When it comes to social media marketing these days, anything goes. For restaurants, that means taking full advantage of what apps like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter can do for your business. Our society is extremely social media reliant and people are not only using social media platforms to check on what their ex-boyfriend from high school is up to, but they are using these apps to find out about new products and services, and yes, that includes restaurants.  These platforms are essentially a free advertising tool which almost sounds too good to be true. And it is, if you aren’t using them correctly. There is a right and a wrong way to market your company on these apps.

So how do you use these Social Media apps to your benefit?

*PHOTOS – this generation of younger consumers loves photos; photos of themselves, photos of cats on skateboards, and most definitely, photos of food. Do you have a new product you are pushing? Take a picture, add a fancy filter (we’re partial to Lo-Fi) and post a photo to Instagram with a brief, but catchy description of your new menu item.

*PROMOTIONS – every generation likes a good promotion! Are you running a happy hour? Post a video or a photo that is visually attractive to your followers. Don’t use this space for blanket marketing – be specific about the promotion you are running and post in a way that makes the customer envision that they are in your establishment, enjoying their two for one drink special.

*ENGAGE – with your customer base. Trying out a new product? Post a picture and ask for their thoughts.  People love to be heard, even if it’s in the comment section of an Instagram post.

*UPCOMING EVENTS – having an event to celebrate the fall equinox and offering a menu full of pumpkin-based food and beverage? Use your social media platforms to introduce the event to your followers.

Use your followers to your advantage; ask your followers to take photos of themselves in your establishment and use a specific hashtag (offer some sort of incentive for doing so)– then it’s not only you marketing to your followers, but now your followers are marketing to theirs and on and on…

Social media platforms often get a bad rap. The platforms can be used inappropriately.  But, if used the right way, these apps can do a lot for you and your restaurant and ultimately, will help you attract a whole new group of clientele to your establishment.