Starting a blog for your restaurant is a powerful, low-cost marketing tool that can boost your SEO, build customer loyalty, and set your restaurant apart in a crowded industry. It can be used as an additional piece of content, promoted on your social media, in your newsletter, or as a press release. Accompany blog posts with high-quality restaurant and foot photos, and you’ve got something that foodies will want to visit.
Make sure you’re writing to your audience—fine dining customers are different from grab-and-go cafe visitors, and the content will be very different. And stick to a schedule, like one or two posts per week or month—whatever works for you and your schedule. Consider assigning posts to your staff; for example, the chef writes a post per month, your general manager writes one per month, and your bar manager writes one per month highlighting craft cocktails. Get creative and delegate!
Here’s how to create a restaurant blog that helps your business grow.
Define Your Blog’s Purpose
Before typing your first post, think about what you want your blog to accomplish. A good restaurant blog can:
- Improve your search engine rankings
- Drive traffic to your website
- Promote events, specials, or seasonal menus
- Tell your brand story
- Highlight staff or suppliers
- Share recipes or behind-the-scenes content
Defining a clear purpose helps guide your content strategy and ensures your blog supports your business goals, whether they’re to book more reservations, order more takeout, attend more restaurant events, or something else.
Choose a Restaurant Blogging Platform
If you already have a restaurant website, your blog should live there. Most restaurant websites built with platforms like Squarespace, Wix, or WordPress come with built-in blogging functionality. Keep your blog URL structure clean and simple, for example, the URL would be: yourrestaurant.com/blog. This makes it easy for people and search engines to find your content. If you need help setting up your restaurant blog, we’re standing by… reach out anytime; we love these projects!
Identify Your Restaurant’s Audience
Are you writing for tourists, locals, foodies, families, or all of the above? Understanding your audience will help you write in the right tone and select topics that matter to them. For example, if your customers are health-conscious, blog posts about farm-to-table sourcing or gluten-free menu options will hit the mark. If you’re a popular spot for date nights, it could be a roundup of wine pairings or romantic table settings.
Brainstorm Restaurant Blog Topics
Not sure what to write about? Rotate topics to keep it fresh and fun. Here are some ideas to get started:
- Meet the Chef: Share their story and culinary philosophy
- Local Love: Highlight where you source ingredients
- Behind the Scenes: A day in the life of your kitchen or front-of-house team
- Recipe Shares: Give away a popular cocktail or dessert recipe
- Holiday/Event Specials: Announce upcoming menus or seasonal offerings
- Food Education: Explain lesser-known ingredients or cooking methods
- Community Features: Spotlight regular customers or local vendors
Create a Content Calendar
Consistency is key. Even one blog post a month is better than posting four in a week and then disappearing for a year. A simple content calendar helps you plan ahead and stay organized. Time your posts with your marketing goals. For example, post about gift card ideas before the holidays or summer patio dining in May. A simple content calendar can be created in a spreadsheet, with specific content stored under your topic umbrella. For example, use “recipes” as your topic umbrella, and under that, collect recipes that your chef is willing to share. Post one recipe per month.
Write for SEO
Search engine optimization (SEO) helps your blog posts rank higher in Google searches, attracting new visitors to your site. Keep it natural, but include the following:
- Keywords customers search for (e.g., “best brunch in Truckee”)
- Internal links to your menu or reservation page
- Short paragraphs, bullet points, and headers for easy reading
- Alt text for images using keywords
- Meta descriptions (the preview text that shows up on Google)
Add Strong Calls to Action
Don’t leave your readers hanging. End every blog post with a clear next step, like:
- “Make a reservation for this weekend”
- “Order online and try our house-made gnocchi”
- “Follow us on Instagram for daily specials”
Make it easy for them to engage with your restaurant right away.
Share Your Blog Everywhere
A blog only works if people see it. After publishing a post, share it via:
- Email newsletter
- Facebook and Instagram
- Google Business Profile (use it as a post!)
- Local directories or chamber sites
- In-store signage or QR codes
- Send to local media as a press release
The more visibility, the more ROI from your time spent writing.
Track What Works
Use tools like Google Analytics or built-in platform stats to track page views, time on page, and which blog posts get the most clicks or conversions. This helps you refine your content strategy and focus on what resonates with your audience.
A well-maintained blog can become one of your restaurant’s most valuable marketing tools. It’s a space that’s entirely yours—no algorithms, no character limits—and it can help you connect with customers long after they leave the dining room. Don’t get overwhelmed… start small, stay consistent, and delegate staff to help share your restaurant’s stories.
Just like we keep up on our blog, we can help you with a content management system, plan, and even craft blog posts for you! Let’s chat.
