You don’t need a huge budget to create impactful videos that resonate with your audience. Online video campaigns are an excellent way for restaurants to maximize their return on investment, even on a tight budget.

Today’s customers are hungry for more than just good food—they crave engaging content, too. The world is consuming more video content than ever before, and restaurants can tap into this trend to draw customers in, both online and in-person.

The statistics behind video marketing are compelling:

• People engage with video content more than any other type across all social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
• Websites featuring videos enjoy increased traffic, while emails with videos see higher click-through rates.
• Video content is 12 times more likely to be shared than text or images.
• Marketing videos drive brand engagement and sales, with 85% of millennials making a purchase after watching a video and 53% of all adults interacting with a brand after viewing a video.
• Viewers spend five times longer watching videos than looking at photos or other static images.

In short, videos not only grab attention but also encourage sharing, making your content go further. And with platforms like Facebook prioritizing personal content, videos have never been more crucial for organic reach.

Restaurants are naturally suited for video content. After all, who doesn’t love to watch a delicious meal come together? Videos allow you to capture the full experience—beyond what a photo can offer.

To create compelling food videos, think about movement and sound. Show the entire process, from a pot boiling to vegetables sizzling in a pan. Consider filming the preparation of a dish from start to finish, speeding through the less exciting parts to keep the video under a minute while still showing off the whole process.

While showcasing your food is a great start, your video marketing strategy can go much further. Here are some tips to enhance your content:

1. Keep it Short and Sweet We ensure your videos are concise. Get the most critical information out in the first ten seconds. Engagement tends to drop after 30 seconds, with further drop-offs at the one- and two-minute marks. While longer videos can work, always front-load your content to ensure your key message gets across.

2. Support Other Marketing Efforts Use your videos to complement your broader marketing strategy. Include a clear call to action (CTA), like a link to your website or an invitation to join your email list. If viewers like what they see, they might be interested in special promotions or updates on future videos. You can even tease upcoming content or encourage sign-ups for notifications about new video releases.

3. Play to Your Strengths Focus on what makes your restaurant unique. Whether it’s showcasing your food, the atmosphere, or the personalities behind the scenes, your videos should reflect the true essence of your restaurant. A fine dining establishment might opt for a polished, elegant video, while a casual diner could go for a more relaxed, informal style.

Being in the food industry gives you a wide array of video content options. Recipe videos are particularly popular—while you don’t have to give away all your culinary secrets, sharing kitchen tips or creating a special, video-friendly recipe can engage viewers. Other ideas include:

• Highlighting signature dishes or new specials
• Conducting in-depth interviews with your chef
• Featuring your wait staff talking about their favorite dishes
• Streaming live cooking demonstrations on platforms like Facebook Live

Experiment with different types of content to see what resonates best with your audience. As you learn what works, you can tailor future videos to meet their tastes.

Start small, get creative, and let your restaurant’s personality shine through. With the right approach, video marketing can be a powerful tool to attract new patrons and keep your regulars coming back for more.