Good food and social media make great partners.

What is the trick to getting “free marketing” for your restaurant? The answer is user-generated content (UGC).

First, you have the best food and terrific customer service. Next, your restaurant customers are happy when they dine with you. Now, you want to grow your restaurant, and you don’t want to spend a ton of money to do it. The trick is to convince your current customers to do the marketing for you.

Check out these tips for transforming your diners into your best marketers through user-generated content. This not only boosts your visibility, but it gives you more credibility and increases your revenue.

What is User-Generated Content?

Basically, this type of content on social media platforms is word-of-mouth that’s gone digital. It’s one of the most powerful marketing tools you can use.

All you need to do is leverage the enthusiasm and creativity of your customers. Once you’ve mastered this, you can transform your diners into your most effective marketers. 

User-generated content can include photos, videos, reviews, blog posts, or social media mentions. These are created and posted by your customers and not you or your staff. This may mean a post on the user’s own blog, an Instagram post showcasing what the person ate for dinner, TikTok videos of a group dining with you, or even reviews.

Why is UGC So Powerful for Restaurants?

Your diners trust other people who’ve dined with you more than they trust your advertising. (tweet this)

According to one source, “Statistics show that nearly 80% of people say UGC highly impacts their purchasing decisions.” What does this mean for you? It means that when friends and family see someone else enjoying your restaurant, they don’t want to miss out and are likely to make it a point to dine with you.

People like being part of the in-crowd or the “crowd in the know.” Plus, they trust others online, and this makes UGC powerful.

Benefits of UGC

Here are some of the reasons UGC is so vital for your restaurant:

• UGC builds authenticity and trust. Because UGC is organic and created by real people “in the moment,” people instantly trust it. Just imagine a customer sharing a mouthwatering Instagram post and their thousands of friends seeing it. This feels more genuine to potential diners.
• Next, it increases reach and engagement. With many of your customers sharing about your restaurant, they are expanding your reach and introducing new people to your food.
• UGC is cost-effective marketing, and it’s generally free. By promoting UGC, you can market your restaurant without a large advertising budget.
• UGC builds a community. When users share about your restaurant, it builds a bond between other customers online. Then, if you feature their content on your own platforms, you build a deeper connection between your restaurant and your diners.

Capitalize on the selfie generation to get your restaurant in front of more people.

How to Encourage UGC

To turn your loyal and enthusiastic customers into brand advocates, you want to not only encourage them but you want to share their content on your social pages. Here’s how:

• Make sure that your dining experience and food presentation is worthy of photos, videos, and comments. Diners love sharing beautiful meals, so make sure your dishes are visually appealing. Take a look at how you plate your dishes and on what. In addition, consider the lighting in your restaurant. Is it conducive to taking good photos? Consider white or neutral colored plate settings and table coverings.
• You also want to print your logo on your takeout and delivery packaging so if customers are eating away from your restaurant, your restaurant stands out. Make sure your packaging is also attractive. As an added tip, consider sustainable, compostable packaging.
• Create a catchy, branded hashtag. You can put this on table cards, your receipts, and on your own social posts. This makes it easy for your customers to tag their posts and for you to find and share their content. Some ideas include: DineWith[YourRestaurant] or #[YourRestaurant]Eats.
• Encourage reviews and check-ins. Online reviews are key for your establishment. In addition, always respond to them, both negative and positive. You can ask your diners to leave you a review on Google, Yelp, and TripAdvisor.
• Put a QR code on each table that helps diners sign in to your Wi-Fi network with encouragement to share content.

More Ways to Encourage UGC

• Consider small incentives for content shares, such as a free appetizer, dessert, or discount. This can help some people make the leap to sharing your content.
• Run social media contests. Engage your audience by hosting UGC-driven contests. For example, encourage customers to share a picture of their meal with your branded hashtag for a chance to win a free meal or gift card. Contests generate content, and they boost engagement.
• Have a photo “booth” or area where guests can take photos. Add a backdrop (with your logo) so people can take Instagram-worthy pictures. You may even find that providing fun props helps encourage social sharing.
• Monitor and engage with all user-generated content. The key to making it really work for you is to be active on social media. You want to respond to people’s posts, thank customers for sharing, and engage with their content. Acknowledge customers by name, and you’ll find you are also building brand loyalty.

How to Measure the Success of Your UGC Strategy

Like with all marketing, you want to know how effective your UGC efforts are. To do that, you want to track these key performance indicators (KPIs):

• Check how often your branded hashtags are used. Do this monthly.
• Then, measure likes, shares, and comments on UGC posts to learn your engagement rate.
• Check Google Analytics to see if social media-driven UGC is increasing visits to your website.
• Ask new customers if social media content is why they visited your restaurant.
• Finally, monitor your reviews to see if there’s an increase in positive reviews and overall ratings.

Final Thoughts on User-Generated Content

User-generated content is a game-changer in restaurant marketing. It’s genuine and cost-effective. UGC also builds credibility, enhances customer loyalty, and helps attract new diners to your restaurant. (tweet this)

You want to foster an environment that encourages diners to share their experiences. Moreover, you want to engage with their content and leverage it strategically so you can create a powerful marketing machine fueled by the very people who love your restaurant the most—your customers.

Finally, if you aren’t incorporating UGC into your marketing strategy, it’s time to make a plan to use it. Encourage your customers to share and watch as they become your most passionate brand ambassadors. Above all, you will not only see new customers walking in your door, but you’ll also encourage customer retention.

Is your website ready for new visitors? At Restaurant Engine, we can create a website for you that showcases your brand and sets it apart from the competition. Your website is the centerpiece of your online marketing, and it needs to look and perform well, too. You can count on us to create an amazing website that presents a unified brand for your restaurant and works across all digital platforms. Let us help you make the perfect site that draws customers in, improves customer engagement and your conversion rate, and enables you to grow your new business using website data!  

Are you ready to take your restaurant to the next level with a new website?

Get your free website consultation today!

Images: Bibi Pace and Rendy Novantino on Unsplash

Take your time when taking your Instagram photographs and make a plan first.

Plate presentation matters. In one study, more than 50% of people say that social media, like Instagram, influences their dining choices.

Your success as a restaurateur isn’t only about taste and ambiance. Your success is also about presentation. You know that presentation inside your restaurant is key, but did you know it’s also key in the social stratosphere?

Social media, and especially Instagram, has transformed the way your diners choose where to eat. A carefully and beautifully plated dish showcased as a post or an enticing video in reels or your stories captures Instagram users’ attention, drives engagement, and ultimately brings more customers through your doors. (tweet this)

That’s why we’re looking at Instagram-worthy plate presentations and elevating your visual appeal for social media buzz.

It’s very important that you and the people managing your social media understand the principles of Instagram-worthy plate presentation. You want to focus on more than making your food look pretty. You want to create an experience that excites and entices customers to dine with you and return time and again.

Here’s how to elevate your plating game to create a buzzworthy dining experience straight from the Instagram archives.

Harness the Power of First Impressions

You may have heard the expression, “We eat first with our eyes.” This phrase was coined in the first century by a Roman man, and it seems that centuries later, there is great proof that this is true.

Today people may call it digital grazing, and it certainly brings people into your restaurant. Before your customers take their first bite, they eat with their eyes by scrolling your Instagram page.

We know that the more visually appealing your food is, the more this enhances the perception of how it’s going to taste. So, careful plating and photographing is worth your investment. (tweet this) Since it directly impacts perceived customer satisfaction, you want to be diligent with your Instagram visuals, whether they’re images or videos.

Select the Right Canvas

When planning your presentation, you want to choose the right plate. This is essential to effectively showcase your dish. Consider the following:

• Color Contrast: White plates make colors pop, while darker plates enhance the warmth and richness of your food.
• Size & Shape: Be careful not to use a plate that’s too big. It can make your dish look too small. Yet, a plate that’s too small looks cluttered. So, make sure to choose a plate that’s just the right size to make your dish look substantial, yet give it some breathing room. In addition, consider whether the plate is a circle, square, or rectangle and how that works with the structure of the dish.
• Material: Matte and textured plates reduce glare in photos, making them ideal for social media platforms like Instagram.
• Colors and Textures: A plate should have a visual variety to keep it engaging. With color, you want to use vibrant ingredients such as bright vegetables, fresh herbs, or edible flowers to create contrast. For texture, consider mixing crunchy, creamy, and smooth elements to make the dish more visually appealing.

By making sure your food is visually stunning and appealing, you increase the chance that Instagram users will dine with you.

Garnishes matter to “up” the presentation value.

Follow the Rule of Thirds with Plate Presentation

Professional photographers, videographers, and graphic designers use the rule of thirds to create balanced, dynamic compositions. You can apply this very same principle to your plating. Here are some tips for creating the scene before taking photos or videos:

• Divide the plate into imaginary thirds and place the main parts of the dish at intersecting points.
• Keep negative space around the food and don’t overcrowd the plate.
• Create height by stacking or layering ingredients to add depth.

Pay Attention to the Sauce and Garnish

How you apply the sauces and garnishes to your food can elevate a dish’s presentation. Here are a few tips for making sure your dishes shine on Instagram with visual appeal.

• When drizzling or making dots, use squeeze bottles to apply sauces in artistic drizzles or uniform dots.
• Use a pastry brush to create elegant sauce streaks.
• Sprinkle microgreens, herbs, edible flowers, or even a light dusting of spices. This adds a sense of completeness to the dish without overwhelming it.

Make Every Dish Shine with Lighting

Poor lighting can ruin even the most beautifully plated dish. You have a couple of choices. One is to hire a professional photographer. The other is to do some research on food photography.

Here are a few tips to help you optimize your food photography for Instagram:

• Use natural light whenever possible. Set up your table near a window for soft, even lighting.
• Avoid harsh overhead lighting. This can create unflattering shadows on your dish.
• Consider investing in a simple ring light or LED panel for consistency in your imagery.

Choose the Right Angle for Photos

Different dishes look best from different perspectives, so you want to practice to see which one is the best for your restaurant.

Check out these tips:

• Take your photos from overhead (called a flat lay). This works well for pizzas, salads, and charcuterie boards.
• Experiment with a 45-degree angle. This is perfect for plated entrees, burgers, and stacked elements like desserts and steaks.
• Leverage close-ups to highlight intricate details, textures, and garnishes.

You can also mix these different angles in your photography and videography for extra interest.

Encourage User-Generated Content

Your customers are your best marketers! Encourage them to share photos of their meals. You can even run a contest for the best photos or offer incentives to get more entries. Here are tips for inside your restaurant:

• Design a well-lit Instagram-friendly table or area.
• Provide attractive tableware and branded elements such as logo napkins and unique drinkware.
• Use a unique hashtag for your restaurant and display it on your menus and signage.

Keep Your Presentation Consistent

A visually stunning dish that looks different every time on your Instagram profile won’t create a lasting impression. Train your kitchen staff to:

• Follow a plating guide for your signature dishes.
• Maintain portion consistency so dishes don’t look big one time and small the next.
• Regularly refresh your presentation styles based on the feedback you get on your Instagram posts, stories, and reels.

Be Authentic

Trends come and go, but today, authenticity always wins. Resist the urge to “fake” your photos. Be real so that your restaurant is trustworthy.

In addition, make sure your photos and videos reflect your brand’s identity. You also want to ensure that your photos portray your cuisine so the imagery is seamless from what people see online and in your restaurant. Diners can spot inauthenticity.

You want to focus on creating beautiful, genuine presentations that stay true to your restaurant’s concept.

Final Thoughts on Instagram-Worthy Plate Presentation

Social media-driven dining is here, and it’s not going anywhere. It’s up to you to take advantage of it.

Instagram-worthy plate presentation isn’t just about aesthetics. It’s one of the best marketing tools in your arsenal.

Pay attention to your composition, color, lighting, and plating techniques, and you can turn every dish into an opportunity for social media buzz, especially on Instagram.

Investing in visually appealing imagery and videography means investing in the long-term success of your restaurant.

So, plate with purpose, encourage guests to share their experiences, and watch your restaurant thrive in the digital world.

Is your website ready to highlight your online menu? At Restaurant Engine, we can create a website for you that showcases your online menu and sets it apart from the competition. Your website is the centerpiece of your online marketing, and it needs to look and perform well, too. You can count on us to create an amazing website that presents a unified brand for your restaurant and works across all digital platforms. Let us help you make the perfect site that draws customers in, improves customer engagement and your conversion rate, and enables you to grow your new business using website data! 

 Are you ready to take your restaurant to the next level with a new website?

Get your free website consultation today!

Images: Ambitious Studio* | Rick Barrett and Brooke Lark on Unsplash

Choose the platforms that resonate with your target audience for the best success.

According to one survey, 62% of respondents check a restaurant’s social media before deciding to dine there. In addition, 42% of respondents prefer social media to search engines when they are looking for new restaurants.

What do these two statistics tell you as a restaurateur? They plainly show the importance of social media for your restaurant. So, how can you leverage it to drive new business to your restaurant?

Let’s uncover the social media do’s and don’ts for today’s restaurateurs.

Social Media Do: Know Your Audience

The only way you can craft compelling content for your social media followers is to know your target audience and your ideal customer. (tweet this)

Your content, whether it’s imagery or video, needs to meet the needs and desires of your audience. Unique, creative content is attractive to social media users.

For example, if your restaurant caters to the after-work crowd, you don’t need to publish photos of parents with their families to attract diners. Stay true to your brand and your audience for the best success.

Helpful, informative, and entertaining content is what will drive people to your restaurant.

Social Media Do: Choose the Right Platforms

While you may feel like you need to be everywhere, your restaurant doesn’t have to have a page on every social media platform.

The key is to choose the platform where your target audience resides. While Instagram and Facebook may be the perfect platforms, Twitter may not be.

It’s important to have a solid idea of your audience so you can begin communicating with them.

Social Media Do: Post Regularly

You are a busy restaurant owner or manager, and posting regularly may be just too much. Consider hiring a social media pro to post for you.

Posting one or two times a week doesn’t do your restaurant any good. Depending on the platform, you may need to post every day or several times per day to really get traction.

Consistency is key, so make an effort to post regularly to grow your restaurant business.

Social Media Do: Always Respond to Comments

As a restaurateur, your goal is to engage with people on social media. One of the best ways to do this is by responding to comments on your posts. (tweet this)

If someone asks a question, answer it in a timely manner. If someone is complaining about something, do your best to be empathetic. And if someone “pats you on the back” in the comments, be sure to thank them.

Social media is social, and it’s key to engage with your followers.

In addition, reshare UGC (user-generated content) on your own page. You can easily find this type of content if customers tag you in their own posts. This is a great way to build engagement.

Social Media Do: Monitor Your Analytics

The only way to know if your content is resonating with audiences is to monitor your analytics.

Look for reach and engagement on each of your organic posts. See which ones people like and which ones aren’t very popular.

Do this on an ongoing basis so you can easily pivot with different types of content.

Social Media Do: Run Ads

You can significantly increase your reach on social media by running paid ads.

If you do this, test and try things to see what works best. By experimenting with different tactics, you are better able to reach and engage with your audience.

With ads, you can target specific demographics and create the right content at the right time. You also want to stay up to date with the latest tips and tricks with ads so you can leverage them for your benefit.

Some platforms lend themselves better to video content, while others are more image-based.

Social Media Don’t: Spam Your Followers

There’s nothing more annoying to social media users than accounts that post the same thing 10 times a day or even several times a week.

Your followers want to see new and engaging content. They want to be amused, and they want to see amazing photos and videos of your food.

Self-promotion should be kept to a minimum, and you should concentrate on sharing valuable content once or twice per day.

Social Media Don’t: Post the Same Content

You want to create content for the platform you are using. It’s not the best strategy to post the same content on every platform.

Can you post the specifics of the content on multiple platforms? Yes, but do consider repurposing it. For example, you may have a blog post about a specific recipe that you want to share on LinkedIn. Then, you want to use it on Facebook. You might take some photos and add the recipe as a post and not a link to it. You could again repurpose it as a video and share it as an Instagram reel.

Social Media Don’t: Forget to Fact-Check

Don’t make yourself an easy target by forgetting to fact-check your social media posts.

You can taint your restaurant brand and endanger your restaurant by posting falsehoods.

In addition, do spell check your posts. Some people may be put off by bad grammar and spelling.

Social Media Don’t: Overuse Hashtags

The use of hashtags has become complicated lately. Many experts think they are still relevant, while an increasing number think less is better or even none at all.

Hashtags can be beneficial, but you need to be strategic when using them. Don’t make every word a hashtag, and don’t use them unless they’re beneficial to your restaurant.

Social media experts recommend using one to five hashtags per post on many platforms. If you take a less-is-more stance and plan your hashtags diligently, your restaurant will be on-trend.

Social Media Don’t: Expect Instant Results

Social media marketing isn’t instantaneous. It takes patience, but with consistency in your posting and sharing engaging content, you will grow your pages.

Slow and steady wins the social media race. It takes time to create engaging content and build relationships with your audience. So be sure and take the time to create a strong social media strategy.

Final Thoughts on Social Media Do’s & Don’ts for Restaurants

Social media marketing needs a well-thought-out strategy. It’s a vital tool in your arsenal and can help you connect with current and future customers, build brand loyalty, and drive customers to your door.

Focus on the do’s, such as knowing your audience, choosing the right platforms, and engaging with followers. Stay away from the don’ts like spamming or neglecting content quality, so you can craft a strategy that truly resonates with your audience.

Use these tips consistently, and you’ll soon notice your social media presence growing.

Is your website ready to help your restaurant succeed? When people visit you after they’ve been on your social media pages, can they find what they’re looking for? Have you looked at your restaurant’s analytics? At Restaurant Engine, we can create a website for you that has the right keywords to land you at the top of search engine results pages and bring guests to your doors. Your website is the centerpiece of your online marketing, and it needs to look and perform well. You can count on us to create an amazing website that presents a unified brand for your restaurant and works across all digital platforms. Let us help you make the perfect site that draws customers in, improves customer engagement and your conversion rate, and enables you to grow your new business using website data!  

Are you ready to take your restaurant to the next level with a new website?

Get your free website consultation today!

Images: Timothy Hales Bennett and Alexander Shatov on Unsplash

Use a strategy for creating a solid mix of Reels, Stories, and posts on Instagram.

Are you looking to be “Instafamous?” If so, you aren’t alone. With more than 2.4 billion users, Instagram is one social platform you want to use often and strategically for your restaurant.

Gorgeous food photos and videos are some of the most viewed content on Instagram, and it’s one of the most important platforms you want to leverage. (tweet this) What’s more, “Nearly 50% of diners report visiting a restaurant for the first time after seeing it pop up in their social feeds.”

You can see that Instagram should be one of your top marketing priorities. To help you succeed, we look at how to effectively use Instagram to grow your restaurant business.

Complete Your Profile

Fill out your profile and complete all the fields. Make sure to also include a link to your website or your online ordering site.

Consider adding some important keywords to your bio as well.

Post on a Regular Basis

The algorithms generally reward frequent and active users. To enhance your presence, use a mix of reels, photos, and stories.

When is the best time to post? Generally speaking, the best days to post are Monday through Friday. Saturdays are okay, and Sundays are the worst days. Here is a general suggestion for posting times, but do remember to look at your Instagram insights to see what works best for your restaurant.

• Mondays from 11 am to 2 pm
• Tuesdays from 10 am to 4 pm
• Wednesdays from 9 am to 4 pm
• Thursdays from 9 am to 1 pm and again around 2 pm
• Fridays at 11 am
• Saturdays from 9 am to noon
• Sundays from 10 am to noon
• Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday are often the best days.

Leverage Reels

These are the secret sauce to your success. Instagram Reels are short-form videos that may be up to 90 seconds long. You can record and edit right on the platform, even clipping videos together and adding music, text, and other fun tidbits.

When you post a Reel, it posts to your Instagram feed.

Short-form video is the “it thing” right now, and users can easily find them because reels have their own tab right on the home feed navigation bar. This makes them super easy for your followers to find.

To gain traction on Instagram, you want to follow these suggestions for your Reels:

• Create inspiring and entertaining videos.
• Experiment with text, filters, and camera effects.
• Always post high-quality video content. Don’t use anything blurry or distorted.
• Share only original content.

You also want to take advantage of some of these tools (you will recognize them from Instagram stories).

• Add text.
• Draw something.
• Add stickers.
• Use AR effects.
• Add filters.
• Choose your audio.

Finally, don’t forget the captions and appropriate hashtags.

Promote Your Menu

Since many of your potential customers are on Instagram, and they are often looking for a restaurant, you want to make sure they can find your menu.

A good place for your menu is in the highlights section. You can also add a link to your menu in your bio.

Alternatively, you can use software like Linktree to provide links to your website, menu, and even a specials page.

Work With Influencers

You don’t have to do all the work yourself. Hook up with some local influencers (think food bloggers). Partnering with them can help you reach even more people on your platform.

When you work with an Instagram influencer, they will post about your restaurant on their Instagram page. Food bloggers are always looking for new content, so develop a partnership with them. There may be a fee or barter involved, so do try to have an agreement in writing.

Artists, such as local photographers, are another place you can look for a partnership. Just make sure they have a large following.

Beautiful visuals and stunning photography are key on Instagram.

Use Paid Advertising

Social media advertising is still relatively inexpensive, and it’s a great way to get your restaurant in front of more people. (tweet this)

You can fine-tune your ads by choosing a custom audience, locations, and demographics. You can also set your budget for what you can afford. These ads are a great way to direct people to your online ordering and to increase website and restaurant traffic.

Use Story Highlights

You may know that Instagram Stories disappear after 24 hours. This is great if you are highlighting a one-day-only special or an event.

But what about content that you’d like to have stick around a little bit longer? This is where the highlights come in. These are the little circles under your profile. You can save your stories here, so they are viewable indefinitely.

Here, you can showcase recipes, behind-the-scenes content, reviews, menu items, and more. Get creative with your highlight circles and text to entice people to click.

Use Instagram’s Food Ordering Tools

This is the perfect way to get orders from new and current customers. Consider it a brand new revenue stream.

You can do this through special food ordering stickers in Instagram Stories. By adding the sticker, users can tap the sticker and head to the food ordering platform. Here’s how:

• Set up food orders with a partner food order service.
• Choose a photo or video for your Story.
• Select the “food orders” sticker.
• Add the partner link for the food order service you selected.
• Click done after you enter the website.
• Edit the sticker to change its color and position it where you’d like.
• Share your story.

Wait for the orders to come in.

Final Thoughts on Instagram for Restaurants

Now that you have some of our favorite Instagram tips, you’re ready to create high-quality content that drives business.

Using this well-loved social media platform can help take your restaurant to new heights. So, create a social media strategy, make a plan, and start scheduling your posts.

Then, you can watch your followers and engagement grow, building your restaurant and increasing your revenue.

Is your website ready to entice customers into placing an order or visiting your restaurant? At Restaurant Engine, we can create a website for you that provides the pivotal spot for your digital marketing. Your website is the centerpiece of your online marketing, and it needs to look and perform well to increase your online sales. You can count on us to create an amazing website that presents a unified brand for your restaurant and works across all digital platforms. Let us help you make the perfect site that draws customers in, improves customer engagement and your conversion rate, and enables you to grow your business! 

 Are you ready to take your restaurant to the next level with a new website?

Get your free website consultation today!

Images: Paras Kapoor and amin ramezani on Unsplash

It’s time to think about collaborating with an influencer.

As a business owner in today’s digital world, you know how important social media is to your overall marketing strategy. According to one study, nearly 75% of people use Facebook comments and images to decide what restaurant they’re going to visit.

So, like most restaurants, you want to grow your social media presence. In this article, we uncover six reasons a restaurant might consider collaborating with an influencer. First, though, let’s look at just what influencer marketing is.

Discovering Influencer Marketing

Influencer marketing is part of your overall digital advertising campaign. It means using the influence of people with a sizeable social media following so your restaurant can reach a larger audience. (tweet this)

Influencer marketing gives you the opportunity to target either a new or larger audience in a different way. By choosing the right influencer, your restaurant is backed by someone with leverage who can promote your restaurant and your delicious menu.

With influencer marketing, you choose a popular person to appeal to a broader audience for your restaurant. They can promote your restaurant in ways no other marketing can. They use their “power” to promote your business.

The benefits for your restaurant include increasing brand awareness and engagement levels, getting more diners in your door, and improving brand trust and loyalty. After all, when someone who is trusted in the social sphere promotes your restaurant, others will immediately trust you, too, because the influencer told them they should.

Now, let’s look at the six reasons you might want to collaborate with an influencer.

#1: It’s Cost Effective

Influencer marketing has the potential to give you a higher return on investment (ROI) than other traditional marketing strategies. According to one industry expert, influencer marketing generates as much as 11X banner ad ROI.

While many think influencer marketing is expensive, it doesn’t have to be. When you partner with a local influencer for your restaurant, the cost can often be much less than you think.

Restaurants who use influencers know that if the influencer shares a story or a reel about one of your menu items with a link to your website and online ordering system, their business will increase over time. The more followers the influencer has, the more clicks to your website.

You can pay an influencer one of two ways: you can pay them in food, or you can pay them with money. The pay structure is generally based on three things: influencer reach, engagement rates, and the quality of their content.

This is something you negotiate with the influencer, so the pay rate is up to you.

#2: It Builds Credibility

Credibility is vital when it comes to restaurants. Before people decide to eat at your restaurant, they often want to know how others feel about your food and your service.

Word-of-mouth advertising is key to creating credibility and loyalty. Your potential diners will innately trust what your influencer says more than if you said it yourself. (tweet this) So, choose your influencers wisely, as they will become another “face” of your business.

By getting the endorsement from an influencer, this person is telling the digital world that your food is great and worthy of eating. The influencer says, “Go there, you’ll love it because I do.”

#3: It Gets You More Traffic

An influencer helps you grow your social media presence, but this person also helps get traffic to your restaurant and to your website.

No one wants to miss out on the next best thing, and this works to your advantage. As the influencer shares about your restaurant on social media, people see the posts, and they don’t want to miss out on your food.

For example, your influencer shares photos and videos of a time they were eating in your restaurant. They talk about how delicious your food is, how impeccable the service is, and what a trendy, fun spot you have. People see these posts, and they will either order online or visit your restaurant in person.

Ultimately, the increase in both website traffic and foot traffic means great things for your profit margin.

Don’t underestimate the power of the social media influencer to build your customer base.

#4: It Increases Brand Awareness

One of the biggest benefits of influencer marketing is the potential to increase brand awareness. With the influencer’s endorsement of your restaurant comes the potential of introducing your restaurant to a new audience.

If you have chosen wisely, your influencer should have a wide and varied reach on social media. This provides you with immediate brand awareness.

The goal here is to choose an influencer whose followers are part of your target audience. For example, if your restaurant is a sports bar, you don’t want to choose an influencer who has a mostly child-oriented following.

An influencer can help put your restaurant in front of people who might not otherwise have known about your restaurant.

#5: It Increases Engagement

When you collaborate with carefully chosen influencers, you increase the traffic to your own social media accounts, your website, and ultimately, your restaurant.

For example, your influencer posts about your restaurant. In that instant, the influencer’s entire online follower community sees the post. Then, customers visit your restaurant and fall in love with the food.

They then go back to social media and share about their experience, and tag your restaurant.

Your influencer has the potential to create buzz and excitement around your restaurant, thus increasing online engagement.

#6: It Produces Fast Results

Influencer marketing works quickly. Why? This is because an influencer is constantly creating content people want to see. And when you have a partnership with them, that means they’re posting about your food.

Just imagine if the influencer told their followers they were dining at your restaurant tonight and invited people to join them. Your restaurant would be full all night long! That’s the power of influencer marketing to provide you with instantaneous results.

Final Thoughts on Influencer Collaboration

According to a survey, nearly 63% of respondents have a standalone budget for content marketing, and that includes influencer marketing. This statistic shows just how much businesses are putting their money into this type of digital strategy.

Will it work for your restaurant? There are many success stories out there, and the only way you’ll find out if it is beneficial for you is to give it a try!

At Restaurant Engine, we can create a restaurant website for you that provides the perfect spot for sending people after an influencer has introduced them to your amazing menu. Once an influencer starts promoting your restaurant, you can bet your website gets more hits, so you want a fast, well-performing website. You can count on us to create an amazing website that presents a unified brand and works across all digital platforms. Let us help you make the perfect site that draws customers in, improves customer engagement and your conversion rate, and enables you to grow your business! 

Are you ready to take your restaurant to the next level with a new website?

Get your free website consultation today!

Maddi Bazzocco and ABDALLA M on Unsplash

Create a visual memory of your restaurant for your social media followers.

You know your restaurant’s food has an enticing aroma, texture, and taste all its own. You also know that when people taste your restaurant’s menu, their taste buds sing, and they become lifelong customers.

But how do you convey that in your social media posts? You do this through photography and, more importantly, through the appealing pictures taken by a professional food photographer. This person has the unique ability to capture the essence of your menu items in a photo.

With more than 90% of social media users following a business on their chosen platform, it’s never been more important to leverage your own platforms. Let’s look at why photography matters for a restaurant’s social media and how you can elevate your brand using amazing photography.

Images Help You Get More Followers

Photography matters on your social media because it’s what’s going to convince people to hit the like or follow button on your social media platform. (tweet this)

When you have something that looks good and interesting to people, they’re likely to follow you so they can see more of it.

So, if your photos are top of the line, and they’re stylized to really highlight your restaurant, your menu, and your staff, people are going to sign up to see more of your content.

Images Increase Engagement

When you use professional and beautiful photography, your restaurant is more enticing to potential customers. Thus, the more you use stand out images, the more engagement your restaurant will see on platforms like Instagram and Facebook.

In turn, with an increase in engagement, you will likely see an increase in foot traffic, and ultimately, an increase in your revenue.

You’ll find that as more people are intrigued by your photography, the more likes, comments, and share you’ll get on your posts. That means more people seeing your restaurant in their social feeds.

New leads are literally a post away when your imagery is appetizing.

Images are Memorable

Humans are visual beings. They remember nearly all of what they see but only very little of what they read or hear. That means that your customers and potential diners will create a visual memory when they look at your photography on your social media platforms.

What’s more, when you pair memorable imagery with content, your followers are even more likely to remember what they saw. So, the next time someone is craving pizza, they’ll remember they saw all the pictures of your artisan pizza made with fresh, locally sourced ingredients because your photography was so effective.

Photos help you engage your followers and create a brand identity.

Images Drive Sales

Once the visual memory is created over and over again because your photos keep showing up in users’ feeds, you’ll find that those same images drive sales to your restaurant.

You might even consider adding some text to your images to highlight the name of the dish, a special on the dish, or whether it’s a new menu item. The compound effect of the image and the words will further work to drive sales and grow your restaurant business.

Also, don’t forget to brand your photos. You don’t want someone sharing them or even downloading them without your logo on them.

Images Create an Emotional Connection

In addition to photographing your menu, you also want to photograph the inside of your restaurant. The goal here is to capture the ambiance and the amazing atmosphere.

By doing this, you help create an emotional connection between your restaurant and your potential customers. For example, your photos should highlight the mood and style of your restaurant. You want to showcase your personality so customers know just what they’re getting when they walk in the door.

Take photos of your entire restaurant to really give people a feel of what to expect. You may also include customers in the photos, too. This helps people picture themselves in your restaurant while also helping them know the dress code.

Always consider your target audience when shooting these photos. You can then frame each photo to appeal to your target demographic.

Images Help You Be Recognized

Finally, photography matters for your restaurant because it helps with recognition.

By having a professional shoot your photos, you will have photos that all have the same recognizable aesthetics. This helps with brand recognition and in turn, helps you increase your sales.

Final Thoughts on Social Media Photography

According to one study, 70% of Instagram users use the platform to post photos and videos. Is your restaurant doing the same?

Now that you know why photography matters for a restaurant’s social media, it’s also important to note that professional photography is absolutely worth it.

When your customers “eat,” they eat with their eyes first. So, if you are giving them the most appetizing, delicious looking, enticing food photos on social media, you are well ahead of your competition. (tweet this)

Plus, food is tricky to photograph, so you want to hire a professional who knows how to use the best lighting, styling, angles, and positioning to set your food off. ‘

Remember that you have just a few seconds on your social media platforms to grab people’s interest, so you want to ensure your photos are top notch.

Finally, a professional photographer can work within your brand standards to make sure every shot taken works with your visual aesthetic and color scheme.

Make a plan and get working on your professional photography for your restaurant’s social media! 

At Restaurant Engine, we can create a restaurant website for you, using your beautiful photography, that provides the perfect spot for linking to your social media platforms. It’s important to showcase your best photos on your website as well as your social media accounts. This makes it super easy for people to see your delicious food. You can count on us to create a website that presents a unified brand, highlighting your menu items, and that works across all digital platforms. Let us help you make the perfect site that draws customers in, improves customer engagement and your conversion rate, and enables you to grow your business!  

Are you ready to take your restaurant to the next level with a new website?

Get your free website consultation today!

Images: Laura Kennedy and Adam Bartoszewicz on Unsplash

The best social media platforms for you are the ones your customers are using.

Is your restaurant using social media? And if you are, are you using it effectively? How many platforms are you using? Are you on the best ones for your target audience?

In this article, we look at the best social media platforms for restaurants. You don’t have to be on all of them. Pick a few that work for your market, and make sure that you are consistently active on the ones you choose.

Social media is a great way to cater to your current customers while also getting new ones. Your goal is engagement and valuable content.

Your customers are definitely using social media platforms and generally multiple ones. In fact, the average social media user can be found on six to seven platforms each month.

You want to make sure you leverage the power of this free (except for paid ads) tool. So, let’s look at the best platforms.

Facebook

This social media platform still sits atop the leaderboard. Facebook is often the best for restaurants that want to reach their target audience and build engagement and relationships.

If you pick just one platform, you definitely need it to be Facebook. As a general rule, Facebook is the right choice for each and every restaurant.

This platform will help you in nearly all age groups, and you can even expand your reach with digital ads. Placing ads on Facebook is easy, and it is definitely cost-effective.

Here is a list of best practices when creating and using your Facebook page.

• Complete all of the information as you set up your page.
• Make sure that all of your content reflects your restaurant’s brand voice. This means all imagery, text, and videos. In addition, make sure your website and social media brand voice are all consistent.
• Be creative and engaging with your content.
• Post on a consistent basis.
• Create a social media calendar to make posting easier.
• Engage with all comments posted on your page.
• Respond to all comments about your restaurant on the pages of your followers.
• Use Facebook ads and target current and new customers.

Finally, be careful with self-promotion. While it is okay, you want to limit it. For example, you might post two self-promoting posts a week, while the rest are purely for engagement.

Instagram

Our next choice for the best social media platform for restaurants is Instagram. This very visual platform is great for posts, stories, and reels.

With Instagram, your best bet is always interesting and beautiful content in the form of images and videos. This is the perfect place to highlight menu items, staff, recipes, insider content, and more.

Here are some best practices for your restaurant’s Instagram page:

• Always stick to the right size images and videos for this platform.
• Use a good camera and make sure your lighting is good. A good photographer is a must.
• Make sure your brand voice is consistent across all digital platforms.
• Use stories and reels.
• Use hashtags to drive content.

Finally, Facebook and Instagram integrate well together. You can run the same digital ads on Instagram as you can on Facebook, so be sure to leverage their power.

Get creative and have fun on social media. It’s like mini conversations with customers new and current.

TikTok

A relative newcomer to the social media arena, TikTok is the perfect place to market to younger customers, including GenZ and GenX.

Since this platform is for video only, you’ll want to make sure you have someone in charge of creating great content for you.

For example, this is the place to show off your dishes, your team in action, live events, customers (with permission), and behind-the-scenes activity.

You can add songs and sounds to your videos as well as hashtags. Be sure and leverage these to increase engagement.

Finally, always hashtag your location so people in your area see your videos.

YouTube

This platform sits right under Facebook as the most used social media platform.

Using YouTube is a great way to build more brand awareness for your restaurant. You can even run ads here.

The first thing you want to do is create a YouTube channel. Make sure your brand voice is consistent on YouTube as well.

Here are some video ideas for this platform:

• Provide cooking tips.
• Interview your customers and staff members.
• Have a mini cooking show and showcase recipes.
• Use event videos.
• Chat sessions with your chef.

Get creative with your videos, and you’ll soon have a large following. Don’t forget to share these videos on your website.

Final Thoughts on the Best Social Media Platforms

The most popular social media platforms for your restaurant include Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. But don’t forget YouTube, as it’s the second most popular platform worldwide after Facebook.

Which ones should you choose? You want to take a look at your target audience and your demographics. Does your restaurant skew older, does it serve more families, or is it more well-suited to the 20-30 demographic?

This will tell you where your best platforms are. Just because it’s a popular platform doesn’t mean you should be there. You want to go where the majority of your audience is, so choose wisely.

In addition, don’t take on more platforms than you can handle. Best practices often mean at least one post per day, and you will want to vary them slightly for each platform.

Our last piece of advice is to create a social media strategy and a content calendar. Try to schedule a month at a time. You’ll find this helps you create the best content that resonates with your audience.

At Restaurant Engine, we can create a restaurant website for you that works with your social media. When you tie your website to your social media, you’ll find that your revenues rise. Your website and social media accounts are pivotal to your success. You can count on us to create a website that presents a unified brand, highlighting your reviews, that works across all digital platforms. Let us help you make the perfect site that draws customers in, improves customer engagement and your conversion rate, and enables you to grow your business!  

Are you ready to take your restaurant to the next level with a new website?

Get your free website consultation today!

Images: Abstral Official and S O C I A L . C U T on Unsplash

It’s key to engage with your customers through their online reviews.

You can do all the marketing in the world. You can entice people with the best offers. And you can work hard to close the sale.  

Just as important, though, is using your strong, positive online reviews to leverage trust and loyalty in your restaurant. Your happy, satisfied customers are your brand ambassadors and pivotal to your marketing strategy. 

But once you have great reviews, what do you do with them? Let’s look at 10 tips for using reviews to boost your restaurant’s online following.

#1: Regularly Share Reviews on Social Media

One of the best ways to leverage reviews to boost your online following is to post them regularly on your social media accounts. (tweet this)

For example, you get a terrific Google review. Go to Canva and search for review or testimonial templates. Then, add your text and logo. If the reviewer has a profile image, add this to your Canva image.  

Once you’ve created your image, upload it to Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc.  

You can also direct people to your website to see more of your Google reviews. 

Regularly sharing reviews on social media is a good practice, as your followers love to see social proof that your restaurant is worth visiting. 

#2: Engage with Your Customers

Engagement is vital in the digital arena. So, you want to respond to all of your positive and negative reviews.  

Best practices suggest you respond to every review on every review platform within 24 hours. If the review is positive, thank the reviewer, repeat some of the things they said, and thank them again. Each one of your responses should be unique. You don’t ever want to use a boilerplate “thank you” for positive reviews. 

Regarding any negative reviews for your restaurant, first, talk to your team and see if they know what the review is about.  

Then, craft a careful response. Your response is important for people viewing it, as well as the reviewer. 

Your response should be kind and empathetic. Again, reiterate what they said. You might end by offering them a compassionate solution.

#3: Offer Unique Deals

Another way you can use reviews to your advantage is by offering your customers unique deals once they finish their review of your restaurant.  

This may be an incentive to help complete their review. 

#4: Use Reviews in Your Website Content

You already know that the more reviews you have, the better. They may live on places like Google, Facebook, Yelp, and other sites. 

But once you have this great inventory of positive reviews, what are you doing with them? Are they on your website? 

Consider adding a page to your restaurant website for the sole purpose of highlighting your reviews. 

This is a great way to add additional social proof to your website to help convert website visitors into diners. Here are some pages you might consider adding your reviews: 

• Your home page
• A dedicated review page
• Your about us page
• On your contact page

#5: Embed Reviews with Your Menu Items

Your next step to including reviews on your restaurant website is to head to each of your individual menu items. 

The best thing you can do here is look for reviews that mention specific menu items. Then, add those reviews to your menu item pages.  

For example, if a particular customer loved your sausage pizza, add that review to that menu page.  

Fill your restaurant with the social proof of online reviews.

#6: Use Reviews to Promote New Menu Items

Are you adding new menu items to your restaurant? Have you thought about how you’re going to convince people to try them instead of their regular favorites? 

One suggestion is to offer free samples to people when they visit your restaurant. Ask them if they’ll either leave you an online review or if they’ll let you video them for a few seconds.  

This way, you can use both the online review and even the video review on the product pages for your new menu items, as well as on your social media platforms and in your email marketing.  

These reviews can really help boost your menu items.   

#7: Place Reviews in Your Email Marketing

Email marketing is one of the most powerful ways you can reach current and potential restaurant customers.  

These folks have invited you into their inboxes. They are looking for specials, news about events, and helpful content.  

So, this is the perfect opportunity to highlight several of your reviews to boost your restaurant’s online following. You give your restaurant and your food more credibility while showing people your food is worth eating because others love it. 

Along with the reviews in your email, you can even add links so people can add their own reviews.  

#8: Use Reviews to Improve SEO

Your online reviews can improve your SEO (search engine marketing) on your website. How? 

Comb through your reviews and look at the keywords people use. Consider how people are describing your dishes in their reviews.  

By doing this, you can see terms people may use to search for items your restaurant sells. 

So, track the common and even the unusual keywords customers use in reviews, and use some of them on your website to improve your SEO. 

#9: Feature Reviews in Search Ads

Another way to boost your online following is to use snippets of reviews or even whole reviews in your pay-per-click advertising.  

You can attract more visitors to your website this way and enhance your brand recognition. 

A review in a search ad may even help people choose to dine with you. 

#10: Create Videos With Your Reviews

Video is king right now, so grab your phone and start asking customers for video reviews. 

You can share these on your website, social media platforms, search ads, and email marketing.  

Take it one step further and create a review reel that includes several different reviews. You might even include this longer-length video right on your homepage.  

Final Thoughts

Great reviews are your restaurant’s “bread and butter.” Your positive online reviews set you apart from the competition. (tweet this)

According to one source, nearly 95% of diners research a restaurant’s reviews online before deciding to eat there. That’s nearly every person who walks in your doors or orders takeout from you. 

So, there are several takeaways here:

• You need a strategy to get reviews.
• You want to respond to every review – the good and the bad. Respond to the negative ones with kindness and empathy.
• Creating a marketing strategy to use your reviews to boost your restaurant’s online following is vital.

There are so many ways you can use online reviews in your digital marketing and to boost your restaurant sales. Review management is the first step; marketing those reviews is your second step.

It’s time to get busy increasing your online reviews and using them wisely to promote your restaurant. 

At Restaurant Engine, we can create a restaurant website for you that highlights your reviews. Your website is pivotal to your success, and all your marketing leads to and from your website. You can count on us to create a website that presents a unified brand, highlighting your reviews, that works across all digital platforms. Let us help you make the perfect site that draws customers in, improves customer engagement and your conversion rate, and enables you to grow your business!  

Are you ready to take your restaurant to the next level with a new website? 

Get your free website consultation today!  

Images: Towfiqu barbhuiya and yeonhee on Unsplash

Social media is a place to be seen and build reputations, relationships, and engagement.

With more than half of people today saying social media can influence their restaurant choice, it’s never been more important to build a presence on social media.

Social media has changed the fabric of society, and it greatly influences people all over the country. In fact, Neuro Science News found that when people post images of fatty foods, their follower engagement greatly increases.

Because of this, you can see how important social media is for gaining brand awareness and building a positive reputation.

So, let’s talk about how today’s diners are building their reputations on social media and how your restaurant can do it, too.

Today’s Diners Encourage Reviews

One way restaurants can work on their reputations is by asking customers for reviews. 

You want to encourage all of your customers to leave you a review, whether it’s positive or not. While bad reviews aren’t something you like, everyone gets them. What’s more, you can definitely turn that negative review into an opportunity. 

If you want to grow and build your reputation, you want genuine feedback, both positive and negative. A few negative reviews mixed in isn’t an entirely bad thing. 

When receiving reviews on social media, the most important thing you can do is respond to the review. Thank the people who leave positive reviews, reiterate a bit of what they said, and thank them profusely. 

For the negative reviews, use this as an opportunity to show the reviewer and all the people reading the review that you are empathetic and proactive. Take this chance to understand what the negative reviewer is saying and take positive action on it. 

Remember that reviews impact whether or not someone will actually frequent your diner and eat with you. Reviews make a difference when it comes to purchasing decisions. 

So, ultimately, the most important things you can do are these:

• Ask for reviews.
• Respond to every single review appropriately and with empathy.

Nearly 95% of people check out a diner’s reviews before ever walking in the door, so we can’t emphasize reviews enough to help build your reputation on social media.

Today’s Diners Encourage Loyalty

The best restaurants are using social media to build loyalty as well as reputations and expose themselves to more people. 

There are several ways you can do this on social media. 

The first way is by offering coupons and specials right on your social media platforms. For example, you might offer all your Instagram followers a free appetizer if they share a photo of them dining in your restaurant. 

The goal is to build loyalty through special deals. 

Another way you can build your reputation is by hosting contests. For example, you could host a giveaway for a meal for two in exchange for people’s email addresses. (tweet this)

This is a win for you because you build your email list for ongoing marketing. It’s a win for current and potential customers because they can win a free meal. 

Third, you can offer a loyalty program for your customers. This is a great way to build brand awareness and stand out from your competitors. 

Advertise your loyalty program and encourage your social media users to join. Then, start rewarding them for their loyalty every time they dine with you.

Customer loyalty is vital to the success of your restaurant, and social media is the perfect spot to encourage it. 

Social media is the perfect tool for extending your reach and building strong relationships.

Today’s Diners Build a Community 

Another interesting way diners are creating strong reputations on social media is that they encourage their customers to “check in” to their restaurants. 

When they do this, their friends on platforms like Facebook and Instagram can see where they’re eating. If they share photos, you even have free food pics out in the digital arena. 

By encouraging people to check in to your social media platforms, you have the opportunity to be noticed by a wide community of people who might be convinced to eat at your restaurant. (tweet this)

Plus, the more check-ins your diner gets, the more your diner will show up because you’ve made the social media platform’s algorithms happy!

By asking for check-ins, you’re also drawing people into your community. You’re asking them to join forces with you and share your restaurant with others. 

Now, once you’ve got this working, you want to fine-tune and focus on your social media content. Nurture your community by providing them with the content they want to see.

Finally, encourage your customers to follow you on the social media platforms you use. Then, ask them to tag your diner in all their posts and stories. This helps build a strong community in your area, and you’ll soon find your repeat business is booming.

Final Thoughts on Building Reputations

Now that you’ve got some of our favorite social media marketing tips, you’re ready to put them into action.

Social media provides your diner with increased visibility. Choose your platforms wisely, and don’t stretch yourself too thin. Pick one to three platforms to really build your reputation. 

Post consistently and share content that engages. If you aren’t getting shares, likes, and comments, it may be time to share different things. 

Be sure to comment each time someone comments on one of your posts. Likewise, when someone tags your diner, comment as well. 

Always monitor and respond to your reviews to really hone in on your reputation management skills.

With these tools, you’re well on the way to building your reputation on social media and using social media to create fans for your restaurant. You’ll find that with more fans and followers, you will increase your revenue and your bottom line as more people learn about your diner, see photos of your food online, and read your social media reviews.

At Restaurant Engine, we can create a restaurant website for you that complements your social media platforms. Your website is a pivotal piece of your success, and all your marketing leads to and from your website. You can count on us to create a website that also showcases your social media platforms. Let us help you make the perfect site that draws customers in, improves customer engagement and your conversion rate, and enables you to grow your business! 

Are you ready to take your restaurant to the next level with a new website? 

Get your free website consultation today!  

Images: dole777 and Jakob Owens on Unsplash

To enhance customer engagement, give your customers a great experience when they dine with you.

If you want your restaurant to grow and thrive, you need to engage your customers. This means building relationships with people both inside and outside of your restaurant. The digital arena is one of the places where you can really hone your relationship-building skills.

To do this, you want a customer engagement strategy. This includes a strategy that puts the customer experience first, exceeds your customers’ expectations, meets their needs, and puts forth content that engages them.

So, let’s look at four types of customer engagement and how to use them to your advantage.

#1: Research and Understand the Customer Journey

Do you know how customers find your restaurant? Do you know what happens to them after they dine with you for the first time?

The customer journey involves how customers interact with your restaurant. This happens before they even open your doors and follows them well after they leave.

To create a strategy for customer engagement, you want to really know and understand your target customers and how they interact with your restaurant. To know this, you want to map out the customer journey. Here are some things to look at:

1. How do you attract diners? You may reach them through your website, social media, email marketing, word of mouth, or another type of ad.
2. How do you get customers to order from your restaurant or dine in?
3. What do you offer your loyal customers? How do you get them to create a strong connection with your restaurant?
4. Do you ask for feedback? This helps you see the customer journey in a new light.
5. Do you offer loyalty programs or other types of incentives to encourage routine visits?

Once you know the answers to these things, you can really fine-tune your strategy.

#2: Create a Customer Loyalty Program

This customer engagement tactic absolutely works to your advantage by increasing customer retention rates. This means more people eating your food on a recurring basis.

We find that a customer loyalty program is one of the most effective means of increasing customer engagement. You show your repeat customers you appreciate them by offering them incentives to keep engaging with your restaurant. (tweet this)

In addition, reward programs enhance customer loyalty which in turn creates brand ambassadors who promote your restaurant and your food for you.

Loyal customers are engaged, visit you more often, and tell friends and family about your restaurant.

#3: Personalized Email Marketing

You may have an extensive email list that you market to on a regular basis. If so, this is a terrific way to engage your customers with exciting content as well as weekly specials.

Instead of sending generic emails, personalize your email marketing. First, make sure that each email addresses the person by name. This helps your open rate as personalized emails can have an open rate nearly 30% higher than emails that aren’t personalized.

You can take it one step further and send personalized emails that address a diner’s recent visit or even their customer journey.

For example, Susie Smith dined in your restaurant yesterday and ordered a salad, pizza, and breadsticks. You may have software in your restaurant that can send her an email a few days later with a $5 off coupon for the very same meal.

This helps engage your customers and lets them know you are listening to what they want.

Using some of these behavioral triggers will organically increase your email open rate and, generally, your sales.

For example, if a customer hasn’t visited your restaurant in a while, your software can recognize this and trigger an email telling them you miss them. Sending a coupon is a good idea with this email, too.

You can also build automated emails to follow customers on their journey. For example, your email marketing automated software can send welcome emails to people who join your list, followed by a string of emails that address the needs of a customer who is new to your restaurant.

Don’t forget the automated abandoned cart email that goes to people who don’t finish their online orders.

This unique treatment really works to your advantage as it encourages customer engagement whenever someone receives an email from you.

#4: Leverage Your Social Media Channels

Another one of your powerful customer engagement types is social media. When you use it properly, it really gives you the advantage over your competition.

First, most of your customers and target audience use at least one social platform. According to one study, typically, each person uses an average of seven different social media platforms each month. What’s more, they spend about two and a half hours a day using those social media accounts.

As the data shows, you have an incredible opportunity to engage with your target audience on social media. In addition, it’s highly cost-effective to do so. You’ll increase awareness, leverage customer engagement, and increase your profits.

On social media, here are the best practices to follow for customer engagement:

• Respond to every review in a timely manner. Be empathetic to the negative ones.
• Run contests to increase engagement.
• Have customers “check-in” on their social media platforms, and when they show you they checked in, give them a coupon.
• Use photos and videos strategically.
• Post customer testimonials – a video format is great.
• Let people get to know your staff on social media.
• Use paid ads.

Final Thoughts

Now that you know the four types of customer engagement that work, you can use them to your advantage to grow and thrive as a restaurant.

You have the tools you need to build customer relationships through consistent communication and engaging content.

Really lean into crafting the right messages at the right time and sending them to the perfect audience. This will help propel your customer engagement strategy to the next level. (tweet this)

Then, test your customer engagement strategies and evaluate them on an ongoing basis. You can see what works and what doesn’t and pivot as necessary.

Be patient as you watch your customer engagement strategy succeed and help your restaurant increase its bottom line.

At Restaurant Engine, we create websites that encourage customer engagement. You can count on us to create a website that engages customers through brand storytelling. Let us help you make the perfect site that draws customers in, improves customer engagement and your conversion rate, and enables you to grow your business! Ready to take the plunge and create a new website? Get your free website consultation today! 

Images: Rendy Novantino and Louis Hansel on Unsplash