9 in 10 adults say they enjoy going to restaurants. This is because restaurants serve their favourite meals in a way that can not be replicated at home.
There are thousands of restaurants worldwide today. And restaurant food sales are projected to reach $1 trillion this year. Whether you are a small or a large restaurant, you need a working strategy to get your share of the projected sales.
From traditional to digital marketing strategies, this article covers restaurant marketing strategies that yield results, including:
- Online advertising (Google Ads and Facebook Ads)
- Local SEO,
- Partnering with local businesses for cross-promotion
- And loyalty & referral programs for increased customer retention.
Let’s dive in!
Table of Contents
1. Understanding Your Target Audience
According to the State of the Restaurant Industry Report, 64% of full-service and 47% of limited-service customers prioritize the experience over the price of food.
Identifying your target audience and their preferences is fundamental for creating a strategy that works.
For example, Leon Restaurants – one of the biggest in the UK, identifies its audience by different factors:
- Demographics: This factor includes the age, income, occupation, and education level of customers who come to Leon Restaurants.
- Psychographics: Includes values, personality traits, and lifestyle
- Behavioural patterns: Customers are also identified by taking note of their behavioural patterns, including dining habits, preferred cuisine, and how frequently they dine out.
2. Digital Marketing Strategies For Restaurants
With the change in market and how social media and the internet affect customers’ options, it is crucial to implement digital restaurant marketing strategies to keep your business growing.
Here are effective digital restaurant marketing strategies you can implement:
Build a strong website
People use search engines like Google to find restaurants they can visit locally or internationally. When you build an active and up-to-date website, you’ll be able to reach more customers who are searching for new places to eat.
So it is non-negotiable. Your website should have a homepage, about us, a menu, and a contact page. You can add testimonials and reviews. Your website should be mobile-friendly and responsive across devices.
Local SEO for restaurants
One of the tools you can use for local SEO is Google My Business. Google My Business creates a “virtual business card” for your business so potential clients can see and interact with it and leave reviews for future customers.
Additionally, online directories like Yelp, TripAdvisor, and Open Table are valuable tools for increasing online visibility. Claim your restaurant’s listings on online directories, ensuring that your restaurant name, address, and phone number are consistent, and verifying that the information is updated so that people won’t get the wrong information about your restaurant’s services.
Location-based keywords attract targeted traffic and give you a competitive advantage over other restaurants in the same locale as you.
Social media marketing
82% of restaurants in the United States make use of social media platforms as part of their restaurant marketing strategy, and this is because it is vital for promoting the restaurant, engaging with customers, and driving sales.
For Instagram, you can drive high engagement with food-related reels, images, and videos showcasing dishes on your menu and capturing your restaurant’s atmosphere.
On Facebook, you can target local audiences, promote events, and engage with your customers through comments and reviews.
With TikTok, you can share short-form videos that display the diversity of your menu and behind-the-scenes moments that will make people hungry for your delicious food.
LinkedIn, being professional, is a place where you can share more formal content, like chef spotlights, to target corporate clients.
Social media platforms have designated content, and to present yourself well, you should hire a content marketing manager to help with managing what people see on your restaurant’s social media channels
Influencer and user-generated content marketing
81% of consumers research and buy menu items after seeing posts from influencers and food bloggers online. Influencer marketing is effective because people would easily go for what their favourite celebrity endorses.
To attract new customers, collaborate with influencers and food bloggers with a strong online presence, locally or internationally, to promote your brand.
An example of influencer marketing is Chipotle’s collaboration with TikTok influencers Keith Lee and Alexis Frost. Chipotle’s revenue saw an increase because of this collaboration.
Email marketing campaigns
For your email campaign as a restaurant owner, you can run loyalty programs with rewards like discounts and extra servings.
You can also implement personalized offerings to create a long-lasting impression by segmenting customers based on order history and tailoring promotions for higher engagement.
You can also send re-engagement emails to inactive customers.
3. Online Advertising and Promotion
People run Ads for their business to be seen by potential clients. Here are some restaurant online marketing strategies:
Run Google and Facebook Ads
It is not enough to run Ads, it is important to check and ensure that your Ads are and will be effective for the use case you want to employ them.
Google Ads, for example, uses local search ads with keywords like “restaurants in US”, maximizing the ad extensions for information, with remarketing for past visitors.
Facebook Ads, on the other hand, target local audiences with lookalike audiences.
Retargeting campaigns to bring back lost customers
Sometimes, a customer could visit your website without booking or placing an order. This is where retargeting comes in.
In retargeting, you can monitor the click-through rate to see the percentage of users who click on your ad after seeing it.
By using data from CTR, conversion rate, and other factors, you precisely retarget specific customer interests, demographics, and behaviours with dynamic content.
Leveraging Geo-targeted ads for local reach
Geo-targeted Ads ensure that your message gets to users who are nearby and more likely to visit your restaurant. By using Geo-targeted ads as a marketing strategy, you minimize the money spent on users likely to visit your restaurant.
This strategy drives high conversion rates because users are more likely to engage with ads relevant to their location. You can use Google AdWords to target nearby mobile users and use Facebook ads to target specific locations, thereby reducing cost.
4. Customer Reviews and Reputation Management
Here are some of the strategies you can employ to manage your reputation as a restaurant:
Encouraging customer reviews
Some customers end their interaction with you after a successful purchase, while others might leave online reviews.
To see more reviews, offer discounts for customers who leave reviews. You can also send the review request to your customers via email or SMS, making it easy for them to share their experiences.
Handling negative reviews
Customers do not always have the same experience. Some may have a positive experience, while others do not. Respond timely to negative reviews.
By responding timely to negative or positive reviews, you show your commitment to customer satisfaction. In handling negative online reviews, provide a solution to turn the customer’s negative experience into a positive one.
The solution could be a complimentary meal or a discount. You can also use reputation management tools like Birdeye to monitor reviews and effectively manage how people see you in the restaurant industry.
Use testimonials and reviews
Not all businesses have testimonials and reviews on their page, and for restaurants, it is important to show new customers what people say about your restaurant.
Using testimonials and reviews in your marketing efforts is a bold move that shows authenticity. Showcase positive reviews on your website, but not just on your website.
Testimonials can be shared on your social media account, emails, and printed materials to build credibility. A good testimonial or review on social media to potential customers shows that your repeat customers were satisfied, and it builds trust.
5. Loyalty and Referral Programs to Increase Retention
Loyalty programs are a great way to keep your customers coming back, especially in cases where they are personalized. Let’s look at some of the strategies captured under loyalty programs:
Creating effective customer loyalty programs
Loyalty programs are a unique way to drive re-engagement and increase the lifetime value of your customers. One of the things you will notice in effective loyalty programs is that they are highly personalized and use AI to analyze customer data.
The analyzed data is then studied to offer tailored rewards like birthday offers and early access to new menu items. According to research, over 71% of restaurants planned to increase their investment in loyalty or rewards programs this year.
How referral marketing can bring in more diners
Referral marketing is a good strategy that complements loyalty programs. An example of referral marketing is giving a $10 discount to the referrer and a $10 discount on the first order for the new customer.
This attracts new customers and builds customer loyalty. You can promote referral programs through email campaigns, social media, or even on receipts of people who successfully make a purchase.
Using SMS marketing for customer engagement
SMS marketing is a powerful tool for direct and immediate communication to send promotions, engagement offers, and updates about items or new events.
For example, you can send an SMS to your customers about an ongoing flash sale or about a 30% discount for every order within a specific time of the year.
6. Offline Restaurant Marketing and Community Engagement
Here are some offline restaurant marketing strategies to implement in 2o25:
Hosting events and pop-ups
Offline marketing strategies are vital for growing local businesses and building community engagement. You can decide to host events like themed nights, cooking classes, and wine tastings to create buzz and attract new and existing customers.
Pop-up events, such as short-term collaborations with brands and local chefs, can help in generating excitement for your restaurant business.
While the events help in creating traffic, they also help in creating experiences that can be shared and promoted on social media, to foster authentic community engagement.
Partnering with local businesses for cross-promotion
Aside from digital partnerships, collaborating with local businesses can expand your restaurant’s reach and build a stronger community.
This form of partnership can also include joint events with other local businesses, like a cocktail night with a cocktail distillery.
You could also collaborate with a local restaurant. Collaborations, as one of the many restaurant marketing efforts out there, help to enhance your brand visibility and foster a sense of goodwill within the community.
Utilizing traditional restaurant marketing like flyers and local newspaper Ads
Traditional advertising has a place, regardless of how digital restaurant marketing strategy has helped businesses.
In reaching older demographics and customers who are less tech-savvy, traditional marketing involves word of mouth marketing, the distribution of flyers in the local community, and showcasing your restaurant menu or offer in a column in a newspaper.
Local newspaper ads can target residents who prefer print media, which aligns with the 80% of customers who prefer printed menus, according to research.
Newspaper Ads and flyers are cost-effective offline marketing strategies for small restaurants and can be used to complement a digital marketing strategy by reinforcing the restaurant’s presence in the local community.
7. Leveraging Food Delivery and Online Ordering
To maximize ordering online and food delivery, here are some strategies that can be implemented:
Optimizing your presence on Uber Eats, DoorDash, and Grubhub
While it is important to run direct delivery, third-party online booking platforms and food delivery apps are essential for restaurants in 2025. This is because many customers prefer takeout and delivery.
For your restaurant’s brand identity to stand out, you should ensure your listing is complete with quality images, accurate menus, and the right prices so that customers can make orders on your online menu right from the comfort of their homes.
44% of diners order takeout weekly, and this shows how important it is to utilize third-party platforms like Grubhub.
Another way to optimize presence is to regularly update your offering on these platforms, as it can attract more customers and improve restaurant sales, your restaurant’s visibility, and ratings.
Implementing direct online ordering on your website
Ordering online directly by a customer on your restaurant’s website can reduce commission fees and provide a more seamless experience. When you integrate it with the restaurant’s POS system, customers can order without any form of errors.
For your website where the ordering happens, ensure that it is mobile-friendly with clear menus that can be easily navigated, and easy payment options.
The reason is that most people access websites with their smartphones, and it aligns with the trend of website optimization for integrated ordering.
Running promotions for online takeout customers
Promotions that you tailor to online takeout customers can, to a certain degree, cause more orders and build loyalty between you and them. An example is offering a free meal or a free drink with a meal, or a discount for first-time online orders.
You can also offer free delivery for orders that exceed a particular range. Additionally, you can highlight exclusive online-only deals to incentivize other customers to try out digital ordering.
8. Visual Restaurant Marketing: Photography & Video Content
In 2025, visual appeal is critical, especially on social media and delivery platforms where photos often influence customer decisions. High-quality food photos can showcase the restaurant’s offerings and entice customers.
For example, 80% of customers are influenced by food photos when choosing a restaurant. Restaurants should invest in professional photography for their menus, websites, and social media profiles, ensuring images are appetizing and consistent with branding.
Restaurant marketing tips for high-quality food photos include:
- Ensure that your food photos are up to date.
- Use a high-resolution camera for the image.
Leveraging video content for social media and advertisements
Video content, particularly short-form videos on platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels, is highly engaging. Restaurants can use videos to showcase their brand identity, food preparation, and special events.
For instance, a behind-the-scenes look at the kitchen or a chef demonstrating a signature dish can build trust and interest.
Videos should be optimized for each platform, with engaging captions and calls-to-action, aligning with the trend of short-form videos for social media restaurant marketing.
Live Streaming Behind-the-Scenes Content to Engage Audiences
Live streaming is an example of good marketing strategies and has become a popular way to engage audiences in real-time. Restaurants can stream events like cooking demonstrations, staff interactions, or live music nights.
This not only builds a sense of community but also allows potential customers to experience the restaurant’s vibe before visiting. Live streams can be promoted on social media to maximize reach, supporting the trend of authentic community engagement.
Future Trends in Restaurant Marketing for 2025
Beyond what has been mentioned, advancement in technology is where the future is. Here are some of the future trends in restaurant marketing for 2025.
1. AI-Driven personalization in restaurant marketing
AI is transforming restaurant marketing by enabling hyper-personalized experiences.
For example, AI can analyze customer data to recommend menu items based on past orders or predict preferences based on demographics.
Restaurants can use AI-powered chatbots for customer service or to handle online orders. Additionally, AI can optimize restaurant marketing campaigns by targeting specific customer segments with tailored offers, as seen in examples like Google Performance Max for Piesanos Stone Fired Pizza.
2. Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) experiences
While still emerging, VR and AR are gaining traction in restaurant marketing. VR can offer virtual tours of the restaurant, allowing customers to “visit” before dining in.
AR can enhance the dining experience by providing interactive menus or allowing customers to visualize dishes before ordering. For example, your customer could use an AR app to see a 3D model of a dish on their table, aligning with the trend of experiential dining.
3. Data-driven menu recommendations
Restaurants are increasingly using data analytics to optimize their menus. By analyzing sales data, customer feedback, and trends, they can identify popular dishes and remove underperformers.
AI can also suggest menu items to customers based on their preferences and past orders. This ensures that your menu is dynamic and consistently in tune with loyal customers’ demands, contributing to their satisfaction and an increase in your sales.
Conclusion
We have walked through different strategies that can be used to market your restaurant. You’ll agree with me that navigating the restaurant industry requires an adaptable strategy.
Understanding your audience, maximizing digital and offline channels, managing your reputation, building loyalty, and embracing future trends, give you a framework for success.
Monitor how each marketing strategies perform for your demography. Then refine and adapt new restaurant marketing strategies to remain relevant.
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