The restaurant business is booming again, and while that’s great news for customers eager to get out and experience new flavours, it also means there are more and more establishments competing for the same customers.

1. Serving Up Digital Marketing Strategies
For YourRestaurant
Phone No: 604.595.2495 Website: Nirvanacanada.com

2. The restaurant business is booming again, and while that’s great news for
customers eager to get out and experience new flavours, it also means
there are more and more establishments competing for the same
customers.
The restaurant industry is notoriously difficult to break into and an even
more challenging environment in which to thrive. According to a recent
report from Restaurants Canada, just 57% of food service operators report
being profitable, while 28% are operating at a loss, and another 15% are
simply breaking even. While many factors affect profitability, however,
one of the most important is the ability to attract a steady stream of
customers – and that’s where digital marketing becomes crucial.

3. In The Digital Age, You Have To BeADigital Marketing
The Internet has become one of the most important sources of customer
engagement and lead generation. This is not only true of online retail
businesses or media outlets but also businesses like restaurants which
rely on in-person sales. Sure, conventional advertising mediums such as
direct mailing or radio ads still have their place, but nothing can deliver
more targeted visibility and brand awareness than digital marketing.
With that in mind, we will dive into several highly accessible digital
marketing strategies tailored for those in the restaurant industry.

4. Perfect Your Website:
Your website is like your restaurant’s digital storefront, and for many, it
will be the point of contact. 57% of people report checking out a
restaurant’s website before they decide whether or not to dine there. To
make sure you’re not losing out on potential customers before they even
walk through the door, here’s what you can do:
• Dazzle With Design: Invest in a professionally designed, eye-catching
website that reflects your restaurant’s vibe and showcases your delicious
food.
• Made-For-Mobile: Ensure your website looks and works just as great on
mobile devices as it does on a computer. Most people searching for
somewhere to eat or grab a drink do so from their phones so you don’t
want to lose them because you’re running a clunky site.

5. • Picture-Perfect: Now is not the time to practice using filters on your
smartphone. Investing in high-quality photos of your restaurant and dishes
makes your food look even more mouth-watering and your establishment
more inviting.
• Easy Info Access: Make sure that important info like menus, hours of
operation, location, and contact details are super easy to find and easy to
read. Fancy fonts are nice but nobody wants to start zooming in on menu
items because you’re using size 10 Brush Script.

6. Get Social
Digital marketers regularly leverage social media platforms like Facebook,
Instagram, and TikTok to create a buzz around their business. The average
Canadian spends 2.5 hours per day on social media, and we have over 34
million active users, which translates into roughly 90% of the country’s
total population.

7. Right now, you might be thinking, “But I already have a social media
account for my business, and it’s not working.” The problem is, with so
much content out there competing for attention, it’s not enough to post a
few times and be done with it. Effective social media marketing requires
consistency, patience, and a little creativity. With that in mind, here are a
few ways you can boost your social media following and get more out of
your marketing:
• Pick the Right Platforms: Identify the social media platforms your target
audience uses the most. For most restaurants, platforms like Facebook,
Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter) are solid choices. If your food is
Instagram-worthy, focus on platforms that are heavy on visuals.
• Stay Consistent: Create a content calendar to plan and schedule regular
posts. Consistency is the key to keeping your audience engaged. Without
getting into too much detail on how social media platform algorithms
decide what to feature in users’ feeds, your content is less likely to be
featured if you are only sporadically posting every few weeks (or months).

8. • Engage with Engaging Content: Share high-quality photos of your dishes,
behind-the-scenes glimpses of your kitchen, and customer testimonials.
Use storytelling to connect with your audience and make them feel like
they need to experience what you have to offer firsthand.
• Use User-Generated Content: Encourage your customers to share their
experiences on social media using your restaurant’s special hashtag. It’s
like free advertising from your most loyal fans.
• Consider Paid Ads: If you want to kick things up a notch, you can explore
paid social media advertising. It lets you choose your daily budget and
target specific demographics. Plus, you get detailed analytics to fine-tune
your ads based on what works best.

9. Focus on Local SEO
Local SEO is your ticket to getting noticed by people in your area. It’s all
about making sure your restaurant shows up in local search results so that
when someone’s looking for a place to eat, your restaurant’s name pops
up at the top of the search results. Here’s how to level up your local SEO:

10. • Get Crafty with Keywords: Step one, carefully research your most
relevant, related, and competitive local keywords. Step two: sprinkle these
local keywords throughout your website’s content, meta tags, and
headings. For instance, if your restaurant is the go-to spot for Italian
cuisine in Vancouver, make sure phrases like “best Italian restaurant in
Vancouver” pop up here and there throughout your content.
• Blogging Brilliance: Start a blog on your website and share engaging
content regularly. This strategy is a double hitter because not only does
blogging not only provide value to your audience but it can also be used to
enhance your website’s SEO.
• Links Galore: Use internal links to guide visitors to different pages on
your website, like from your homepage to your menu page. Also, reach
out for backlinks from other local websites and directories to beef up your
site’s authority.

11. • Google My Business: Who doesn’t love free advertising? If you haven’t
done so already, claim and optimize your Google My Business (GMB)
account, making sure all your contact info, address, and operating hours
are spot on. This is a simple yet highly effective way for potential
customers to find, learn about, and engage with your business.

12. Leverage Influencer Marketing
Influencer marketing is like borrowing someone else’s megaphone to tell
the world how awesome your restaurant is. Influencers can have
thousands if not more followers who listen to and trust their
recommendations. So, how do you get these influential individuals to give
your business a shoutout? It’s pretty straightforward!
• Find Local Foodie Influencers: Look for influencers in your area who
specialize in food or lifestyle (hint: you can spy on your competitors and
see who’s been sharing). Invite Them Over Reach out and invite these
influencers to dine at your restaurant for free. If they love the experience,
they’ll likely create a post about your place.
• Negotiate a Deal: In exchange for their post, you can work out a contract.
Depending on their tier (the number of followers a given influencer has),
some may request payment in addition to the free eats. However, for
others, the promise of a free meal is enough to win you an Insta-worthy
photo shoutout.

13. Implement Email Marketing
Email marketing is a digital marketing strategy with a personal touch.
What’s more, email marketing strategies can be uniquely tailored to target
specific groups. For example, you can send special promotional offers to
your top customers or check in with clients who haven’t visited in a while.
Email marketing helps you keep your restaurant top-of-mind for your
customers. Here’s how you can cook up a tasty email marketing campaign:

14. • Build Your Email List: Start by building an email list of people who’ve
subscribed to hear from you or who have left their contact details when
ordering online. A CRM (customer relationship management system) is
another great way to add more contacts to your list.
• Send Regular Emails: Once someone subscribes, send them friendly
emails once every few weeks. These emails should express gratitude to
your subscribers and encourage them to return to your restaurant.
• Include Value: Your emails should contain valuable content such as
discounts, promotions, and special offers. If your emails aren’t adding
value, people might stop opening them.
Email marketing is a top digital marketing strategy because it’s like talking
to people who’ve already shown interest in your restaurant. They’ve
already tasted your food so they’re more likely to come back for seconds.

16. Take Advantage of Online Reviews
Online reviews can make or break a restaurant. People want to know what
others think before they decide to dine at your place. A whopping 92% of
diners report reading a restaurant’s reviews before visiting. Here’s how
you can make sure you are taking full advantage of online reviews:
• Encourage Reviews: Encourage every paying customer to leave a review
on Google, your website, or your social media profiles. Most people need
a little nudge to write a review, so consider offering a discount or a free
drink as a thank you.
• Respond to Reviews: Engage with customers who leave reviews. Thank
them for their feedback whether it’s positive or constructive criticism.
Responding shows that you value their opinion and are open to improving
plus it’s a great way to engage with your audience and show off your
brand.

18. Network with Other Local Businesses
Everyone needs friends! Networking with other local businesses can be a
game-changer for your restaurant. Partnering up with complementary
businesses can help you tap into their customer base and enhance your
brand. Here’s how to do it:
• Build Partnerships: Connect with local businesses that can complement
your restaurant. For instance, team up with a nearby hotel and see if
they’ll recommend your restaurant to their guests (in exchange for a
discount) or take advantage of the many local craft breweries in Vancouver
by offering a featured product each month.
• Collaborative Discounts: Consider working with other businesses to offer
discounts for business-related meals. This could include salespeople
meeting with clients, team lunches, after-work parties, and more. By
offering value to other businesses, you can gain more customers and
strengthen your influence in your community.

19. Keep Online Engagement High
Consistency is key in digital marketing. If you want your community to
remember your restaurant’s name, you have to stay active online. Here
are some tips to keep engagement high:
• Regular Updates: Update your website regularly with fresh content. This
could include new menu items, special offers, or upcoming events.
• Frequent Social Media Posts: Post new content on your social media
platforms a few times a week. Keep your audience excited about your
restaurant by hyping up new specials online, running contests, and giving
back to your loyal customers.
Remember, a single advertising campaign a year won’t cut it. To make your
restaurant the talk of the town, you have to keep the digital conversation
going.

20. Wrapping Up
Running a restaurant is hard work, but in this digital age, having a strong
online presence is more important than ever. With the right digital
marketing strategies, your restaurant can not only survive but thrive.
Remember, the learning curve for restaurant digital marketing can be
steep, but there’s plenty of help available. Explore the services of digital
marketing agencies in your area and take the first step toward a successful
digital marketing journey for your restaurant.

21. Contact Us:
Address: 501-3292 Production Way,
Burnaby BC, V5A 4R4
Phone no: 604-595-2495
Email: success@nirvanacanada.com
Website Blog Link:
https://www.nirvanacanada.com/businessonline/serving-up-
digital-marketing-strategies-for-your-restaurant/