Social media is an ever-growing platform and its importance in the foodservice industry is not something to be understated. Social media apps such as Instagram and Tik Tok allow users to share their experiences in a restaurant firsthand as well as being able to leave impressionable reviews in more ways than ever previously imagined, in fact, customers now control a majority of your restaurant’s reputation.
Here are three ways to stay on top of social media and ensure your venue comes out on top:
1. Create photogenic dishes
While taste is always going to be the most important factor in cooking, chefs should consider the presentation of their meals. Make sure your dishes are colourful, clean, attractive and interesting. If your customers are pausing to take a photo, you can guarantee they’re going to share it online or with friends which is free promotion for you.
2. Order high quality products
Choosing higher quality products from the get-go will help ensure your customers are left feeling their dish is worth the money. Making higher-quality product swaps can be as simple as switching a plain white bread in a sandwich build to a more-striking version, such as Tip Top’s Super Thick White Sliced thats slices make a real visual impact when pairing with a chicken katsu, for example.
3. Upgrade your own social media content
Make sure your venue’s social media features a wide range of well-executed photography of your recent menu. One of the first things many people do when considering a place to eat is check out the venue’s Instagram. High quality photography will inspire visits and purchases and can even prompt page engagement and sharing. It is important to ensure that the quality of the meals that are photographed, matches what your customers are sharing online (if you just don’t have time to take your own, you can consider asking customers if you can share their photos, most will love it).
Social media has certainly changed the way your diners experience and share their food – long gone are the days when people would ‘dig in’ straight after receiving their meal. Now we see customers taking photos from all angles to share their experience online. Instead of rolling your eyes, embrace this change and the free promotion it can bring you. Just make sure your food is worth sharing.
