Restaurant marketing is a competitive business, especially with the amount of quality eateries here on Long Island. However, in recent years, the advent of digital marketing and advertising has leveled the playing field significantly. But still, a vast majority of places still aren’t getting it right. So, for ambitious owners, managers and restaurateurs, we’re here to help.
The Ins and Outs of Restaurant Marketing
Get a Website
At this point, we probably sound like a broken record, but all businesses need websites. And that’s especially true when it comes to restaurant marketing.
First of all, websites present invaluable opportunities to highlight details like menus, hours, specials, galleries and much more. You’ll also be able to use SEO to ensure that your audience can find you online. After all, ‘restaurants near me’ receives an average of 7,480,000 monthly searches on Google.
Basically, if you’re looking to broaden and expand your network of diners, a website is a solid start.
Let your Inner Foodie Shine
These days on Instagram, you can barely scroll through your feed without encountering a good-looking dish from an aspiring foodie. Luckily though, influencers aren’t always necessary for getting the word out.
Instead, take your own high-quality, closeup photos of your signature grub for social media. You don’t even need an expensive camera or professional photographer. Current smartphones are more than capable of taking awesome, eye-catching photos to draw in hungry users.
Utilize Directories
In the current age of restaurant marketing, a presence on directories like Yelp, TripAdvisor and Zomato is an essential. Whether you like it or not, more people than ever are using these platforms to discover and research different eateries.
Therefore, try to establish a presence on any platforms that you can. Besides, the goal is to appear before your target audience wherever they’re looking for you—and this is how you do it.
Embrace Customer Reviews
Restaurant marketing also requires a solid online reputation management strategy.
Since restaurant-goers give so much weight to reviews, you must know how to best manage your own evaluations. It doesn’t even matter whether the review is particularly good or bad. What matters is how you handle it.
Get a good review? Thank them for their patronage and welcome them back. Victimized by a bad review? Apologize profusely and ensure them it won’t happen again. Just make sure to always stay true to your brand when doing so!
If you’ve thus far eschewed traditional restaurant marketing, it’s never too late to change, so use these tips wisely!
