
Why Marketing Matters More Than Ever
Even if you craft the perfect menu for your restaurant and master restaurant hiring to build the best team, your business may fail to take off without a proper marketing strategy. After all, given the cut-throat competition in the market, how will prospective customers know you exist unless you spread the word?
Why Choose Video Marketing?
While there are several restaurant marketing methods you can employ, you need to ensure that your strategy actually gives you an edge over your competitors. And that’s precisely where video marketing stands out. Marketers swear on video marketing to get up to 66 percent more qualified leads per year. Videos make it easy for your prospective audience to learn more about your restaurant and retain the message.
The Power of Video for Customer Engagement
In fact, studies show that 54 percent of customers crave videos from their trusted brands before trying out a new service or product. So if you are keen to get more footfall at your restaurant, it is time to embrace video marketing.
Why Video Content Resonates
Videos allow you to give prospective customers an authentic feel of your restaurant and make them feel more excited about planning a visit or placing an order. Compared to traditional promotion methods like lengthy brochures, the audience finds it easier to retain information presented through visuals paired with audio.
You Don’t Need Fancy Equipment
And here’s the best part: you don’t need fancy gear. Your smartphone and a decent video editor are more than enough to create compelling content. Ready to get started? Here are four tried-and-tested video ideas to elevate your restaurant marketing strategy.
4 Ways to Use Video in Your Restaurant Marketing Strategy
1. Educate with How-To Video Content
How-to videos are among the most popular types of content a restaurant can create with the help of a full-service video agency. Pick a fan-favorite dish and show how it’s made from scratch. Not only does this build anticipation, but it also showcases the quality and care you put into your menu.
Take a cue from Shake Shack®, who created a short 46-second video on YouTube showing how to recreate their iconic Chick’n Shack sandwich at home. It’s simple, informative, and leaves viewers craving the real thing.
Creating similar videos is easier than you think—with just your phone and a video editor, you can start sharing behind-the-scenes magic today.
2. Create Excitement Around Upcoming Events
Got a new menu or special event coming up? Use teaser videos to spark curiosity and hype. These can be short, visual stories that showcase what’s to come.
Check out how Atlantis, The Palm in Dubai, promoted their Christmas menu with a vibrant holiday-themed video. Branded as a “Santa Approved” dining experience, the video’s visuals do most of the talking.
Pro tip: Be sure to include these videos across all your marketing channels and customer touchpoints. That includes your social media profiles, Google My Business page, as well as your restaurant website.
3. Promote Your Bestselling Dishes
Have a dish everyone raves about? Turn it into the star of your next video. Use close-up shots, steam trails, and sizzling sounds to bring the sensory experience online.
PizzaRev does this wonderfully on Instagram. Their spicy BBQ Hawaiian pizza video is a perfect example of turning cravings into clicks.
Or take a look at this video from Elephant Walk, which showcases the originality of their cuisine, narrates the story behind their delicious food and how they are different from other Asian restaurants in Boston.
4. Display Menu Items in Short Clips
Short videos are perfect for today’s fast-scrolling audiences. Highlight seasonal specials or new menu items in a way that’s quick and visually tempting.
Piada Italian Street Food does this flawlessly. When they launched their Hot Chicken Carbonara, they created a spicy, creamy video clip to match. The caption highlighted it as a winter must-try, and it worked.
Wrapping Up
Eye-catching and authentic videos can help your restaurant stay top of mind, especially in a saturated market. Video marketing builds trust, fuels engagement, and can be done affordably.
You don’t need a film crew—just your phone, a bit of creativity, and the willingness to show off what makes your restaurant special.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
If you’re ready to spice up your marketing strategy, consider creating your first video this week! And if you’re also in the market for a point of sale system that supports your restaurant’s growth goals, check out the expert resources and reviews at POSUSA—we help restaurants find the right tools to streamline operations.