In this day and age, we must account for social media’s impact on our everyday buying decisions. A staggering 71% of consumers are more likely to dine at your restaurant or purchase from your business solely based on online reviews and social media presence (Profile Tree, 2024). Although this can sound daunting, it actually provides you with an exceptional opportunity to capture more customers in the long run. In this blog, we will dive into simple strategies you can implement to help increase your digital footprint and get more people in the door.
Take Advantage of Facebook Reviews
Leveraging Facebook reviews can be a powerful tool for driving traffic to your restaurant. Positive reviews act as social proof, building trust and credibility with potential patrons. Seeing that others have enjoyed their dining experience makes people more likely to choose your establishment over competitors.
- Actively Encourage Reviews: Don’t hesitate to ask satisfied customers to leave a review on your Facebook page. Train your staff to politely suggest leaving feedback, offering a small incentive like a discount on their next visit, or points towards their loyalty account. Make it simple for diners by providing clear instructions on leaving a review, including a QR code on their receipt that links directly to your Facebook review page. The easier you make it for the customer, the more reviews you will receive.
- Showcase Positive Reviews: Share glowing reviews on your Facebook page and other social media platforms, highlighting specific dishes or experiences that patrons enjoyed. Create visually appealing graphics featuring snippets of positive feedback and share them regularly on Facebook and Instagram to capture more potential patrons. Consider embedding a Facebook review widget on your restaurant’s website to showcase your social proof to a broader audience.
- Respond to All Reviews, Even the Negative Ones: Engage with your reviewers, both positive and negative. Responding to negative reviews shows that you care about customer satisfaction and are willing to address issues. Offer a sincere apology and take the conversation offline to resolve the problem. By actively engaging with reviews, you demonstrate your commitment to customer service and build trust with your audience. Turning a negative experience into a positive one can be incredibly powerful in attracting and retaining diners.
Foster Customer Engagement
The best way to tell if your social media is hitting the right audience is based on engagement. Are there a lot of people liking your posts? How many comments are you averaging? This is a good way to gauge how successful your online initiatives are.
A great way to engage with your customers online is through intriguing content that sparks a conversation. For instance, on your Instagram Story, you can post a daily poll asking followers, “Do you come in for the Early Bird Specials or Happy Hours?” This gets your audience talking and actively interacting with your content. From here, you can get helpful feedback from your current and potential customers. The more interactive the post, the more likely it will increase engagement with your customer base.
Create a Monthly Newsletter
Implement a simple, consistent email marketing strategy. While Instagram Stories and Facebook Reviews are helpful, email lets you directly reach your audience with personalized messages and promotions.
Start by collecting email addresses from diners. If your point of sale system has a customer-facing display, you can provide them with an easy digital sign-up page to fill out as they checkout. Once you have a solid list of customers, you can create a monthly or bi-monthly email newsletter, depending on how much time you would like to allocate. This newsletter can feature exclusive deals, sneak peeks of new menu items, and upcoming events. This will help to keep your brand top of mind for past patrons and encourage repeat visits when they see promotions in your email.
If you do not have the bandwidth to curate this content, think about creating an internship role. This can attract people early in their careers who need experience, such as high schoolers, college students, or people pivoting to a new work field. This can mutually benefit both your restaurant and their budding career.
A robust social media presence isn’t just a nice-to-have for restaurants—it’s a necessity. As we’ve explored, from leveraging the power of Facebook reviews to fostering customer engagement through interactive content and personalized email marketing, there are a multitude of strategies to connect with your audience and drive them through your doors. By consistently implementing these tactics, focusing on genuine interaction, and showcasing the unique experience your restaurant offers, you can not only expand your online footprint but also cultivate a loyal customer base that translates into real-world success. Embrace the digital landscape, and watch your restaurant flourish.
