Promoting your Restaurant using Social Media

You’ve already started with a great menu, a great atmosphere and a perfect location, so how do you get the word out and draw in new customers? When it comes to restaurants and bars, there is no better promotion than word of mouth, and I’ve always said that social media is word of mouth on steroids.  In the past if someone liked a restaurant they may have recommended it to ten people, maybe less. With social media tools, a recommendation can reach hundreds or even thousands of friends. Before you jump in it’s best to have a basic understanding of the tools and a strategy for how to use them.

So here a few ideas to get started.

1. Create a Facebook Fan page

If you haven’t already, now is the time to sign up for an account on Facebook and create a business page. Flesh out your page with your business hours, address and phone number. Include your website and replace the default Facebook logo with your business logo for a profile picture. Use your wall to post weekly specials, menu items, live music venues and anything special that’s happening. Make sure you post regularly. Thursday and Friday posts are the most effective for pubs and venues with live music on the weekends, as people are making their weekend plans on those days. Incorporate a Facebook icon and like button on your website to make it easy for fans to share your content, and include the icon and your Facebook address on your menu so folks know they can find you there.

2. Use Foursquare

Foursquare is a mobile application that allows people to post a  “check in” status whenever they visit your business. The location based nature of this application makes it perfect for brick and mortar businesses like restaurants and clubs. Avid users of Foursquare often have their Facebook, Twitter and Foursquare accounts linked, so when they “check in” their statuses appear on their Facebook wall and are automatically tweeted to their followers. As the owner of the Foursquare location (you can claim locations using the tool) you can tie discounts and specials to “check-ins” as well as give special treatment to frequent visitors known as “mayors.” Often the competiton for mayorship becomes a contest, which is to your benefit as a business owner. Take advantage of this, and the tips section as well. In the proper tradition of social media, use the tip section to promote nearby businesses that offer complimentary services.

3. Start a blog.

Use your blog to post behind the scenes stories about your menu or the bands that will be appearing. Did you travel somewhere to learn about the cuisine you’re serving? Blog about it! Are there activities going on in your community that would attract people to your business? Blog about it! You get the idea. For the platform, WordPress.com is incredibly easy to set up, and could also function as your website if you include a few static pages about your business. You don’t need a background in web design to use this application.

With a little effort any or all of these tools has the potential to increase foot traffic and word of mouth recommendations for your business.  So get social!

How are you using social media to promote your business? Post your ideas here.