I've compiled a list of 14 tips to Market any food and beverage based business. Restaurant marketing isn’t the same as it has always been. It is critical that restaurants embrace Internet marketing and cultivate a presence online.

1. JESSICA HUGH
14tipsto
MarketYour
Restaurant,
BakeryorCafe

2. THANKS FOR
DOWNLOADING THIS
GUIDE TO MARKETING
YOUR FOOD &
BEVERAGE BUSINESS.
You may not know this, but I LOVE FOOD... I love to cook it, eat it,
and take pictures of it. Nothing in this world gives me greater joy
than my relationship with food..
Unfortunately, it drives me completely crazy when I can't find a
review, listing, or even a menu online when making a decision about
trying out a new location.
Restaurant marketing isn’t the same as it has always been. It is
critical that restaurants embrace Internet marketing and cultivate
a presence online.
Page 2

3. THE NEXT FEW PAGES
HIGHLIGHT MY 14 TIPS
ON GETTING YOUR
A-GAME ON IN THIS
INDUSTRY.
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4. TIP 1
Have a functional website.
Can local customers find your restaurant
online? Seriously! Where are you!?!? Make
sure new customers are landing on a well-
optimized website that does what it
needs to do. The key is to get them to
your website before they find your
competitors. You can create a food blog,
list daily specials and direct visitors to
your social media profiles and online
review sites.
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5. TIP 2
Engage in local SEO practices.
Websites aren’t just for big companies,
trust me; now more than ever, small local
businesses are realizing the importance
of having a website and implementing an
Internet marketing strategy. Since 72%
of all searches are related to a search for
local content, you should be 100% sure
that your website will show up for those
searches relevant to your restaurant.
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6. TIP 3
Enlist local food bloggers.
Ask local food bloggers to review your
restaurant in return for a free meal. The
outside link will help with rankings, and
the positive review will help your
reputation.
I know more than handfuls of them
across North America, so if you need help
with this, drop me a line.
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7. TIP 4
Monitor review sites.
You live or die on your reputation (this is a
no brainer), so pay close attention to
what people are saying about your
restaurant online. This is where your
offline visitors can tell the online world
about their (hopefully positive)
experience at your restaurant.
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8. TIP 5
Use an online restaurant reservation
tool.
Invite your customers to make a
reservation on sites like OpenTable. You
need an online restaurant reservation
tool to make it easier for your customers
and easier on yourself. And sometimes
people just don’t want to pick up the
phone – they’d rather make their
reservation in just a few clicks.
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9. TIP 6
Grow your email database.
If you compare it to direct marketing,
email marketing is more efficient,
environmentally friendly and a faster way
to keep your customers in the know.
Promote your e-newsletters through
social media, on your website, and inside
your restaurant. You will need to decide
what will work best for you.
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10. TIP 7
Get a social media presence.
Strengthen your word of mouth
marketing with an interesting, interactive
social media presence. This gives you the
ability to engage your customers 365
days as year, represent your brand and
enlist customers to share their stories.
That’s priceless.
(I highly recommend Instagram,
Pinterest and Facebook - if you're not
on them, GET THERE NOW!)
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11. TIP 8
Don’t disregard anything too quickly.
The online world is always changing, so it’s
important to keep your eye out for new
marketing ventures that have the potential to
stick around. Foursquare, for example, isn’t as
well-known as Facebook, but that doesn’t mean
there isn’t ample marketing opportunity for
restaurants. This social platform enables
restaurants to offer a variety of deals (for free)
that users must check-in to take advantage of.
This – along with the fact that users can earn
“badges” for checking-in so many times –
makes Foursquare a viable marketing option for
restaurants.
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12. TIP 9
Provide enough incentive for people to pay
attention.
Give your patrons incentive to follow you on
social media channels or to come into your
restaurant, and make it simple for them to do
so. If you constantly put up your restaurant
specials on Facebook, your fans will lose
interest. Mix it up, don’t be afraid to have fun,
and be a part of the local community.
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13. TIP 10
Run contests.
This is a great way to reward social media fans,
grow your fan base, bring in more customers,
and promote loyalty. Give customers a chance
to win a great prize and you’ll give them another
reason to come back again.
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14. TIP 11
Create and implement a customer loyalty
program.
Send out e-newsletters to those who sign up to
be in the program, highlighting exclusive deals.
Promote your loyalty program offline and online.
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15. TIP 12
Give your menu a fresh look.
If you already have a great design that works
well, this may not be necessary. If you have a
boring or outdated menu, however, customers
may think your food is not enticing as well.
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16. TIP 13
Just ask!
Ask your regulars and loyal fans offline to ‘Like’
you on Facebook, follow you on Twitter and
Pinterest, and help spread the word. Send an
email, call those you have a good relationship
with, and walk right up to their table while
they’re enjoying what they love about your
restaurant.
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17. TIP 14
Manage your online reputation.
Review sites have become an integral part of a
business’s reputation, and negative reviews
have the potential to harm your business. Too
many negative Yelp reviews, whether true or
not, will turn business away. Asking happy
customers to write you a review, as well as
responding personally to any negative
feedback, is the best way to maintain a positive
online reputation.
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18. LOOKING FOR MORE
SUPPORT? I'M HERE TO
HELP!
Drop me a line at:
jessica@inyourpocketconsulting.com
OR call 778-385-9634, and we can chat
about ways to market your food related
business the right way!
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