How to use Facebook to attract more customers to your restaurant

The social networks of a restaurant are the best showcase to achieve diffusion and above all interaction with your customers.

As a restaurant owner, one of your priorities is getting people through the door, before they enjoy the great food you put in front of them.

However, the challenge is how best to achieve this, and with the rise of social media, funneling some of your marketing efforts to Facebook could pay off big.

But how can you use this platform effectively to drive business through your door?

Here are some tips that you can put into practice:

Make the most of Facebook Live

A relatively new addition to the Facebook family, the option to create live streams to feature those who follow your page can give you a chance to give you a little insight into what’s going on behind the scenes.

There is a fantastic variety of options available when it comes to Facebook Live for your restaurant, for example you can peek behind your team of chefs preparing for the day’s service one-on-one with your head chef as you race through. the daily specials or you can even do cooking demonstrations, showcasing the range of high-quality products that goes into the food you put on the table for guests.

For any special occasion, such as New Year’s Eve, show off the celebrations that are happening in your establishment to show people who are not there what they are missing and, in turn, increase the chances that they will book for next year.

Encourage visitors to post photos

Facebook users love to share a photo or two, so take advantage of this by encouraging them to share photos of their time at your restaurant. Could be a Selfie on their table, photos of the food they ordered or the cocktails that help them enjoy the night even more.

You can also incentivize this by selecting your favorite post each month and rewarding the winner with a free meal for two.

Seeing other people win will give your customers an incentive to take a photo when they visit your restaurant, knowing that they could be the next winners.

Try to get Facebook comments

While many restaurant visitors may search a review site like Trip Advisor, if they’ve visited your Facebook page in the past and found that they already have a number of reviews, chances are they will do a thorough reading. before deciding whether or not to make a reservation.

It can be difficult; But if you tell your customers how grateful you would be if they were willing to leave a comment on your Facebook page, chances are you’ll start to see your customers start to grow.

A good tactic to get more feedback is through an end-of-service survey.

Ask customers to complete a short restaurant satisfaction survey on a tablet that you present to them. Make sure to collect their email address in combination with a small incentive.

Email customers who left a positive rating, asking them to leave a comment on Facebook.

If someone leaves a negative comment, don’t ignore it, reply to it and try to find a friendly solution for all parties. Even if the end result doesn’t turn out the way you want it to, it will still look good to other people looking at the reviews, as you’ve been working hard to solve the problem that person had in your restaurant.

Drive traffic to your website

If you want people to be more aware of your restaurant and everything you have to offer, use Facebook to drive traffic to your restaurant’s website.

By posting links directly to your website from your Facebook page, prospective customers can view your menus, event calendar, photos from inside your restaurant, and even reserve a table.

Use the cover photo to show a spectacular dish

Make sure your cover photo is one that leaves visitors on your Facebook drooling and wanting to reserve a table at your restaurant to try the dish for themselves.

Promote your events

If you host events regularly, use the Events tab on your restaurant’s Facebook page to let people know what’s going on, encourage them to express interest, and easily share with friends.

Offer discount coupons

Everyone loves receiving gifts, so why not post a coupon on your Facebook page that offers € 10 off the next time they visit? It will also reward those who have liked your page and they will likely see an increase in the number of “likes” as your followers share the post with their own friends and family.

Drive posts to your target audience

If you have a budget available and what you offer is attractive, why not boost a Facebook post with advertising to reach a wider audience?

You can target specific areas, as well as a person’s demographics and interests, making sure they are reaching the exact type of clientele you want your restaurant to visit.

Survey your followers

If you want to engage your followers, consider taking a poll to get their views on the best way to present a dish, what entree to add to daily specials, or what dessert they would like to see added to the menu.

Promote your restaurant as a meeting space

To get as many people as possible into your restaurant, why not promote how your space can be used for a fantastic work lunch or Christmas party? If you offer catering services, be sure to tell your Facebook followers about this and how it could be the perfect solution for a party or wedding.

Automate customer service with chatbots

Facebook Messenger is the # 1 app in the app store, so leveraging it for your business should be a priority. Setting up a Facebook chatbot for your restaurant hasn’t always been affordable for restaurants with smaller budgets.

Remember, getting the most out of Facebook for your restaurant will take time and effort, so don’t be afraid to call on other members of your staff for help too, and they’ll probably have some great ideas to move your page forward.