Quick Hints for Getting Your Restaurant Ready for Spring

Spring is near. What better time than now to refresh your social media so it blooms. Updating your online presence does not have to be difficult. Here are 5 easy steps for to get you ready for the spring season:

1. Freshen Up Your Imagery
   • Content is key! High quality, professional photographs are expected and necessary in this new age of picture-sharing and quick media cycles.
   • It’s now easier (and more fun!) than ever to produce quality content from your own device. Spend an afternoon taking new photos and/or videos of your seasonal dishes and drinks to use as promotional material. For best results, find a well-lit space in the restaurant or outside where the camera easily captures the colors of each item. Try a few different angles and set-ups to give yourself a lot of new content to work with.
2. Give Your  Profiles a Spring Cleaning
   • Your cover photo is the first thing your audience sees when they navigate to your Facebook page – so make it blossom! This spring, put those new photos you took to good use and customize your cover photo with a spring collage. This will give your audience an immediate connection to both the food and atmosphere of the restaurant.
   • Don’t have a photo editing tool on hand? Get started with your own custom collage here: https://www.picmonkey.com/.
   • Pro Tip: Have a consistent, branded look across all social media platforms.
3. Take Advantage of the Weather!
   • The warmer weather brings people outdoors. Promote your outdoor dining & patio offerings.
   • Set yourself apart from your competitors. Consider offering a special outdoor happy hour or patio menu.
4. Get Outside!
   • Warmer weather brings with it local events, Restaurant Weeks, festivals, parades, etc. Check out your local Chamber of Commerce for upcoming events and leverage these opportunities for exposure to people who are most likely to dine with you.
   • Sponsor a local sports team, set up a booth at a local community event, etc.
5. Check that Your Assets are Current
   • While photos and videos will do a lot to make your online presence shine this season, it’s always important to keep the basics up to date. Check all of the boxes on your “Spring Cleaning” list and make sure information about your restaurant is current on all platforms (website, Facebook, Twitter, Yelp, Google+, etc.). This might include business hours, menus, weekly specials, delivery options, and anything else unique to your restaurant

This blog was written by Megan VanBenschoten, Fishbowl SMB Account Director.