6 Ways to Market a Small Restaurant in a Big Way

It takes a lot of work to open and operate and market a successful restaurant.

It takes creativity, commercial acumen, and mouth-watering food. In addition to passion, commitment, and hard work, you need a great business plan to keep customers coming back week after week.

According to Finances Online, there are over one million restaurants in the United States. Small restaurant owners may find this to be intimidating.

However, when restaurateurs focus on integrating a marketing plan with their unique brand identity and passion for their craft, they can make a significant impact.

Keep reading to find out everything you need to know to market a restaurant and ensure your tables are full every day of the week.

1. Create a Functional Website

An Ahrefs report shows that people in the U.S. search for “restaurants near me” over 22 million times each month. As your restaurant grows more established and popular, so should your online presence.

With a well-designed website, your customers can start the dining experience even before they set foot inside your physical establishment.

Your website can be the most effective marketing tool for your business. It’s where customers can look over your menu, get in touch with you, and learn about your brand story and mission statement.

Consider adding an online reservation, a live chat box, and a delivery option to take your website to the next level.

Make sure the links to your social media accounts are visible to connect with your customers on a more personal level.

2. Take Insta-Worthy Food Photos

Take appetizing photos of your food and drinks. Consider hiring a professional photographer or investing in professional equipment and software to make your photographs stand out and draw in customers.

If you post eye-catching photos on your Instagram feed, you can attract customers in this target market. Take high-quality photos of your signature meals.

Share unique and creative photos—close-ups, wide shots, and pictures of customers eating—to keep people engaged and interested in your content.

Share more than just pictures of your meals. Include pictures of the dining atmosphere as well!

This will give existing and potential customers a taste of the atmosphere you’ve created at your restaurant. 

3. Work with Influencers

Partner with social media influencers and get them to post photos of your food. Influencers are an ideal platform for marketers since they have already established a high level of credibility with their numerous followers. 

The best influencers are experts at content creation. They can produce exceptional content that connects with their followers and can help draw potential customers to your restaurant.

You don’t need to choose mega-influencers with millions of followers to market your restaurant.

You can collaborate with nano and micro-influencers with 1,000 to 10,000 followers, such as food bloggers and restaurant reviewers, and get a significant return on your investment.

Offer social media influencers free food or pay for sponsored posts. It will all be worthwhile because their endorsement can build your reputation and credibility, expand your network, and boost your sales.

4. Encourage User-Generated Content

Leveraging user-generated content is one of the best customer marketing strategies you can use to promote your business and acquire new customers.

Don’t pass up the chance to engage your customers and followers in the promotion of your business, especially if you’re a starting restaurateur.

Install a mural or unique sign that serves as a striking backdrop for photographs.

Post signs inviting customers to snap photos of their food, your signature cocktail, or themselves in front of a blackboard wall with fun word bubbles.

Provide a hashtag that resonates with your brand. Then, run a contest for everyone who shares posts with your hashtag and offer incentives for the most shared content.

5. Run a Loyalty Program

A restaurant loyalty program is a well-structured customer incentives program designed to encourage and persuade consumers to stay loyal to the brand.

It can be as simple as using a restaurant loyalty card and giving discounts. Or, it can be more sophisticated like using a fully functional mobile app.

Several aspects contribute to the success of a loyalty program, including its ease of use, the availability of a digital alternative, its inclusiveness, and its promotion on all available channels like Facebook and Instagram.

Many consumers are motivated by the prospect of earning points and enjoying reduced or complimentary meals.

Loyalty programs can boost your marketing and sales efforts since they do not target only repeat consumers. You can attract new customers with effective and tailored incentives.

6. Use Email Marketing to Stay in Touch

Email marketing is a low-cost, high-impact strategy for attracting local consumers and increasing revenue.

With restaurant email campaigns and newsletters, you can reach out to both loyal and new customers.

Email marketing can help you keep your customers updated on current discounts while also serving as a branding strategy.

You can set your restaurant apart from the competition with a relevant and well-crafted message.

Personalization has become a popular concept for several years. Segment your audience and tailor your messaging to their specific needs and expectations.

Add value to the relationship by sending customer-focused emails unique to your restaurant, such as personalized invitations to events, birthday freebies, discount codes, and exclusive recipes.

Market Your Small Restaurant in a Big Way

You don’t have to settle for small marketing strategies just because you have a small business.

You can successfully market your restaurant and make a big impact by applying the simple, creative, and cost-effective tactics outlined above.