Every restaurateur wants to make a mark in the food industry. But having a restaurant that has a great location and delicious food isn’t enough anymore.
Your restaurant might have a mouthwatering chicken carbonara. Your herb-crusted Filet Mignon might be a feast for the eyes. But these won’t get people rushing in to taste it. This is a very competitive industry. Almost 80% of new restaurants won’t even make it past the 5-year mark.
Online marketing for restaurants now plays a big role. You need it to get your business noticed. It has transformed how restaurants market themselves. The right strategy can turn your brand into a name that people can trust.
Here are the best ways you can use digital marketing for restaurants to grow your business. You can even outlast the competition.
· Build an Awesome Website
Your online presence is the first thing you should consider. Your digital marketing strategy hinges on it. You do so by building the right website for your business. It should direct the traffic you receive from social networking sites. It should entice those included in your email marketing and other advertising. This way, you open your place not only to the locals but to every foodie around the globe.
You should hire professionals to ensure your website has a sophisticated design. They will set up all the information your audience needs, like your location and menu. They will also come up with website features that every customer wants. They’ll ensure your site is easy to navigate. It should work both for desktop and mobile devices. You also want your site to encourage people to place an order or book a reservation.
· Social Media is Key
Having an awesome website is not enough if you don’t take advantage of the power of social media. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube are some of the platforms you need to be on. They are good when it comes to developing a strong online presence. Social media connects you straight to your clients. It also allows you to gain insights into your target market.
Building a good relationship with your followers means constant online engagement. Every comment or shared post increases your visibility. It also allows you to reach a wider audience. A share is as good as a word-of-mouth recommendation.
Promoting your business on social media also encourages feedback. Customers have direct access to your site or accounts. These comments will help you improve your business. This virtual tool can also help drive traffic to your website and in effect push it to the top of the search engines. The more visible you are, the bigger the chances of boosting your restaurant’s image and growth.
Take advantage of social media advertising. It has the power to transform simple followers into future customers. It’s a great restaurant digital marketing strategy at a very cheap cost.
· Pay Attention to Your Content
Can you imagine the amount of content that gets published online on a daily basis? Thousands of restaurants publish content to promote their food to millions of people. These are the consumers who log in to their social media accounts every day.
How do you ensure people see your posts and find them relevant? Your business needs a story. It’s how you connect with your clients. Restaurant marketing companies will say your brand’s story makes you unique. It separates you from all the other businesses that publish content online. Maya Angelou once said that people will forget what you said. They will also forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
Publish content that makes your audience feel your food. Content marketing isn’t only about selling! It’s about people’s experiences. Does the photo of a burrito make them hungry? Does it make them want to look up your restaurant’s menu and order food online? Does it pique their curiosity about your business? Capturing their attention is one thing. Holding onto it is another.
· Make Use of Good Visuals
Consumers today prefer seeing an ad to reading it. People are visual creatures. Your restaurant will enjoy better recall if your posts have eye-catching photos. It can be a shot of a popular dish or happy customers. Promotional campaigns will be more interesting with pictures. For example, share two photos of upcoming dishes on your social media. You can then have your followers vote for the dish they prefer by sharing the photo.
Videos are a force to become reckoned with now. They’re great at engaging customers. Even a three-minute clip is effective at enticing customers. After all, TikTok’s success is due to short videos. If you have the means, hire a professional to do an interactive video for your brand. Don’t worry if you have budget constraints. There are many apps that can transform existing photos into great videos.
Running a restaurant is a serious business. You need to become armed with the right tools and strategies to reach your target market. Word of mouth is not enough anymore! The right digital marketing plan will engage current and prospective clients. It can also build trust and boost sales. An amazing strategy will do wonders in your business.
Meet Your Craving for Success
Great food and service go hand in hand with the right marketing strategy. Let Tulumi Digital Marketing help you with that. We are a full-service digital marketing company. We specialize in helping small businesses succeed. We can do that by designing and developing your website. We also do SEO, social media marketing, and online reputation management. Why don’t you call us at (800) 481-1720 and let’s get down to business. You can also drop us a line at hello@tulumi.com.
