Getting ahead in the restaurant business is more difficult than ever. Long gone are the days when a great location, some good word-of-mouth, and tasty food were all you needed to succeed. In order to stand out from the competition, you need to have a solid marketing strategy—and that means utilizing social media.
Gastronomic establishments are at a bit of a disadvantage when it comes to social media marketing, as customers rarely take pictures of their meals and post them online. However, there are still a number of ways that you can use social media to reach new customers and grow your business. Here are 5 tips for gastronomic social media marketing:
1. Use High-Quality Images and Videos
While customers may not be posting photos of their meals online, that doesn't mean that you shouldn't be using images and videos as part of your social media strategy. People love looking at pictures of delicious food, so make sure to post high-quality images of your dishes on your various social media platforms. In addition, consider creating short video ads that showcase your restaurant's atmosphere and cuisine.
2. Take Advantage of User-Generated Content
Even though customers aren't likely to post photos of their meals online, they may still mention your establishment on social media—so make sure to keep an eye out for user-generated content (UGC). When you see someone talking about your restaurant on social media, be sure to like and share their post. This will not only help increase your visibility, but it will also show potential customers that you're active on social media and engage with your existing customer base.
3. Host Contests and Giveaways
A great way to get people talking about your gastronomic establishment on social media is to host contests and giveaways. For example, you could give away a free meal or discount to the person who posts the best photo of their meal at your restaurant. Not only will this help generate UGC, but it will also help create a buzz around your business.
4. Utilize Influencers
In today's digital world, influencers wield a lot of power—so it's important to utilize them as part of your social media strategy. Find some local influencers who are passionate about food and who have engaged followings on social media, and offer them a free meal in exchange for them taking some photos or videos of their experience at your restaurant and sharing them with their followers. This is a great way to reach new potential customers who might not have otherwise heard of your gastronomic establishment.
5. Post Regularly
Finally, one of the most important things to remember when it comes to social media marketing is that consistency is key—so make sure to post regularly on all of your channels. If you only post once in a while, people will forget about you and move on to one of the other options in the competitive landscape of the restaurant industry. But if you can maintain a consistent presence on social media, you'll be well on your way to growing your business through this powerful marketing tool.
