure you don’t miss out on any opportunities to gain more customers.


Tap into Social Paying


It’s not uncommon for many people to go to a restaurant simply because it was recommended by a friend, family member, or social media influencer. You can tap into the power of online word of mouth by implementing social paying.


Social paying simply means giving customers a chance to pay for their meal by sharing your food and beverages on their social media platforms. For example, if ten or even five of your customers have a hundred followers each, them sharing your delicacies online can easily entice others to try something from your restaurant!


Take Advantage of Social Media Marketing


Social media marketing is one of the most effective and powerful tools for businesses, especially restaurants. Social media marketing means more than establishing brand awareness; it helps you gain insight into your ideal customer. Something that can prove to be invaluable to your business.


Social media marketing can also provide new avenues for existing customers to leave helpful feedback regarding your menu and restaurant overall. To ensure you get the most out of your social media restaurant marketing, it should be executed by a team of experts.


Mind and Manage Your Online Reputation


Few things can destroy a restaurant faster than a bad review regarding the food, atmosphere, or service. Despite all your business, decorative, and culinary efforts, if your online reputation is subpar it can make little difference.


Taking time to manage your online reputation can make or break your restaurant. Reputation management for the digital age should involve responding to customer questions and reviews regardless if good or bad in a timely matter. Your responses should remain positive and sincere. You can better ensure your online reputation stays pristine by hiring a restaurant marketing company.

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