Restaurant Marketing Checklist

Fill more seats, drive more orders, and build a loyal dining community. This checklist covers every marketing channel that matters for restaurants.

28 total items75 minIntermediate4 sections

Google & Local Search

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Claim and fully complete your Google Business Profile including menu, hours, dine-in/takeout/delivery options
Add professional food photos — restaurants with 100+ photos get 3x more direction requests
Enable Google Food Ordering if available in your area — free incremental orders
Keep your hours updated especially for holidays and special events
Respond to every Google review within 4 hours — Google tracks engagement speed
Get listed on Yelp, TripAdvisor, OpenTable, Resy, and local food blogs
Target: '[cuisine] restaurant [city]', 'best [cuisine] near me', 'restaurants open now [city]'

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Set up commission-free online ordering on your website (use Square, Toast, or Owner.com)
List on DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub for discovery — but push customers toward direct ordering
Offer a 10% discount for direct orders vs. third-party orders — print this on your menus
Include a 'Order Direct and Save' flyer in every delivery bag from third-party platforms
Create a family meal bundle and a 'date night for two' bundle — these drive higher average order values
Run a 'Free delivery on orders over $X' promotion every weekend to boost order volume
Build an email list from online orders — these customers are your most loyal repeat buyers

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Post a high-quality photo or Reel of every new menu item on Instagram the day it launches
Go behind the scenes: show your chefs, prep process, ingredient sourcing — people love authenticity
Run a weekly 'staff pick' — each week a team member recommends their favorite dish
Partner with local food influencers for a comp meal in exchange for an honest post
Create a TikTok account showing satisfying food prep videos — these get millions of views
Run a 'tag us in your meal' UGC campaign — reshare every tagged post to your stories
Announce specials and events on social media with 48-hour notice to build anticipation

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Implement a digital loyalty program (Stamp Me, Belly, or Square Loyalty) — not paper punch cards
Offer a birthday reward — free dessert, appetizer, or discount — collect birthdays at signup
Create a VIP email list for your most loyal customers — give them early access to specials
Run a 'locals discount' program — residents of your ZIP code get a standing 10% off
Host a monthly themed dinner night (wine pairing, trivia night, chef's table) — drives repeat visits
Send an email newsletter weekly with specials, new items, and behind-the-scenes stories
Track your average visit frequency per customer — your goal is to increase it by 1 visit per quarter

Ready to implement?

Book a 30-minute audit with Nataliia. You'll get a personalized action plan for your business — no sales pitch, just strategy.