With over 350 million participants, it is no wonder that “Become a Fan of…” is the battle cry for more and more restaurant owners and managers around the world. Combine that influence in conjunction with Twitter and you are a force to be reckoned with.  Twitter users are approximately 50 million strong, so it is easy to see why having a Facebook “fan page” could be a powerful asset to have in your marketing arsenal!

What are some of the things you could post on a fan page?

Really, there are a myriad of posts that will help your fans make you the “go to” eating establishment in your area.  Some ideas/posts that have proven successful are:

• Daily / Weekly / Monthly specials
• Posting your menu – there are always a few surprises that no one ever thinks of and that will provide comfort under the right circumstance.
• Events and parties – Is your restaurant holding a New Year’s blowout, Super Bowl party or just a local event.  Posts can keep your eating establishment at the top of your customer’s mind.
• Job applications – posting job openings on twitter has driven newspapers nuts, but why not?  The people receiving your tweets/posts have already indicated they have an interest in you. Why not have them be an advocate that works there as well?  You could even have a job application on your fan page.

Creating a Fan Page is easy and quick!

If you aren’t currently on Facebook, go to their site and create an account. After that create a fanpage, add your logo and some posts. Don’t start to “fan it up” quite yet.  Upload some photos, videos and 4-7 posts before you start inviting people to join (No one wants to be a fan of an empty fan page). If you don’t have a Flip type video camera, use your cell phone to take pics and videos.  Tag everyone you know in the pics. Encourage others to sort out the “strangers” to make them feel welcome when they return.

Nominate a Fan page “captain” to post something regularly and to keep up with what happens at your restaurant throughout the course of the week. This will keep fans coming back to the site on a regular basis and ultimately stopping in to spend both time and money at your establishment.

Make it fun and generate “buzz”!

Did someone of noterity come in to eat or drink?  Let people know!  Even if they are not big movie stars and more like community icons, it is good business to let others know that your place is the eating establishment of choice!  Have a contest and give away a free meal. Perhaps put up a monthly picture and ask folks to develop a caption.  Another opportunity is to have your fans submit pictures/videos on why they come to your place!  The object here is to have fun and show that people do so when they visit you.  Have your waitstaff do individual videos on the menu items they like the most and why.

Other posting opportunities?

Do you need or want feedback regarding your thoughts of opening up a new store? Let your fans know and see what their response is.

Thinking of a new menu item?  Find out what your fans think about it.

What does this all mean to my business?

Getting the first 100, then 500 fans is a challenge unless you use a pro that knows what they are doing. And it would be something that I would recommend so you can learn how to do it right.  Don’t “save” a couple of bucks and have it blow up in your face.

That being said, once you get to 1,000 fans, you should have enough of an idea of what to do that you can take it up on your own.  At that point, the fan page takes on a whole new life.  Believe me when I tell you that there is nothing like having 1,000 or more advocates talking about your business!

All of that adds up to free advertising, which equates to more traffic coming into your business.  Keep up the fun while they are there and they will be back…with their friends!

Marketing arm without the cost!

Think for a moment how much it would cost you to direct mail 1,000 targeted prospects for your business.  Now consider that by having a Fan page, your business or restaurant can virtually have a marketing machine at little or no cost (initial cost of having a professional help you do it right) that reaps huge returns!

Social media can and does help restaurants and businesses!

If your restaurant or business has not started to employ a social media strategy, I believe you would benefit by jumping in.  The results for those that have done so have been great.  Done properly, there is no reason your experience would be any different.

At Social Media Dudes – we specialize in online strategies for small businesses in northeast Georgia and Metro Atlanta. Contact us here

Follow the Social Media Dudes on twitter:  @DennisLLynn and @johnpanico

If you are looking for free tips or advice on how to approach your social media, go to Social Media Dudesand subscribe to your newsletter in the upper left hand corner! Still not convinced that social media is right for your business? Read this and get our F.R.E.E. report on the 7 Myths of Social Media! Or follow our tweets on Twitter at twitter.com/johnpanico Finally, those are my thoughts from high atop my 2nd floor office above my garage. What I want to hear are YOUR comments. Please leave one now.

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