Increasing your restaurant’s visibility goes a long way in helping you stand out in the crowded hospitality marketplace. Not only will your brand stay on top of your consumers’ minds but increased brand visibility can result in more foot traffic into your restaurant.
Get on Google
In today’s digital world, people often search for restaurants online before deciding on where to dine. Getting your restaurant listed in Google MyBusiness (GMB), will ensure customers find you when searching for places to eat in your area. In order to have an effective Google profile, regularly check your contact details and address are up to date. In addition, GMB allows you to add pictures of your restaurant. View this as an opportunity to give consumers a glimpse into your space and an idea of the type of dishes you offer. It is important to hire a professional photographer who can present your interior and outside spaces in a manner that helps people picture themselves there and, in a sense, get a feel of the atmosphere to expect. The photographer should also take enticing pictures of your food as well as some pictures of your staff in action.
A useful feature of GMB is the analytics tool. This will help you to get data about visitors to your page which in return you can use when planning for future marketing.
Register on review sites
In addition to GMB, aim to set up profiles on review sites such as Yelp and TripAdvisor. A lot of people trust these sites and consult them before picking an eatery to visit. These platforms provide an opportunity to put your restaurant brand out there and also allows you to interact with customers.
Optimize your website
Once customers find you on GMB or review sites, they may want to learn more about your restaurant and visit your website. In order for them to have a great user experience on your site make sure that the menu and ordering links are easy to find. If consumers spend too much time trying to find the information they may lose patience and go elsewhere to order food. Also, bear in mind, most people nowadays access the internet on their phones as opposed to a laptop or desktop computer. Therefore, your site has to be optimised for mobile phones. This means that your website should display correctly across all platforms and devices. If not, it may be difficult for customers to fully use it. All your contact details should be up to date and easy to find. Don’t forget to include links to your social media pages. Customers may want to follow your social media accounts so they can stay up to date with what you have to offer or special events.
Get social
For the most part, advertising on social media is free, making it an affordable way to market your restaurant. The key to staying relevant on social media is to actively engage your audience. As the name suggests, you have to be social. This may involve sharing stories about your restaurant with consumers and inviting them to give you feedback. You could also hold promotions involving customers sharing photos of their favourite meals or commenting on their experiences at your restaurant.
Instagram has overtaken the other social media channels in the hospitality space and has become the go-to platform for showcasing what restaurants have to offer. Largely image-driven, the platform calls on you to have Instagram-worthy decor, lighting and food presentation. Assess your restaurant and if you find any of these wanting spruce them up. This will mean you will portray your restaurant in the best light possible.
These are just a few of the online opportunities available to help increase the visibility of your restaurant. Once you have the right pictures, crafting the right messaging and updated your contact details, you will have set up your restaurant to showcase its offering and interact with your customers. By doing this you will build your credibility and customer loyalty.
Malebogo Tshosa
Brand and communication expert,
Copywriter for Napkin
