You’ve probably done all you can to make sure your restaurant is the best it can be. From the food to the aesthetics and customer service, you should already have all your ducks in a row. Once you have these aspects in place, you need to focus on getting the word out. Instagram is the perfect platform to promote a restaurant. Here are a few tips to help you get the best out of it.
Share attractive visuals
Instagram is a highly visual platform, so you should make sure your posts are as attractive as possible. Take professional photos of your restaurant, and create a series of Instagram posts to highlight your offerings. Also make a set of announcement posts before the launch and before you release any special menu items or deals.
Use the restaurant flyer templates on PosterMyWall to make these posts, and customize the designs according to your needs. You can even publish your design directly to your Instagram profile, if you want to. Also make sure your Instagram feed is not cluttered. Stick to a specific color palette for all your posts, and ensure that the layout has a set theme. This will make the profile look elegant and create a good impression of your restaurant.
Showcase your menu
You should upload your menu in your Instagram highlights and also share specific items in your Stories and Reels. Pick items you want to highlight, and also make sure you have professional photos taken of the food and presentation.
If you have any special or seasonal menus planned, then make sure you announce these in your Stories and dedicate a few posts and Reels for the new menu as well. This will show your audience what you specialize in, and what sort of food they can expect from you.
Allow reservations on Instagram
Many people will come across your restaurant on their feeds and go to your profile out of curiosity. You need to convert this audience into your customers. So, make sure they don’t have to put in too much effort to get to you. For this purpose, add a reservation link in your bio.
In addition, customers should also be able to make reservations through your Instagram messages. Make sure you use an Instagram Business integration that lets you take reservations through your messages and updates your records automatically. Otherwise, you can also add a link to the reservations page or your contact information.
Populate the Link in Bio
You should not ignore the Link in Bio section of your Instagram profile. Here, you can add links for reservations, positive media coverage, your website, and your other social media pages. Curate the links in this section well, and use it to promote your new menu items or announcements.
This section also serves as a great way to engage with your audience. So, have them fill feedback forms, participate in contests, and read positive reviews through these links. Make sure you also mention your Link in Bio section in your post captions, so that people know what to look for.
Utilize Reels
Instagram Reels make good use of the increasing trend for short videos. So, you should use them to promote your restaurant as well. Create short, engaging videos that showcase your food, ambiance, and staff. Use trending sounds and effects to make your Reels more appealing. In addition, collaborate with food influencers to create joint Reels.
Also share behind-the-scenes footage, cooking tutorials, and customer testimonials. Use relevant hashtags to increase visibility. You can even run Reels ads to target a specific audience. If you consistently post high-quality Reels, you can attract new customers, increase brand awareness, and drive sales.
Work with influencers
Reach out to food and lifestyle influencers in your area and invite them to a special meal only for influencers. This will be a major investment, but has the potential to reap excellent results. Just make sure you choose your influencers carefully. Do your research into their following and their previous partnerships. Then, have them come in and hype up your restaurant.
This strategy will help you get access to a wider audience. You can also have these influencers come in and promote any new menu items or deals you may have. These partnerships can help make your restaurant the new must-go place in town.
Engage with your audience
A restaurant is not just a dining experience, but also a social experience. So, you should make sure your Instagram profile gives off the vibes you want to emit. If you’re going for a warm, homey feel, then your post captions and videos should be welcoming and have cozy imagery. On the other hand, if you want to maintain exclusivity, then have a minimal and secretive tone to your posts.
This will set the tone for how you engage with your audience. Depending on the path you choose, share polls and questions to interact with your followers. In addition, you can even go live to showcase certain items being cooked or to talk about what your restaurant has to offer.
In conclusion, Instagram is the ideal platform to market your restaurant. You just need to know how to make good use of it.