Restaurant marketing depends on the venue, audience, location, and business model. A useful digital plan connects accurate menu and hours information with ordering, reservations, event enquiries, and customer feedback where appropriate.
Your Website Is Your #1 Table-Filling Tool
Most restaurant websites are either outdated or non-existent. A modern restaurant website should load in under 2 seconds, have your menu front and center (not a PDF), include online ordering with no third-party commission eating your margin, and have an online reservation system that connects to your POS.
Online Ordering: Own It or Pay Commission Forever
Third-party marketplace fees and customer-data terms vary by platform, contract, and market. Compare the full cost, operational workload, discovery value, and customer relationship implications before investing in a direct ordering channel.
- Compare direct-ordering costs with current marketplace terms
- Own your customer data and email list
- Run loyalty programs and promotions directly
- Integrate with your kitchen display system
Reputation Management: The #1 Driver of New Diners
Reviews can influence a diner's decision, but volume or rating alone does not guarantee a business choice or local ranking. Invite feedback in a fair, policy-compliant way and respond without exposing private customer information.
"A review request process can make it easier to invite feedback consistently. Any performance change should be evaluated against the restaurant's own records and broader market conditions."
AI for Catering and Private Event Booking
A configured web assistant may collect approved event-enquiry details—such as a requested date or guest count—and route the request to staff. Review data collection, availability, integration, and human follow-up before launch.
Social Media: Quality Over Quantity
The restaurants winning on Instagram and TikTok aren't posting 7 times a week — they're posting 3 high-quality videos weekly that show the food being prepared, the atmosphere, and real customer reactions. User-generated content (reposting customers' photos with permission) is the highest-converting format.