Do I really need social media for my restaurant?

It is very common for us to talk with restaurant owners and restaurant managers that ask us why they should invest time and/or resources in social media.

So we have compiled quite a few reasons here for you all to review.  Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

• 200 million post are tagged #food on Instagram and 23 million are tagged #drinks

• 88% of people are influenced by reviews and online comments, having an intentional digital strategy is important to your restaurant or bar 

• 75% of people surveyed have visited a restaurant or bar because they saw it on Social Media. Of that percentage, 60% need to see a post 2-4 times from the company before making their first visit

• 57.5% of people surveyed are annoyed by venues that post too much in your  face/blatant marketing/promotions content 

• 56% of people surveyed will not visit a venue if venue did not respond to their inquiries on Social Media

• 10 million google searches are done per month for "restaurants"

• 10 million google searches are done per month for "restaurants near me" 

• 1 million google searches are done per month for "restaurants nearby" 

• Walk-in traffic can increase up to 80% in less than 1 month while using mobile advertisement to people within 5 miles of venue

• Instagram is where it's at for the food and beverage business 

• 83% of adults use smartphones or tablets to look up restaurant locations, directions, and hours. 75% look up menus, 55% read reviews, 51 % order takeout or delivery directly from the restaurant website, and 50% use rewards or special deals.

• 3 out of 4 consumers say they would go to a restaurant during off-peak times if they received a discount

• 79% of diners agree that restaurant technology improves their guest experience. 

• The most important technology feature for guests are online reservations (36%), free WiFi (23%), and on line or mobile ordering (19%) 

• Four in five restaurant operators agree that restaurant technology helps increase sales, make their restaurant more productive, and gives their restaurant a competitive edge. 

• 71% of consumers who have had a good social media service experience with a brand are likely to recommend it to others. 

• Consumers first impression is the only impression that matters 

• Video is King - it is the most looked at medium and best way to showcase a brand 

• Pictures are about quality, not quantity 

• All leads are beneficial in the long term 

• It is not the quantity of traffic you get, it is the quality of the traffic (the right demo-graphic is what matters) 

• 45% of consumers expect an initial response from an on line inquiry within 15 minutes 

• Results of any investment in Digital Media are 95% measurable and accurate 

• 72% of people surveyed will give a restaurant a second chance if their review/concerns were responded to/addressed digitally 

• 63% of people surveyed look forward to a restaurant newsletter that they signed up for 

• Digital Media is the lowest cost marketing initiative that can be produced for any venue