6 Ways To Use Instagram To Turn Your Restaurant Into A Power Player

A restaurant manager approaches a customer, concerned: “Sir, I noticed you haven’t Instagrammed your meal yet. Is everything okay?” This manager understands the power of a quick snap and share on Instagram, realizing that one meal can do more than just satisfy a single customer—it can bring in new patrons. He’s part of a new generation of restaurateurs who use Instagram to promote their businesses, showcase new menu items, and attract customers.

Why Instagram is Great for Restaurant Marketing

Instagram has become a major force in the social media world, offering a highly visual platform that provides immediate and wide-scale brand exposure. With business profiles, analytics, and tools like bulk scheduling, it's ideal for restaurant marketing. Consider this: 18- to 35-year-olds spend around five days a year browsing food images on Instagram, and 30% admit to avoiding restaurants with weak Instagram presences. These are compelling reasons to make Instagram part of your restaurant's marketing strategy. Here are six ways to leverage Instagram for your restaurant.

1. Create an Instagram Business Profile

Instagram makes it easy for businesses to create professional profiles. By switching to a business account, you gain access to analytics that help you make smart decisions about what and when to post. It also allows customers to contact you directly through the platform, increasing your restaurant’s visibility. Additionally, you can learn more about your followers, helping you better understand your customer base.

2. Cross-Pollinate Your Platforms

Social media platforms work well together. Share your Facebook posts on Instagram and repurpose content for LinkedIn or TikTok. Doing this will encourage customers from other platforms to check out your Instagram page. You can also embed the Instagram icon on your website, making it easy for customers to share your content and access your profile.

3. Keep It Snappy and On-Point

Instagram users have short attention spans, so keep your posts short, snappy, and visually appealing. Beautiful images paired with concise captions will help keep your audience engaged and prevent them from swiping past your post.

4. Invite Interaction

Encourage interaction with fun posts. Tag a photo and ask followers to “caption this,” or post a new dish and invite them to come up with a name for it. You can also ask them to tag a friend they’d share the meal with, and offer a prize to a lucky winner. These simple activities can boost engagement and grow your followers.

5. People Love Free Stuff

Strategically offering promotions can quickly grow your following. Feed a food blogger in exchange for a tagged review, and your audience will expand. Partner with local food influencers who can introduce you to new customers. Collaborate on posts like, “Like this picture, tag a friend, and follow [your restaurant handle] for a chance to win!” Ask influencers to share photos of your restaurant over a few weeks to keep momentum going. Rotate influencers and limit contests to prevent customer fatigue.

6. Research Your Hashtags

Hashtags increase your visibility on Instagram. Posts with hashtags generate 12.6% more engagement than those without. Use hashtags that are popular enough to generate organic views, but not so broad that your post gets buried. You should also use location-based hashtags to attract customers in your area.

The Bottom Line

Instagram is a crucial tool for restaurateurs. People eat with their eyes first, and photos of beautifully plated meals are perfect for this platform. By following these six steps, you’ll be well on your way to turning your restaurant into an Instagram power player. Before you know it, you’ll be hashtagging #MostSuccessfulLocalRestaurant!

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