Writing a blog for your website might seem like the last thing you want to do. Some people scoff at the idea of writing blogs, thinking ‘well who’s going to read it’?
Surprisingly, there’s a bigger audience for blogs than most people think and if you nail the topics you talk about, you’re looking at increased revenue for your restaurant.
Below is a list of various blogs you can use and adapt for your restaurant.
1 - Testimonials:
Almost like extended reviews, customer testimonials can include photos, or videos and an extended response about their positive experience in your restaurant. There is no better way to attract more customers than having regulars talk about how good their experience was. The beauty of this option is that you can decide what type of testimonial you’d like it to be and the audience you’re catering for.
2 - Restaurant Stories:
Looking at things from the other side now, restaurant stories come from you and your experiences as a restaurateur. This method of blogging provides a human touch, a more down-to-earth nature that customers can relate to when they read it. The blog could include background information on how you got started, trials and tribulations of getting a restaurant off the ground, things you’ve learned and the success you’ve had.
3 - Recipes:
People love finding simple, easy-to-follow and tasty recipes. You don’t have to give away any secrets here if you don’t want to, but perhaps a variation on something you serve in house - even take a dish from your menu and add something fresh and new that customers can replicate at home. Consider also providing recipes for certain cocktail variations, particularly if you have a dedicated bar.
4 - Lifestyle and Health:
Your blog doesn’t need to be limited to aspects of your restaurant, feel free to explore other options. If you’re a restaurant focused on organic food, then write a blog on the benefits of organic produce. Maybe your restaurant caters for the carnivore crowd, here you could delve into the benefits of protein, particularly when it comes from an animal source. Consider a blog that discusses food budgeting and preparing gourmet meals for a fraction of the cost.
5 - Food and Drink Pairings:
If your restaurant has a good selection of wines, beers and spirits, then consider writing a list that pairs the best choices of each together. To make your pairings stand out, go for something different and against the grain than the standard red with red meat.
5 - Listicles:
Listicles - list-based articles much like this blog - provide information on various things related to one central topic. Consider writing listicles about the latest food trends, or food trends from a different era that are finding their way back into the mainstream. Other topics could include: must-have kitchen utensils, ultimate variations on classic meals, spices your pantry should always have and 10 celebrities’ favourite meals.
7 - Videos:
This doesn’t mean vlogging, although you could incorporate video blogs into the fold here. Consider making videos of your staff hard at work in the kitchen, where customers can see their favourite dishes being made. Take some of those recipes you might have posted in earlier blogs and bring them to life with a complete walkthrough.
8 - Loyalty Programs:
The blog page can provide a space where you go into detail about the loyalty program you offer. These types of posts can promote the benefits of the program and provide external links to other pages to get the ball rolling.
9 - Employee Appreciation:
Having a dedicated blog for staff members that puts them in the spotlight is another method for connecting customers with your restaurant. It increases the human element, providing a more personal touch that customers find appealing. Consider making it a monthly thing with the employee of the month and get them to answer some questions, such as their favourite thing about working there. You could also allow the employee to write a guest blog about a typical day working at the restaurant.
10 - Customer Appreciation:
Following on from the previous post, this could be a little shout out to one of your regulars. If they feel comfortable, consider interviewing them and getting some background as to what brought them to your restaurant, why they keep coming back and perhaps their favourite meal. Finish it off with a prize that will motivate other customers to follow suit.
Now that you’ve got a bunch of ideas, it’s time to get the ball rolling and start your blog! Don’t forget to keep it visually appealing through quality images and videos. Have fun with the structure, there’s nothing set in stone, you can always alternate with how you lay it out and don’t over complicate the process.