The world we live in is revolving around hashtags, the number of likes, and the best image of someone’s dinner. Playing a part in this social media realm is a priority for any restaurant. It has become essential to have a presence on social media, and we thought there is no better way than to give you our top tips.
Restaurant Social Media Marketing
The first thing you need to know is that it is not enough to just have a page that is active. You need to have valuable content that audiences want to be a part of. You need direction and you need to know what your audience members are looking for.
We hope that the tips outlined below not only takes your online presence to a new level. But that through your presence, your restaurant becomes the best it possibly can.
Behind the Scenes
Besides from providing an experience through photographs, you need to make your audience feel like they know the ins and outs of your business. Make an effort to vary the content you produce.
Take the time to go behind the scenes. Show audience members what they may not see on a regular basis.
Get Connected with your Social Media Audience
Follow your customers on their social platforms if they have mentioned you in one of their posts. Make a concentrated effort to re-generate their content. First by asking if you would be able to use their image, and then by tagging them within the post.
This way you are including your audience members in your post and you are thanking them for the feedback and support they are giving. Learn more about how to combine social media and physical marketing.
New Menu Items
Everyone loves new things. Especially when it comes to a new item on the menu. Expand the experience of your audience and get them excited for the new things to come. Highlight the top dishes for that season and let them know of any new exciting events on or off the menu.
Recommend what you think will be a good wine pair for the dish, and give the background behind the inspiration of the new dish. Make sure the image you use looks as delicious as it tastes!
Account Takeover
Let your audience get to know your staff. Allow each member of the business a day to take over your accounts. Ensure them of what is expected of them and let them show a bit more of themselves to your audience.
Leverage your staff members and give your customers a better glimpse of who they are and what they love about working with the business. It is a great way to get a more personal look at the business. You want to humanise your business, shining a spotlight on your staff and giving credit where credit is due.
Consistency
You need to make sure that there is consistency in your social media presence on all platforms. You need a brand identity that can be seen on all social platforms and you need to ensure that each platform is getting enough attention.
Be consistent with the mood, style and voice you use on your platforms. Be sure to always have posts scheduled in advance. This way you will be able to not miss a day if things get hectic in the restaurant.
Quick Response Time
The easiest way for your customers to reach you is through your own social media platforms. Whether they are getting a hold of you to praise you or ask a question, you need to always be available to answer any questions they may have.
Ensure that everyone on the team has the account details. There should always be someone on hand to respond accordingly. If you cannot get a response to them right away, set up an out-of-office message that they will receive in the interim. They need to know that they are being heard and that you are acknowledging what they have to say.
Social Media Tips
With the above tips, it will become easy to start understanding your customers and giving them relatable content to engage with. You can start building your presence further and will, in turn, have you will have a wider knowledge of what works and what doesn’t. And not just what will work in one of your recipes! Read our latest blog to learn more about how to mange your restaurant's social media campaigns.
Recommended Social Media Tools for Restaurants
In today's digital age, managing social media for your restaurant goes beyond just posting content. To streamline your efforts and maximise your online presence, utilising various social media tools can be immensely helpful. Here are some recommended tools to implement your restaurant marketing strategy:
- Canva: Canva is a user-friendly graphic design platform perfect for creating eye-catching visuals for your social media posts. With a wide range of templates, fonts, and graphics, you can easily design engaging content even if you're not a graphic designer.
- Adobe Spark: Another excellent tool for creating stunning graphics, videos, and web pages. Adobe Spark offers professional-looking templates and easy-to-use editing features, making it ideal for enhancing your restaurant's visual content.
- Hootsuite: Hootsuite is a comprehensive social media management platform that allows you to schedule posts across multiple platforms, monitor social media activity, and analyze performance metrics. It helps you stay organised and consistent with your social media strategy.
- Buffer: Similar to Hootsuite, Buffer is a scheduling tool that enables you to plan and publish content across various social media channels. It also provides analytics to track the performance of your posts and identify trends.
- Sprout Social: Sprout Social offers a suite of social media management tools, including scheduling, publishing, engagement, and analytics. It provides valuable insights into your audience's behaviour and helps you tailor your content accordingly.
- Mention: Mention is a social listening tool that allows you to monitor mentions of your restaurant across the web and social media platforms. It helps you stay informed about what people are saying about your business, enabling you to respond promptly to feedback and address any issues.
- Later: Later is an Instagram scheduling tool that simplifies the process of planning and scheduling posts for the platform. It offers features like visual content calendar, hashtag suggestions, and user-generated content management, making it easier to curate and schedule Instagram content. Make your Instagram marketing a breeze!
By incorporating these social media tools into your restaurant's marketing strategy, you can streamline your efforts, enhance your online presence, and better connect with your audience. Experiment with different tools to find the ones that work best for your restaurant's unique needs and objectives.