Social media has the power to increase the visibility of businesses and attract many more customers through content publication.

Among the many businesses that have decided to take the step into the digital world and connect with their audience in a way different from the traditional one are restaurants, which every day have more and more methods available to share content that helps promote their services to the public.

Although there are many techniques that can be applied for the digital growth of a restaurant, we want to share a list of tips that can help you achieve it more effectively.

1. Choose the Best Social Media for a Restaurant

There are many options that can be useful when managing the image of a restaurant on social media; however, there are three options that currently capture the public’s attention:

• Instagram Through this social network, restaurants have the opportunity to leverage their image in a cool and attractive way. It is closely related to the current trend of “seeing the plate before tasting it.” Stories can also be used to capture specific moments that provide greater visibility.
• Pinterest It is very similar to Instagram in that it focuses on images along with brief descriptions, but here the most important factor is the visual. On this platform, users are reached through the best photographs of dishes and the restaurant, making it one of the favorites of food lovers.
• TikTok The key to making your restaurant successful on TikTok is creating exclusive content, meaning it should be different from what you’ve posted on other platforms. TikTok speaks to a younger audience, so your content should have that entertaining and fun attribute.

2. Present the Most Important Information About Your Business on the Network You Choose

The well-known BIO section of your business on social networks such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram is a space you can take advantage of to “introduce” your business, mentioning the type of menu you offer and your restaurant’s location.

You can also include contact information, hours of operation, website, and any other details that help users find you easily.

3. Share Original and Organic Images

It is well-known that the food business is the one that sells the most with the help of images. It is important that the photos you upload, whether of your menu or your customers in the restaurant, have good quality and aren’t overly manipulated.

Organic content, meaning natural content with minimal editing, draws more attention from the audience by transmitting more trust and credibility, as it shows the food as it truly is.

4. Small Parts of the Process

Having a content plan is essential so that the image of your restaurant is not only based on finished dishes. You can also take advantage of the story and process behind them.

If your social network is Instagram, you can use stories to share the preparation process of your most popular menu items or show how your staff prepares to welcome guests.

5. Ask for Feedback from Your Customers and Users

Requesting feedback from your customers is one of the best ways to build a one-on-one relationship that allows you to get closer to them.

This also allows you to access information that can lead to the improvement of your services, the creation of new dishes, etc. Social media activities aimed at getting reviews, feedback, or any other type of comments from the public help provide a plus for the growth of your image.

6. Create Promotions on Social Media

If you want your marketing campaign to gain even more strength, you can opt for creating specific promotions to announce on social media. Examples include happy hours or 2-for-1 deals.

You can also take advantage of important dates to create content or collaborate with food influencers. Many accounts specialize in sharing their experience at specific restaurants, which can help you reach a new audience and tap into already established communities.

7. Humanize Your Team on Social Media

Humanizing those behind your restaurant’s success is a powerful strategy that will help you build trust with your followers.

To achieve this, you can start by posting images showing your team working on the public’s favorite dishes, or customers enjoying their time at the restaurant.

Using photos and videos is the best way to accomplish this, as potential customers will get an idea of what they will find when they decide to visit you.

Build a Content Plan and Share Your Actions on Social Media

Restaurants are one of the businesses that most require a content strategy. If your restaurant doesn’t offer a specific menu, for example, breakfasts, that doesn’t mean you can’t share posts during the morning.

You can publish content about your restaurant’s gastronomic offer, but to do so, you need to define your communication style on social media. Only then can you create descriptions that captivate your audience.

Your strategy should also include a posting schedule, and you must ensure that if you’re using multiple networks, you don’t publish the same content everywhere.

9. Manage Your Online Reputation

Listening to what is being said on social media about your restaurant is very important to know if you’re on the right track and if your target audience is getting a good impression of what you do.

If you have a website, you can take advantage of a comments section to ask your loyal users to write a positive review about you. This goes hand in hand with feedback.

Learning from your audience opens the doors to building a solid reputation that aligns with what potential customers expect from you.

10. If You Use Instagram, Take Advantage of “Highlights”

Instagram’s “Highlights” can be very useful if you want to generate relevance online. Using highlights allows your most valuable content shared in stories to stay on your profile.

You can use this type of story to promote a specific activity at your restaurant, for example, special holiday menus or important moments with special guests at your location.

Here are some examples:

Keep these tips in mind if you plan to use Highlight Stories

• A maximum of 100 stories can be uploaded.
• Use them to promote your restaurant’s successes.
• Post important information such as your hours of operation and location.

Some extra tips

In addition to the 10 tips we’ve just shared, we believe these three details should not be overlooked when planning your restaurant’s social media strategy:

Create a Google My Business

Providing users with all the necessary information to contact your restaurant is crucial. To achieve this, it’s essential to optimize and take advantage of the options that Google My Business offers.

With this tool, you can manage the restaurant’s appearance and visibility on Google Maps, as well as: Respond to comments, upload images or videos, post the menu, and more.

Consider the delivery service

In the current situation, the delivery service is something that must be communicated on social media, as it’s one of the most used features by users to stay safe while meeting their needs.

You can emphasize the “time-saving” attribute, giving users the benefit of accessing your menu without leaving home. This can mostly be used in stories.

WhatsApp Business

This tool allows you to receive reservations via messaging, create welcome messages for those who contact you, announce new dishes and promotions, communicate changes in hours, and restaurant closures, etc.

In conclusion

For your restaurant to perform well on social media, you must first be aware that a strategy is essential. Your strategy should include organic photos, promotions, Highlight Stories, brand humanization content, active listening to your customers, and most importantly, conveying that you are learning from them and want to provide better service.