Social Media Marketing for Restaurants
Tutorial
You may often think of
creating a Facebook page or making a deal on Groupon (USA & Canada). Unfortunately, these ideas will cost you
energy, maybe even money. They will
attract people to your restaurant, however, various offers are not a way of
retaining customers, it is only a way of gaining temporary opportunistic
customers.
So how do you use social
media intelligently, and create a better physical footfall into your restaurant,
to match your internet traffic through social networks?
For Starters
Open an account on at
least five social media networks. I
would suggest Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIN, Twitter and Pinterest. Ask the websites support staff if you are
allowed to open a profile/account in the name of your business. If not then put it in your name with your
restaurant logos and pictures etc.
Communicate your business
Your best ambassadors are
your current customers, so you must let them know that you are now on Facebook,
Twitter, Pinterest, etc. ... Plaster it on your front door if you like, inside
your toilets if they are open to the public (your customers never leave their
smartphone, what better time to go “Like” your Facebook page?). Maybe create an offer of a % off if they
“friend” you or “Like” and make a positive comment on one of your videos.
Do not “flood” your fan
publications
A little like if you have
an emailing or snail mailing list (I strongly suggest you have both) then you
would not send communications too often.
So don’t do it on a social media site.
Pay attention to the frequency of your publications, especially on
Facebook where the tolerance is much lower than other social networks. Try not to exceed 3-4 publications a week
ESPECIALLY if your publications are 40%+ adverts!!! This is not the right medium for informing
your customers of daily specials.
Reference yourself on
Google Places
It's a little off the
world of social networks but is still a basic step. Register on Google Places. This will allow you to appear in a good
position when a query such as "restaurant + Place name” is searched for.
Unveil your products
Give a preview on social
networks with text, videos or pictures.
Attract your customers (or prospective clients) on your social media
(Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare, Pinterest, Google +, etc.) It is easier when
you offer a tangible benefit. Introduce them to your new menu selection and
take them on a video tour of your clean kitchens.
Choose your fans
We know, that keeping a
loyal customer as a customer, pays much more than a new customer. So keep pampering. A customer who makes the approach to follow
you on a social networking site has the potential to become a brand ambassador
and so convert his friends into customers.
So it is imperative to reward them with promotion codes or special
offers.
Make small games
(contests)
It may be a recurring
action (weekly or monthly) to create the expectation on the part of your
community. Hide a teddy in the
restaurant and announce on social media that if somebody spots it they get x%
off their meal during that visit. Hide
it in a different place every week.
