Social Media Marketing for Restaurants

If you’re in the “restaurant” or “any” business you may have heard that you simply have to get involved in social media marketing. Contrary to what everyone is saying, there are myths surrounding social media.
If you’re in the restaurant – or any business – you may have heard that you simply have to get involved in social media marketing. Contrary to what everyone is saying, there are myths surrounding social media. See if you have heard any of these.
Myth 1: If you build it, they will come. Well it’s true that you can build it, but it’s not true that it will attract new followers. In fact you can have a social media platform such as Facebook and Twitter and have virtually no one following you. Building a social media following takes time, effort and know how, just like building a successful restaurant. But it doesn’t happen overnight.
Myth 2: Social media will get you lots of customers. Think of it this way, social media is well, social. I liken it to a big party that anyone can go to. But if you go to a party and start passing out your business cards immediately, you’ll likely make few friends. The same is true with social media. If you set up a Twitter or Facebook account and use it only to put out advertising materials most people will be uninterested. Just like it takes time to build relationships at a party so will it take time to build credibility on social media. For most restaurants, you’re may not get sales right away. It really depends on how well your followers know you already. So if you’re going to participate in social media, seek first to be social, make friends, then invite them to buy.
Myth 3: I can hire a company to do that: Lots of new companies (and old ones as well) have sprung up touting that they will do social media for you for a fee. And yes they can. But think about it this way, can someone go on a date for you or in your place with the person you would like to be “married” to? Well yes they could, but would the person then marry you or the substitute? The same is true in social media. The most effective restaurant owners that I know who use social media such as Twitter of Facebook actually use it themselves. They also may have a restaurant team member manage social media. The difference is the restaurant team member works in your business and knows more intricately what’s going on, what the personality of your company is and so on; an outside company would not know that.
Don’t get me wrong, though, social media marketing can be a hugely profitable tool for your restaurant if you use it correctly and here’s why:

1. Social media marketing for restaurants is a great way to build brand loyalty.
2. Social media marketing for restaurants is a new marketing frontier that many of your competitors and customers are utilizing.
3. Social media marketing for restaurants is an excellent way to reach market segments that you might not have considered.
4. Social media marketing for restaurants is a cost-effective way to reach new customers.
5. Social media marketing for restaurants is a great way to get feedback from current customer or to learn about competitors. You might learn from the customer comments that are garnered as to which of your goods or services are most appreciated by them.
6. Mention your social media pages in your messages on hold.

While we believe in social media as a great way to get, and keep, in touch with our clients (like on hold messaging), you need to really make certain you have the time, effort and dollars to commit to it before you jump in. If you would like more ideas about restaurant marketing, feel free to connect with us on Facebook or Twitter.