Do you want more people to notice your restaurant? Want to show off your food in a way that gets mouths watering? Then it’s time to start using video. It’s one of the best tools to bring in new customers, share your story, and keep people coming back.
Think about how many times you’ve watched a video and decided to try a place because the food looked amazing. That could be your restaurant. This guide will walk you through 8 smart ways to use video marketing to grow your restaurant business, plus tips to help you get the most out of each one.
Why Video Marketing Works So Well for Restaurants
Before we dive in, here’s why video is so effective:
- Videos are more engaging than text or images.
- They are easier to share on social media.
- They show the personality of your brand.
- People trust what they can see.
According to studies, videos on social media get 1200% more shares than text and images combined. Also, 72% of customers say they’d rather learn about a product or business through video than reading text. Now, how do you use this video for your business?
How To Use Video Marketing For Restaurants
1. Show Off Your Food with High-Quality Videos
People eat with their eyes first. That’s why showing your food on video can instantly make people crave it. Create short videos showing your dishes being prepared, plated, or served. You can:
- Zoom in on sizzling meat
- Pour sauce over pasta in slow motion
- Cut into a cheesy pizza slice
These quick, simple videos are hard to ignore. They grab attention fast and are perfect for showing off your food. Try sharing them on Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, TikTok, and even your restaurant’s website.
Pro tip: Film near a window or use soft lights to make your food look fresh and delicious. Bright, clean lighting makes a big difference!
2. Tell Your Restaurant’s Story
People love stories. Use videos to share how your restaurant started, what inspires your cooking, or even your struggles and wins. This emotional connection can help customers feel closer to your brand. You can film:
- A message from the founder
- Behind-the-scenes videos of your kitchen
- Staff interviews or training moments
Remember, keep it short and real. Authenticity always wins.
3. Share Customer Testimonials on Video
Written reviews are nice, but video reviews feel more honest and real. They let people see true reactions and feel the vibe of your place. Ask some of your regulars to share why they keep coming back, a quick video can go a long way.
Ask questions like:
- What’s your favorite dish?
- How often do you visit?
- What makes our place different?
- How would you describe the food in one word?
Post these clips on your Google Business profile, Facebook page, and your restaurant website. They will help you build trust fast and improve your local SEO rankings.
4. Film Your Special Events and Promotions
Planning a new event, food festival, or seasonal special? Don’t just allow it to go unnoticed, especially after all the hard work put into editing it and coming up with the concept. Show it off with video and get people excited before they even walk in the door!
You can use video marketing to:
- Announce the event beforehand
- Show highlights during the event
- Share customer reactions afterward
Video makes your events feel real, fun, and can turn one-time visitors into regulars. It not only builds excitement but encourages more people to join next time.
Bonus tip: Add subtitles so people can understand the video without sound, very important for social media.
5. Use Video for Social Media Ads
Want to reach more customers quickly? Run paid ads using short, engaging videos. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube allow you to target people by location, age, interests, and more.
Try running a video ad that:
- Introduces your restaurant
- Shows a popular dish
- Ends with a special offer like “Get 10% off when you order today!”
Don’t forget to make sure your ad includes a call to action (CTA) like “Order Now,” “Visit Us,” or “Book a Table.”
6. Create Behind-the-Scenes (BTS) Content
Ever wonder what really goes on behind the scenes at your favorite restaurants? Well, your customers do too! Behind-the-scenes (BTS) videos are a great way to let them in and help them feel more connected to your place.
You can film:
- How dishes are made from scratch
- A day in the life of your chef
- Prep work before opening hours
It makes your restaurant feel more human, relatable, and trustworthy.
7. Go Live on Social Media
Live videos are real-time, interactive, and full of energy. When you go live, your followers get a notification, and just like that, they can hop in to watch and chat with you on the spot. It’s a fun way to connect, get instant feedback, and make your audience feel like they’re right there with you. Don’t worry about being perfect, people love the real, unfiltered moments!
Here are a few ideas:
- Live Q&A with your chef
- Cooking demo of your best-selling meal
- Live coverage of an event or promo launch
During the live session, encourage people to comment and ask questions. It builds engagement and creates a stronger online presence.
8. Add Video to Your Website and Google Business Profile
Want to make your website more engaging and boost your online presence? Add video! Short, eye-catching videos can bring your homepage to life. Show your food, your team, and the vibe of your space. It’s a great way to turn visitors into real customers.
And there’s more: adding videos to your Google My Business listing can help it rank higher in search results. It also makes your profile look more polished and professional.
Include:
- A short welcome video on your homepage
- A video menu or food preview
- Customer reviews or events
When people search “restaurants near me” or “best restaurants in (city),” your profile will stand out more, especially if it has a video.
Extra Tips to Make Your Restaurant Video Marketing a Success
Now that you know 8 ways to use video marketing, here are some extra tips to make your efforts even better:
- Keep it Short and Sweet: Attention spans are short. Aim for 15–60 seconds for social media and up to 2 minutes for website videos.
- Add Your Branding: Include your restaurant’s logo, colors, and music style in the videos so people remember you.
- Use Clear Calls to Action: Always end your videos with a strong call to action like: “Book your table today”, “Order now on our website”, “Follow us for more food videos”.
- Use Keywords in Captions and Descriptions: Include phrases like “best Nigerian restaurant in Abuja” or “affordable food in Lagos” in your video titles, tags, and descriptions. This boosts your SEO ranking on Google and YouTube.
- Post Regularly: One video every few months isn’t enough. Try posting 1–2 videos per week across platforms.
Best Video Platforms for Restaurants
To get the best results, focus on these platforms:
| Platform | Best For |
|---|---|
| Instagram Reels | Short, visual food clips and behind-the-scenes |
| TikTok | Trendy food videos and customer fun |
| YouTube Shorts | Cooking tips, food story, brand awareness |
| Older audience, local ads, testimonials | |
| Google Business | Search visibility and trust |
| Your Website | Branding, SEO, customer attraction |
Final Thoughts: Let Video Do the Talking
Video marketing is not just a trend, it’s a tool that drives real results. If you're not using video to promote your restaurant yet, now is the time to start.
To recap, here are the 8 key ways to use video for your restaurant:
- Show off your food with high-quality clips
- Tell your story and build brand trust
- Share real customer testimonials
- Highlight special events and offers
- Run video ads on social media
- Show behind-the-scenes magic
- Go live and engage with your fans
- Add videos to your website and Google profile
Want to grow your restaurant, get more followers, and keep customers coming back? It all starts with sharing your story in a way that feels real and easy to connect with. With steady effort, the right words, and videos that make people feel something, big things can happen.
Not sure where to start?
Our friendly team at BrandMeals is here to help. We’ll work with you to create simple, tasty video content that shows off what makes your restaurant special, and helps more people find you, follow you, and walk through your doors.
Let’s make your food the star and grow your brand together!
All images are sourced from pixabay
