London is one of the most recognised cities on a global scale. It ranked number #1 in the Global Cities Ranking for 2019 and has consistently outperformed its peers in all metrics. It is the activity hub for all sectors of the global economy, with its GDP for 2018 alone being 487 Billion Pounds. It attracts tourists from all over the world in high numbers.
One of the favourite activities of tourists and locals alike is dining out. And London has plenty of them serving delicacies from all over the world. In such a crowded market, a marketing agency in London will be necessary. It will help your restaurant appear on the screens of those wanting to savour some food in the city ahead of the rest.
State of London’s Restaurant Scene
London has restaurants of all types, from cheap roadside cafes and food trucks to some of the most expensive and exotic Michelin starred restaurants. The menu includes simple breakfast items, culture-specific foods, an all-you-can-eat buffet, pastries and other bakery products, afternoon tea type, etc.
In all, until 2018, a total of 15,500 of them called London home. Despite the high number, a survey by The Caterer shows that London offers the most growth for a new restaurant at 48% in the UK.
Reaching The Top Of The Food Chain
The changing cultural and technological dynamics are forcing restaurant owners to reinvent themselves all the time. A marketing agency in London knows the local marketplace and will aid your growth with some strategies.
Appetising Website
The biggest marker for a business in the 21st century is a website. It tells what you are all about and what you have to offer. Your restaurant’s website must let its viewers in on all of your delicacies and make them want to have it.
Using the right combination of design, user interface, coding, graphics, real images of your restaurant’s items, videos, customer review section, AI, and cloud technologies, your restaurant’s website can get you your very own seat in the midst and palettes of your customers online.
Search Engine Optimisation
After getting your website, you must then ensure that it will show up at the top of the list when people search for your type of restaurant in London online. This is where Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) comes in. Search engines like Google use algorithms to show the best and most relevant matches for queries that users input using some keywords.
Your website must be optimised enough to make the best use of how the algorithms work to pick it when queried for similar restaurants. Digital marketing professionals will make all the necessary adjustments to the website to greatly increase its chance of being displayed at the very top of the first search results page.
Social Media Marketing
Having a website show up on the search list is good, but still not enough. The internet offers all sorts of venues to place ads in. But none compare to the sheer potential of Social Media sites like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc. They contain most of the people you intend to search for in one (or one of the few) place(s). An email is still a good option, especially with corporate customers. London is also one of the most connected places on LinkedIn, with users having about 307 connections.
Social media marketing involves putting up still ads, videos, return link ads, posts, reviews, etc. on such sites to directly get to the potential customers. The best part is that the customers will spread information about your restaurant to other connections online, giving you free marketing.
The SMM professionals can also manage the separate account of your restaurant on the sites. They can respond to the queries and feedback that past and future customers leave there. This personal touch will enhance customer loyalty and repeat business.
Affiliate Marketing
Social media has led to the rise of individuals who have become famous online for the things they do and gathered a large following in the process. This includes reviewing restaurants and uploading their experience online via various media types. They can be paid to promote your restaurant, either directly or discreetly, and tap their user base via their influence.
Food Delivery Apps
The recent trend has been moving towards ordering in using dedicated delivery channels. These delivery services have apps that will contain details of all the restaurants they deliver from, meaning a wonderful marketing opportunity besides the business one.
Details like location, menu, cost, features, unique offers, etc. can be advertised on such platforms after tying up with them. This is another free marketing avenue that lets your customers carry your brand name forward.
There’s never a dull moment in London’s restaurant scene. A marketing agency in London will get your restaurant a share of that pie, which can increase with time.