How to Use Instagram for restaurants and what to post

Social media can be one of the best channels for businesses to promote their services, build their reputation, and reach out to potential customers. In the current world with so much competition, businesses need to be on top of their marketing strategies if they are to be successful. One of the platforms that businesses should consider for marketing is Instagram.

For restaurants, Instagram can be a great platform to promote their products. It is estimated that over 400 million people use Instagram every day, and there are more than 25 million business profiles on Instagram. This provides restaurants with a wide audience to target.

In this blog we will cover the reasons why Instagram is great for restaurants, how to use Instagram for restaurants, and what type of content they should post.

Why should Restaurants Utilise Instagram

Instagram provides restaurants with an opportunity to showcase their products and create awareness about their brand. It can be a powerful tool for restaurants to expand their reach, promote their business, and engage their clients. Here are some of the reasons why restaurants should use Instagram:

Strong Visuals

The visuals on Instagram are strong and attractive which is great for restaurants.

Restaurants can use attractive visuals to showcase their food, drinks, and interior. By visualizing the kind of food they serve, clients can get a sense of what the restaurant is about even before they visit it.

Cater to Present and Potential Customers

Instagram is a great way to cater to both current and potential customers. Restaurants can interact with their current patrons and potential customers by engaging with them, responding to their comments, and addressing their queries and concerns.

This can help in building strong relationships with clients.

Drive Online Traffic

Instagram can help drive online traffic to a website. Restaurants can use Instagram to build interest and demand for their products and direct the traffic to their website with clickable links in posts and stories.

Cost-Effective

Instagram is a free platform and it does not cost restaurants to post on it, unless they decide to pay for some advertisements. This makes it a great option for smaller businesses to get started without using too much money on advertising and marketing.

How to Use Instagram for Restaurants

Having discussed the reasons why restaurants should use Instagram, let’s look at some tips for maximizing the restaurant’s presence on Instagram.

Post Quality Content

Quality trumps quantity when it comes to Instagram.

Restaurants should ensure that they post quality pictures that are in line with the brand. This can help in creating an impression of quality and professionalism which is important for any business. Restaurants should keep in mind the clarity of the image and the type of filter they use.

Keep it Consistent

Having a consistent theme for the restaurant’s posts can help in creating consistency and recognition among clients.

Restaurants should think of a theme for their posts such as using a particular filter and giving a consistent editing style to all posts. This will help in creating recognition for the restaurant and make it easier for followers to recognize the restaurant’s content.

Engage with the Audience

Engaging with the audience is important for any business on Instagram. Restaurants should respond to followers’ comments and messages and should take some time to look at other people’s posts and comment on them.

This creates a connection between the restaurant and the audience and also helps in expanding the reach of the restaurant’s content.

Utilize Different Features

Instagram offers its users several features such as stories, highlights, promotions, and hashtags that can be used to maximize the reach of the restaurant’s content. Restaurants should take advantage of these features and use them to build a follower base and create brand awareness.

What Type of Content Should Restaurants Post?

Now that we know the importance of using Instagram for restaurants and how to use it, let’s look at some content ideas for restaurants. Here are some ideas that restaurants can use:

Foods and Drinks

Food and drinks are one of the most important parts of a restaurant.

Restaurants should make sure to showcase their food in the best possible way. This could be done by using high-quality pictures taken in the restaurant or by using edited images. Restaurants can also use videos to create a short teaser for their upcoming dishes, desserts, etc.

Chef Stories

This is a great way to engage with customers and create a personal connection.

Restaurants can post stories of their chefs or other staff members in the kitchen, preparing food, etc. This creates a personal connection between the restaurant and the customers, making them feel more comfortable.

Special Offers and Promotions

Promotions can be a great way to attract new customers and keep old customers coming back for more. Restaurants can use Instagram to promote their special offers and promotions to keep customers coming back for more.

Giveaways

Giveaways are a great way to reward loyal customers and attract new ones.

Restaurants can use Instagram to give away coupons or discounts to their patrons who have been loyal to them or have subscribed to their page.

Sourcing /Tools/ Equipment

Good quality tools and equipment are the foundation of a successful restaurant or café. Restaurants can use Instagram to showcase their kitchen equipment from reliable and trusted suppliers such as Easy Equipment. They can also use it to talk about where they get their ingredients and showcase the products they use in their dishes.

Conclusion

Instagram can be a great platform for restaurants to promote their products and build recognition for their brand.

By following the tips mentioned in this article, restaurants can use Instagram to maximize the reach of their content and engage with their customers. They can use different types of posts such as foods and drinks, chef stories, giveaways, and sourcing/tools/equipment to ensure that their content is engaging and relevant.