Leveraging the Story Behind Your Restaurant and Dishes
If you run a family-owned or independent restaurant, you know that your story is an integral part of who you are and how you run your business. But have you ever stopped to think about the power of marketing your story? Or the story behind your dishes? Today we’re going to explore how storytelling is an important part of your brand.
In the United States, an estimated 73% of Americans try to eat locally grown foods. Beyond that, a significant percentage also try to eat at local restaurants, especially while traveling. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, many independent and family-owned restaurants struggled to keep their doors open and staff on the payroll. Moving forward, it’s important that you share your restaurants story and allow customers to create an emotional connection to your brand to help increase foot traffic and profit.
Arguably the easiest way to share your story is through social media. We suggest creating a short video explaining who you are, how you got your idea for your restaurant, and what it means to you. Putting a face to a name is part of creating a connection with your audience and reminding them that you are a small business after all. Encourage viewers to interact with you via comments on your post. You can also do this to talk about certain dishes on your menu that are named after people in your life or inspired by your life experiences. Work to create personal links between your customers and your brand. Customers are more likely than ever to support small businesses.
You can also add the history of your restaurant or of a menu item to your menu. Consider including a family photo or a brief description of a dishes’ namesake. These glimpses into who you are can help to connect customers with your story. When customers know your story, they are more likely to think of you fondly and frequently visit you, in lieu of suggesting friends and family dine with you.
If you need assistance telling your story, Sherane Chen, LLC is here for you! We have an experienced team ready to help you take your marketing to the next level. Contact us today or call (386) 627-3628 for a consultation!