The online marketing and social networks are changing the way business and marketing in all areas. Industries the area of food and restaurants are also affected by this trend, which if you have not already done. So, a marketing plan Online for your restaurant you should start building one today.
Restaurants nowadays use fewer and fewer yellow pages and advertisements in newspapers. This is for a simple good reason: people have moved to the Internet to find what they are looking for.
They use search engines like Google, social networks and consumer review sites to find local restaurants and decide which ones to go for. For example users want to see the restaurant menu before visiting it and this favors those with a strong presence online.
As a restaurant owner or manager, you should not put all your faith alone in traditional advertising or the yellow pages; you should start taking advantage of all the opportunities presented by the Internet and social media.
Here are 16 important points that you should use in your restaurant for your marketing strategy:
1. Build an optimized website
Can local customers find your restaurant in online? Make sure you can with a well optimized website that does what you want it to do. The key is to get your website before you find your competitors. You can create a blog of food, dishes of the day and list of direct visitors to your profiles in social networks and review sites online.
2. Create an online marketing plan
Ask for help to create a good online marketing plan (with SMART goals) well managed and well executed brings excellent results, without a doubt.
3. Topping your business on Google
Use Google places to be able to appear for free on the Google search when someone searches for a restaurant in your city.
4. Apply SEO techniques
Websites are not just for big companies, now more than ever, small local businesses are realizing the importance of having a website and implementing an internet marketing strategy. Since 72% of all searches are related to local content search, you must be 100% sure that your website will be displayed for those searches relevant to your restaurant.
5. Presence in Social Networks
Strengthen the name of your restaurant by word of mouth with an interesting, interactive social media presence. This gives you the possibility to hire your customers 365 days as years, represent your brand and disclose customers to share their stories. That is priceless. Create profiles on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest fundamentally and complements with other social media like YouTube and Vine
6. Build Your Online Reputation
Identify local journalists and bloggers to write about their restaurant to create articles and reviews in exchange for a free meal. The outside link will help you with ranking, and positive review will help your reputation.
7. Controls review sites
You live or die on your reputation, so pay close attention to what people are saying about your restaurant online. This is where your offline visitors can tell the online world about their (hopefully positive) experience in their restaurant. Thanks to the visitors for the positive reviews and respectfully answer and resolve negative reviews.
8. Use an online restaurant booking tool
Invite your customers to make a reservation on sites like OpenTable or the application that Facebook has created for restaurants . You need a restaurant booking tool online to make it easier for your customers and easier for yourself, because sometimes people just do not want to take the phone, and prefer to make their reservation in few clicks or use WhatsApp.
9. Grow your email database
If compared to direct marketing, email marketing is more efficient, environment friendly and a faster way to keep your customers connected with your business. Promote your newsletters through social media, on your website, and of course inside your restaurant, your letter and your stationery.
10. Use other resources
The online world is constantly changing, so it is important to keep your eye out for new marketing companies that have the potential to stay. Foursquare, for example, is not as well-known as Facebook, but that does not mean that there are not many marketing opportunities for restaurants. This social platform allows restaurants to offer a variety of offers (for free) that users must sign up to take advantage of. This – along with the fact that users can earn “badges” to check so many times – makes Foursquare a viable marketing option for restaurants.
11. Promotions and incentives
Provide enough incentive for people to pay attention. It gives an incentive to customers to follow you on social channels or to enter your restaurant, and make these actions simple. Do not abuse, if you constantly put special promotions on Facebook, fans will lose interest. Mix a little, do not be afraid to have fun, and be part of the local community.
12. Run Contests
This is a good way to reward social media fans, grow your fan base, attract more customers, and promote loyalty. Give customers the opportunity to win a grand prize and give them one more good reason to return.
13. Implement a customer loyalty program
Send newsletters to those who sign up to participate in the program, highlighting exclusive offers. Promote your offline and online loyalty program (eg, Club of points, tasting club, VIP clients, etc.).
14. Renew your menu
If you already have a good menu with a great layout that works well, this may not be necessary. If you think you have a dull or old-fashioned menu, give it a go or change it now, customers may think your food resembles your menu.
15. Ask and dialogue
Ask your faithful followers regularly and offline if they give you a ‘Like’ it on Facebook, if they follow you on Twitter and Pinterest, and if they help you spread your local. Send an email; Calls those who have a good relationship personally; Walk to your table while they are enjoying what they like in your restaurant and dialogue with them.
16. Manage your reputation online
Review sites have become an integral part of a company’s reputation, and negative reviews have the potential to hurt your business. Too many negative reviews, whether true or not, will become lost business. Ask satisfied customers if they can give you a review, (on your site, on your social networks, or on opinion sites) this is the best way to maintain a positive reputation online.
