Setting up an Instagram for your restaurant not only allows you to share eye-catching images of your food, but also creates a space to interact with customers before and after they leave your establishment.
The best part? Much of social media is free advertising for your restaurant.
Check out the tips below to make the most of Instagram. Enjoy and visit Trendszone for more business content.
INSTAGRAM MARKETING STRATEGIES FOR RESTAURANTS
1. STAY ON THE BRAND
For example, let's say you run a bar that's only open at night and has live music.
Your page can have a sensual look with images that feature dark wood, whiskey glasses, and pictures of the musicians.
Captions can be witty, or perhaps have an informative tone and talk about the science of whiskey and the history of music.
On the other hand, if you operate a quick casual spot, your page might feature well-lit images with short captions.
The most important thing is that you are consistent on your page. This way, guests and followers will feel fulfilled when they see that your restaurant brand continues to deliver what they expect from it.
2. BE SEARCHABLE
hashtag
Select an easily recognizable Instagram username and use relevant business keywords in your profile to help boost your search results.
Tag posts with hashtags and make sure you make them relevant to your brand, image, and location so users can find you.
3. INTEGRATE INSTAGRAM WITH ANOTHER ADVERTISING
Overlay Instagram with all your social media accounts.
Even if a user doesn't follow you on Instagram, they can still follow you on Facebook or Twitter.
Share photos on all your networks to increase views and gain followers.
That's why it's important to always be learning and looking for new ways to do Digital Marketing in your company .
Stay tuned for major marketing events and pick up ideas to implement in your restaurant.
Use the Instagram embed feature.
You can add photos and videos to your restaurant's website or blog, even if it's not an HTML code wizard.
This friendly web embedding feature allows you to simply copy and paste the code of an Instagram photo to easily place the image on your website or blog.
Get friendly with Twitter.
Keep your Instagram caption word count under 280 characters. Any caption longer than that will be cut if someone shares one of your images on Twitter.
Post your Instagram handle in and around your space.
Consider printing your Instagram account name and Twitter handle directly on your restaurant menu.
That way, customers only have to look at the menu to bookmark it in their latest food post.
Consider displaying your bills on the sidewalk sign as well, for those passing or driving by your establishment.
Of course, keep your clientele in mind when integrating social media into your restaurant's marketing plan.
While casual restaurants tend to attract more hashtag-like crowds, an upscale dining establishment with an older customer base might not be the best place to print social media identifiers directly on the menu.
4. INTERACT WITH FOLLOWERS AND REWARD THEM
Ask for customer feedback.
Offering a new flavor, drink or ice cream dish? Ask your customers to help you name it!
By enrolling customers in the process, they will feel obligated to continue following you for the final result of the contest.
Hold photo challenges.
Encourage customers to share photos and add your restaurant tag.
Ask followers to post an iconic image of the city your restaurant is located in or an image of their meal at your restaurant with your business name tagged in the photo.
Offer winners gift cards, a free meal or similar reward.
Reward customer actions.
Encourage Instagram users with 300+ followers to post a photo that mentions your restaurant (a hashtag, check-in, or similar message) and reward them with a free treat!
After all, they just advertised their restaurant to potential customers for free.
5. MAKE YOUR SPACE AND DISHES VALUE
Not only will you have more quality photos to take, but your guests will be more likely to take photos and share them if your food business has attractive dishes and interesting decor.
Consider increasing your plate's presentation or installing new decor, such as plant walls, flowers on tables, or twinkling lights.
The charming decor will create an intriguing setting and vibe that guests will want to capture.
They will likely tag your business in the photo, especially if they can easily find your Instagram handle.
In this way, you are getting free publicity and exposure to your guests' followers, who will be aware of your business and may follow or visit you in the future.
6. SHARE VIDEOS AND STORIES
Videos and Stories let you take customer interaction a step further. They give you the chance to share the behind-the-scenes action.
Plus, they also add a personal touch and make your followers feel included.
Below are some ideas for creating engaging videos and stories:
- Open a bottle of wine, pour it into a glass and lift it up to greet the weekend
- Introduce customers to your chef working in the kitchen
- Ask customers for feedback (get permission before posting!)
- Show a sequence of “before” ingredients, the food preparation process, and the final dish being served
7. TIPS FOR FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY
When taking your own photos, it is essential to understand some basic food photography tips.
That way, you can get high-quality images and share rich content without hiring a professional photographer.
See our advice below for taking exceptional food photos.
Lighting.
When displaying your dishes, avoid using flashes and strong ceiling lights. Instead, take photos near a window or a softer light source for a natural look.
Create action with simple kitchen props.
Place chopsticks for sushi or a spoon resting in a bowl of soup. Add cutlery to a plated plate.
Increase the drama of a glass of wine by showing the cork and bottle of wine, or add a special touch to a mixed drink by placing ice cubes and a splash of water around the serving glass.
You can also include a person interacting with the food or drink, which makes it even more inviting.
Add texture.
When photographing foods with a “sticky” texture (such as soup, stew, or ice cream), add a garnish that contrasts in the color and texture of the dish to add a more defined dimension to the photo.
For example, bright red berries are a great highlight for sorbets and sorbets, while rich green garnishes like parsley add dimension to soup.
Filter images with easy-to-use apps.
A little filtering goes a long way in improving the quality of your images.
Apps like VSCO, Snapseed, Afterlight 2 and A Color Story are popular for a variety of adjustments like color correction and exposure.
They also have a variety of filters to choose from that aren't available on Instagram.
Branch.
Don't just show your menu items! Take a warm and inviting image of your restaurant interior.
Take pictures of your staff at work or guests enjoying their food (with their permission, of course).
Please note – if you show employees, make sure they are practicing food safety procedures (such as wearing gloves) to avoid negative feedback about handling unsafe food captured by image.
Follow the rule of thirds.
Step away from front and center photos and use the rule of thirds to create intriguing images.
As shown in the diagram on the left, imagine your photo divided into three parts (horizontally and vertically) so that you have nine parts in total.
Place points of interest at intersection points (shown in red) for a more balanced image.
As an example, look at the steaming coffee mug, which lies at an intersection point.
Instagram is an excellent opportunity to promote your restaurant. By following our tips, you can grow your follower count, engage your followers, and grow your visitor base.
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