How To Use Restaurant Instagram Reels To Sell More Food

Did you know that Instagram has a feature called “Reels?” The feature allows businesses to create short, looping videos that promote their products or services.

In this article, we will discuss how you can use restaurant Instagram Reels to attract more customers to your business.

We’ll also discuss the benefits of using Instagram to market your restaurant. Ultimately, you’ll learn how to use website marketing and social media engagement to improve foot traffic into your establishment.

What Are Instagram Reels Used for in the Restaurant Industry?

Instagram Reels are full-screen vertical clips that can be up to 90 seconds long. You can edit them and use audio tracks, sound snippets, filters, stickers, captions, and many other elements to make them shine. As a restaurateur, you can use Instagram Reels to promote your restaurant in an entertaining way, but also to communicate with your followers.

The Advantages of Using Instagram Reels for Restaurants

Although it might be a new concept for you, you need to understand the benefits of using Instagram as an integral part of your restaurant marketing.

To market effectively, you need to have a strong social media presence. Social media marketing will allow you to reach a wider audience. It also works to engage with potential customers who might not otherwise know about your restaurant.

Additionally, you can easily move people from a social media platform to your website, showing them how fast they can visit or how easy it is to order food from you online.

An Instagram Reel is a short, entertaining video. They’re similar to Instagram Stories.

However, they’re a more permanent type of video content and appear in a separate tab on the IG app. Reels work to improve your overall engagement rate and build out your customer base.

Restaurant Instagram Reels offer you a unique marketing strategy to show off your restaurant’s personality. They’re also a way to engage with potential customers. Use them to show what makes your restaurant special, from your food to your staff.

16 Tips for Using Restaurant Instagram Reels To Sell More Food

Now, let’s review 16 tips to help your restaurant maximize the marketing opportunity presented by Instagram Reels.

Use these ideas to set your business apart from competitors. If you understand the power of social media, Instagram, and the Reels feature, you can take your restaurant marketing strategy to an entirely new level.

Use a Clear Call to Action

As with all of your marketing, you need to have a clear call to action (CTA) in your Instagram Reels. Your CTA should tell viewers what you want them to do, such as visiting your website or reviewing your menu.

Don’t make the mistake of assuming that your social media fans and followers will know what to do. Take care to spell it out for them. For example, you might say, “Check out our website for our full menu,” or “Place an order now on our website.”

Always Link to Your Website

In addition to including a CTA, you should also make sure to include a link to your restaurant’s website in your Instagram bio and use your reel caption to direct people there. It will make it easy for viewers to find your website and learn more about your restaurant.

If a viewer watches your latest Reel, you don’t want them staying on Instagram. Instead, get them involved on your website, where you can more effectively entice them to visit your restaurant or place a to-go order.

 

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Partner With an Influencer

While you might think you don’t have the budget to partner with an influencer, it’s more affordable than you think. You can find local influencers in your area willing to promote your restaurant on their Reels for a nominal fee.

When partnering with an influencer, give them a clear idea of what you want them to do. For example, you might want them to show off your restaurant’s interior, highlight your best dishes, or talk about why they love your food.

Partnerships don’t always need to include paid placements. You could partner with a local farmer’s market, for instance. The farmer’s market sends attendees to your restaurant while you promote the market inside your establishment.

As regular content creators, food bloggers represent quality partnership possibilities as well.

Read more: Restaurant Influencer Marketing Guide: How to Do It and Why

Use Hashtags in Your Captions

If you want potential customers to see your restaurant’s Reels, you need to use restaurant hashtags. People use hashtags to find content. When you use relevant hashtags, you make it easy for a potential customer to discover your business.

Fortunately, several hashtags are popular with foodies and restaurants because of the popularity of food Reels on Instagram. You might use #instafood, #instapost or #foodgasm. You can also use local food-related hashtags or the name of your restaurant. Don’t go overboard with hashtags, though. A few well-chosen hashtags will do the trick.

 

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Tag Your Restaurant Location

Tagging your restaurant’s location is a way to increase its visibility. When you tag your location, anyone searching for that location will see your restaurant Instagram Reels.

For example, let’s say someone visiting New York City needs to find a place to eat. They might search for popular hashtags like #nyceats or #nycfood. When they do, your Reels will appear in the search results if you’ve tagged your location.

To tag your location, click on the “add location” button when creating your Reel. Then, search for and select your restaurant’s name and address.

Post the Right Reel at the Right Time (& Regularly)

Create consistent engagement by posting when your target audience is most active on Instagram. To find out when your target audience uses Instagram, look at the “Insights” section of your business account.

Once you know the best time of day to post, make sure you’re posting regularly. Aim to post timely content daily and weekly.

Show the Behind-the-Scenes Process of Your Cooking

One way to get your audience’s attention is to show them how you make your dishes. People are always curious about the behind-the-scenes process of cooking.

When showing a behind-the-scenes Instagram Reel, don’t focus on the final product only. Show your audience the entire journey, from prep work to plating. You can even show them how you come up with new dishes.

Not only will this give your audience a peek into your creative process, but it will also make them more excited to visit your restaurant. After all, they’ll know that you put a lot of love and care into each dish.

 

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Give Sneak Peeks & Answer Audience Questions

If you’re working on a new dish or opening a new location, give your audience a sneak peek. You can also use Reels to answer frequently asked questions about your restaurant.

For example, you might get asked about your gluten-free options or how to make a reservation. By answering these questions in your restaurant Instagram Reels, you’ll not only help your audience. You will also show that you’re responsive to their needs.

Promote Your Best Dishes & Special Offers

Use Reels to promote your restaurant’s best dishes. You can even include a call-to-action in your caption, such as “Tag a friend who loves [dish]!”

Don’t forget to highlight all special offers and promotions on Instagram via the Reels feature. It is an effective way to increase the reach of your restaurant’s promotional campaigns.

For example, you might want to promote a new happy hour special or a discount on takeout orders. Whatever the offer, make sure it’s clear and enticing to influence direct sales.

 

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Share Customer Reviews in Your Reels

As a form of user-generated content, customer reviews are essential for any business. They’re especially important for restaurants. After all, people want to know they will have a good experience at your restaurant before they step through the door.

The first step towards this is incentivizing your customers to write reviews. While affiliate marketing may not work for restaurants, a referral program or loyalty scheme can. People like to feel as though they are getting something in return.

Reveal reviews in your IG Reels to show customers why they need to visit your restaurant. It’s one thing for you to say they should frequent your business. It’s even more effective when satisfied customers tell new prospects they should come by.

You can include a short clip of the customer giving their review. It will add social proof revealing why your food is worth time and attention.

Read more: The Importance of Online Reviews for Restaurants & How to Get More

Use a Trending Song or Sound

Take advantage of trending food Reels to make your restaurant’s Reels more engaging. Songs trending on TikTok and Instagram are often the same so if you hear a particular song or sound over and over again, especially in food Reels, use it in your Reel too.

Not only will this help your Reel perform better, but it will also show that you’re keeping up with the latest trends. Trending songs can evoke emotions inside people. Do your best to link positive emotions to the experience inside your restaurant.

Play Around With Time Lapses & Stop Motion

One way to make your restaurant’s Reels more visually appealing is to experiment with time-lapses and stop motion. These types of videos provide an engaging experience. They’ll set your restaurant’s Reels apart from the competition.

To create a timelapse, film a short clip of something happening in your restaurant (like food preparation). Then, use an editing app to speed up the clip. It will result in an accelerated video that’s fun to watch.

Stop motion is similar to timelapse, but instead of speeding up the footage, you edit it so it appears that the scene became frozen in time. It’s a creative way to show off your dishes and make them look even more appetizing.

For stop motion, film a series of images that come together to tell a story (like customers enjoying their meal). Again, you can use an editing app to string the images together.

 

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Get Your Chefs to Share Their Tips

Your chefs are the heart and soul of your restaurant. They’re the people who create the dishes that your customers love. So, it makes sense to provide them with an online presence using your Reels strategy.

Ask your chefs to share tips with your followers. Most chefs will appreciate the opportunity to step into the limelight.

They can reveal their secrets for making a particular dish or explain how they came up with a new menu item. Get your chefs to create quick videos showing how to make one of your signature dishes. String multiple Reels together, if necessary.

Your customers will love getting a behind-the-scenes look at your restaurant. And, they’ll be more likely to visit if they see that your chefs are passionate about their work.

Walk Your Customers Through How to Order or Make a Booking

If you offer delivery or takeout, show your customers how to place an order in your Reel. You can also use this opportunity to show them how to make a booking if you’re a sit-down restaurant.

It is especially useful if you’ve recently launched a new delivery or takeout service. By walking your customers through the process and showing them how easy it is, you’ll increase your online sales.

Show Off Your Company Values & Story

Your restaurant brings its unique story to the table. It’s the reason why customers choose you over the competition. Share your story in your Reels to help people understand what makes your restaurant special.

Your story might include your journey to becoming a chef. Or, it might reveal how you started your restaurant from scratch. Whatever the case, sharing your story will help people connect with you on a deeper level.

In addition to sharing your story, use Reels to show off your company values. Do you source your ingredients from local farmers? Are your dishes made with sustainable seafood?

Make sure those values shine through in your Reels. Your customers will appreciate knowing that they share the same values as your restaurant.

Edit Your Reels for Consistency, Quality & Professionalism

Even if you don’t have much experience with video editing, it’s important to edit your Reels for consistency, quality, and professionalism.

Keep your Reels cohesive with your restaurant’s overall branding. Creating high-quality video content helps people see the effort you put into your dishes. Finally, they should look professional to avoid turning customers off.

There are several video editing apps that you can use to edit your Reels. If you’re unsure where to start, try using the app Splice. It’s a user-friendly app that might become your next essential tool.

Outsourcing your video editing to a freelancer is another option. Find people who understand the editing process. They can turn your videos into professional masterpieces in minutes without breaking the bank.

Final Thoughts

Restaurant Instagram Reels can enable you to sell more food. Following the tips in this article, you can create Reels that engage your customers and encourage them to visit your restaurant.

As popular content continues to evolve, businesses must find new ways of marketing to grow their potential customer base. You can connect with a wider audience by using the advantages the internet gives us.

What are you waiting for? Start planning your restaurant Instagram Reels strategy today and watch how you “reel” in the customers!

This article is a guest post.