Facebook is the benchmark social network platform and it’s where any restaurant should begin their social media marketing efforts. With over a billion users worldwide, it is by far the largest potential social network audience. It is skewed slightly more in numbers toward female active users, 58% female vs. 42% male. Facebook provides a venue where restaurants of all sizes can set up a page to interact with the people who love their food and reach out to future patrons. Here are a few tips for restaurants on Facebook:
Engage With Your Fans
Interacting with your restaurant’s fans will make them feel special and welcome. Great food, service, and atmosphere will make them want to come back to your restaurant. But an interactive experience with your page will keep your restaurant at the forefront of the audiences’ mind, which will make them come back more often. Engage by asking users questions, conduct polls and giveaway contests. Seek the fans input on your menu, asking for suggestions for new items they would like to see. Ask them for their opinion whenever you make changes: listen and respond.
Include Lots Of Images
The introduction of the timeline format to Facebook last year has given all brands a wonderful place for a splashy cover photo. The food and beverage industry is highly visual, so create the proper impression with a colorful and representative image that you switch out periodically to keep it fresh. Make sure all posts feature images as well, to ensure they stand out and receive the attention they deserve. Also, all images should be of the highest resolution possible.
Give Them Something
Facebook is a great platform for offering promotions and highlighting specials. Giving the audience something is a benefit to both you and your fans. However, keep it occasional enough that you are not giving away the store one day and then they won’t come back unless you are. Another idea could be to let your chefs share recipes and cooking secrets. With the immense popularity of cookbooks, chef sites, and culinary television shows, this will keep them coming back for more.
For a restaurant just starting out with social media marketing, Facebook is a great place to begin. The most important thing to remember is to make your restaurant’s fans feel appreciated and that serving them is your pleasure. In part three, we’ll see what Twitter can do to assist the restaurateur.
Written and produced in beautiful Naples, Florida by OnFast.com. Visit OnFast.com today to get your free trial subscription to our Social Media Marketing Service.
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