September 09, 2022
It’s not news to any restaurant owner that the foodservice and hospitality industries are highly competitive. Establishments have more marketing abilities with social media channels, internet searches, and email campaigns. However, with those abilities also comes a significant amount of digital noise and online competition. Now, more than ever, owners need to spend time enhancing and promoting their brand to reach and connect with modern consumers. If you want the lowdown on bringing your customer base up, read on for all the details.
How Can a Restaurant Improve its Brand?
Brand awareness is key in retaining revenue and boosting a consumer base. Today’s restaurant customer wants more than just a great meal. They want to frequent a company they connect with on multiple levels. In fact, 1 in 5 young consumers choose brands that reflect their values. One of the best ways to grab consumer attention is to get to know your customers.
Social Media Marketing for Restaurants
Consumers use social media and search engines to discover and interact with their favorite establishments. Global customers use over seven different social media platforms a month. In order to reach potential patrons, restaurants need to learn about how consumers find new brands.
Social media is at the top of the list for brand discovery. 48 percent of customers learn about new brands by researching them on social channels and 28 percent come directly from ads seen on social media platforms. Creating a social media advertising campaign on platforms like Facebook and Instagram is a great way to cultivate a lucrative online presence.
Marketing Ideas for Restaurants to Stand Out
A social media presence is critical. For new restaurants, there are a number of ways to market your restaurant. However, with so much information on the internet and social platforms, cutting through digital noise once your business is established is what truly makes a brand stand out.
Branch Out in Your Advertising
According to market research tool, Global Web Index, studies have shown that some customers tend to spend money on brands they have seen advertised. However, there is a fine line between consumers being skeptical and interested when it comes to advertisements. Younger men tend to utilize ad-blockers and try to avoid ads as much as possible. Of the consumers responding well to advertisements, 34 percent said they tend to purchase brands they discover on social media. Interestingly, the highest positive response comes from music and podcast streams, at 41 percent.
What does this mean for your restaurant ad campaign? It’s necessary to mix up your advertising across multiple channels to reach the most people. 67 percent of restaurants advertise on social media, which, as mentioned above, is a great tool. However, it also means a lot of competition. Creating a marketing campaign that also includes a voice ad on music streaming systems, for example, means you stand out even more. Think of other avenues that might be uncommon for restaurant ads, like messaging apps and online videos. That way, you’ll corner more of the market and be recognized on less competitive platforms.
Increase Online Reviews
Customers put a lot of stock in online reviews. 35 percent of diners say that reviews have a lot of sway on whether or not they choose to eat at an establishment for the first time. It’s essential to monitor your online reviews and make sure you are addressing any negative feedback quickly and professionally. Review responses are critical for business profits. A recent study revealed customers spend up to 49 percent more at companies that take the time to respond.
No matter how you engage with your consumer base, always keep your brand identity consistent and showcase what makes your establishment unique. Imbue all your marketing strategies with authenticity, at the end of the day, that will draw diners to you.
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