Facebook is no doubt the most popular social networking site in the world with over 300 million users by now. Restaurant businesses can not afford not to care about Facebook and make it a part of it’s marketing strategy if it really wants to win in this new age of social media we are entering into. Lots of big brand chain restaurants like McDonald’s, Chick-Fil-A, Pizzahut and many others have started building a great brand with millions of fans. But I have yet to see small restaurants take advantage of marketing opportunity that Facebook offers. I will try to explain how to set up a Facebook Fan Page for your restaurant step by step.
VIDEO- For those who are more visual learner I have included the tutorial video prepared by Matthew Loop. Though the video shows the steps how to create Facebook Fan Page with the example of his Chiropractor Service, it is applicable to any businesses including restaurants. So please feel free to watch the video to get a visual idea on different steps. However once you watch the video and get an idea please follow the steps below that I have written. That way it is easier for you and not confusing while you are creating your Facebook Fan Page for your restaurant.
Step 1. Login to your Facebook
You can create your Facebook Fan Page for your restaurant though your personal Facebook account. So the first thing you have to do is login to your Facebook. Input your username and password and log in.
Step 2. Locate Advertising section on the very bottom.
Once you login to your Facebook account, scroll down to the very bottom and you will see a link that says “Advertising”. Click the link and it will take you to the landing page of Advertising. You will also see an orange color flag icon left to “Pages”. Now Click again the Pages option. It will then take you to the Facebook Pages section. To the far right you will see a green button that says “Create a Page”. Click the green button. It will then take you the actual page where you can start building the Fan Page.
Step 3-Create your Facebook Fan Page
While creating a new Facebook Page, it will prompt you to select the category. Select Local and then “Restaurant” as your sub category. Then it will ask you the name of the restaurant. Input the name of your restaurant. Be careful with this one. Once you choose the name you can not change. Also it is search engine indexed. So you have to make sure you choose the right words so your restaurant can be found while potential customers do a search on Google or Facebook itself. So I would recommend to put the name of your city or town after the name.That way you are narrowing your name for the people to find it easily. Check mark the box as an authorized person to create the page. Input your full name as an electronic signature. Then click Create Page button. There you go your Facebook Fan Page for your restaurant is created.
Step 4- Edit the information and upload the logo.
Now that your Fan Page is created you have to input all the information regarding your restaurant and also upload the logo or picture of your restaurant to give it a good looking. So when fans come to your fan page they feel comfortable. It is like your digital home. If it is decorated beautifully fans tend to like it. So invest some time to make it look beautiful and professional. Fill out all the detail information of your restaurant from address, opening hours, to contact information or any that is relevant to your restaurant. If you have your website or twitter account you can also display it on the left hand side below the logo. I would advise you to put something that would encourage your fans to recommend their friends to join your Fan Page.May be you could provide incentives like Free Meals for the Lucky Fan every week. Or any other that you can think of. Remember we are trying to leverage fans to bring in more fans.
Step 5. Publish your Page.
Your Fan page is not live until you click that last “Publish this Page” link. Once it is LIVE, become the first fan of your own Restaurant.
Now your Facebook Fan Page for your restaurant is live and can be searched and found on Facebook.Congratulation you did it!
Once you create your Fan Page please share your experience about creating and promoting your Fan Page. Should you have any other questions regarding Fan Page please feel free to ask me via comments. Also tune in to my next blog post that will be related to Facebook Fan Page on how to attract more Fans.
17 responses so far ↓
1 Slade Sherman // Oct 9, 2009 at 3:16 am
Great post. The value of social networks can not be underestimated. A new Social Network to be launched next month called Myzerr is another site that caters for Restaurants. Like Facebook, setting up a profile is free and promotions in Myzerr will be broadcast to your Facebook and Twitter feeds. Visitors to the site can pre-register for information.
2 Nash // Oct 10, 2009 at 12:26 am
Hi Slade,
Thanks of your comment.
Seems like you are working on a new site catering to the restaurants. Good Luck and do let me know when you launch it.
Nash
3 RestaurantZoom // Oct 10, 2009 at 1:43 pm
Great information Nash and thanks for sharing the great video etc. Nice work:-)
4 Nash // Oct 11, 2009 at 1:59 am
Thanks for dropping by my blog.
You are welcome. It is always a nice feeling when I can share something that benefits others.
I did check out your site. Seems you have a great list of restaurants with all the reviews. BTW are you promoting your site on Facebook?
I think Facebook presence would help one to be more interactive and create more value to your site. It would also help differentiate yourself from other review sites. Just my thoughts.
5 RestaurantZoom // Oct 11, 2009 at 7:42 am
Thank you Nash. I have to be honest with you. There just doesn’t seem to be enough hours in the day for everything we are working on but it is on the top of our list. The fact that you recommend it just moved it up on that list:-) As you point out, reviews are one thing and the massive directory is great too, but the real deal is that members can sign up for news and coupons in their specific area(s) from participating restaurants. They can be sent to email or text to phone or both. For restaurants, they have a simple backend to login and send out the messages, coupons, etc. Here is a random featured restaurant, Kaya Grill. See how you can sign up for them, the town of Cumming, GA on the right and print coupons right now? http://www.restaurantzoom.com/kaya-grill-and-sushi . Here is how they look featured in their town: http://www.restaurantzoom.com/city/Cumming-GA . We specialize in local restaurant marketing Nash. We also build interactive web sites for restaurateurs that are simple for them to manage themselves. Kaya Grill also has one of our sites if you click on their link on their RestaurantZoom showcase link. I got a little long winded here but thank you for your help Nash:-)
6 Nash // Oct 11, 2009 at 10:34 pm
Thanks!
Nice to know that you specialize in local restaurant marketing.
I signed up for the restaurant Kaya Grill. I liked it for the fact that you not only gave an option to sign up for email but also mobile phone sign up. I believe in a long run mobile is gonna win because it is instant notification to the customers and that it is always with them.However email should also be integrated in the marketing mix.
In your own words…For restaurants, they have a simple backend to login and send out the messages, coupons.
It is the best strategy. You are thinking right.
Please do let me know what are other services you provide to help restaurants market their products.I would be happy to direct it to you If I come across any restaurants that might need help.
7 RestaurantZoom // Oct 12, 2009 at 9:28 am
Thank you Nash for the kind words. You mentioned that you signed up specifically for Kaya Grill and that is great. Let me ask you, did you notice that on the right side of almost any geo page you could sign up for that whole specific town? When our member restaurants log in, and are going to send out a message via email or text, they can select if they want to send to just their list subscribers, just that town’s subscribers or both. Sending out a text message from login to completion can take less than 60 seconds for the whole thing. Email, just a bit longer primarily because they are longer. Thanks again.
8 Nash // Oct 12, 2009 at 11:25 pm
Yes, I did notice the sign up for the whole specific town too. I also signed up for that.
Now I will be waiting for my coupons.So I can enjoy my sushi and other delicious food from different restaurants.Ha..Ha.. Thanks.
9 Chip Stockman // Dec 1, 2009 at 5:10 pm
Once you have the Facebook Page completed, you should check out http://www.i-Meet.com where you can add the Facebook Page as a side-bar widget to a Supplier Listing - positioning your restaurant in front of 15,000 meeting and special event professionals.
Individual memberships are free, join today and bring some friends.
10 ROB SEEVER // Apr 26, 2010 at 9:07 pm
Can hardly wait to get started.
11 ROB SEEVER // Apr 26, 2010 at 9:08 pm
What do you mean moderation?
12 Nash Sherchan // Apr 27, 2010 at 12:10 am
Hi Rob,
Glad that you are excited to get started.
Good Luck with your any endeavor.
I didn’t get your second question. Can you
elaborate your question with the context please?
Thanks. Nice to connect with you and exchange ideas.
Nash Sherchan
13 ROB SEEVER // Apr 27, 2010 at 12:26 pm
I don’t remember the question but you said in my sign-up question regarding Rob’s Fish and Chips in moderation.
14 ANEAL KAPOOR // Apr 29, 2010 at 1:26 pm
we are a West Coast Fast Casual Restaurant from San Diego expanding its Horizon to East Coast. Our first one was started in Astoria, Queens, NY and the second one is coming soon in Manhatan. How can you help us to make Submarina’s awareness in New York?
15 Nash Sherchan // Apr 29, 2010 at 8:10 pm
Hi Rob,
Sorry I don’t remember it either.
If I do it later I’ll answer you.
Thanks for your understanding.
16 Nash Sherchan // Apr 29, 2010 at 8:25 pm
Hi Aneal,
Nice to know that you are expanding your Fast Casual Restaurant Brand in NY area. I also believe it is a great concept . Looking at the future trend where restaurants are heading it is the best market segment to be in.
Well, to help you with your restaurant marketing we can help you with email marketing integrated with Social Media Marketing specializing on Facebook and Twitter.
You should receive email soon with the details
about marketing packages.
Please do let us know if you have any special needs and we will try to accommodate you.
17 Olivia Jade // Aug 17, 2010 at 5:31 am
Thanks for the post Nash. I’m still wondering if I should make a Facebook page for my product and I guess it would do no harm in trying it out, especially because of the low costs involved. I also came across some simple tips on how to utilize Facebook well for marketing or branding at http://blog.socialmaximizer.com/14-tips-for-marketing-on-facebook/
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