Instagram Marketing for Restaurants: Is It Worth It & How to Start

Instagram is a great way for restaurants to reach new customers, connect with their community, and increase sales. Since Instagram is all about visual content, it’s perfect for sharing tasty-looking dishes, cozy dining spaces, and memorable moments with guests.

In this blog post, we'll tell you why Instagram marketing for restaurants is worth it and how to get started!

Why Instagram Marketing Matters for Restaurants

Instagram is one of the best tools for restaurants to get noticed, connect with customers, and boost sales. Since Instagram is all about visual content, it’s perfect for showing off food, drinks, and your restaurant’s vibe.

Here’s why Instagram marketing can help your restaurant:

People Find New Restaurants on Instagram

Many people use Instagram to look for places to eat. In fact, 61% of social media users say they use Instagram to find new products or services. If your restaurant posts great food photos or fun updates, it can grab their attention.

Good Food Photos Make People Stop Scrolling

Instagram is filled with eye-catching pictures. If you post bright, clear photos of your best dishes, people are more likely to stop and take a look. The better your content looks, the more people will notice it.

Happy Customers Help Spread the Word

When people enjoy your food, they often post about it. If they tag your restaurant, their friends (and even strangers) will see it. This kind of content makes your restaurant feel trustworthy and popular.

Instagram Helps You Reach Locals

Using location tags and hashtags like #NYCfoodie or #LAeats can help nearby people find your restaurant. This is great for attracting locals who are looking for new places to try.

It’s Easy to Chat With Customers

Instagram makes it simple for customers to ask questions, leave comments, or book a table. Being active in your comments and messages shows that your restaurant is friendly and welcoming.

Instagram Influencer Marketing: The Best Type of Instagram Marketing

You can market your restaurant on Instagram by making your own account and posting pictures. However, building an audience from the ground up can take a lot of time and effort. So, why not let someone with an already established following do it for you?

Instagram influencer marketing is when businesses team up with popular Instagram users to promote their products or services. For restaurants, this means working with food bloggers, local influencers, or content creators who have an engaged audience.

Instagram influencers can create posts, stories, or reels about your restaurant. They might show off your most popular dishes, highlight your dining space, or share their experience during a visit.

Instagram influencer marketing stands out as one of the most effective ways for restaurants to attract new customers. Here's why it's such a powerful strategy:

Influencers Create Authentic Content

Unlike traditional ads, influencer posts feel more natural. When an influencer visits your restaurant and shares their experience, it looks more like a friend’s recommendation than a sales pitch. This builds trust and encourages people to try your food.

Influencers Have Engaged Local Audiences

Most food influencers have followers who are actively looking for new dining spots. By partnering with influencers who focus on your city or neighborhood, you can reach people who are close enough to visit your restaurant.

Visual Content Drives Customer Interest

Influencers are skilled at creating eye-catching content. Their high-quality food photos, engaging captions, and creative Reels can make your dishes look even more appealing. This type of content can easily grab attention and spark curiosity.

Influencers Encourage Word-of-Mouth Marketing

When influencers share positive experiences, their followers often follow suit. People may tag friends, comment about wanting to visit, or share the post—creating buzz around your restaurant.

It’s Cost-Effective With Long-Term Results

Unlike paid ads that disappear once your budget runs out, influencer posts stay on their profiles for weeks or even months. This means their content can continue driving interest and visits long after the initial post.

Influencers Can Showcase Your Brand’s Personality

Every restaurant has its own vibe—from cozy cafés to lively bars. Influencers help share that story in a relatable way, showing potential customers what to expect when they visit.

How to Get Started With Instagram Marketing the Easy Way With Bulba

If you're a restaurant owner looking to grow your Instagram presence, Bulba makes influencer marketing simple and budget-friendly. Here's how you can get started:

Create a Campaign on Bulba

The first step is to set up a campaign that invites influencers to visit your restaurant. In your campaign, include:

Your Offer

In this section, clearly explain what influencers will receive. This could be a complimentary meal, a special event invitation, or a tasting experience.

Your Collaboration Type

There are two types of collaboration in Bulba:

• Gifted campaigns: Offer free meals or experiences in exchange for social media posts. This is a great option when you want to attract influencers without spending extra on marketing.
• Paid campaigns: Set a budget for the top 1% of influencers. Bulba takes no commission, and these campaigns count toward your monthly credits—keeping costs low and predictable.

Set Influencer Requirements

Bulba helps you attract influencers who match your goals by letting you set clear requirements.

In the "Content Requirements" section, you can:

• Follower count: Set a minimum number of followers to ensure influencers have a good reach.
• Average video views: This helps you connect with influencers whose content consistently attracts attention.
• Guest limits: Since influencers often dine with others, you can decide how many guests they’re allowed to bring.

You can also set what types of content you want. For example, you can ask for Instagram stories, reels, or posts showcasing your best dishes, cozy ambiance, or new menu items.

To reach the right audience, Bulba also lets you choose a "Category" for influencers that can see your campaign. For a restaurant, the "Food & Drink" category seems to be the most relevant. No worries; you can choose as many categories as you want.

In another part of the "Campaigns" page, you can also add additional notes to inform the influencer of additional things you want with the content.

Set Your Availability

Scheduling can be one of the most time-consuming parts of working with influencers, but Bulba makes it easy.

Instead of endless back-and-forth messages, you can set your available dates and times directly in your campaign. Influencers will see your schedule and request a visit during your available slots.

Bulba offers three options for organizing influencer visits. Each option is designed to fit different types of marketing goals.

Regular Collaboration

This option lets you invite one influencer at a time. It’s ideal for everyday dining visits or ongoing content. This works well if you want steady exposure without overwhelming your staff.

One-Off Event

This option allows you to invite multiple influencers at once for a big event. It’s perfect for new menu launches, holiday promotions, or special celebrations where you want to create a buzz.

Recurring Event

This option is similar to a one-off event but happens on a regular basis. For example, you could invite influencers every Friday for a happy hour promotion or every month for a themed dining night.

Advanced Campaign Settings in Bulba

Bulba offers several advanced settings to help you manage influencer collaborations more effectively:

Cooling Period

This sets a waiting period before an influencer can request another collaboration with your brand after completing one. Options include no waiting period or a delay of a week, month, quarter, or year. This helps you manage repeat requests from the same influencers.

Minimum Booking Notice

This setting allows you to control how soon an event can be booked. For example, if set to three days, influencers must request their collaboration at least three days before the intended visit date.

Limit Future Bookings

This defines how far in advance influencers can schedule a visit. For example, setting this to 30 days means influencers can only book dates within the next month.

Assets

You can upload helpful files that influencers can access directly from the campaign. These may include high-quality photos, a digital menu, or brand guidelines to support accurate and engaging content creation.

These settings give you more control over scheduling, influencer activity, and the resources available to creators.

After filling up all the necessary info, all you have to do is save and activate the campaign and you're ready to go!

Why Bulba Is the Best Choice for Restaurant Owners

If you're a restaurant owner, Bulba makes influencer marketing simple, affordable, and stress-free. Instead of paying influencers directly, you offer them a free meal in exchange for social media content. This means no ad spend—just great content that helps promote your business.

Here’s why Bulba is perfect for restaurants:

No Cash Needed

With Bulba, you don't need to pay influencers directly. Instead, you can offer them a free meal in exchange for social media content. This saves you money while still giving your restaurant valuable exposure.

Influencers Come to You

Bulba’s inbound-only model means you won’t need to spend time inviting influencers. Instead, influencers interested in your restaurant will request to visit through the Bulba app. This makes the process easier and saves you time.

Target the Right Influencers

Bulba’s campaign filters let you choose influencers based on their category, such as ‘food,’ along with follower count and average views. This helps you connect with creators who can reach your ideal customers.

Copyright to Influencer Content

With Bulba, you get full rights to the content that influencers create. You can reuse these posts on your social media, Google profile, or website without paying extra fees.

Guaranteed Content Creation

Influencers have to post their content within three weeks. This gives you peace of mind, knowing you'll get the exposure you expect within a reasonable time frame.

With Bulba, you’ll fill tables, boost your online presence, and reach new customers without spending on ads.

Sign up for Bulba today and start connecting with influencers who are excited to promote your restaurant.

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FAQs About Instagram Marketing for Restaurants

How to market a restaurant on Instagram?

To market a restaurant on Instagram, focus on sharing content that grabs attention. Post high-quality photos of your most delicious dishes and use Instagram stories to share behind-the-scenes moments or daily specials. Creating engaging Instagram reels can also help showcase your food in an exciting way.

Make sure your Instagram profile looks inviting with a clear Instagram bio that tells visitors what your restaurant offers. Engaging with Instagram users through comments and likes can also help build relationships. Sharing user-generated content from happy customers is another great way to grow your restaurant's Instagram account.

Do Instagram ads work for restaurants?

Yes, Instagram ads can work well for restaurants when targeted properly. By focusing on Instagram users in your local area, you can reach people who are likely to visit. Showcasing your best delicious dishes with mouthwatering photos or short Instagram reels can grab attention.

Using Instagram insights to track which ads perform best will help you fine-tune your approach. Ads that highlight special deals, seasonal menus, or unique dining experiences tend to work well for boosting your restaurant business.

How often should restaurants post on Instagram?

Restaurants should aim to post consistently without overdoing it. Posting an Instagram post about 3-5 times a week keeps your restaurant's Instagram account active.

Use Instagram stories daily to share casual updates, specials, or quick moments from the kitchen. Mixing up your content with reels, posts, stories, and other fun restaurant Instagram ideas will keep your audience engaged without feeling overwhelmed.

Is Instagram good for restaurants?

Absolutely. Instagram is one of the best social media platforms for restaurants because it’s highly visual. Sharing tempting photos of delicious dishes encourages people to visit. With the right restaurant Instagram marketing strategy, restaurants can use Instagram stories, posts, and Instagram reels to connect with their audience.

Building a strong Instagram presence also makes it easier for potential customers to find you when searching for dining options. Plus, using Instagram insights helps you understand what content works best for attracting more Instagram followers. If you have the right Instagram strategy, you can turn your Instagram profile into a powerful marketing tool for your restaurant.