The best social media tips for Pizzerias
by the Social Media experts at Moving Targets
You've heard
that social media changes all the time. You've heard that every business should
be on Facebook. But when you have to divide your time between running your
pizzeria, managing the staff and spending time with your family, you can’t keep
up with every new social media marketing strategy. So what should you focus on?
What’s the best way to go about it?
I've asked
my team of social media experts “What’s your best social media tip for pizzerias?”
and here’s what they answered –
take notes:
MICHELLE BIZON, Social
Media Manager
My top tip is
to create unexpected customer
experiences that are inherently shareable. Abandon the
I-have-the-best-pizza-in-town soapbox and focus on making your customers feel
special. That's what'll differentiate you. Do a lot of takeout? Break up
the monotony of waiting in line with a cool backdrop (emblazoned with your
social branding, of course) or an awesome statue to encourage your customers to
take selfies that trace back to you. Mess up an order? Take ownership of
solving your customer's problem, and impress them with your customer service
skills so much so that they share the resolution of their issue over the bad
review itself. At its best, social media is a conversation — not a
broadcast channel. Get your fans sharing their own interactions with you, and
it'll pay off more than any content you create yourself.
JENNA GROSS, Social Media Strategist
Keep your
eye on the pies. Social media is just a tool to communicate with your customers.
Don't lose sight of the end goal: building customer loyalty and ultimately, increasing
sales and profits. Focus on connecting
with fans, not just collecting them. Make sure your posts are interesting,
staying true to your mission and “keep it real” in your conversation. Create
fresh, relevant and interesting two-way conversations, showing your fans you
care. They will reward you with trust, loyalty and more business.
BRANDON
FELL, Social Media Strategist
Stay connected and create engagement!
No matter how subliminal, keeping your business connected to fans, friends,
family, and ultimately your customers, will create repeat business. Responding
quickly to any questions, concerns, situations, or support from fans is the
best way to maintain a positive affinity. Social media sites (Facebook,
Twitter, Yelp, Google, etc.) are the most effective and easiest online channels
to relay messages, promotions, specials, and fun topics to your customers and
ensure their satisfaction all around. By creating a “voice” for your pizzeria
online (in social media), it will keep fans engaged and returning for more of
your delicious pizza. They will learn to trust and understand the personalized
connection and relationship with your business, both offline and online.
CHRISTA VOHS, Social Media Strategist
Your brand
personality is the best way to remind people why they love eating at your pizza
shop. Regulars will get to know your business and appreciate the server or
cashier they see twice a month. Use that to your advantage by featuring staff
bios with a photo. This will spark the interest of fans and employees, giving
you higher engagement. Emotionally
attached customers are more likely to recommend your business and choose
you over a competitor. They will learn to look for your posts on social media
because they make them laugh, smile or hungry for some pizza!
IAN
REPKO, Social Media Strategist
Try to instill a sense of excitement with you
customers. People frequent pizza shops for all kinds of special events and — often
times just for lunch. Set the expectation that you are the “go-to” place with
the best deals during the Superbowl/WorldCup, or that you frequently reward
your Facebook/Twitter/Instagram fans with a “secret code” offer. Do this by cross-platform promotion,
listening to your fan-base and refusing to let an unsuccessful offer deter you
from keeping at it.
LAUREN SPRINGER, Social Media
Strategist
My best
social media tip for pizzerias is to be sure to add your personal touch or stamp. Customers want to see what their
experience is going to be like when they visit you. Be sure to use the same
language you use in shop and real photos of your food, employees, and
customers. If you do this, it will show the customer you are invested in
showing them who you are, and not just what you sell. Also, don’t forget to
respond to comments and engage the customer – it shows you care about what they
think and builds loyalty for your brand.
MARGUERITE
HULETT, Social Media Strategist
Give a face to your pizzeria! When
people like you on Facebook or follow you on Twitter, it’s because they’re
interested in you! Take advantage of that and show off what’s going on in
your pizzeria. The saying that “a picture is worth a thousand words”
applies to social media as well. Don’t just use online stock photos of
pizza: people will know that it’s not your food. Instead, be creative and
have fun! Snap a photo of your latest special or capture a
behind-the-scenes moment in the kitchen. Is a customer celebrating a
birthday with you? Take a quick picture and post it on Facebook.
Show them why they need to eat at your pizzeria. Remember: your personality is
what will keep people coming back to your page and restaurant.
ALEX
BEARD, Social Media Strategist
My biggest
advice is to be different. What
makes you special? Why should I spend my money at your business? Figure that
out and let the customer know: do you have a better deal than your competitors?
Is there something special about the way your menu items are made? Does your
food look especially appetizing? Social media is a great way to let a broad
audience know that your business is worth visiting. Getting customers in the door is half the battle.
NATALIA
MORAIS, Director of Social
Media
There are two reasons why people are loyal to your pizzeria: you either
have the greatest pizza they’ve ever had, or you have good pizza and they know
you. Either way, having a deep relationship with your customers can make the
difference when they are choosing where to go. Use social media to share info
about the people behind the business, photos and anything customers wouldn’t
know by just going in the shop. If you want to keep your pizzeria on the top of
your customer’s mind, you need to be
constantly connected to them – and social media is the way to do it.
So, what do
you think? What are the challenges you face online? Feel free to share your
comments with us! If you ever have any social media questions, feel free to email me – I’ll be happy to help!
If you are
looking for some social media management awesomeness, check out our program.
Mention the PMQ Pizza Magazine and we’ll give you $100 off any service!
-Natalia Morais
