More and more customers are discovering good bars and restaurants via social media than ever before, so it makes sense that you ought to be including social media as part of your overall marketing strategy.
The best part is that it’s free, so you’d be mad not to.
If you’re just getting started with social media or you’re looking for more ways to optimise your results, here are some ideas that you can use to bring in more customers:
Pictures are key
One of the most effective ways to promote and market your venue on social media is by sharing lots of photos. Give your products all the attention. Regardless of the platform you’re using – Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Google – be sure to regularly upload high-quality pictures of your menu items.
Use video to bring your venue to life
This may sound daunting, but it really isn’t – just keep it simple.
You could do a walk-through of your venue to showcase your interior or go behind the scenes and let your followers know how you create new cocktails or dishes.
If you’re planning a promotion or a special occasion event, then a teaser video would be ideal. You don’t need all the editing skills of a film director. Just stick to the subject and keep it brief.
Share and respond to your reviews
The most powerful thing that you can do is to show the proof of how much your customers like what you offer. You’re not just sharing their experiences, but you’re also showing them some appreciation for taking the time to write a review.
Always address any negative feedback as this is a good way of showing your potential customers how you handle online criticism. It can actually strengthen your relationship with customers by showing that you care.
Make the most of seasonal opportunities
Most venues will create something special for the usual festivities, Christmas, Mother’s Day etc, but try to find new ways of distinguishing yourself on social media.
Plan some content and posts around, for instance, national food days that would best fit your menu offering. Use big sporting events and find ways to tie them into your menu and make sure that you use good pictures and relevant hashtags for more coverage.
There could be events that are completely unique to your area so do some research about your regional demographic and make them feel special.
Share your menu
Don’t just have your menu on your website, share it by including links in your tweets and Facebook posts to make it more available. This will increase traffic to your website and encourage customers to find out more. Don’t forget to add your location to your posts by using hashtags – platforms are getting better at allowing users to narrow down searches by looking for posts ‘near you’.
Whether you’re opening a venue, designing a drinks menu or planning an event, we can help. We’ll work with you to create tailormade strategic plans, so get in touch today.