According to the National Restaurant Association, one in three restaurants in America fail in their first year. Restaurants are one of the most competitive and intense industries out there, made more difficult by steep margins and rising labor costs. With all these factors working together, many restaurants need to differentiate themselves from their competition to get people at their tables. To do so, more and more are trying to find the right restaurant advertising agency to help.
A restaurant advertising agency is one that specializes in branding, marketing, and creating advertisements for restaurants and other hospitality industry businesses. They often offer a wide variety of services that can help restaurants zero in on what makes them different and exciting, helping reach the right kind of guests to come in.
Today, let’s look at some dos and don’ts of restaurant branding and how the right restaurant advertising agency can help your restaurant flourish.
DO: Manage Reviews
We have all gone online for restaurant reviews and seen how owners and managers can act. The industry is stressful, but Google Reviews is not the place to vent those frustrations. It’s a place to put your best foot forward and show that your establishment is a great place to be, even when things go wrong.
The reality is that reviews on Google and other sites are part of your branding. They are a place where your voice and experience are scrutinized, and your actions are read by an engaged audience. That means you need to think about your brand and your voice when in these spaces.
When you respond to reviews, be measured and action oriented. If the reviews are bad, do not get into a fight. Attempt to resolve the issue. If the reviews are good, respond to them with gratitude and an invitation to come back in the future.
DON’T: Forget About Your People
Food will get people into seats the first time, but it is the personal connection that will turn them into repeat customers. So many restaurants today push an impersonal brand. Their websites are full of food but no people. Their Instagram is filled with pictures of the restaurant without any human connection. This approach turns a restaurant from a place people want to go into something lifeless.
While your team may change, it’s important to show your restaurant as a place people want to be. An establishment with welcoming staff, great food, and a fun experience. Even the edgiest and most impactful branding can fall flat in this industry if it is not paired with real people making that human connection with your guests.
DO: Pay Attention to Your Social Media
Restaurants today seem to live and die by Instagram. If the right influencers are in love with you, then your restaurant can fill up. If they dislike you (or worse, ignore you), you could be shutting your doors for good.
Social media can also take up a full-time position on your team, something restaurants rarely have the space to do. Whether you have a dedicated social media employee or not, you need a plan.
Creating a social media calendar is an excellent first step to gaining followers and potential guests. With a schedule for regular content, you can create and post a regular stream to stay top of mind and help deliver your restaurant’s branding to the masses. With paid advertising coordinated with a restaurant advertising agency, you can deploy your social media with a huge impact. Of course, working on a dedicated advertising campaign that leverages social media can introduce you to new people that you never thought possible.
DON’T: Try Branding Without a Restaurant Advertising Agency
Restaurant branding is about more than showing off your space and your food. It is about creating a look, feel and guide that lets people recognize your establishment every time they see your advertisements. Whether you have not yet opened your doors or are reaching for new levels of success, the right restaurant advertising agency can help shape your experience and run successful campaigns to get people in seats.
Today’s restaurant advertising agencies do more than just advertise. They can help you craft your brand from the ground up, creating a visual guide that will resonate with your guests. This can include a new, more exciting website, coordinating campaigns across multiple platforms, and so much more. If you want to stand out, then it’s time to enlist the help of an experienced restaurant advertising agency.