Restaurant Video Marketing: How To Get Started

Restaurant video marketing is now more critical than ever. With COVID-19, the challenge for restaurants today is building and nourishing customer relationships. These days connecting with one another may look different, but video marketing efforts allow consumers to still experience an emotional connection with brands.

Currently, it is mostly the preserve of the big chains. Some independents do it and do it very well, but most restaurant owners shy away from using video to promote their restaurant.

But now is the time to get in on the act.

I can promise you that if you start marketing your restaurant using videos, you’ll be setting the trend for all of the local and independent restaurants in your area.

But why should you care?

Because customers interact better with videos than any other form of content. Last year, for instance, 75% of internet traffic was video-based.

That’s a huge amount. And as Facebook changes the way that content appears in people’s newsfeeds, creating content that people can engage with and share is going to be crucial. Restaurant video marketing gives customers a richer brand experience and can be a powerful tool to leverage your business.

That’s why this week’s post will provide you with everything you need to know about getting started with restaurant video marketing, what equipment you need, and the kind of things you should be shooting.

But first, let’s get one thing clear…

Your Videos are not Commercials

Customers don’t want to see an ad for your restaurant online. While your videos should encourage your audience to book a table or order takeout, overtly commercial messages are a big no-no.

That means no sales pitches and no content showing the latest promotions and deals. It also means no awkward shots of your empty restaurant to show off how beautiful your interior is.

If your video even looks like it could be on T.V. forget about it.

We’ll come on to what you should create videos about a bit later.

Restaurant Video Marketing Equipment: What do you need?

First, let’s discuss the equipment you may or may not need to purchase to get started with video marketing.

Your videos need to look good. But they don’t need to look amazing. So while you shouldn’t be shooting it on an old camcorder, you don’t need to hire a production team, either.

In most cases, you’ll be able to get by with a relatively new iPhone and an app such as Filmic Pro or Mavis. While these are both paid apps they offer greater control over video quality than a standard Apple or Android phone and make it easier to export your video in HD.

The only other thing you could consider buying is a stabilizer. Typically costing less than $50, a stabilizer will ensure that your shot remains steady and in focus.

6 Restaurant Video Marketing Ideas

For the rest of the article, we’ll look at six ideas that any restaurant owner can start creating content around. These are seriously simple and instantly actionable. Remember, the video doesn’t have to look like an ad. In many cases, it will perform better if it doesn’t. And with at least one of these ideas you don’t have to even create the video yourself!

Get people behind the scenes

We’ve spoken before about the customer appeal of going behind the scenes at your restaurant. People are fascinated by what goes on behind the kitchen doors. So show them!

A quick video of your kitchen in action on a busy night could make a fantastic promo for your restaurant. Not only does it show you have nothing to hide, it also gives people a glimpse into the kind of amazing food they can expect.

If you have a team of talented chefs in your restaurant you could interview them about their experience, their favorite dishes, and their inspiration. When your chefs become as big an attraction as your food, you’re onto a winning combination.

How to create fave dishes at home

Do you always have customers asking for your recipes or how you made a particular dish? Maybe you should give them what you want through the medium of video.

A quick 30-second, Tasty-esque video on how to create a pizza from scratch at home or how to make an amazing pasta sauce can achieve a couple of things.

Firstly, it gets your guests involved with your cuisine. The more they love your cuisine the more likely they are to come and visit. Secondly, their attempts will never be as good as the real thing. So when things don’t go to plan you’ll be the first place they visit.

Introduce new menu items

Do you regularly change your menu or have seasonal specials? Of course, you should post pictures of them on Instagram and your other social channels. But why not go one step further and create an introductory video.

The video doesn’t have to be substantial, 10 seconds could be all you need—and all your customers need to whet their appetite. Start in the kitchen and show the dish getting put together before having your chef or waiting staff describe the dish and, of course, give it a taste.

You’ll have your customers drooling in no time.

Show the journey of your ingredients from farm to plate

Okay, so this idea is a bit more advanced than the others but if you only use fresh, seasonal, or organic produce it could be incredible.

Diners, particularly millennials are becoming more and more concerned with the quality of the ingredients in their food. So if you care about your ingredients, you should be shouting about it from the rooftops.

Take your recording equipment on a road trip to one of the local farms where you buy produce from and film as much of the journey from the field to your restaurant as you can. Bonus points if you can get shots of your ingredients being harvested.

This will require a bit of creativity but I think the rewards could be huge for the restaurant owners who nail it.

Customer-focused content

Who are the most important people in your restaurant? The customers, right?

Not only are they crucial to your financial success, but they are also a fantastic source of user-generated video content. Are people always amazed by the sheer size of your food? Or the creativeness of your cocktails? Then film their reactions!

Do you host parties or themed nights? Shoot periodically throughout the evening and create a flashback video that attendees will love to watch back and share on social media when they spot themselves and their friends.

Alternatively, leave it up to your customers. Run a competition to create a video that best sums up their restaurant experience and reward them with a free drink or side dish. The possibilities are endless.

Your restaurant’s story

Does your restaurant have a long and proud history? Have you been on the same corner for a century? Maybe a famous guest once walked through your doors. People love learning more about their local neighborhood and saying they ate in the same restaurant as a celebrity. Teach your audience about what makes your restaurant so special and they’ll be much more inclined to pay you a visit.

Video Marketing Basics & Best Practices

Facebook

A Facebook video receives, on average, 135% more organic reach than a Facebook photo. Videos are more likely to capture the attention of an audience, giving you an increased opportunity to gain more traction and expand your audience reach.   

Basics:

• Includes: Live feature, Facebook stories, video posts 
• Max dimensions 4096 x 2048
• Minimum width is 600 pixels
• 360 aspect ratio is 2:1
• Max file size is 1.75GB
• Recommended formats MP4
• Video posts length must be less than 40 minutes
• Video max frames 60fps 

Best practices 

Facebook Business recommends focusing on storytelling rather than video length. In general, keep your videos concise and to the point. If videos need to be longer, consider breaking it up into short, easily digestible episodes. Moreover, it’s important to know your audience and tailor your story to them, and don’t forget to include a call to action. 

Instagram

Basics:

• Includes: Instagram video posts, Instagram stories, IGTV, Instagram Live video, video ads, IG reels
• Frame rate of 30 frames per second
• Maximum file size of 15 mb
• Video must be a maximum of 60 seconds
• Maximum video width is 1080 px wide

Best practices

When posting a video on Instagram, creating a unique, compelling story is key. Videos are an easy way to showcase your brand values. Start with your most engaging clip that will catch the attention of your audience. When videos are up, cross-promote them on your other social platforms. 

IG Video Posts

Basics

• Videos can last up to 60 seconds
• Videos auto-play without sound
• You can use video in multiple image posts 
• Aspect ratios of 1:1 or 1.9:1 

Best Practices 

As far as Instagram video posts tips go, the key is to create audience-focused content that will increase your engagement. Another best practice when it comes to creating any sort of content, be sure to respond to all comments as much as possible to nourish those online relationships. 

IG Video Stories

Basics 

• Stories are 15 sec or less
• Stories are full-screen mobile-oriented content 

Best Practices 

When it comes to Instagram stories, the best way to use them is by using the engagement stickers, questions, and polls. This is an awesome tool to engage with and learn more about your audience. Stories are great for Videos offer a feel of face-to-face interaction and real-time content, thus building more trust with customers. This is also an opportunity to reveal the brand’s voice and tone, leaving a more personable impact. If you would like to keep the story on your profile, you have the option to leave it as a highlight as well.

Twitter

Basics: 

• MP4 video 
• Can upload videos up to 512MB 
• Videos can be no longer than 2 minutes and 20 seconds

Best practices 

Similar to other platforms, a common video marketing rule of thumb is to keep the video posts concise and to the point. Another tip is to add captions for mobile, sound-off viewers. This rule also applies to other platforms as well. Another good practice for all your videos is to showcase your logo and keep a permanent placement either in the upper-left or upper-right corner of the frame. Videos are also a great opportunity to incorporate positive interaction with your product(s) or service(s). 

MMS

Basics

• 30 seconds 
• Can be MOV or MP4 
• Suggest portrait/vertical dimensions 
• 640 px wide x 1138 high (16:9 aspect ratio)

Best practices 

When sharing videos for MMS, it’s important to consider your content and keep the message simple and light. Before putting out a message, understanding your target audience will be helpful for your business in the long run. Also, as your audience will be receiving these messages directly to their mobile phones, be mindful of the timing of your message. Avoid fast-moving videos, quick scene changes, and make sure the lettering is large enough and legible for ad messages. Beyond that, test your message before starting your MMS marketing campaign. 

Email

Basics

• Need HTML coding knowledge 
• Not all email platforms can recognize and play videos 

Best practices

The daily task of going through one’s email can be a mundane and habitual one, so keeping videos short yet interesting is key. Sending out a long, single video can lose the attention of your audience, so consider breaking them down into a series. This practice makes videos more digestible and keeps those subscribed to your email list anticipating the videos to follow. Mentioning the word “video” in your subject line may also attract users to click on it, so this may be worth testing out. Speaking of, do not forget to test out your email before sending it out to various channels. 

Restaurant video marketing isn’t as hard as it sounds

Hopefully, by now you will have realized that restaurant video marketing isn’t daunting or difficult. Any restaurant owner or marketing manager could start creating content today.

These days, it is so easy to get lost in the digital sphere, and as humans, we crave personal connection. Especially in our nation’s current state, video marketing has become more crucial than ever, bridging that gap between businesses and consumers. To get started on video marketing your restaurant, visit thedigitalrestuarant.com today!