It’s 2024, and some people are hoping that the social media craze will die down so they can get on with their business. Social media can seem like a bothersome task when you’re already overwhelmed with daily duties of running a restaurant, but here’s the secret…work smarter, not harder. New technology that we have mentioned in previous posts helps people save a lot of time and money. All of your energy does not need to be geared towards taking inventory, scheduling employees, and accounting and payroll just so you can wake up and do it all over again the next day. There are systems in place to help you succeed and if you take a small portion of your new found time to focus on social media, you can further increase your success. Social media is a fantastic, free marketing tool that gets your name out to the masses, and helps you connect on a more personal level with your customers, which in turn can boost your profits. If you are feeling tired of these platforms, we are here to assure you that they are working and leave you encouraged to start utilizing them more!
First Impressions
Customers are turning to social media for all the deets, like what’s your menu like? Do you have any specials? What’s happening at your restaurant? A quick look at your page can tell customers to come on in or keep scrolling and find somewhere else. Customers also use different platforms, depending on their age or what they are searching for, so utilizing more than one is a great idea, and once you have created content for one, you can use it for the others. This form of marketing allows you to really brand your restaurant and stand out from others. It doesn’t have to be super formal. If your restaurant is laid back and wants to have funny content with witty captions, then go for it! Let it reflect your brand and your voice and watch the customers connect. The idea is to have a presence.
Social Media Do’s
- Be consistent: If you are only posting once a month or even twice a month, that is not going to get people engaged and it is not going to serve its purpose. Let the people know you are in business and ready to serve them!
- Post promotional items: If you are running a promo, definitely let the people know! You can even showcase certain popular items at your restaurant. (Try to avoid posting pictures of the entire menu. This is hard to read and can steer people away.)
- Host a giveaway: People love a good giveaway. Throw together some merch and a gift card and get people to like, share and comment on your post. This boosts engagement and makes new people aware of your business
- Plan ahead: If you want to be successful with social media, you are going to need to plan ahead. The day will roll right on without a post if you have not taken time to plan out your week or month. If you can post 2-3 times a week, you will likely see more engagement and customers will know you are active.
- Have a call to action: Not every post has to have this, but occasionally throw out a question or poll for people to engage with!
- Respond to comments and reviews: A simple response that shows the customer you saw their message and are thankful for their review can go a long way. People take the time to read these reviews, so if they see you are engaging online, even if the review was not great, it will speak volumes.
Keep everything simple. Social media doesn’t have to be this perfect grid of pictures or videos, but it does need to be thought out and purposeful. 3 in 4 customers will look at a business’ Facebook reviews and pictures to make an informed decision about whether they want to visit or not. TikTok has also become the place for people to discuss restaurant food and drink trends, so it’s a good idea to have the platform and be part of the conversation. You don’t want to overthink or search high and low for content. Your restaurant is filled with yummy picture ideas and fun staff to highlight. So have fun, get in on the conversations and start reaching more people!
