Since Facebook changed its algorithm earlier this year, organic post reach has decreased dramatically across the board for Facebook pages. So, no matter your number of page “Likes” only around 3% of your fans will see your update at a given time.
Many brands have made the move to incorporate Facebook ads to help counteract this shift.
At the same time, there are still a number of brands that are consistently gaining likes, shares and new fans with targeted, timely and engaging content. So, who are these brands and what are they doing right?
13 Food and Restaurant Brands Rocking their Facebook Pages
Since one of our specialities is marketing within food and restaurant industries, we tend to notice when these brands ‘knock it out of the park’ within social media, public relations and content. Regardless of your industry, we can all learn from the examples below and expand our engagement strategies within Facebook page marketing. Enjoy!
- Rita’s Italian Ice Company
Key Takeaway: Use your Facebook page to visually recognize fans (ideally with images featuring your product or service.) Nominate a fan a week or ask for photos of fans using your product or service. You can incentivize this or you can ask fans attending events or visiting your location (if applicable) if you can snap a photo to feature on social media.
- EVOL foods
Key Takeaway: Create a culture within your Facebook page that creates anticipation, engagement and brings fans back each week. EVOL’s t-shirt Tuesdays are a great example:
- Annie’s Homegrown
Key Takeaway: Although Annie’s has built a very successful Facebook page, its recent announcement of being acquired by General Mills sent fans into a spin. The below examples demonstrate how your Facebook page can work faster and more organically than a traditional news release. Use it and your social media channels to inform your fans and update them in real time to help quell fears and answer questions.
- Kashi
Key Takeaway: Use your Facebook page to increase goodwill and brand love while spreading the word for the cause you invest in.
- Pure Sweets & Co.
Key Takeaway: Shout out to one of our first clients Pure Sweets & Co for their grassroots approach to Facebook promotion. They demonstrate that even if you have one restaurant or retail location, you can successfully get the most from your Facebook page by sharing behind-the-scenes snapshots tied to time-sensitive calls to action.
- Chipotle
Key Takeaway: Use your Facebook page to promote contests, sweepstakes and special offers. There are many key takeaways to be gained from Chipotle’s Facebook page and social media presence overall. One recent example being its “The Great Dorm Giveaway”, which the brand heavily promoted on social media (pictured below).
- Quinn Popcorn
Key Takeaway: Look for opportunities to cross-promote with like-minded brands. This can be as simple as a Facebook giveaway or a major event, contest or product launch.
- Denny’s
Key Takeaway: Be on the lookout for random holidays, themed days or create your own brand-specific theme. Denny’s is well-known in the social media space for having fun and being a little silly as demonstrated when the restaurant brand paid homage to national “Talk Like a Pirate Day” this year.
- Angie’s BoomChickaPop
Key Takeaway: Brand EVERYTHING. Angie’s Boomchickapop does an amazing job branding each of its Facebook posts while staying true to its brand standards for font, color ways and product images. Proper branding will extend your social media efforts farther as fans like and share your content and it helps communicate your brand’s personality.
- TGI Friday’s
Key Takeaway: Use your Facebook page as a way to poll popular opinion and give fans input. As demonstrated with TGI Friday’s highly popular #endlessapps promotion, fan feedback can lead to delicious things for your brand and your social media engagement.
- Chick-fil-A
Key Takeaway: Make your Facebook page an extension of your brand’s story. Provide an insider-perspective on who you are as a brand and what makes your products unique.
- Jamba Juice
Key Takeaway: Use your Facebook page to announce or promote special offers (or create exclusive offers specific to Facebook) to encourage fans to visit your restaurant or purchase a product. THINK: Repeat visit and new customer trial.
- Donatos Pizza
Key Takeaway: Go with what works. Know what your fans like and give them more of it. Donatos has hit a sweet spot (or should I say savory?) with fans by showing random real-life photos of pizza.
Food + Restaurant Social Media: Keep it Real and Go with What Works
So, which of these key takeaways holds the secret sauce for your brand? There’s only one way to find out: experiment often and don’t be afraid to go with what works — even if your approach is a little unconventional. Test and seek fan opinion as you go.
Which food and restaurant brands social media profiles should we include in our next roundup? Leave your recommendations in the comments below.
