Digital marketing for restaurants is a difficult task. Maybe it looks like a mountain’ but there are ways to grow a catering business digitally and even efficiently as long as the right steps are taken. Follow us!

They say catering businesses are one of them more difficult industries to penetrate, let alone develop. Small business owners are already facing a difficult battle, as it has been shown that almost the 50 percent of them fail within the first five years! You understand that you have to immediately plan digital marketing strategy if you want to turn the odds in your favor, to attract customers and increase your sales!

The key to any successful business is to understand how your audience behaves. You need to answer important questions like “How will the public understand that I exist;” and “How can I attract people to my restaurant;” etc..

More can be found here:

18+1 questions to discover the Ideal Audience of your business

Your answers can be found at digital marketing for restaurants. While there may be some movement from traditional media, such as booklet distribution, radio ads etc.. the world has become largely digital. If you do not have an internet presence then you have a tragic disadvantage!

Let's see now what are the steps of effective digital marketing for restaurants:

1. Perfect your Website

First, even though you have one local restaurant that is anything but digital, your showcase is no longer the face of your company. When over 88% consumers are connected to the internet to research products or services, judge her reliability a business based on its website above all. If your restaurant's website is boring or non-existent then your credibility may be reduced!

On the contrary, a unique and pleasant website only positive impressions will be gained!

Your site should be professional, functional and user friendly. Potential customers need to be able to navigate your site easily to find things like menu, opening hours and your address. In addition, Remember that most people use their smartphone to google, regardless of whether they are at home, in the car, at work etc.. - your site must be optimized for mobile devices.

End, invest some time and money in Professional Photography of your restaurant space, of the food you offer and your staff. Something we consider super-necessary! The food will look tastier and your staff will look more professional. It gives potential customers a feel prestige and intimacy with your restaurant even before they visit it.

2. Focus on Local SEO

One of the most important steps in digital restaurant marketing is perfecting it optimizing your search engines. SEO is the A and the Z in terms of increase organic traffic on your site and, after all, the increase in customers. When someone types “Italian (or anything else) restaurants near me”, SEO is what will determine how high your restaurant will rank in search results!

SEO is a very powerful tool in the world of digital marketing and therefore in marketing for restaurants!

Whether people are locals or travelers, you need to make sure that the SEO of your site makes you one local hotspot. You can boost your SEO by doing the following:

• Create a blog on your site full attractive and relevant content
• Make sure every page of your site uses local keywords and other forms of SEO coding (pictures, video, headings etc.)
• Use both internal links (on other pages of your site) as well as external links (for linked sites, data sources etc.)
• Create an account Google My Business
• Make sure the contact info and the address they refer to you many times and are easy to find

If you do not know how to do local SEO ask for help from an expert.

3. Gain followers on Social Media

Basically, there is no logic in not using social media to promote your business. Not only will your followers increase but you will gain customers, who are likely to be repeat customers! After all, social media does what it promises: offer socialization and networking opportunities. The best thing is that you have many options free as well as for Paid advertising campaigns.

The key to this is consistent and unique content. One will help in this professional photography(if you have not already done so for the site) to show the food you more tempting and irresistible. also, the space will look more refined and that you take your business seriously.

Through social media you will be able to show your work and activity for free. At the same time you will be able to communicate event, offers and dishes of the day.

Alternatively, can you do paid advertising or sponsored publications that allow you choose how much you spend per day on your campaign as well as on target audience your (based on age, the sex, the location and more). Clearly the ad, once you have identified your ideal audience, will bring not only profile visits on social media but also visits to your physical store!

The ad will be accompanied by the privilege of detailed data that analyze the success and performance of your ads. You will be able to see the performance of each ad in terms of loyalty (click on links, highlights “I like”, monitoring, notifications, comments) to help you accurately customize your ads. This way you will see what it pays to invest your money properly.

4. Use Influencer Marketing

If you have not yet gathered enough followers or are looking for a larger target audience, think about it influencer marketing. That is, the collaboration with an influencer.

Influencers have already established their audience and established their credibility. So such a collaboration will expose your store to wider audience and you will more opportunities for the public to connect with you.

The key here is for the collaboration to be with someone who addresses the target audience that interests you. Possibly someone in local level if you are addressing locally or someone who specializes in food and cooking. A good partnership can be you take off, but it may not offer you nothing if done with the wrong influencer.

How you can work together; If there are some that are particularly influential in terms of food or activities in your location. It may not be a bad idea to go out and invite them to eat at your restaurant for free. If they like your food, you can even end up in a permanent partnership. There is of course the case of cooperation for a fee, where for a post about your restaurant, you can pay a fee or give a certain number of free meals.

5. Apply Email Marketing

Another effective digital marketing strategy for restaurants is called email marketing.

Initially, you need to create a email list with recipients who have subscribed to your email. The collection of emails can be done by offering discounts to previous customers if they register, through social media, of your site or affiliate sites and landing page ads(landing pages).

Once a customer registers, you need to have an automated set of emails sent once or twice a week. These emails should bei friendly and express gratitude to your subscribers, while discreetly pushing them to return at your restaurant. That's why they should contain valuable and interesting content (discounts, Offers, recipes, news) if you want to stay.

The email marketing has been shown to be the top by converting readers to customers. It concerns people who are already interested in your restaurant and subscribe to your list.

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6. Take advantage of online reviews

Remember that most people need a little confirmation when they are going to invest in products or services, including tasting experiences. Have you ever caught yourself getting into google maps or at tripadvisor to control them critics for a restaurant; Then you understand exactly why we are talking!

When people search for restaurants on the internet, one of the things they are looking for is what other customers have to say. You need to take advantage of online reviews and the level of credibility that consumers have.

Start by encouraging every customer who comes to your store to post a review on Google, on your site or on your social media profile.

Most people need motivation to do this whenever a reminder comes in handy. Or you can give one discount at their next meal as soon as they have completed the evaluation.

A true evaluation is probably worth as much 100 advertisements!

7. Collaboration with other local companies

Another effective digital marketing strategy for restaurants is collaboration with other businesses in your area. Start building relationships with related companies such as hotels, tourist offices etc.(no restaurants). You can collaborate with each other by posting on each other's blogs or social media, offering their services.

For example, work with one local hotel to recommend your restaurant to travelers and other guests. They can do it in person, through social media or through their website. In return, offer discounts to those customers who come to you through the hotel.

Alternatively, you can work with other small businesses and offer Business lunch discounts. Like sellers meeting with existing or potential customers, group meals, after work party etc.. The key is to offer value to other companies that choose to work with you. In return, you gain more customers and a stronger impact.

8. Keep your online commitment high

End, it is important to understand that the consistency is everything in digital marketing for restaurants. If you want your community to remember your name and build brand awareness when it's time to eat a meal, you have to make an effort to do it. Running an advertising campaign once a year is not enough!

However, this does not mean investing a fortune in ads to keep customers and return to your restaurant again and again. They are the little things, such as the regular updating of your site, consistently post new content on social media and advertise new items in your menu. But remember, you have to keep it community involved, creating interaction, new offers on the internet, organizing competitions and reciprocating. A little ap’ that is, everything!

Looking for more help with Digital Restaurant Marketing?;

Owning a successful restaurant is not as good as it used to be. Once, as long as your food and service was good, you could set up a street corner store and do business for years. However, it takes a little more effort now in the way you promote your business.

If you find it difficult we can help you to set it up . of your restaurant. Do not hesitate to contact us! Follow us, also, in Facebook and Instagram for even more information.