Social Media Marketing for Restaurants: A Beginner’s Guide

Why should my restaurant engage in social media?

Apart from your target audience spending significant time on social, there are a number of compelling reasons for your restaurant to have a social media presence. Here are five of the best:

  1. Presence of Competitors: If your competitors are active on social media and you’re not, you risk losing favour with your customers.
  2. Cost-Effectiveness: Social media for restaurants advertising is cost-effective, offering great value compared to traditional methods.
  3. Drive Website Traffic: Social media can boost online orders by driving traffic to your website.
  4. Promotion Platform: It’s an effective channel for promoting new dishes or offers to your loyal customers.
  5. Customer Interaction: Social media allows you to interact with customers, gather feedback, build trust, and encourage repeat visits.

In summary, social media presents numerous opportunities for restaurants to thrive.

 

Which social media platforms are ideal for restaurants?

Now that you understand the importance of social media marketing for restaurants, selecting the right platforms is crucial. With numerous options available, it’s essential to focus on a few key platforms initially to streamline your marketing efforts. Here are the top three platforms we recommend for restaurants, listed in order of priority:

  1. Facebook
  2. Instagram
  3. X

Facebook is the primary choice due to its extensive user base, familiarity, and more importantly, its advertising capabilities. Instagram follows, offering a visual platform perfect for showcasing food. Lastly, X provides an avenue for instant customer engagement and is the second-largest social media platform.

What to Share on Your Restaurant’s Facebook Page?

We suggest a mix of content:

• Special offers or promotions
• Appetising food or specials photos
• Engaging questions to spark interaction
• Requests for feedback on menus
• Incorporating user-generated content
• Running polls on favourite dishes

For Frequency:

Avoid overloading with posts; a couple per day is ideal.

First Steps:

  • Set up your Facebook page
    • Plan your posts
    • Schedule them on the platform (Using tools such as Hootesuite)
    • Explore Facebook’s advertising features

Next-Level Tips:

Once comfortable, try these strategies to boost your Facebook presence:

  • Utilise Facebook’s algorithm for promotions
    • Explore innovative marketing approaches
    • Implement creative ideas for engagement

Moving to Instagram

Instagram complements Facebook well. Utilise high-quality food images and hashtags like #foodporn and #hungry.

Frequency:

Post at least once daily with appropriate hashtags.

First Steps:

  • Establish your Instagram profile
    • Gather or arrange high-quality food photos
    • Start posting, using suggested hashtags

Advanced Strategies:

After mastering food photos, consider selling gift cards via Instagram.

X Tactics:

X requires concise, engaging content. Respond promptly to user queries and feedback.

Social Media Marketing for Restaurants: Content Ideas

Repurpose Facebook and Instagram content for X. Expect more user interactions, including inquiries and occasional criticisms.

Frequency:

Post multiple times daily due to shorter post lifespan.

First Steps:

  • Follow X’s business profile setup guide
    • Brainstorm content ideas
    • Establish a regular tweeting schedule
    • Respond promptly to user queries

Establishing Your ‘Social Media Marketing for Restaurants’ Strategy

By now, you’ve gained insights into:

  • The significance of social media for restaurants
  • Potential outcomes
  • Key platforms to prioritise
  • Content ideas for your profiles
  • Steps to kickstart Facebook, X, and Instagram

We hope these tips will be useful in establishing your ‘social media marketing for restaurants’ strategy. Good luck with your social media for restaurants plan.

If you’d like your restaurant/bar/pub to be featured on FoodNoise, reach out for a conversation with one of the team via info@foodnoise.co.uk

Or if you are looking for assistance with your marketing or PR for your restaurant, email us at the same address above but put MarketNoise into the subject header.