Restaurant and café marketing

Marketing Small business Restaurants & cafés

Published 2026-09-28 · 2 min read

The short answer

Most diners decide quickly and close to mealtime: they search on maps, read reviews, and watch a video of the food and the place. So the priorities are a strong Google Business Profile, genuine reviews, short, appetizing, regular content, and an easy way to book or order.

Profile and reviews

Real photos of dishes and the space, and an up-to-date menu.
Accurate hours, especially in seasons and holidays.
Ask for a review after a good experience, and reply to every review.

Content

Short videos of dishes being prepared, the atmosphere at peak time, and customer moments. Regular casual content often beats one polished photo a week.

Snapchat, TikTok, and Instagram with a nearby radius, plus search ads for phrases like “dinner restaurant” with the city. Focus on quiet days with specific offers.

Measurement

Connect bookings and orders to their source where possible: a booking link per platform, or a simple “how did you hear about us?” at booking.

Frequently asked questions

Are influencers useful for restaurants?

Yes, when you pick genuine local accounts and measure bookings, not just views.

What's the biggest mistake?

Ignoring negative reviews and having inaccurate hours on maps.

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