Social media has revolutionized the way we communicate and is a valuable tool for restaurants to market their business. Platforms like TikTok and Instagram (with its posts, reels, and story formats) provide restaurant owners with an excellent opportunity to showcase your restaurant, menu, and atmosphere. With billions of users on these platforms, the possibilities are endless. But, how do you stand out in the sea of content? First, make sure you’ve secured your restaurant name on these platforms if you haven’t already, and then, let’s discuss five delicious ways to promote your restaurant on TikTok and Instagram.
Behind-the-Scenes Videos
Behind-the-scenes videos give users insight into the inner workings of your restaurant's kitchen, preparation methods, and daily updates. Customers might get to know the chef better whether that’s their heritage or favorite dish to make. Take this as an opportunity to also introduce sous chefs, bartenders, and others who might have a connection to a menu item. This type of content is always a hit with diners, and it allows them to feel connected to your restaurant. By showcasing the hard work that goes into creating dishes in the kitchen, and bar, and the reality of running a restaurant, you are also building a sense of trust and loyalty with your supporters.
Trending Challenges
TikTok is known for its vibrant challenges, and you can easily jump on the bandwagon by creating videos that align with the latest trends. For example, you can create a challenge where guests can showcase their favorite menu item or dance to your restaurant’s background music. This type of content is the easiest to go viral, and that will increase awareness of your brand as well as show a potentially “less serious” side of your restaurant, making you approachable to many more patrons.
Create Tutorial Videos
Creating tutorial videos such as recipes and how-tos that feature your best-selling dishes is another great way to promote your restaurant. This type of content is shareable and provides value to your viewers. Not only does it showcase your restaurant’s culinary prowess, but it also drives traffic to your business. You can have your sous chef, pastry chef, or other figurehead walk through the process of creating the dish step-by-step, providing helpful tips along the way.
Re-share User-Generated Content
User-generated content is an excellent way to build a sense of community and loyalty around your brand. Re-sharing content from customers who have visited your restaurant is a great way to promote what others love about your establishment. It shows that your restaurant is popular, and people are having a great experience dining with you. User-generated content will also give you an insight into areas that need improvement and is a valuable learning opportunity.
Collaborate with Influencers
Partnering with influencers can give your restaurant a significant boost in visibility. You can collaborate with influencers, providing them with free meals in exchange for featuring your restaurant on their channel. This is an excellent opportunity to reach a brand-new audience, and it allows you to tap into the influencer's loyal following. Be sure to work out terms and deliverables with influencers beforehand so that their experience is positive for both of you.
Let Them Eat with their Eyes First
Promoting your restaurant on TikTok and Instagram can be a fun and creative way to generate awareness of your restaurant and repurpose marketing and advertising dollars to work best for your business. By following some of the tips discussed above, you can increase the likelihood of your content going viral, being seen and appreciated by the right customers, and building your restaurant’s brand awareness and loyal following. Be open to experimenting with new ideas and strategies to discover what works best for your restaurant and remember to make the experience a fun and memorable one for your visitors.
If you’d like to work with us at Restaurant Owners Marketing Academy and learn more about our tailored social media services we’d love to share our expertise with you.
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