25 Ways to Use Social Media in 2022 to Boost Restaurant Sales

If you’re a restaurant owner, then you know that marketing is key to success. And in today’s world, social media is the king of marketing. It’s affordable, easy to use, and reaches a huge audience. So if you’re not using social media to market your restaurant, you’re missing out on a lot of potential customers. In this article, we’ll discuss some of the ways you can use Social Media to your advantage.

 

Use Different Social Media Platforms

It’s important to use different social media channels and remain consistent across all channels. Instagram and Facebook are the most popular social media platform methods to get customers to your business. For example, if you have a Facebook account, make sure to also post something similar to your Instagram account. This will help you create a consistent brand image for your restaurant. By posting on different social media platforms, you’re also increasing the chance that customers will see your posts, making it much more likely they’ll visit your restaurant.

 

Create a Strong Presence on Social Media

This goes along with using different platforms but is crucial to success when using social media to boost sales. It’s important to make sure all of your profiles are complete and look professional. If you don’t have a profile picture or bio, for example, potential customers won’t be able to find out about your business on social media accounts, much less learn how to contact you.

 

Utilize hashtags when posting on your Social Media Accounts

Hashtags are a great way to get your restaurant’s posts in front of more people. Whenever you post about your restaurant on social media, make sure to use hashtags that are relevant to your business. This will help potential customers find your posts and could lead to them visiting your restaurant. You can also use trending hashtags as a way to increase the reach of your posts. Trending hashtags are hashtags that are currently popular, for example, you could use #soulfood or #tbt in any of your posts. By using hashtags in your post, you can reach a larger audience and increase sales.

 

Take Advantage of Location-Specific Posts

Location-specific posts are quite popular on social media. People love checking in at certain places and by taking advantage of these posts, you’re increasing the chance potential customers will see them. For example, you can offer “Check-in and get 30% off” or something similar that fits with your restaurant promotions. Once they check in on their phone, it’ll show up on their feed. You can even create a unique coupon code for customers who check-in at your restaurant. For example, you can offer a coupon code: “Checkin and get 10% off!” Once they check in on their social media, you can offer them this coupon code. This will give them an incentive to check in on social media and could lead to increased sales.

 

Offer Free appetizers with a meal as part of your Social Media Marketing

Social media is the perfect place to offer something for free to new or existing customers. Many customers may be on the edge about visiting your restaurant. By offering a free cookie or appetizer, you can entice them to come to your restaurant. This is a great way to get customers interested in your business and can result in increased sales. You can also encourage customers to post pictures or videos of their experience at your restaurant as they get the free appetizer. By asking customers to share their experiences, you’re creating awareness about your restaurant so others can also visit.

 

Make Sure Your Menu is Online or as a link on your Facebook Page and Instagram

One of the best ways to drive customers to your restaurant is by having an online menu. This way, potential customers can browse your menu from the comfort of their own home and even browse items they want to order for later. You can easily create a website or online menu using programs like Wix or WordPress. All you need is some basic website knowledge and you can have a decent-looking website up and running in no time. If you prefer not to create a website or don’t have the skills, then we can complete these things for you as well as place your menu Online. Simply book a meeting or fill out our website build form. Click Here

 

Create Special Offers and Discounts as part of your Social Media Strategy

One of the best ways to use social media to promote your restaurant is by creating special offers and discounts that are only available through social media. For example, you can offer discounted items or a free item when purchased together. This will encourage customers to like and follow your social media accounts so they can receive the discount. This is because these discounts will help your restaurant reach a larger audience, help you establish a social media presence and it’s also great for stay-at-home moms that are looking forward to your offers.

 

Use Social Media Analytics on each of your Social Media Accounts

If you want to learn more about your customers, then use social media analytics tools. While these tools provide valuable information about how people interact with your posts which can help you improve future posts, but the pricing can be hefty. You can reach out to our company, where we offer an all-in-one solution, where we use Social media analytics tools and can manage your entire social media so you can focus on your business. We use this data to track customer engagement so you get the best posts that work for your customers.

 

Post Photos of Your Menu or food on Social Media Platforms

Using photos on your Facebook page or Instagram for your restaurant marketing strategy can really boost sales. For example, if you post an enticing photo of a dish on your Facebook page, and it gets a lot of likes, then other people who see the photo may be encouraged to try the dish. This is because people are more likely to trust the opinion of their friends when it comes to food. This helps more people visit your social media, creating brand awareness. Customers have many friends who rely on them to provide feedback on a restaurant. So use this to your advantage and attract more customers by constantly posting enticing food photos on your Facebook page or Instagram. Don’t forget to make it taste good!

 

Create a Social Media Contest as part of your Restaurant’s Social Media Strategy

Social media contests are another great way to boost sales for your restaurant. For example, you can hold a contest where customers have to share photos of themselves eating at the restaurant with their friends, etc., which will help promote the business. You can also hold a contest that helps build customer relationships such as asking people what they think about recent menu changes. Or create a contest around upcoming holidays like Valentine’s Day where you offer discounts for couples who post pictures of themselves together in front of the restaurant. Running Photo Competitions Between Your Employees may help increase followers. Furthermore, Social Media contests can bring new customers who may currently be on the edge of trying something different.

 

Social Media Marketing for Restaurants requires a plan

The best way to make sure your restaurant is using social media effectively is to have a plan. Your social media plan should include what you will post, how often you will post, and when you will post. Having a plan helps ensure that all of your social media accounts are on track which can help to promote your restaurant.

For your social media marketing efforts to be successful, it’s important to think about what you’re trying to achieve. Do you want to drive traffic to your website? Increase the number of followers you have on social media? Get customers in the door? Once you know what you’re trying to achieve, it’s much easier to come up with effective tactics that will help you reach your goals.

For example, let’s suppose your Social Media plan is to encourage people to try a new menu item. A good tactic to achieve this goal would be to post a picture of the dish with a brief description and make sure to include a call to action, such as “try it for yourself’ and let us know what you think.”

Another example would be if you are trying to get more followers. In this case, you would want to post regularly and make sure your posts are interesting and engaging. You can also run contests or giveaways to encourage people to follow your page.

By having a social media platform and plan in place, you’ll be able to ensure that all of your social media accounts are working together to help promote your restaurant. Additionally, by understanding what you’re trying to achieve with social media, it’s easier to come up with tactics that will help you reach your goals. So, take some time to think about what you want to achieve and then put together a plan that will help you get there.

 

Actively engage and communicate with your customers

While the term may sound simple, having a social media presence is more than just posting content. The term here also indicates actively engaging and talking to your customers on social media. Respond to their comments, answer their questions, and start conversations. This helps build customer relationships and makes customers feel appreciated.

When you’re actively engaged on social media, it also sends out a signal that your restaurant is active and up-to-date. This can help attract new customers who are looking for a place to eat that’s current and relevant. Additionally, engaging with customers also allows you to get feedback about your restaurant which can help you improve your business.

Make sure you are aware of the various Social Media Sites

There are many social media sites out there, and it’s important to be aware of which ones your target audience is using. For example, if your target audience is young people, then you’ll want to focus on sites like Instagram. If your target audience is more mature, then you’ll want to focus on sites like Facebook

Additionally, it’s important to be aware of the different ways each social media site can be used. For example, Instagram is a great site for sharing pictures of your food and special events.

By being aware of which social media sites your target audience uses, and understanding how each site can be used to promote your restaurant, you’ll be able to create a social media strategy that will reach them effectively.

 

Ask great questions on your Social Media Accounts

By asking questions you can start a conversation with your customers and get feedback from them. This is a great way to get to know your customers better and learn what they like and don’t like about your restaurant.

Some good questions to ask on social media include:

-What’s your favorite dish at our restaurant?

-What’s the best thing about our restaurant?

-How often do you visit our restaurant?

-What would you like to see more of at our restaurant?

-Do you have any suggestions for us?

By asking great questions, you’ll be able to not only learn more about your customers but also keep the conversation going. This can help build customer relationships and create loyalty among your customers. For example, if a favorite dish is selling well, you can ask things like “What’s the Best Selling Dish?” or “What do you think we should add next?” By making these posts public and adding hashtags, more people will be likely to see it

 

You can use Social Media Management Tools

There are several social media management tools available out there that can help you manage your social media accounts more effectively. Some tools offer limited free trials while others can be more costly. These tools allow you to schedule posts, track who’s talking about your restaurant, and measure the results of your social media campaigns.

By using a social media management tool, you’ll be able to save time and make sure all of your accounts are being managed more effectively. There are many different social media management tools available, so do some research to find one that best suits your needs.

Show Off What’s Behind the Scenes

It’s important to show your customers what’s going on behind the scenes of your restaurant. This can help build trust among your customers and make them feel like they’re part of your restaurant.

Some great ways to show off what’s going on behind the scenes include:

-Posting pictures or videos of your kitchen staff preparing food

-Posting pictures or videos of yourself and your team working hard in the restaurant

-Posting pictures or videos of special events happening in your restaurant

-Hosting a live Q&A session with your kitchen staff

By doing this, you’ll be able to give your customers a glimpse into what goes on in your restaurant and how hard you all work to make it a success. This can help build trust among your customers and make them feel like they’re part of the restaurant.

 

Respond to Online Reviews

It’s important to respond to Online Reviews, both good and bad. This shows that you’re listening to your customers and that you care about their opinions.

If you see a bad review, try to address the customer’s concerns and apologize for any mistakes that were made. If you see a good review, thank the customer for their kind words and let them know that you appreciate their business.

By responding to online reviews, you’ll be able to show your customers that you care about their opinions and that you’re working hard to make your restaurant the best it can be.

 

Spotlight Your Employees on Social Media

Your employees are a valuable asset to your restaurant, so it’s important to showcase them on social media. This can help build trust among your customers and make them feel like they’re part of the restaurant. If some employees don’t feel comfortable being on social media, then you must ask for their permission.

When an employee permits you, then here are some great ways to bring to your employees on social media:

-Posting pictures or videos of your employees working hard in the kitchen or at the front of the house

-Hosting a live Q&A session with your employees

-Putting together an Employee Spotlight blog post or video series

By doing this, you’ll be able to show your customers what amazing employees you have and give them a glimpse into what it’s like to work at your restaurant. This can help build trust among your customers and make them feel that you are taking care of your employees.

 

Use Social Media to Drive Email Signups

You can use social media marketing to get more people to sign up for your email list.

Here are some great ways to drive more people to sign up on your email list:

-Include a link for customers to click that says “sign up” or “subscribe”

-Include a strong callout, especially when you’re promoting something new

By doing this, you’ll be able to build the size of your email list and reach out to them in the future. This can help strengthen the bond between you and your customers and create repeat business.

 

Offer Free WiFi

You can offer Free Wifi to your customers in exchange for a free post showing that they visited your restaurant. Furthermore, if they have bad cell service, they can check out your menu, see pictures of your food, and read reviews.

This can help encourage them to come back to your restaurant in the future. In addition, you can use Free Wifi as a way to gather customer data. By tracking the websites that they visit while they’re connected to your network, you can get a better understanding of what they’re interested in.

By using social media and free wifi together, you’ll be able to connect with your customers on a deeper level and get insights into what they like and don’t like about your restaurant.

 

Give Away Gift Cards on Social Media

Giving away gift cards on Social Media is a great way to get customers to come to your business and redeem those points towards any item on your menu. It’s important to post the gift cards in a highly visible post and make sure that it stands out. This can include:

-Posting a question on social media, asking them to purchase your latest dish and get $5.00 gift card

-Running a contest on social media, where you give out one $5.00 gift card every hour

By doing this, you’ll be able to attract potential customers and reward your existing customers for their loyalty. This can help strengthen the bond between you and your customers and keep them coming back in the future.

 

Get a Branded App and Promote it on Social Media

Having your own branded app can be a valuable asset to your business. It can help you connect with customers on a deeper level and provide them with an easy way to order food or check your menu.

When promoting your app, you should make sure to use social media. You can do this by:

-Posting pictures of your app and how it looks

-Making videos of your app in action

-Sharing stories about how your app has helped customers

By doing this, you’ll be able to create excitement around your app and get more people to download it. This can help increase the loyalty of your customers and keep them coming back in the future. If you currently don’t have a branded app for your business, please contact us for additional info.

 

Use Social Media Influencers

There are many types of social media influencers. Some use social media and gain followers by trying different foods, while some have a huge following based on a special skill set they have acquired.

No matter what the niche, social media influencers can be a valuable asset to your restaurant. By working with them, you can:

-Get insights into what their followers are interested in

-Get ideas for new dishes and promotions

-Increase awareness of your restaurant

-Generate word-of-mouth marketing

When choosing an influencer to work with, it’s important to make sure that their values align with your restaurant. You don’t want someone who is going to promote something that goes against your beliefs or ethics.

By using social media influencers, you’ll be able to reach a larger audience and create a deeper connection with them. This can help increase the loyalty of your customers and keep them coming back in the future.

 

Use Promotions to Drive Foot Traffic to Your Location

Social media is a great tool for promoting, but it’s also important to make sure that you’re attracting people from your social platforms to your restaurant. With this, you’ll need to create some sort of incentive that will get people excited about visiting your location. You can do this by:

-Offering a free appetizer or dessert with any meal purchase

-Giving out a buy one get one entree promotion for a limited time only

By doing this, you’ll be able to not only attract new customers but keep existing ones coming back again and again. This can help increase the number of loyal patrons and provide additional revenue for your restaurant.

 

Finding the help you need to run your Social Media Marketing

In conclusion, having a social media presence is important for restaurants. By actively engaging with customers on social media, you can build customer relationships and get feedback. It’s equally important to create profiles that accurately represent your business. This means including accurate information such as your address, phone number, and website

When done correctly, social media can be extremely valuable. Running your own social media can be a daunting experience. But, with the right social media management tools, and the right partner it can be much easier.

If you are looking towards hiring a social media marketing company to help increase sales, improve brand awareness, and provide community engagement, then you can book a call or send us an email and we would love to work with you. All of our consultations are free. Also, be sure that when you call or email, to ask for our current specials. We run various special offers around the year and would love to discuss your needs. If you are looking for more tips on how to use social media for your restaurant marketing strategy, please contact our company. We have years of experience helping businesses just like yours use social media to their advantage.