Instagram is a popular social media site dedicated mainly to photo sharing. You should definitely make an Instagram account for your restaurant, as many foodies and customers, especially younger ones, will be using it. Instagram can be a fun way to engage potential customers and get existing customers to promote your food through photos of their own. Make sure, as with everything else, to use high-quality photos on your Instagram account.

Here are several things you should do with your Instagram account:

1. Using HashtagsLike Twitter, Instagram uses hashtags (#) to signify certain trends or themes. These can be trends specific to your restaurant, the local community, or even national trends. If it is a national trend such as #NationalRestaurantDay or #CincodeMayo label your photos with that hashtag to get attention from a national source. This goes for local celebrations or themes as well (ex. #SummerintheCity). Also create your own hashtags for certain menu items or themes in your restaurant. Makes these clever and funny, so customers are encouraged to use them when they dine in your restaurant. But make sure to use the same ones consistently so they get traction on Instagram.

2. Exploring Aspects of the RestaurantDon’t only put up pictures of food. There will be plenty of customers doing that for you. In order to get a following on Instagram you need to make your photos fun and exciting, a behind the scenes look at how your restaurant works. Some good examples of this are employee profiles, recipes for simple items, photos of food shows or charity events, and events at your location. Keep your Instagram account exciting and revealing. Make people fall in love with your restaurant as an institution rather than just for its food.

3. Encourage Customer PhotosThe best way to get a popular Instagram account is to get your customers engaged. A lot of people use Instagram and will want to post photos of good food for their friends to see. If you give them a hashtag and location to put with their photo, all their friends will see the good food came from your restaurant. Some good ways to encourage customers to take Instagram photos is to entice them special deals if they put their meal on Instagram. This will give you many pictures of each of your dishes, allowing you to create menu pictures with those you deem the best. Another way to get customers to post pictures is to create a contest: ex. whoever posts the best Instagram picture gets a free meal. However you plan to do it, encourage your customers to use their Instagram accounts to promote your business.

4. Integrate with other Social MediaInstagram now has the option post all of your photos on other social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and even your own Blog. This allows your followers on other social media sites to still see your beautiful Instagram photos even if they don’t follow you on Instagram. With this in mind make sure that none of your Instagram posts exceed the 160 Twitter word limit. 

Other Resources