Restaurant marketing combines local visibility, social proof, and experience marketing. Success requires making your restaurant discoverable and desirable to your target diners.

Essential Restaurant Marketing Channels

View Key Channels

Google Business Profile: Critical for local search and Google Maps
Instagram: Food photography, stories, reels, location tags
TripAdvisor/Yelp: Review management and visibility
Email/SMS: Reservation confirmations, loyalty, special events
Local SEO: Ranking for "[cuisine] restaurant [location]"
Paid Social: Targeting locals and tourists

Restaurant Marketing Tactics

  • Professional food photography (essential)
  • User-generated content and reposts
  • Influencer and blogger partnerships
  • Seasonal menu promotions
  • Events (wine dinners, chef's table, tastings)
  • Loyalty programmes

Key Metrics for Restaurants

  • Covers and reservations
  • Average spend per head (ASPH)
  • Table turnover rate
  • Review ratings and volume
  • Repeat customer rate

Common Mistakes

Poor quality photos, ignoring reviews, inconsistent posting, no email capture, and not tracking where bookings come from. Your online presence should match your in-restaurant experience.