Last Updated: January 2025
In the cutthroat world of dining, the question on every restaurateur’s mind is how to market your restaurant. The competition among restaurants is fierce, demanding a bullet-proof marketing plan.
Fear not, for you’ve landed in the perfect spot. This comprehensive guide unveils 27 restaurant marketing ideas, offering a blend of creativity, strategy, and a competitive edge.
Get ready to discover the secrets that will not only attract and gratify customers but also ensure they keep coming back for more.
How to Market a Restaurant
There’s no one-size-fits-all way to market a restaurant since it depends on your type, who you’re trying to reach, where you are, and more. But every food place should start with these basic steps:
1. Develop your restaurant’s brand identity
Your brand identity goes beyond just the colors you use. It’s like your business’s personality, the way you talk in your content, and the feelings you want your customers to have. Saying “happy” isn’t specific enough. Look at famous restaurants:
- Taco Bell: funny and clever
- Cheesecake Factory: luxury and indulgence
- Panera: focusing on health and freshness
- Olive Garden: family and comfort
So, start by knowing your main audience. Then, break that down into different buyer personas with specific interests and lifestyles.
Create a theme that fits all these personas, and make sure to show it consistently in everything you write and do.
2. Get a website
This is a must. At least have a homepage, about us, menu, and contact page. But it’s even better if you add a reviews page, photo gallery, blog, and FAQ page.
Just remember, your website is where people look for info, so it has to look pro—first impressions count! Get some ideas from these restaurant website designs and examples.
3. Establish your mission statement
This aligns with your brand identity and should be a written statement that defines your business’s purpose.
Is it about making healthy food affordable or promoting family bonding? Maybe it’s about sustainability.
Your mission statement needs to say what you offer, to whom, why, and how. Look at some examples for inspiration in crafting your mission statement.
4. Set up your socials
Moving down the checklist for establishing your online presence, let’s talk about your social profiles.
While Facebook and Instagram top the list for restaurants, platforms like TikTok, Twitter, YouTube, and even LinkedIn have their significance for various brands.
5. Get listed on restaurant apps
Want to boost your restaurant’s visibility? Try dining and restaurant apps – they’re fantastic free tools. Being on these apps means catching the eye of people actively searching for places to eat. These apps let users narrow down their choices, so make sure to give lots of details:
- What type of place you are (more options than the eight on Thrillist)
- Your website
- Where you’re located and your phone number
- When you’re open
- Your menu
- How much your food generally costs
- Throw in lots of pictures
- Extra info like wifi, outdoor seating, parking, and dietary options
Consider getting your restaurant on these apps:
- Yelp (check out our Yelp guide)
- Zomato (used to be Urbanspoon)
- OpenTable
- Zagat
- TripAdvisor
6. Set up your Google Business Profile
Setting up your restaurant’s Google Business Profile is super important – maybe even more than having a Yelp account. This listing gets you on Google Maps, local search results, and the Knowledge Panel in regular searches.
But just creating the profile isn’t enough. To show up in the Local 3-pack, rank higher on Google Maps, and bring in customers, you’ve got to make your Google Business Profile awesome.
It’s like a treasure chest of info:
- Your contact details
- Q&A section (you can fill this in!)
- When you’re busiest
- Google reviews (Learn how to get more Google reviews here)
- Reviews from other sites
- Pictures
- What kind of place you are
- Business insights (not visible in the image above)
- Posts (also not shown) (Check out our Google posting guide)
And it’s not just about having this info; it’s about keeping it right. Nowadays, 89% of folks check out a restaurant online before going there.
That’s why having all your restaurant details online and current – like your address, phone number, hours, and menu – is super important. The more accurate your online info, the better.
7. Have a sleek, functional online menu
Make it easy for users to find and read your menu without any hassle. Ensure it’s high-quality, easy to read, and always up-to-date. Not sure how?
Some delivery sites can publish your menu online for free, and Open Menu is a stylish option with social integration for both paid and free users.
However, it’s crucial to have your menu on your website – that’s often the #1 thing users want to see, along with your hours, location, and contact info.
If your menu isn’t online and accessible, your other restaurant marketing strategies won’t be very effective! Nowadays, customers expect an online menu, and if they can’t find it, they’ll likely go somewhere else.
Restaurant Marketing Strategies
Now that you’ve got the basics sorted, let’s talk about simple tricks that will bring customers to your restaurant and make sure they come back again.
1. Ask for reviews
People like giving online reviews, but sometimes they need a little reminder. So, it’s a good idea to ask for reviews as part of your restaurant plan.
Here’s how you can do it:
- Put up a nice sign with an easy link or QR code close to the mints.
- Ask for reviews on your website, menus, coupons, punch cards, and receipts.
- Sometimes, just ask customers in person.
- Now and then, remind people on your social media posts.
2. Respond to reviews
How you deal with customer reviews can shape what people think about your restaurant. Here’s what you can do:
- Say thanks for the good reviews to show you care about what customers think.
- Thank everyone, whether they say something good or not.
- If there’s a bad review, reply quickly and nicely in public. Then, suggest talking privately to fix things.
This helps a lot. Customers like it when the owner replies, and they become nicer in their feedback, knowing the restaurant is trying to get better.
3. Send out an email newsletter
Your restaurant’s newsletter can tell folks about new menu stuff, events, coupons, and cool stories from customers. You don’t need to send it every week; once a month works fine and won’t bug people too much.
4. Turn your Facebook business page into a community
- Facebook is like a business directory, so fill in all the details, ask for reviews, and keep things updated.
- Share stuff often: customer photos, news about events, special deals, and any changes to your hours.
- Chat with your followers: Start conversations, reply to comments, and follow them back.
- Change your cover photos with the seasons.
5. Loyalty programs
Teaming up with online apps encourages people to explore your restaurant through fun games and loyalty programs. These programs reward visitors with a freebie or discount after they’ve visited a certain number of times.
Some foodie apps with built-in loyalty programs are:
- Belly
- LevelUp
- Perka
6. Local SEO
Even though Google tries to figure out where you are, it doesn’t mean you’ll always show up in local searches. So, you’ve got to do some local SEO:
- Get listed on the main local sites (like we said before).
- Stick a Google Map on your Contact Us page.
- Share stuff about your location regularly.
- Ask for online reviews (it helps with local SEO).
- Keep all your online info the same. Google doesn’t like it when things are different!
7. Invest in paid ads
Putting paid ads on Google and Facebook can get lots of people to notice your restaurant. Here’s how to make it work in your plan:
- Make sure your ads are seen by people in specific cities or nearby (so you don’t waste money on the wrong clicks).
- Use these tips to create good ads on Facebook.
- Pay attention to ads on phones.
Google lets you tweak and aim your ads for mobiles, so you can bid more during dinner when folks are hunting for fast food on their phones.
This boosts your chances of being the first ad for a search like “pizza” when people are craving a slice.
8. Start a blog
Starting a blog for your restaurant is a cool way to connect with your community and talk to customers. You can show off your restaurant’s personality by sharing successes, funny stories, recipes, and stuff your customers might like.
A blog can be big or small – it’s up to you. You don’t have to post all the time; it’s better to focus on making each post good. Just having your blog ready is handy for when you have important news or announcements to share with everyone.
9. Offline marketing strategies
Remember the real world in your restaurant marketing plan! These strategies still work well, especially for local restaurants.
- Postcards
- Menus
- Care packages
- Free samples
- Local newspapers, radio, and TV
Restaurant Marketing Ideas
10. Foodie photos
If you’ve ever been on Instagram, you know people love food pictures.
To make your restaurant look awesome online, share tasty, high-quality photos. People really like pictures on the internet, so having yummy-looking photos on your website and social media is super important.
Just remember, taking great food pics can be a bit tricky, mainly because of the lighting. You could hire a pro to do it, or give it a try yourself using your smartphone.
11. Offer coupons & discounts
Want more customers? Give out coupons or discounts for your restaurant. If people sign up for your email newsletter, maybe throw in a free dish.
You could also try putting a discount on Groupon or Living Social. It gets your restaurant a lot of attention, but remember, you’ll have to give a big chunk of your sales to the deal website. Just something to keep in mind.
12. Share your reviews
The number and quality of reviews don’t just affect your ranking and whether customers click on your result. The content of those reviews can also be fantastic for marketing.
Display them on your website, share them on social media, and consider adding reviews about specific dishes to your menu.
13. Be an Insta-ham
- Show off your store and top dishes on social media.
- Use this platform to express your brand’s personality. For instance, if you’re a health food store, share pics of people doing activities your fans will like.
- Have fun with hashtags. Create your own or join popular ones like #ThrowbackThursday to engage with your fans.
14. Food blogger outreach
If you’re a new restaurant and want more reviews and attention, try inviting food bloggers to check out your place. You could offer them a free meal or appetizer to encourage them to come. Politely ask if they’d be up for reviewing your restaurant and sharing it online.
Remember, you can’t ask for a positive review, but it’s okay to request an honest opinion. Some bloggers might say no, but the more you ask, the better chance you have of getting some good feedback and creating interest online.
Certain food bloggers have a lot of followers, and if they talk about your restaurant, it can help. Just one mention from a popular foodie can do a lot to promote your place.
15. Show off your staff
Highlight your outstanding staff with those 5-star smiles! Displaying your happy and skilled employees works wonders for your reputation. Customers love being served by joyful workers.
Featuring your cheerful employees also adds significant points to your reputation. Happy workers speak volumes about your business, and fans are sure to appreciate the positive vibes.
16. Share positive press
If your restaurant gets mentioned in a news outlet or magazine, make sure to highlight the positive publicity on your website and through social media.
Fans will share the news, and potential customers will feel more confident about visiting when they see reputable sources celebrating your restaurant.
17. Social media contests
- Awesome Prizes: Make your Facebook and Instagram giveaways interesting by offering cool prizes like free sides, extra pizza, dinner for two, or swag.
- Join the Fun: Get people involved by having them post about and tag your business or use your special hashtag on Instagram.
- Local Love: It’s a great way to get more followers and connect with people in your area.
18. Source local ingredients
People appreciate knowing they’re enjoying local fare, and sourcing ingredients from nearby can significantly expand your fan base and build a positive reputation in the community. If it fits within your budget, it’s a worthwhile option to consider.
19. Partner up with delivery services
Today, online convenience is crucial. Many delivery services make ordering easy, and customers who love online options often use these services.
Think about teaming up with:
- Seamless
- Eat24
- Foodler
- Delivery.com
- GrubHub
20. Trivia nights
Trivia nights, whether weekly or monthly, are consistently popular at restaurants. Provide enticing prizes for the winners, play enjoyable background music, and use social media and newsletters to promote the event and get the word out.
21. Fishbowl business card giveaways
Let customers toss their business cards into a bowl for a chance to win cool prizes – it could be lunch for the winner and friends or a discounted happy hour!
These raffles are not only fun but also let you email customers later. Even if they don’t win, tell them to join your newsletter for future chances to win and get cool discounts. Boom! You’ve got yourself some awesome new newsletter subscribers!
22. Start a food truck
Starting a food truck is a big deal – it’s a huge effort, and depending on the type of truck, it can cost a lot.
But, having a food truck lets you serve your food to new people, get more attention, and gain fans who might start visiting your restaurant too!
23. Get creative with national days
Each month is packed with awareness causes and special days that work well for restaurants. Here are a few examples:
- September: National Food Safety Month
- February: National Pizza Day
- August: International Beer Day
- March: National Baked Scallops Day
- April: National Picnic Day
The list continues with fun occasions like National Corn Chip Day, National Glazed Spiral Ham Day, Chicken Tetrazzini Day, and many more.
Also Read: How to Find Employees for Restaurant
Final Restaurant Marketing Tips
Here are a few last tips to help you save time, keep a positive reputation, and get the most value from every moment and dollar you invest in marketing your restaurant.
24. Promote user-generated content
Encourage customers to share their favorite meals at your place through a photo contest, called UGC.
Display the entries on a dedicated page or social media, and give some lucky participants free appetizers or other prizes. This shows your customers you value them and can turn occasional visitors into loyal fans!
25. Use online reservation tools
A great marketing idea for a fine dining restaurant is to explore joining OpenTable.
OpenTable is an online reservation platform that allows customers to book reservations for your restaurant online.
Making life a bit easier for patrons is always appreciated, and OpenTable comes with a ready-made base of loyal customers you can connect with.
26. Time those Tweets
Twitter can be a valuable asset for restaurants, and the timing of your tweets can significantly impact hungry appetites.
Experiment with creating and scheduling tweets at various times of the day to cater to specific breakfast, lunch, or dinner crowds, depending on your menu offerings.
27. Monitor your online reputation
In restaurant marketing, it’s vital to know that customers can talk about you online, even on platforms you didn’t set up. To manage your reputation:
- Google your restaurant regularly to claim any auto-created listings.
- Use Google Alerts to get notified when your business name pops up online.
- Consider tools like Hootsuite or Buffer to keep track of posts and messages on social media.
Conclusion
In a nutshell, mastering restaurant marketing is an ongoing journey. From building a strong online presence to creative promotions, these tips are tools to shape your restaurant’s success.
Stay adaptable, listen to feedback, and embrace trends to keep delighting your customers. Cheers to the success of your culinary venture.
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