There is fierce competition among the restaurants to grab a larger share of the pie. If you can not make your voice heard, then chances are you will be on the losing side.
Innovations and experimentation by the chefs and seasoned professionals are leading to a shift in the food and beverage landscape every day.
A robust marketing plan should be capable of tackling most of the frequent food and beverage issues. Let’s dive into the key metrics that may help you to make one.
Power of Social Media
Social Media Marketing is an undeniable marketing tool nowadays. Restaurants often interact directly with their target customers to better understand their needs and deliver products that meet their expectations. A restaurant ignoring social media is like pronouncing a premature death of the entity.
The creation of the social handles on the networking sites (like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, .etc.) is of course the first step. But, it is also crucial to keep the handles updated based on the ongoing trends and happenings.
A restaurant lures its customers through visual appeal. You can not ignore Instagram to cover this leg of your marketing and business plan. Instagram helps you promote the best of your business’s visual content.
Create a brand identity through visual imagery. Share pictures of your storefront, restaurant’s top offerings, or its exquisite decor directly with a large audience on the most captivating visual social platform. You can also share images of your guests enjoying a meal at your diner.
Instagram uses the hashtags hype, popularized by Twitter, and makes sure your image is easily discoverable, in a pool of visual content. Make reels to let your customers know your brand better and form a connection with it.
You may host contests for your customers. It can be a picture of their favorite memory at your diner, their favorite food on your menu, or their favorite corner at your establishment. Nurturing user-generated content can help you convert your brand trials to long-term brand users and endorsers.
If you are unable to do it on your own, you can of course opt for a marketing agency. A restaurant marketing agency will help you chart marketing plans, increase your relevance among the target audience, and maintain the social media handles.
Let Your Food Do the Talking
The best way to promote your food and beverage brand online is through images of food. Food porn is a new rage and is gaining traction across all age groups.
You can either click the pictures of your offerings by yourself or can hire a paid professional to do the same. Visual content is driving traffic across various platforms. Choosing to post pictures of delicious food items can help your customer know about your offerings better.
Quality images are your silent salesman. They can grab many hungry eyeballs vis-a-vis a creative or a copy. Take good shots from angles which make the food more tempting and hard to resist.
Staff and Menu
The human element is missing in this age. From self-serving mechanical service machines to the use of AI to greet customers, the face of hospitality is changing.
Earlier, food and beverage establishments used to connect with their customers on a more personalized note. It helps build trust and a relationship so strong that it bears fruit even after decades of association.
You can revive this culture and touch your customer’s hearts by talking more about your staff than you do now. Flaunt your chef’s cooking skills and culinary expertise. Share the stories of your staff, the hardships that lie behind those smiling faces that greet customers.
A menu is one of your first points of contact, which tells your customers about your food and beverage services. It is advisable to use a menu with legible font, clear mention of prices and ingredients, allergens (if any), and the taxes applicable.
Always use high quality and an up-to-date menu that is sleek and stylish. Any restaurant marketing strategy without a good menu is futile.
The Last Mile
With the advancement of food technology, we are moving towards an online ordering regime. The ease of usage and convenience is driving demand across the online food tech space.
The internet-savvy population loves getting things done at the touch of a finger. The food tech apps make this possible, and one can order food at home. You must be present across such platforms.
These platforms not only help you to reach those customers who you couldn’t service by yourself, but it also helps you as a tool for promotion. Check the popular food delivery services in your local area and get enlisted if you haven’t already.
So be sure to make a plan that takes cognizance of the various aspects of the restaurant – food, menu, and staff. Create marketing plans that help you showcase your offering better to the target customers. Connect with customers on all fronts possible.
Bonne chance!
