Today’s consumers are digital natives who expect businesses to be where they spend their time. That means your customers will look for you on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest before ever setting foot in your restaurant. The good news is that this also means you can use social media marketing to promote your business in a cost-effective way. You no longer need to pay for print advertising or pay for Google search results. With the right strategy, social media marketing is free and can help get your business noticed by potential customers. Here are 7 ideas you can use to promote your local restaurant with social media marketing.


1. Tell Your Restaurant’s Story

A restaurant’s story is something customers will relate to. By sharing your story, you are helping your customers relate to you. This will help you connect with your customers and make them more likely to visit your restaurant. You can tell your story on social media by sharing your vision, mission, values and other important aspects of your business. You can also share the stories of some of your most loyal customers and how your restaurant has helped them. By telling your story, you can engage with your customers and make them more likely to choose your restaurant.


2. Create a Facebook Business Page

Your company’s Facebook page is a great place to share information about your business such as menu items, upcoming events, specials and more. This is a great place to start when creating your social media strategy. You can use your Facebook page to provide information about your restaurant, host promotions and events, and answer customer questions. This can help you engage with your customers and provide them with the information they need to decide whether to visit your restaurant. Create a Facebook page for your restaurant rather than using your personal page to promote your business. This will help you focus on your business instead of your personal interests.


3. Host an Event to Build Brand Awareness

Hosting an event can help you create brand awareness and get new customers in the door. You can host a launch event, food tasting or a happy hour event. These events help you engage with customers and provides them with something they can take away from the experience. You can host an event in person or over the internet. There are plenty of social media platforms that can help you host an event. You can use Facebook Live, Instagram Stories or YouTube Live to host an event. You can also use social media to promote your event. This can help you increase the number of people who know about your event and who may want to attend.


4. Provide a Behind-The-Scenes Look at Your Restaurant

People love getting a behind-the-scenes look at the places they frequent. Provide a behind-the-scenes look at your restaurant by sharing pictures and videos of your chefs making fresh food, employees making deliveries, and other aspects of your business. This helps your customers feel like they are a part of your business and can make them more likely to frequent your restaurant. You can use Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest to provide a behind-the-scenes look at your restaurant.


5. Show Off The Best Thing About Your Restaurant: Authenticity

Choose one thing that makes your restaurant stand out from the rest. This can be the type of food you serve or the type of atmosphere you have. Focus your social media marketing on showing off this one aspect of your restaurant. You can focus on the authenticity of your menu and how everything is made from scratch. Or you can focus on the friendly environment of your restaurant. No matter what you choose, focus your social media marketing strategy on this one thing. When customers see that you’re promoting one thing, they are more likely to notice and engage with your posts.


6. Show customers what’s on the menu with Pinterest

Pinterest is a great platform for restaurants to show off their menu items. You can create boards for your restaurant’s menu and meals. This is a great way to build brand awareness and show customers what’s on the menu at your restaurant. You can also use Pinterest to engage with customers. You can create boards that are themed around events or seasons like fall or summer. This can help you engage with customers and provide them with inspiration for events and activities.


7. Run a Restaurant Promotion on Facebook and Instagram.

Promotions are a great way to get new customers in the door. You can run a promotion on social media using Facebook and Instagram. You can host a contest, giveaway or create a special promotion for your customers. You can also use these platforms to inform customers about your special promotion. This can help bring new customers to your restaurant and can help you increase the number of people who like your page and follow your business.



Summing up

Social media marketing is an effective way to promote your local restaurant. The best way to do this is by focusing on one aspect of your restaurant and promoting it across all social media platforms. By doing this, you can engage with your customers and provide them with useful information. You can also use social media to host events, provide a behind-the-scenes look at your restaurant, and show off what’s on the menu.