In this digital era, a lot of small and medium businesses and restaurants still don’t have an online presence. With the right digital marketing strategy in place, many restaurants can increase their sales. Even if many restaurants have an online presence, without a strategy, it can be a waste of energy with little to no return.
If you’re new to digital marketing, social media marketing, online reputation management and SEO, you would definitely need a guide to help you navigate. Don’t worry, The Brandpress has got the strategies with the help of which you will start turning your posts into orders from customers.
Search engine marketing
SEM – Search Engine Marketing is one of the most effective ways to grow your business in this increasingly competitive marketplace. The first step towards getting new customers is to appear on top in the Google search results.
You need to include your keywords inserted as often as you can for the most successful restaurant digital marketing.
Other than keywords, you have to think locally as well.
Local SEO means that when someone searches for “Halfway House Restobar” in Bangalore they might also include local terms. Halfway House Restobar in Bangalore might want to include “Halfway House Pub near New BEL Road” to target customers.
If you’re still trying to understand how to use keywords, try to use free tools.
Creating a blog with the right targeted keywords can increase direct traffic to your site.
Rightly use social media
If your restaurant is not present on social media platforms, you’re missing a big opportunity for restaurant digital marketing. If your restaurant is already on social media, you have to do something to stand out.
Lots of restaurants post the most salutary images of their best dishes, but because there’s so much out there, you need to find a way to be different. Restaurants should have someone dedicated to how their social media profile is marketed.
Social media allows brands to express their personality, tonality or communicate who they are to the world. Take this opportunity to introduce your waitstaff and your hosts.
Put together short videos showing the back of the house making beautiful stuff during your dinner rush. During slower mornings, give consumers a treat by showing them photos of a dish from start to finish, from raw ingredients to a beautifully plated masterpiece.
Don’t be afraid to get feedback from your audience. Ask what their favourite sides and desserts are and offer a special a week later on that dish. Reply to comments and engage.
Building your brand authority builds loyalty and lifelong customers.
Video is king
More than half of all users spend an hour watching video content on social media every day. That’s a whole lot of ten- to sixty-second clips over a day.
While it may sound easy, you have to make sure that you’re contents are being consumed by the users, therefore need to ensure that your videos are somewhat professional looking. The production value of your videos depends on the content you’re trying to communicate.
If you’re showing a busy kitchen or a Christmas party, it’s okay to use a handheld video shot on your phone. If you want to inform your customers about the new product, it’s better to take professional help.
When you are looking for your video team, come up with more than one way to reach your customers. Get the videos done for 10-second, 30-second and 2-minute edits for different social media sites. Longer videos are appropriate for Youtube, while Instagram, TikTok or Snapchat users want to see short clips.
Tell the story of your business in one video. If you source ingredients from a local company or farm, tell a short story about your relationship with them. Personal narratives resonate with customers.
Tie up with influencers
Recommendations and word-of-mouth is the most powerful form of marketing.
When you’re working on the strategy for your restaurant, don’t forget to include some level of cross-promotion. If you use a hot sauce that’s made or distributed by a local vendor, you can promote each other with blogs and social media posts.
Invite local bloggers and restaurant critics to dine with you. Show off your latest ideas and newest dishes, then ask if they’ll write about you or do a post on their social media page. There are even paid channels to get people with big social media followings to talk about you.
Just be sure that your paid influencers have local followings.
If you have a blog, invite guest bloggers. You can use each other’s networks to gain followers while sharing recipes, favourite dishes from around the world, or just your favourite things about your city. Be creative and make connections.
You never know where they could lead.
Restaurant digital marketing is a full-time fun
It’s hard for restaurant owners to be able to handle all of the moving parts of their business and become digital marketing experts at the same time. If you’re new to SEO and digital marketing for your restaurant, it can be overwhelming at first.