An Effective Social Media Marketing for a Restaurant Business

This is a good article which I copied from RunningRestaurants.com, you must read this article before using social media networks to start promoting your restaurant businesses!

"People love us on Yelp!" "Follow us on Twitter!" "Like us on Facebook!" 

It's hard to deny the prevalence of social media in the independent restaurant business. We know managing your online reputation is important. We know engaging with customers on Twitter can do wonders to humanize your brand. And we know having a presence on Facebook and Yelp is as vital as having your own website. But here's what we don't know — how do you manage it all? And goes way beyond social media. How can a small business stock inventory, manage staff, handle cash flow, and more? Exactly where in this jam-packed day are we supposed to squeeze in some Facebook time? When are we going to be able to pop over to Yelp to see what the latest reviews are? These are all valid points. But there is hope... it's entirely doable! The following Q&A reveals how one indie restaurateur is tackling social media marketing and is sure to provide some helpful tips. 

Matilda Boland (MB) manages reservations and online social media for three Manhattan-based restaurants — The Sunburnt Cow, Bondi Road, and the Sunburnt Calf. The Aussie-vibed spots do some pretty impressive things with social media marketing... 

To start off, what traditional marketing tactics do you currently use? Things like newspaper ads, YellowPage ads, etc.

MB: None actually. 

What about social media?

MB: We have Facebook and Twitter accounts set up for each restaurant. And we're actively involved in their respective Yelp pages. 

What obstacles did you have to overcome when diving into social media marketing?

MB: In the beginning we thought just having a Facebook page would be enough to build a following. But only since we started updating it regularly, asking our members questions and forming a real ‘personality' did it really take-off. It is not enough just to open accounts you need to pay constant attention to them. 

What do you tell people who ask, "Why do you use these tools?"

MB: The media world is instant and just having a website as the face of your business is not enough. People want to know what is happening now, in real-time. And with Facebook and Twitter, you can achieve that. You can update and change the content regularly to make your messaging more effective and fresh. 

Describe your average day using social media?

MB: In the morning, I check traffic and comments to our Facebook and Twitter accounts. I respond to any feedback. I like to update three times a day at around 10:00 a.m., 2:00 p.m., and 5:00 p.m. We've seen that updates around those times tend to get the most reactions. As for content, we're asking questions, posting pictures or links to attract people to comment and create a bit of chit-chat. 

Do you see specific advantages to using social media over traditional marketing tactics?

MB: Less formal blogs and Facebook accounts let people ask questions and get instant answers. People are more likely to post a question about a particular special or opening hours as opposed to sending an e-mail or even phoning the restaurant. Plus, others can view the response, too, so the conversation extends out to a wider audience. With social media, people can also feel a part of a group without the pretentiousness of a "VIP" vibe. 

Is there anything you dislike about marketing through social media?

MB: People can feel swamped by the daily updates and repetitiveness of the content. But in the long run, it's worth it. 

How do you manage all of your social media accounts?

MB: We link all of our social media pages using a platform called Postling so we don't have to spend a lot of time visiting different sites. It sends us this Daily Digest email every morning that tells us only the social media things that matters to us: mentions, reviews and things we track like keywords. 

If you would like to read more useful related articles on restaurant businesses and its marketing strategies, I strongly advise you to visit runningrestaurants.com. Stay success!

This article is written by: Alexis Lamster

 

Posted in: RESTAURANT MARKETING