9 ways to promote your food business online

Many people think a food business doesn't need an online presence, but this couldn't be further from the truth. To promote your food business online, you need to be on Google's radar and on social media, make your menu and key details easy to find, and give people reasons to come back.

Remember that competition among restaurants is fierce.

Offering good food, with great kitchen equipment and quality supplies, is no longer enough on its own. You also need to invest in digital marketing, or even automate parts of your restaurant, to achieve the goals you have in mind.

To stand out, you need strategies that reach new people who may become customers. That's why we've put together nine ways to promote your food business online. Most of them work for any local business; restaurants simply make the lessons easy to see.

Create visual content

Visual content is one of the best ways to promote a food business: when people see great photos of your dishes, they crave them. And where can they get your food? Yes, at your restaurant.

You can take your own photos with your phone or hire a photographer for a product shoot. Just make sure the photos you upload to your social media or website are your own and high quality. Short videos, such as Instagram Reels of a dish being plated, are worth trying too.

Create your own website

Your own website is a great tool to promote your business, and it's a place where you can talk about what you do without being intrusive.

It's the perfect place to show what you have to offer and share important information like your location, phone number, opening hours, specialities and menu. Design it for a hungry person on a phone: put those details, and a button to book or order, where they can find them in seconds. That's a good rule for any small-business website.

You can also use search engine optimisation (SEO), or paid search (SEM), so your website shows up prominently when someone is looking for a restaurant like yours.

Have an online menu

Potential customers love to look up a restaurant online before they visit. Some have special requirements (they may be vegetarian, vegan or have allergies), so checking the menu online first is a smart move for them.

That's why you should have an online menu with all the dishes you offer. Make sure it looks good, with quality images, and is easy to navigate and read. Publishing it as text on a web page, not only as a PDF or photo, makes it easier to read on a phone, works better with screen readers and is quicker for you to update. You can also add your menu to your Google Business Profile.

Be present in online restaurant directories

A restaurant directory is a guide, usually organised by city or style, with each restaurant's address, contact details, specialities, ratings and reviews.

It's a great idea to be listed in online restaurant directories, because they're often free, people love searching for new places on them, and many let customers make a reservation straight from the directory.

Along the same lines, create a free Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business), even if you already have a website. It puts your restaurant on Google Search and Maps, so people looking for a place to eat nearby can find you right away, see your menu and reviews, and get directions.

Be part of loyalty programs

Many food apps run loyalty programs and want to partner with businesses like yours.

This is a great way to promote your food business, because who doesn't like special offers and discounts, especially exclusive ones?

Partnering with these apps encourages more people to check out your restaurant and what you have to offer.

Create a newsletter

Email marketing and a newsletter are great tools to keep in touch with your customers and potential customers. You can tell them about new dishes, special offers and promotions, and the latest news about your restaurant or the industry.

To create one, you need an email marketing platform and a list of subscribers.

To build that list, offer a promotion, a discount or a competition in exchange for people's email addresses. Always ask for their permission to email them, and make it easy to unsubscribe.

Start a blog

A blog is a great way to give your food business a voice and a personality, and to share the fun and interesting stories your customers will enjoy. It's also a great way to share your knowledge, like recipes and kitchen tricks.

You can keep your blog as simple or as complex as you like. You don't need to post all the time, but it's important to be consistent so people keep you top of mind. For ideas, see our ultimate guide to content marketing for restaurants.

Work with influencers

When you're just starting your food business, it can be hard to create buzz and win your first customers. That's why working with influencers is a great way to market your business.

But be aware that many people buy fake followers and fake engagement. Before contacting an influencer, do your research and make sure they're genuine, have a solid follower base and align with your business.

You can ask them to create content about your business that you can share on your own profile, and to promote it on their channels. If you pay them or give them free meals, ask them to label those posts clearly as ads or paid partnerships, so their followers know.

Another great idea is to work with a food blogger or reviewer, who can share their genuine experience of your restaurant online.

Partner with delivery services

There are many delivery services on the market, and offering delivery is a great way to reach customers who don't live close to your restaurant.

It helps you get noticed locally, and it gives people who can't or don't want to go out the chance to taste your food. Before you sign up, compare each platform's fees and commissions with the extra orders you expect.

You don't have to do all nine at once: start with great photos, an up-to-date website and menu, and a Google Business Profile, then add the rest. If you'd like help with your strategy, our digital marketing team can help.