Marketing Restaurant Online

Facebook has become one of the most integral part of our social communication medium. Without it it must be hard to live as a social human beings where we like to communicate with each other whether it is with our friends or loved ones. My self would be a great example who use Facebook more than email or even phone call if I want to communicate with my friends whether in States or other countries. Every day I see new lost friends joining Facebook. That indicates to me that there is more and more people joining  Facebook. It has become a digital home to all of us no matter which part of the world we live in. Before we decide to visit to any new restaurant we ask our friends on Facebook. Some times while visiting restaurants we send Facebook updates right from there inviting our friends. When these new breeds of customers are living and breathing Facebook, it would be a mistake any restaurants would overlook the opportunity it offers.

I was doing a research on the internet and I came across a video presentation about social media by Reggie Bradford . I got more interested as he was talking about restaurants and new way of social media marketing. To my surprise he is from Atlanta. He was talking about local brands like Moe’s South West Grill, Willy’s Mexicana Grill. Even better. I knew then that writing a blog post would be even more fun.

“In the downturn, I think the only way to keep a brand in front of customers and the message relevant is to use social media.Marketing dollars work at dramatically higher multiples when consumers help create your message and pass it along.” Reggie Bradford

Reggie Bradford, ceo, Vitrue, Inc., a social-media marketing firm, explains why it has been more important than ever to businesses to adopt social media marketing in this new age of digital world. He shares his experience about how iHop is successful in tying up the marketing effort using Facebook and was able to even attract a marketer like himself.When he was checking out his facebook, he noticed that his friends had RSVPed to attend IHOP’s National Pancake Day which benefits the Children’s Miracle Network. He then left facebook and headed to iHop’s website. He located the nearest iHop restaurant and went there with his family for the breakfast. This is a classic example how a restaurant can tie in a  great marketing with great cause on Facebook. With out the social networks like Facebook and presence of his friends transparent digital footprints he would not be able to know about IHOP’s National Pancake Day which benefits the Children’s Miracle Network. Attending then would be out of question.  See how all these marketing ties into a network effect. So I would highly urge all the restaurants to have a presence at Facebook and engage with customers interacting, answering their questions, and entertaining with promotions and may be freebees like Denny’s and iHop.

The other thing that I liked about iHop’s promotion is that they have tied up with social cause. They were giving Free Pancakes but also raising the money for Children’s Miracle Network. So it attracted even people like Reggie Bradford to attend the iHop promotion. The marketing is brilliant if you observe this carefully. IHop has tied up this with social cause positioning their brand who cares about their community and the children. This is one of the most powerful marketing promotion I believe there is  because it is connecting with those parents who also have their own children and have a deep feeling to support this cause. These parents are also one of the most socially aware customers there is in the entire planet. You can not sell them with those old sneaky sales techniques or those flashy fake advertisement on the television. They can smell it from a distance. So please don’t even bother trying it to these tech savvy customers. Instead connect them by engaging  and entertaining these customers via social networking sites like Facebook which is their digital home. You would be far ahead than many other restaurants who are still  hiding their heads in the sand as if nothing has changed since 2004 after the birth of Facebook.

So I would encourage to all restaurants if you haven’t used Facebook for your restaurant then start creating a presence on Facebook. Start engaging with your customers. Entertain them with great marketing promotions, events and surprises every now and then. You will win over your customers and create a loyal fan for years to come. I believe those restaurants who acknowledge that world of restaurant marketing has changed and are willing to change themselves by adopting Facebook will win ultimately.