Guide to Restaurant Social Media Marketing + 10 Examples

Social media has become a crucial marketing tool for businesses of all kinds, including restaurants. With over 3.8 billion active users on social media, it has become a necessary platform for businesses to interact with their customers and build their brand.

Here is a guide to restaurant social media marketing with ten examples to help you get started.

Further reading

• 8 Quick Tips on Running a Restaurant Business in the Philippines
• How to Start a Restaurant in the Philippines
• 10 Ways to Streamline Your Restaurant Kitchen Operations

Restaurant social media marketing guide

Define your target audience

Before starting your social media marketing campaign, it is essential to define your target audience. It will help you create content that resonates with them and helps you increase engagement. Ask yourself, who are your ideal customers? What are their interests? What platforms do they use? Answering these questions will help you create content that appeals to your target audience.

Choose the right social media platforms

Choosing the right social media platforms is crucial to your restaurant’s success. Not all social media platforms are created equal, and each platform has its unique audience. Facebook and Instagram are the most popular platforms for restaurants, but you can also explore other platforms like Twitter, Pinterest, and TikTok.

Create quality content

Social media is all about content, and creating quality content is the key to social media success. You can create different types of content, such as photos, videos, stories, and blog posts. Your content should be visually appealing, engaging, and informative. You can showcase your restaurant’s menu, behind-the-scenes images, and stories, and user-generated content.

Engage with your customers

Social media is a two-way communication channel, and it is essential to engage with your customers. Respond to comments, messages, and reviews promptly. It shows that you value your customers’ feedback and care about their experience. You can also run contests, polls, and surveys to increase engagement and gather customer feedback.

Measure your success

Measuring your social media success is crucial to understand what works and what doesn’t. You can track metrics like reach, engagement, followers, and website traffic. Use tools like Google Analytics and social media analytics to measure your success and adjust your strategy accordingly.

10 examples of successful restaurant social media marketing

1. Taco Bell

Taco Bell has a strong social media presence, with over 8.7 million followers on Twitter and 11.6 million on Instagram. They use humour and pop culture references to engage with their followers. They also use Twitter to respond to customer complaints and provide excellent customer service.

2. Wendy’s

Wendy’s is known for its snarky Twitter account, with over 3.5 million followers. They use their Twitter account to engage with their followers and take on their competitors. Wendy’s also runs social media campaigns like #NationalRoastDay, where they roast their followers and other brands.

3. Starbucks

Starbucks has a massive social media following, with over 18 million followers on Instagram and 11 million on Twitter. They use their social media platforms to showcase their products, engage with their followers, and run social media campaigns like #RedCupContest, where customers can share their festive Starbucks cups.

4. Shake Shack

Shake Shack uses its social media platforms to engage with its followers and showcase its menu. They also use Instagram to showcase their community outreach and charitable initiatives. Shake Shack also runs social media campaigns like #shakeshackathome, where they share recipes and cooking tips for customers to recreate Shake Shack’s menu at home.

5. Dominos

Dominos has a strong social media presence, with over 1.2 million followers on Twitter and 1.6 million on Instagram. They use their social media platforms to engage with their followers and showcase their products. Dominos also runs social media campaigns like #DominosWeddingRegistry, where customers can create a wedding registry and receive gift cards for Dominos pizza

6. Chipotle

Chipotle is known for its fresh ingredients and has a massive social media following, with over 2.7 million followers on Twitter and 1.9 million on Instagram. They use their social media platforms to showcase their menu items, promote their sustainability initiatives, and run social media campaigns like #GuacDance, where customers can win free guacamole.

7. Olive Garden

Olive Garden is a popular Italian restaurant chain with a strong social media presence. They have over 1.3 million followers on Twitter and 1.4 million on Instagram. Olive Garden uses their social media platforms to showcase their menu items, engage with their customers, and run social media campaigns like #PastaPass, where customers can win a year’s worth of free pasta.

8. Denny’s

Denny’s is a 24-hour diner chain that has a unique social media presence. They use humour and pop culture references to engage with their followers, and they have over 407k followers on Twitter and 874k on Instagram. Denny’s also runs social media campaigns like #SlayTheMenu, where customers can win prizes by taking photos of their food.

9. In-N-Out Burger

In-N-Out Burger is a popular fast-food chain that has a cult following on social media. They use their social media platforms to showcase their menu items, engage with their followers, and run social media campaigns like #ANIMALSTYLE, where customers can win free food by taking photos of their In-N-Out orders.

10. Pizza Hut

Pizza Hut is a popular pizza chain with a strong social media presence. They have over 1.1 million followers on Twitter and 846k on Instagram. Pizza Hut uses their social media platforms to showcase their menu items, engage with their customers, and run social media campaigns like #PizzaHutHut, where customers can win prizes by taking photos of their Pizza Hut orders.

Final thoughts

Social media marketing is an essential tool for restaurants to promote their brand, engage with customers, and increase their customer base. By showcasing their menu items, running social media campaigns, and engaging with their followers, restaurants can build a strong social media presence and attract new customers.

Examples of successful social media campaigns by popular restaurants like Chipotle, Olive Garden, Denny’s, In-N-Out Burger, and Pizza Hut show the power of social media marketing in the restaurant industry.

By following these examples and developing their social media strategy, restaurants can leverage the power of social media to grow their business and succeed in today’s digital age.