| Why Facebook? Easy answer! This is the largest | | | | contest that gives away free food items? If yes, |
| social networking Website out there. Every day, | | | | then you can integrate such marketing strategies |
| thousands of people connect with the millions of | | | | within your Facebook page. When your Facebook |
| users, already on this network. Chances are most | | | | fans learn about it, they are sure to come down |
| of your regulars are already on Facebook. The | | | | to your joint, to use the special offer. |
| reach is massive, and many restaurateurs are | | | | 5. Target busy customers: Most people who eat |
| using it to their advantage, by creating custom | | | | out at restaurants are really busy folks with |
| Facebook pages, to promote their brand and | | | | hectic schedules. They can be quite hard to reach |
| hook new customers. | | | | using conventional advertising channels like |
| Facebook pages help you to - | | | | newsletters or television. However, they are |
| | | | never too busy for Facebook. As this Website |
| 1. Interact with your customers: If you have a | | | | can be easily accessed on a work computer, |
| conversation with a patron in real life, you are | | | | laptop or mobile phone, it is the perfect medium |
| sure to respond politely, but no one else would be | | | | for you to promote your restaurant to those on |
| aware of this exchange. When you reply to | | | | the go, looking for a quick bite to eat. |
| customer comments on custom Facebook pages, | | | | Restaurant owners have also added generic |
| your statements are there for all to see. Your | | | | Facebook applications like discussion boards, polls |
| responses can lead to further comments, | | | | and quizzes to their custom Facebook pages. This |
| increasing the activity and number of fans for | | | | helps them garner instant feedback on menu |
| your Facebook page. These conversations are | | | | options, favorite dishes, customer service and |
| quite viral, and can translate into new customers. | | | | much more. If your restaurant is a member of |
| 2. Display your food: Photos and videos make | | | | Zagat or Opentable, you can add their apps about |
| taste buds tingle, and speak a lot about the fare | | | | restaurant reviews and online reservations as well. |
| you are offering. Facebook pages allow you to | | | | In addition, some restaurant chains with huge |
| show off your food and dining ambiance, to draw | | | | marketing budgets have developed custom |
| in new customers. Use the video upload features | | | | applications for their Facebook customers. For |
| to post visuals of your latest mouth watering | | | | example, Pizza Hut has an application that enables |
| dishes, to get customers to show up, ravenous, | | | | people to order pizza online, without ever leaving |
| at your restaurant door. | | | | Facebook! You may also have a custom |
| 3. Post regular updates: Fans can view updates of | | | | application designed, if you feel your restaurant |
| all subscribed services on their homepage news | | | | needs one. |
| feeds. Make sure you post simple status updates | | | | All restaurants strive to get repeat customers |
| about your restaurant, even if it's just a line about | | | | who will recommend their food to their friends. |
| 'today's special'. Sharing such news gets visitors to | | | | With custom Facebook pages, it will be really easy |
| repeatedly come to your main Website, and see | | | | for your fans to do just that. Facebook is filled |
| other delights you have to offer. When users | | | | with examples of local restaurants that have |
| comment and share links on Facebook pages, you | | | | bigger fan followings than some multinational fast |
| build your brand. | | | | food chains. Don't underestimate what Facebook |
| 4. Promote special offers: Does your restaurant | | | | pages can do for your restaurant, create one |
| offer discount coupons? Is there a special low | | | | now! |
| rate for certain occasions? Are you running a | | | | |