5 Restaurant Marketing Ideas For 2018 And Beyond

restaurant marketing

Are you hungry for success in the restaurant industry?

With 1 million restaurant locations in the U.S., restaurant owners have to stand out to be successful.

Being a restaurant owner means that you wear many different hats. One of which is likely a marketing hat. Sure, your food is delicious. But getting people in the door is the first step.

Restaurant marketing trends are changing all the time. But we can tell you what marketing tactics will give you the best chance at gaining the attention.

Keep reading to hear 5 restaurant marketing ideas that will be effective in 2018 and beyond!

1. Social Media

If you scroll through your social media, you’ll see some images of tasty dishes.

You may have a few social media pages for your restaurant but the best channel to use is Instagram. Some photos of some of your most lusted dishes will certainly get people’s stomachs growling.

If you’re busy, hire a social media guru to help you out. Check out this food supplier in Hong Kong for Instagram inspiration.

2. User-Generated Content

What’s better than bragging about your own restaurant? Having someone else do all the bragging for you! When people visit your restaurant, encourage them to spread the word.

Have a sign in front of the restaurant that advertises your restaurant hashtag. If you want to take it to the next step, offer a free dessert to the foodie with the most liked picture.

You can even get creative and have custom plates created with your restaurant’s hashtag on the rim. This way, you get some free promotion when diners share pictures of your dishes.

3. Local Media Platforms

Social media is huge, but that doesn’t mean that traditional media isn’t still effective. Reach out to local magazines, newspapers, and bloggers. Invite them to your restaurant for a free meal in exchange for an honest piece on their platform.

Be sure to do your research on the outlets you choose before inviting them out. For example, you wouldn’t want to call in a gourmet chef if you own a cheeseburger food truck.

Before you reach out to local media, be sure that your website is in good shape. They will need to direct readers to your site to promote your restaurant.

4. Loyalty Program

Are you rewarding your customers for their loyalty? You should be. Customers who are in loyalty programs generate up to 18% more revenue.

Manage your loyalty program through an online system or by using punch cards. The only rule is that you motivate diners to keep coming back!

5. Join a Delivery Service

In today’s world, convenience is the ultimate incentive. There are apps like Uber Eats and GrubHub that have simplified the food delivery service.

Make your food available on one of these apps to make things as simple as possible. Internet-savvy diners will take advantage of the streamlined ordering process.

Which Restaurant Marketing Trends are in your Strategy?

Delicious dishes and note-worthy customer service are mandatory. But, you have to go above and beyond to tell the world about your restaurant.

There are many marketing strategies that you can use to build up buzz for your restaurant. You just have to think outside of the box to use today’s emerging marketing trends.

Start small and begin using some of the tips we talked about in this article. If something doesn’t work out for you, move on to the next idea! Learn more business tips on our blog.