4 Ways to Increase Your Restaurant Customer Base with Social Media

We live in an age of visual marketing. Whether you’re trying to build a solid customer base for your new franchise location or your independent restaurant, one thing is for sure: your food will need to stand out on social media.

Here are five quick strategies for strengthening your restaurant’s online presence to increase customers (and profit in the process):

1. Make your food the star of the show. If potential customers see a delicious dish from your restaurant during their daily 5 p.m. scroll, it may be enticing enough to get them off the couch and into your restaurant. Be sure to take high-quality, professional photos of each dish on your menu so that you can make frequent posts reminding followers to stop by and grab a great meal.
2. Employee shout outs: Posting pictures or interviews of your employees shows that your restaurant values relationships. When customers can put a face to your brand, it humanizes your team and creates a personal connection. It also boosts team member morale, creating a fun work environment for your employees and a positive workplace culture that attracts great new hires.
3. Customer interaction: In the age of online comments, responding to your customers is a must for retaining their business. If a customer shares a negative experience in the comments of your social media, or on popular review websites like Yelp, the best thing to do is politely respond and try to fix the situation. For example, if a customer didn’t enjoy their meal, offer them a discounted price if they come back to try something new. This can help turn their negative experience into a positive one, and it also shows your other followers that you genuinely care about your customers.
4. Contests and giveaways: A fun and creative way to get more attention on social media is to host a giveaway. For example, you could offer a free appetizer to one of your followers who likes and shares your post. This gets your restaurant name out to new customers while also creating a fun interaction for current customers.

When you have a strong presence on social media, you’re more likely to cultivate a strong, steady customer base that can support your restaurant and its continued growth and success.

Need support with restaurant bookkeeping so that you can focus on the creative stuff? BookWerks™ frequently partners with restaurant owners and franchisees to manage monthly financial tasks that give you more time, more freedom, and more clarity on where your finances stand. Learn more about our services if you’re ready to take the next step.