In the fast-paced world we live in today, the success of a restaurant hinges on more than just in-house customer experiences. In this digital age, it's equally vital to reach your customers online.
With Instagram boasting a whopping 1 billion daily active users, making the most of features like Instagram Reels can be an efficient way to connect, engage, and expand your customer base. If you're feeling overwhelmed with the thought of adding restaurant marketing to your already-packed schedule, don't fret. We're here to guide you through a straightforward and comprehensive approach to starting your Instagram Reels journey.
This blog covers:
- What are Instagram Reels
- Why your restaurant should use Instagram Reels
- How to make a Reel on Instagram
- Free Instagram Reels ideas for your restaurant
What are Instagram Reels?
Instagram Reels, are short-form videos, clocking in at a maximum of 90 seconds, designed for creative expression and to give your brand a lively digital presence. Like TikTok, Reels is the go-to platform for riding the wave of current trends, discovering fresh concepts, and warding off boredom. User-friendly and replete with features such as AR effects, music, and text overlays, Instagram Reels empowers you to effortlessly craft engaging content.
Why should your restaurant use Instagram Reels?
Videos are the golden ticket in today's content landscape, and their popularity is soaring. Instagram Reels, in particular, offers you the chance to expand your followers, stay top-of-mind with your customer base, and—believe it or not—have some fun in the process. But don't just take our word for it; let's get into the numbers:
Your customers rely on Instagram for informed decisions:
- 81% of individuals use Instagram for research on companies, products, and services.
- 50% of people have visited a website to purchase a product or service they saw on the app.
- 90% of users follow one or more businesses.
Instagram's algorithm is your ally:
- Food-related content reigns supreme on Instagram.
- Businesses contribute significantly, with one-third of the most-viewed Instagram Stories coming from them.
- Instagram Reels boasts a staggering 22% higher engagement rate compared to regular video content.
- Social video generates 1,200% more shares than text and image content combined.
How to make a Reel on Instagram for your restaurant
Now, let's roll up our sleeves and get started with Instagram Reels:
1. Launch your restaurant's Instagram account.
2. Click on the '+' symbol located in the top right corner of your screen and choose 'Reel' from the available options.
3. Opt for 'Reels' to either record a video or select an existing one from your camera roll.
4. Preview your video to fine-tune it with filters, volume adjustments, stickers, music, and text overlays.
5. When you're satisfied with the result, hit 'Share' to post your Reel.
6. Choose a cover image or thumbnail for your video, add a compelling caption, and include relevant tags.
7. Finally, click 'Share to Reels' to either post immediately or save your creation in drafts for later use.
Free Instagram Reels ideas for your restaurant
After looking at millions of restaurant videos on Instagram, we've cooked up 26 delicious Instagram Reels ideas designed enhance your restaurant's online presence.
1. Behind-the-Scenes Tour: Take your viewers on a whirlwind tour of your restaurant's kitchen, showcasing the hustle and bustle behind the scenes. This also helps customers get to know you and your story, giving them a reason to visit.
2. Follow one of your employees for a shift: Take your viewer behind the scenes to follow one of your employee's day in the life. Videos that showcase people seem to perform better on Instagram, so there's no better way to do it than by spotlighting a chef or waiter that makes the magic happen.
3. Show your team in action through a timelapse: Running a restaurant takes more work than people realise, so make your restaurant memorable by showing your viewer the process. Make sure to add music to your timelapse to make it more engaging!
4. Respond to popular queries: Demonstrate your commitment to a stellar customer experience by addressing common questions, such as reservations, parking, and dietary options.
6. Introduce your team: Humanise your restaurant by introducing your team. Consider using sitcom theme songs (example: The Office) as background music and having team members do a unique entrance. Or play into trends by featuring their personalities through green flags, beige flags etc.
7. Showcase cooking tips & tricks: Share expert cooking tips and tricks straight from your chefs, from chopping techniques to surprising recipe ingredients.
8. Record a tutorial of one of your recipes: Play into your strengths by offering your viewer a chance to replicate your restaurant recipes at home. Choose something easy to make and fun for the viewers! Example: How to make [restaurant name] signature dipping sauce at home.
9. Give a sneak peek of a new menu item: Make your (potential) customers feel special by offering them a look into a new menu item. Consider making the Reels interactive by engaging the audience with a guessing poll.
10. Record the before and after of plating a dish: Again, people love watching others make something. Using an overhead shot and popular audio, walk your viewer through the art of plating a dish.
11. Showcase your most-ordered dishes: Make your viewer hungry by posting Reels of your most-ordered dishes (including after shots of an empty finished dish).
12. Share customer reviews: It's no secret that reviews can make or break your restaurant. Milk your positive reviews to the fullest by posting Reels with your customer's feedback!
13. Highlight different menu items: Include your restaurant name in the Reels as you give the customer a tour of your restaurants range of menu items.
14. Test a trending song: Be shameless when it comes to timely trends! Jump on the viral bandwagon by using trending songs as background music for your foodie content.
15. Show how to place an order: Instead of just telling your audience to order from your restaurant, show your audience how to order from your restaurant, including what apps you're listed on and top ordered dishes.
16. ASMR video: We're not sure if ASMR will ever go out of style! Simply watch a few ASMR videos to get inspired, and use the soft sounds of packaging to create sensory Reels for your audience, from showing how a delivery order is packaged to plating a signature dish.
17. Unboxing delivery orders: Show your audience what ordering from your restaurant will look like by unboxing a delivery order on Reels. Make sure food looks safely packaged and appetising to inspire hunger and incentivise your viewer to order themselves.
18. Show the delivery order process: Give your audience an inside look of the delivery journey from receiving the notification on the app, cooking in the kitchen, and following the courier to his destination.
19. Favourite menu item pairings: Give your customer guidance on what to order at your restaurant by posting the best dish and side combinations.
20. Stop-motion video with ingredients: Using your ingredients, create a satisfying stop motion video showcasing how each meal element is mixed together to create a final dish.
21. Share the values of your restaurant: Establish brand purpose by sharing Reels with the top 3 values that align with your restaurant, for example, sustainability, customer satisfaction, and equal opportunity.
22. Tell a story: Your audience is looking for authentic and vulnerable Reels that tell a story. Brainstorm exciting stories unique to your restaurant; for example, maybe you were inspired to open a restaurant because you spent your childhood cooking with your grandmother. Or maybe theres a story about how your restaurant overcame the lockdown. Or maybe theres a love story centred around one of your dishes!
24. Reply to comments with Reels: Show your customers you care about what they have to say and are always listening to their questions, comments, and concerns. If someone comments about how delicious a specific dish is, show them footage of the chef making the meal behind the scenes! Or film your answer to a customer question.
25. Restock video: People on the internet absolutely love to watch satisfying organisation or cleaning videos. Turn your tedious, everyday tasks into timelapse-style and relaxing Reels for example, night shift cleaning, restocking produce, packaging videos, etc.
26. Share relatable content: When it comes to Reels, half the battle is simply watching and staying up to date on timely memes, trends, and cultural moments. Share something relatable! Example: That feeling when your [Restaurant name] order arrives.
Some final tips on mastering Instagram reels
We trust that these suggestions and illustrations will kickstart your restaurant's journey on Instagram Reels. Feel free to involve your younger team members in handling and brainstorming fresh ideas. Also, remember that persistence is key when it comes to posting. Even if your initial 20 videos don't garner the expected engagement, remember that the next one could be a viral sensation. In addition to patience, staying consistent plays a vital role in algorithm success, so aim to post regularly to keep the momentum going.
