7 Restaurant Social Media Ideas to Drive More Customers

LYFE Marketing

4 Apr 202210:21

Summary

TLDRThis video offers seven social media marketing tips for restaurants to boost engagement and attract new customers. It highlights the importance of strategic post timing, leveraging video content, showcasing behind-the-scenes action, employee spotlights, user-generated content, running social media contests, and utilizing paid advertisements. The tips are designed to help restaurants maximize their online presence and connect with their target audience effectively.

Takeaways

📈 Social media advertising is pivotal for the restaurant industry, with 45% of diners trying a restaurant for the first time due to social media posts.
🌟 89% of diners have at least one social media account, emphasizing the importance of a strong online presence for restaurants.
📍 Facebook and Instagram are recommended as must-have platforms for restaurants due to their popularity and engagement rates.
⏰ Post timing significantly impacts engagement; it's crucial to plan and post during optimal times that align with your target audience's activity.
🎥 Video content is highly effective, with 48% more views than still photos, making it a compelling way to showcase your restaurant's offerings.
🍽️ Behind-the-scenes content allows customers to see how their food is prepared, building trust and interest in your restaurant.
👨‍🍳 Employee spotlights humanize your brand, showcasing the people behind the restaurant and fostering a connection with customers.
📸 User-generated content (UGC) boosts authenticity and trust, as it comes from real customers and can influence purchasing decisions.
🏆 Social media contests can incentivize followers with discounts or freebies, while also increasing engagement and brand awareness.
💰 Running social media ads, especially on Facebook, can target potential customers effectively and is a strategic way to reach a wider audience.

Q & A

What is the significance of social media advertising in the restaurant industry?
-Social media advertising is significant in the restaurant industry as 45% of diners have tried a restaurant for the first time because of a social media post made by that restaurant.
Why are Facebook and Instagram recommended as must-have platforms for restaurant social media presence?
-Facebook is recommended because it is the number one social media platform and 49% of people search Facebook to find restaurants. Instagram is recommended due to its massive growth and popularity, being the number one social media app for engagement with restaurant brands.
How does post timing affect the success and engagement of social media posts for restaurants?
-Post timing greatly affects the success and engagement of social media posts. Restaurants need to find a balance between popular posting times and targeting their breakfast, lunch, and dinner crowd appropriately.
What is the impact of using video content in social media posts for restaurants?
-Video content in social media posts has a significant impact, with posts that include video receiving 48% more views than still photos.
Why is behind-the-scenes content effective for restaurant social media engagement?
-Behind-the-scenes content is effective because it allows customers to see how their food is being made, which increases interest and engagement with the restaurant's brand.
How can employee spotlights help humanize the restaurant experience for customers?
-Employee spotlights help humanize the restaurant experience by showcasing the people behind the business, providing recognition for their talents, expertise, and personality.
What is user-generated content and how can it benefit a restaurant's social media presence?
-User-generated content (UGC) is content created by people rather than brands. It promotes authenticity, creates trust with consumers, and drives purchasing decisions, while also requiring less effort from the restaurant as customers are already sharing about the restaurant online.
How do social media contests help in building rapport and engagement with a restaurant's social media following?
-Social media contests help build rapport and engagement by providing incentives and discounts, which encourage followers to interact with the restaurant's page and use specific hashtags.
What advantages does Facebook's advertising platform offer for restaurants?
-Facebook's advertising platform offers geotargeting, allowing restaurants to reach potential customers in their local area, and the ability to target based on age, interests, and similar pages. It also provides retargeting options to remind visitors about the restaurant.
Why is it important for restaurants to consider more than just popular posting times on social media?
-Restaurants should consider more than just popular posting times to ensure their content is relevant and timely for their specific audience segments, such as breakfast, lunch, and dinner crowds.
How can live video be leveraged by restaurants for social media engagement?
-Live video can be leveraged by showcasing cooking processes and behind-the-scenes action, which tends to hold viewers' attention longer than non-live videos, thus increasing engagement.

Outlines

00:00

🍽️ The Power of Social Media in the Restaurant Industry

This paragraph emphasizes the significant role of social media in driving restaurant business, with 45% of diners trying a restaurant for the first time due to a social media post. It highlights the importance of having a social media presence, particularly on Facebook and Instagram, as these platforms are popular among diners. The speaker introduces seven tips to enhance engagement and attract new customers through social media, setting the stage for the detailed strategies to be discussed in the video.

05:01

📅 Timing is Key: Strategic Social Media Posting

The paragraph focuses on the critical aspect of post timing in social media marketing for restaurants. It points out that while general high-engagement times exist, restaurants must consider their specific audience's habits. For instance, a breakfast diner should not post about breakfast at dinner time. The importance of planning and timing posts to maximize visibility and engagement is underscored, suggesting a more strategic approach rather than sporadic posting.

10:03

🎥 Video Content: A Dynamic Way to Engage Diners

This section advocates for the use of video content in social media marketing, noting that video posts have 48% more views than static images. It suggests various types of video content such as new specials, cooking tutorials, and Q&A sessions with chefs. The paragraph dispels the myth that high-quality video requires professional production, encouraging the use of mobile devices and live video, which is reported to have higher engagement than non-live video.

👨‍🍳 Behind the Scenes: Showcasing Restaurant Operations

The paragraph suggests that sharing behind-the-scenes content can greatly engage audiences, as it offers a unique look into the restaurant's operations. Ideas for such content include interactions with local farms, staff traditions, and the assembly of popular dishes. The speaker advises ensuring that the kitchen is clean and orderly when filming to maintain a positive image and suggests leveraging chefs' existing work for content creation.

🌟 Employee Spotlight: Humanizing the Restaurant Brand

Highlighting staff members is recommended as a way to humanize the restaurant brand and boost engagement. The paragraph discusses how showcasing employees can provide recognition and share personal achievements, fostering a connection with customers. It also addresses the challenge of continuously featuring staff by suggesting the sharing of their off-duty accomplishments, thus keeping content fresh and engaging.

📸 User-Generated Content: Leveraging Real Customer Experiences

The paragraph discusses the benefits of user-generated content (UGC), which is shown to be more authentic and influential in driving purchasing decisions. It explains that UGC can be a powerful tool for restaurants, as it provides social proof and trust-building with potential customers. The speaker advises on how to source UGC, such as by searching for tagged photos or running social media contests to encourage customers to share their experiences.

🏆 Social Media Contests: Driving Engagement and Brand Awareness

This section introduces social media contests as a strategy to increase engagement and provide incentives for customers. It notes that 79% of people follow restaurant pages for such benefits, suggesting that contests can be an effective way to build rapport. The paragraph outlines the importance of setting contest rules that involve following the restaurant's page and using specific hashtags, which can enhance brand awareness.

💰 Social Media Ads: Targeted Advertising for Restaurant Growth

The final paragraph discusses the importance of running paid social media advertisements to reach a wider audience. It highlights Facebook's advertising platform as particularly effective for restaurants due to its geotargeting capabilities and the ability to create highly targeted campaigns. The paragraph also touches on retargeting ads, which can re-engage users who have previously interacted with the restaurant's online presence but have not yet converted.

👋 Conclusion and Call to Action

The concluding paragraph invites viewers to engage with the content by liking and subscribing for more marketing videos. It also promotes the speaker's coaching program as a resource for further guidance. The speaker expresses gratitude for the viewers' time and sets an expectation for future content, encouraging continued learning and application of the strategies discussed.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Social Media Advertising

Social Media Advertising refers to the process of promoting products, services, or brands through various social media platforms. In the context of the video, it is highlighted as a dominant force in the restaurant industry, with 45% of diners trying a restaurant for the first time due to a social media post by that restaurant. This underscores the importance of social media advertising in attracting new customers and increasing brand visibility.

💡Target Audience

The term 'target audience' refers to the specific group of people a business aims to reach with its marketing efforts. The video emphasizes that social media allows restaurants to connect with their target audience more effectively, especially considering that 89% of diners have at least one social media account. It suggests that understanding and reaching this audience is crucial for the success of a restaurant's social media strategy.

💡Facebook

Facebook is identified in the script as the number one social media platform, which is why it is recommended as a must-have for restaurant social media presence. The video mentions that 49% of people search Facebook to find restaurants, indicating its importance for businesses to establish a strong presence on this platform to increase discoverability and engagement.

💡Instagram

Instagram is highlighted as a platform that has seen massive growth and popularity for the restaurant industry. It is noted as the number one social media app for engagement with restaurant brands. The video suggests that leveraging Instagram's visual nature with appealing food images and stories can significantly boost a restaurant's online presence and customer engagement.

💡Post Timing

Post timing refers to the specific times at which content is posted on social media. The video stresses the importance of strategic post timing to maximize engagement. It mentions that while there are known high-engagement times on platforms like Instagram, restaurants must also consider the best times to post content relevant to their specific offerings, such as breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

💡Video Content

Video content is a form of media that includes moving images and sound. The script emphasizes the effectiveness of video in social media marketing, stating that posts with video have 48% more views than still photos. It suggests that restaurants can use video to share valuable and informative content, such as cooking tutorials or behind-the-scenes looks, to engage their audience.

💡Behind the Scenes Content

Behind the scenes content provides a glimpse into the inner workings of a business, which can be very engaging for audiences. The video suggests that showing what happens behind the scenes at a restaurant, such as food preparation or staff interactions, can create a more personal connection with customers and enhance their interest in the brand.

💡Employee Spotlight

Employee spotlight involves featuring staff members on a company's social media platforms. The video recommends this as a way to humanize the brand and show appreciation for staff, which can boost engagement. It suggests that by showcasing employees and their contributions, restaurants can create a more personal connection with their audience.

💡User-Generated Content (UGC)

User-Generated Content refers to any form of content, such as photos, videos, or text, that is created by users rather than the brand. The video highlights UGC as a way to promote authenticity and trust, as it comes from real customers who have had positive experiences at the restaurant. It also mentions that UGC can influence purchasing decisions and can be a valuable resource for content creation.

💡Social Media Contests

Social Media Contests are promotional activities that encourage user engagement through the promise of rewards or incentives. The script suggests that running contests can be an effective way to increase engagement and provide incentives for customers to interact with the restaurant's social media pages. It also notes that contests can help build brand awareness and customer loyalty.

💡Social Media Ads

Social Media Ads are paid promotional messages displayed on social media platforms. The video mentions that running paid advertisements can be an effective way to reach a wider audience and attract new customers to a restaurant. It points out the advantages of platforms like Facebook, which allow for highly targeted ads to ensure that the ads reach potential customers in the restaurant's local area.

Highlights

Social media advertising has become crucial for the restaurant industry, with 45% of diners trying a restaurant for the first time due to a social media post by that restaurant.

89% of diners have at least one social media account, emphasizing the importance of social media presence for restaurants.

Facebook and Instagram are recommended as must-have platforms for restaurant social media presence.

Facebook is the number one social media platform, while Instagram leads in engagement for restaurant brands.

Seven tips are introduced to increase engagement and attract new customers on social media platforms.

Post timing is crucial for social media success, with higher engagement during known peak times on platforms like Instagram.

Restaurants should consider their specific audience's meal times when planning post timings.

Video content is highly effective, with 60% of people preferring online videos to television.

Social media posts with video have 48% more views than those with still photos.

Live video is more engaging than regular video, with viewers spending three times longer watching.

Behind-the-scenes content allows restaurants to engage with their audience by showing food preparation and kitchen operations.

Employee spotlights humanize the restaurant brand and boost staff morale by recognizing their contributions.

User-generated content (UGC) promotes authenticity and trust, influencing purchasing decisions.

UGC is created by customers and can be leveraged by restaurants to show social proof and enhance brand credibility.

Social media contests can increase engagement and provide incentives for customers to follow and interact with restaurant pages.

Running social media ads is an effective way to reach a targeted audience and attract new customers to restaurants.

Facebook ads are particularly beneficial for restaurants due to their ability to target local audiences and retarget previous visitors.