What happens when your restaurant gets tagged in an Instagram post? Do you like and acknowledge it, or smile and scroll past? If it’s the latter, you’re missing a whole world of user-generated content that could help your restaurant’s social media strategy.
User-generated content is the online content — photos, comments, reviews, and more — from people who visit your restaurant. It also means anything not created by your marketing department.
There are huge benefits that come from prioritizing user-generated content. The potential to draw a bigger clientele is only one of them. Keep reading to learn how user-generated content can boost your social media strategy.
Adding User-Generated Content to Your Restaurant’s Social Media Strategy
Why should you add user-generated content to your social media and restaurant marketing strategy? Simple: your customers are far more likely to listen to their fellow customers. Believe it or not, four in five customers trust other customers’ recommendations more than advertisements.
So that means user-generated content should be at the top of the list of the best social media strategies for restaurants. But what else can it do for you?
Creates Trust and Loyalty
Social Media Today reported that 74% of consumers think user-generated content adds to a brand’s authenticity. On top of that, 48% of marketers agree that it’s humanizing to brands and companies.
When you bring user-generated content into your online streams, you’ll make it more likely for new customers to trust you and your brand. There’s nothing like showing consumers you actually care what they think to bring new people through your business’s door.
Builds a Community Around Your Brand
Did you know that social media posts with user-generated content tend to get 28% more engagement than other kinds of posts? The community that can grow from this engagement can be incredible. Social media users who leave reviews and comments often follow up with even more comments and shares.
That gives you space to reply and create a back-and-forth. It’s a simple way to start that pays off in the long run.
Drives Marketing and Promotes Purchasing Decisions
Social media for restaurants relies most often on images that reflect what you have to offer. When you share great captures from your customers, you have a new visual for what people can expect from you. That’s fast marketing and the kind that gets people wanting to try what’s on your menu.
Of course, this doesn’t mean foregoing marketing as a whole. It means it’s that much easier to drive people to buy. You can be selective about what’s getting attention and build upon its momentum, which is way more affordable in the long run!
Tips to Keep in Mind About User-Generated Content
When it comes to social media marketing for restaurants, user-generated content is powerful. But that means you need to keep the following in mind when it comes to the content creators:
- Give credit to the creator. Being tagged or mentioned in a post doesn't make the content yours. Always credit the person who authored the content, and thank them in a short message at the end of your post or marketing message.
- When in doubt, ask for permission. If you’re not sure whether you’re clear about using the content, ask the creator! The key is to explain why you want to use it, how valuable and high-quality it is, and what you’ll do to credit and feature them.
Restaurant Marketing Tools That Work
User-generated content is a hidden gold mine for a restaurants' social media strategy. But it’s not about sharing everything that’s there: you want to focus on the best of the best content. That’s why it can help to work with a social media marketing company to plan your approach.
ROMA is one of the few dedicated restaurant social media marketing companies out there that does this. We offer restaurant marketing expertise so you can keep growing your business. You can get in touch with our team today to find out more.
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