It’s absolutely essential that you stay on top of all of your social media accounts and monitor them consistently. If you find that you do not have enough time in the day to do this, either remove some of your accounts or hire a social media consulting group from our Vendors page.

Here are some helpful tips from us:

1. Management ToolsThere are many companies that specialize in managing businesses social media presence. Yes, you will have to pay a little to get these services, but if you find yourself struggling to keep up with your social media profiles it may be worth it. These services will often get you a personal consultant, advanced scheduling of posts, analytics on followers and posts, and strategies for boosting your success. If you are hinging on social media as a primary means of marketing, we would highly recommend using one of these companies.

2. Use Google AlertsGoogle Alerts notify you every time a certain keyword, such as your restaurant’s name, shows up on the internet. This will help keep track of who is talking about you online without spending the time reading every article.

3. Respond to Every CustomerThis is by far the most time-intensive process for using social media. For every review, comment, hashtag, or picture posted about you on social media, you should respond with your own comments. It can be as simple as, “I’m glad you enjoyed our burger! We hope to see you again” for a positive reviews but should be longer and more detailed for a negative review. For negative reviews, make sure you actually read what the customer says and address all their points as well as offer solutions for how you will improve in the future. And don’t forget, the customer is ALWAYS RIGHT! Never insult a customer or disagree with them or you will paint yourself as arrogant on social media. Even if you get a bad review, people will appreciate you taking the time to read their comments and respond.

4. Don’t Overwhelm YourselfThis is probably the most important thing. Social media can suck you in, as you want to see what people are saying about you, respond to their comments, and constantly post new things. But this is just one aspect of your job as restaurant manager and cannot interfere with other important tasks like cooking food, managing employees, and dealing with finances. Do not let social media run your life! Again, if you feel overwhelmed and unable to keep up with your social media profiles, we would recommend hiring a consulting company in our Vendor page or cutting back on which social media sites you use.