As a restaurant owner, you're always looking for new and creative ways to engage with your customers and promote your daily specials. One platform that you might not have considered is Snapchat. With its fun filters, stickers, and ability to share videos and photos, Snapchat can be a great way to let your customers know about what's on the menu and create some buzz around your restaurant.
Creating an Account for Your Restaurant
First, let's talk about how to create a Snapchat account for your restaurant. You'll want to choose a username that's easy to remember and reflective of your restaurant's brand. You can either create a new account or convert your personal account to a business account. To do this, go to the settings section of your Snapchat app and tap on "Add Partners." From there, you can add your restaurant as a partner and start sharing content.
Build a Following Using a Snap QR Code
In addition to promoting your restaurant on Snapchat, you can also use the platform's QR code feature to make it easy for customers to follow your account. A QR code (short for "Quick Response" code) is a two-dimensional barcode that can be scanned using a smartphone to quickly access information or a website.
To create a QR code for your Snapchat account, simply go to the settings section of your app and tap on "Snapcodes." From there, you can tap on "Create Snapcode" and select your restaurant's account. This will generate a unique QR code that you can then download and print out.
Once you have your QR code, you can display it at your restaurant in a prominent location, such as on your counter or at the entrance. Customers can then scan the code using their Snapchat app to quickly and easily follow your account. This is a great way to encourage more customers to engage with your restaurant on Snapchat and stay up-to-date on your daily specials and other content.
Another way to use your QR code is to include it in your restaurant's marketing materials, such as on your website or in email newsletters. This will make it easy for customers to find and follow your Snapchat account, even if they're not currently at your restaurant.
Initial Content Ideas
Once you have your account set up, it's time to start sharing some content. Snapchat is all about sharing real-time, behind-the-scenes content, so make sure to give your customers a sneak peek into what's happening at your restaurant. You could share photos of your chefs preparing the day's special, or take a video of the restaurant during a busy lunch rush.
Leveraging Snapchat Stories
One of the best ways to promote your daily specials on Snapchat is to use the platform's "Stories" feature. This allows you to share a series of photos and videos that will be visible to your followers for 24 hours. To create a Story, simply take a photo or video and swipe up to add it to your Story. You can add text and stickers to your photos and videos to make them more engaging.
Successfully Using Filters and Lenses
You can also use Snapchat's filters and lenses to make your content more fun and interactive. For example, you could use the "Foodie" filter to make your dishes look more appetizing, or the "Weather" lens to show off your outdoor seating on a beautiful day. There are always new filters and lenses being added to Snapchat, so make sure to experiment and see what works best for your restaurant.
Engage Directly with Customers and Fans
In addition to sharing content on your own Snapchat account, you can also engage with your customers by responding to their snaps. Whenever someone sends you a snap, you'll receive a notification and can reply with a photo or video of your own. This can be a great way to create a more personal connection with your customers and show that you're listening to their feedback.
Create Organic Reach Through Exclusive Promotions
Another way to use Snapchat to promote your restaurant is to run a snapchat-exclusive promotion. This could be something like a snap-to-enter contest where customers can snap a photo of themselves at your restaurant and tag your account for a chance to win a free meal. This not only encourages customers to engage with your restaurant on Snapchat, but it also gives you an opportunity to collect user-generated content that you can repost on your own account.
Give it a Shot!
Overall, Snapchat can be a fun and effective way for a restaurant owner to promote daily specials and engage with customers. With its real-time, behind-the-scenes nature, Snapchat allows you to show off the personality of your restaurant and create a more personal connection with your customers. So why not give it a try and see what Snapchat can do for your restaurant?