With over 2 billion monthly users and tools designed for small businesses, Facebook remains one of the most effective ways to market your restaurant, promote events, and connect with loyal customers. Here’s how to best use Facebook to help you attract more customers, boost engagement, and stay connected to your community.
Set Up Your Restaurant’s Facebook Page
Before posting, sharing, or advertising, ensure your Facebook page looks polished and provides current information. Make sure you have the following dialed:
- A recognizable profile picture, which can be your logo
- A cover photo that shows your restaurant, food, or vibe
- Current hours, address, phone number, and website
- A short but clear “about” section. Make sure and mention your cuisine and what makes you different from your competitors
- A call-to-action button like “Order Now,” “Call,” or “Send Message”
Simple updates like these will boost your credibility and help local customers find you.
What to Post on Your Restaurant’s Facebook Page
One of the most common questions we hear is, What should I post on my restaurant’s Facebook page? We recommend keeping it real and relevant to your audience. Don’t overthink it. Simply share snapshots of the daily life at the restaurant 2–4 times per week. Here are easy Facebook content ideas for restaurants:
- A photo of today’s lunch special
- A 10-second video of your chef plating a dish
- A shoutout to your staff
- A quick note about upcoming closures or reservation reminders
- A customer review or behind-the-scenes story
- Seasonal updates, for example: It’s soup season and we’re feeling cozy.
Pro tip: One great post can be reused on Instagram with minor changes. Repurpose where you can!
Use Facebook Events to Drive Foot Traffic
Say your restaurant is hosting a live music night, rolling out a seasonal menu, launching weekend brunch, or offering an amazing promotion. Facebook Events help you reach people who are already looking for things to do. Create an event, add a photo and details, and encourage people to mark “Interested.” Send event invites to all your friends in the area. Facebook will even send them reminders before the event, which means less work for you.
This is one of the best ways to get more customers through Facebook, especially when combined with local ads or boosted posts.
Engage With Your Audience
Facebook is a place to engage in digital conversation. Take a few minutes each day to respond to comments and messages, thank people who tag your restaurant, re-share user-generated content, and reply to reviews. Always reply to reviews! Even the bad ones.
People want to support businesses that feel real. A quick reply can turn a one-time diner into a regular.
Try Facebook Ads for Restaurants
Facebook Ads are a great place to start in your restaurant’s advertising efforts because they are affordable. Start small. $10 to $25 goes a long way when you’re targeting nearby customers. Here are some brief ideas for restaurant Facebook ads:
- Boost a post showing off your signature dish
- Run a local awareness ad to reach new people nearby
- Promote your gift cards during the holidays
- Highlight online ordering or delivery
Focus on strong visuals and short captions. Avoid walls of text; your photos should do most of the talking.
Ask Customers to Share the Love
One of the easiest ways to get more traction on Facebook is to ask your customers for a little help. Encourage people to check in at your restaurant when they visit, leave a review on your page, share your posts with friends, and tag you in their food photos.
You can prompt this gently with a note on the menu, signage near the door, or even a reminder from your staff.
Schedule Your Posts to Save Time
Got 15 free minutes on a Monday morning? Use Facebook’s built-in scheduling tools, or a platform like Buffer or Later, to batch your posts for the week. That way, you stay consistent even when things get busy.
You don’t need to be a social media expert to make Facebook work for your restaurant. Just show up consistently, post content that feels authentic, and engage with your customers like you would in real life. Run ads, post daily specials, and respond to comments. Facebook is still one of the most effective ways to get more customers through your door.
Need help with your restaurant’s digital marketing? From custom websites to content strategy and menu design, we help restaurants build a strong online presence. Reach out to learn more.
