Why Restaurants need Facebook

Updated September 16th 2013

Social Media is a powerful marketing tool for any restaurant as it gives one access to a large audience. Facebook is one of the top social sites you can use to market your brand and expand the customer base.

There are more than a billion Facebook users all across the globe. This is what makes it stand out when it comes to promoting or marketing a restaurant. Most business owners used to pay a considerable amount to market their businesses on other media like radio, television and newspapers. However, Facebook has virtually overtaken such media thanks to the advancement of online marketing. Unlike other marketing media, Facebook introduces a permission based style of marketing rather than forcing marketing material on customers.

As a restaurant owner there are numerous effective methods you can use to ensure that your Facebook page is beneficial to your restaurant. You need to ensure that your restaurant page is relevant and active if you need it to be an effective marketing tool. There are many reasons why your restaurant should have an effective Facebook page.

A Facebook page is more likely to encourage new business by attracting customers. Facebook pages are meant to advertise your restaurant by offering information about your menu, specialties, location, and even offering a link to the restaurant’s website. It gives regular and potential customers a more personal connection to the restaurant and as such they will remain loyal. You can also promote your business by offering coupons, discounts or launch competitions on your Facebook page. For instance you can give certain discounts for all new customers who like it, leave a positive comment on your wall, or share your status on their Facebook walls.

Facebook also offers your loyal customers an opportunity to engage in word-of-mouth marketing. Most customers would most likely recommend or talk about your restaurant to their social media friends if they are fans of your page. Customers who like your page will also share your updates, pictures, and stories with others. This is how word-of-mouth becomes viral marketing. An easy tool to forward valuable information to others you can reach out for.

The restaurants Facebook page gives you an opportunity to provide more information about your establishment. Nowadays people are interested in more that the food and services you offer. They want to know about your employees, how you began, some of your ingredients, and much more. You can always post such information and invite them to come and experience it physically in your restaurant.  Also ensure that you allow customers to provide feedback on their experiences at your restaurant to make them feel connected to your brand.

Facebook has many useful tools that you can use to benefit your marketing campaign. You can use your page to target local as well as international customers into your restaurant. It offers a convenient avenue for word-of-mouth marketing and other advertisement.  It is a very effective marketing media that also happens to be the least expensive. If you intend to compete effectively in this era, then get a Facebook page for your restaurant.

Remember to regularly check for available Facebook apps and consider tools like hootsuite to post messages when you want to schedule them. Much easier to develop and implement a marketing plan if you can schedule communication months in advance. You gain a better overview and you can also balance out your promotions throughout the year or every month.

Another great tool within Facebook is their Pay-Per-Click technology, allowing you target specific demographic characteristics within your local community and region. While Facebook still needs to go a long way to prove itself as a B2B platform, it has all to be the leading B2C channel.

Written by Daniel Grossmann