Effective Video Marketing and Production Guide for Restaurants

• Video increases your organic traffic by 157%
• Boost conversion rate by 80%
• Improve brand recall by 95%

These are the latest stats that prove how effective and essential video marketing is for any business. In case your restaurant is taking a hit, then it’s time to come up with a new strategy and make your place a hit. 

All you need is an effective Video Marketing and Production Guide. 

Through an intriguing video, you can–

• Enhance Brand Visibility
• Engage Potential Customers
• Increase Conversion Rates
• Drive Engagement
• Drive Sales 
• Have More Crowd At Restaurant 

Video Marketing For Restaurants

Video marketing is the strategic use of video content to promote— brands, products, services, or ideas across multiple mediums. It involves creating, distributing, and hyping up intriguing videos on channels. This can be video-sharing platforms like YouTube, websites, social media, and email campaigns. 

It holds the specialty of visual storytelling that captures audiences’ attention, spreads key messages efficiently, and drives desired actions. 

As for the restaurants, it simply means using videos to market your restaurant. 

Such videos show off all the good sides a restaurant can offer to attract customers. These are–

1. Delish food
2. Curated menu
3. Creative interior
4. Good vibe and ambiance
5. Nice music
6. Friendly staff
7. Pleasant services 
8. Bonus facilities– delivery and pickup 

Moreover, it works to tell your story so you can connect with your customers at an emotional and personal level. It’s because videos have the power to make you reach people more than photos and texts. 

You can use video marketing as a standalone or combine it with other strategies and campaigns for your restaurant. 

The Benefits 

• Increased engagement on different platforms
• Better brand visibility
• More awareness regarding the restaurant
• High conversion rates
• More crowd in your restaurant

You can make the video yourself or hire a pro. 

Best Video Production House

Many companies offer the making of videos. It can cost between 2500$ and 250000$ or more on a corporate level based on factors like video length, type, and use of elements like graphics or music. 

If you wish to get yourself the video best production house for marketing your restaurant, consider LocalEyes. They can produce your video at around $5,000 to $20,000 based on your preferences and wishes. 

Statistics And Trends In Video Marketing

• Video content can increase organic traffic by 157%. (Source: Vidico)
• 96% of People Use Videos to Learn About Products and Services (Source: The Social Shepherd)
• Video messages get you a 95% retention rate compared to 10% of text messages 
• 88% of marketers say that— video is an essential part of their marketing strategy. (Source: Vidico)
• Videos can boost conversion rate by 80%
• 75% of the audience watch short-form video content on their mobile
• Videos generate 66% more qualified leads than other methods
• 52% of companies create videos since they help educate their audience  (Source: Dash)
• 44% say they’d prefer to watch a short or explainer video

6 Types of Video Content For Restaurants

Promotional Videos

Promotional videos are short videos that stress the specialty of your brand (i.e. restaurant). The video helps promote specific marketing initiatives, sales, or events. It’s usually between 30 seconds and 3 minutes. 

Such marketing videos can express the purpose of hype about your upcoming restaurant and encourage your customers to do something. 

This can be–

• Eat 10 pizza slices at a 10-minute gate and it’s free! 
• Explore our buy one get one offer today!

If you want to make your video effective, note down the best features of your restaurant. You can focus on–

• Signature dishes
• Popular items
• Cozy ambiance 
• Special offers 

Make sure you keep the video short and sweet. The best length would be within 30-60 seconds. 

Focus on visuals. You can also shoot the video keeping the beautiful interior of your restaurant as a background. This can grab attention and make viewers want to visit the place, have some good times, and click some nice pictures for Instagram.  

Plus, you can use upbeat encouraging music and vibrant or classic colors. 

Add compelling calls to action such as—

• “Visit us today!” 
• “Book your table now!”
• “Complete this challenge and it’s free!”

Menu Showcases

Menu showcase videos explore all the items on your menu and feature detailed looks at the dishes you serve. The video highlights all the food items— 

• Starters and Mains
• Snacks
• Beverages, teas, and coffees
• Dessert
• Signature dishes
• Popular dishes
• Salads and Vegan options
• Gluten-free options

It emphasizes the ingredients and preps of those items and works to make your menu items look irresistible!

In case, you wish to go with a menu showcase video, try to start with close-up shots of your menu and the dishes. You can show—

• Steam rising from hot, sizzling steak. 
• Unique presentation/plating of the food from different angles.
• Vibrant colors of fresh veggies and fruits in the salad. 

Describe the ingredients and let viewers know what makes each dish special. 

Let’s say, you’re highlighting your signature burger. Talk about the patty, fresh fillings, fresh toppings, seasonings, and special sauces just like how Spongebob would do. 

Such videos can make your viewers’ mouths water. Plus, the description can get them super excited to try your food!

Behind-the-Scenes Tours

A BTS tour video gives a glimpse into something not usually accessible to the public. Such a marketing video gives your viewers a look at what’s behind the curtain at your restaurant. It may show—

• Kitchen in action like how the dishes are prepped, tossed, and cooked. 
• Ingredient selection
• Plating techniques and presentation 

This marketing video can be a perfect way to highlight your team’s hard work and dedication— which helps make anyone’s dining experience special. 

If you wish to create a BTS tour video for marking, we suggest starting by introducing the star behind the food— your Chef! 

You can also show them how your delish dishes are cooked in the kitchen. There can be footage of the chef talking about the specialty of the food and communicating with other cooks and staff.

Plus, the video can also have a shot of your restaurant’s daily operations as well as the activities that happen during pre-opening hours. 

This will work to build transparency and trust with your customers. It’ll help give them a sense of connection with your restaurant. 

Customer Testimonials

This marketing video is all about happy and satisfied customers sharing their experiences. Customer Testimonials can feature the patrons talking about the good sides of the restaurant. It can be about—

• Their favorite dishes
• The beauty of the interior 
• The friendly vibe they got from the restaurant
• The good service overall

The Customer Testimonial video can be one of the most effective ways to market your restaurant. It’s because viewers tend to check the reviews before deciding to give it a go. So, let your customers become your promoters. 

Record short clips of them expressing about their experience. For instance–

A frequenter might describe how your fettuccine pasta is their go-to comfort food.

These testimonials work like online proof that your restaurant is a dope place to visit, eat, and have a good time. The positive feedback can persuade viewers to give you a try. 

When shooting the testimonials, just make sure to capture their genuine reactions.

Keep it natural, candid, and relatable.

Event Coverage

Any event coverage marketing video captures the special events. It contains the footage of the events held at your restaurant. 

Some popular restaurant events include–

• Themed dinners
• Live music nights or karaoke 
• Food tasting event
• Guest chef

In case you’re hosting events, try to record them and highlight the interesting experiences. 

For instance–

Take a footage of a live band playing. Capture the lit performance of the members and the crowd enjoying the music and having fun. Use these clips in the video marketing content. 

If it’s a special dinner with a celebrity chef (let’s say Aarón Sanchez), show clips of the guest reviewing your food as well as interesting interactions between the food and the guest. 

These videos can entice viewers to your events. Plus, the video can encourage repeat visits from the ones who had a blast. 

Not just that! They also stress that—

• You’re a friendly and cool restaurant owner 
• The place is quite lively and interactive 

Cooking Demonstrations and Recipes

Demonstration videos show the process of what’s cooking. It demonstrates how to prepare signature dishes from your menu. 

Often the videos contain step-by-step recipes, with all the ingredients and instructions. This mostly highlights your food as well as the artist behind it- the chef.

To attract your customers, you can film cooking demonstrations and recipes. Show the viewers how to cook one of your star items from start to finish. It can be a juicy steak or a delightful chocolate cake. 

If you’re the chef–

• Make sure to explain each step clearly
• Show the ingredients and mention the quantity in details
• Give some tips on substitutions or how to make it different 

Such videos can work to engage your audience and connect with them effectively. Plus, they help build loyalty.

Creating An Effective Video Marketing Strategy- 4 Steps 

Defining Goals and Objectives

It’s the very first thing to create an effective video marketing strategy. 

Note down what exactly you want in your video. Do you wish to—

• Attract diverse customers?
• Increase brand awareness?
• Launch new services like home delivery or late-night opening?
• Drive more reservations and orders?
• Promote new menu items?

Once you know your objectives, it’ll help guide your video content production. 

Identifying Target Audience

Now your job is to mark who’s your target audience. If you have no idea, check these out–

Take a look at the list and create your content as per their preferences and interests.

Crafting Compelling Stories

Storytelling is the real key. Personal stories work to intrigue your viewers more properly. Plus, they make the video marketing content more engaging. You can share—

• The history of your restaurant
• An interesting fact regarding the place
• Your or the chef’s journey
• The inspiration behind the dishes or interior 

Choosing the Right Video Platforms

Different mediums serve different purposes. You can pick platforms depending on the style of your video. For example—

• YouTube: longer and shorter videos
• Facebook: mid-length videos
• TikTok: trendy, fun short content
• Instagram: short, engaging clips or snap-based footage

Video Production Tips and Best Practices

Pre-Production Planning 

The story and script have to be well-structured. Make sure to visually sketch out all the scenes, sequences, and footage of the video.

Talk to the team of your hired video production house. Discuss the kind of story and script your video content should have for your restaurant. 

Make sure the video interacts with all the foodies and any target audience you’ve marked. List the best characteristics of your restaurant to add them to the content. 

Consider the budget and resource allocation. The cost of video marketing for the restaurant can vary based on 7 factors—

Figure: 7 Factors Influencing The Cost Of Video Production And Marketing

Production

Because quality matters, you and your production house team should have good equipment to shoot the video content for your restaurant. Make sure they have everything ready. 

To make an effective video marketing and production guide, the team should have—

• High-quality cameras: Capture crisp and vibrant shots
• Sturdy tripods and monopods: Ensure stability 
• Professional lighting setups: Enhance the mood and clarity 
• Dynamic microphone: Sharp audio quality, clear dialogues, and ambient sounds.

Take footage highlighting the menu, signature/popular dishes, creative food presentation, classy interior, friendly staff, and great services. 

Post-production

Editing work starts from here. 

It’s better to keep the video concise and engaging. Your production house may use software like Adobe Premiere Pro to give the footage a shape. 

• Trim all the unwanted parts 
• Keep the pace smooth
• Add upbeat music and good sound effects
• Choose tracks that go well with the video and restaurant
• Include your logos, brand colors, and consistent fonts

All these steps will help make your videos instantly recognizable. 

Optimizing Videos For SEO

Keyword Research for Video Content

Different online tools and software can help you optimize your marketing video for the restaurant. Identify and list the keywords that viewers or potential customers may use to find restaurants like yours. 

Use tools like—

• Google Keyword Planner
• Ahrefs
• Semrush 

They can help you spot popular search items relevant to your dishes, cuisine, location, and other offers. 

Include keywords that go well with your restaurant and work to make your audience notice. Add them to video titles, descriptions, and tags. 

You can take ideas from these examples–

• Best Italian restaurant in Miami
• Authentic Brazilian restaurant in Austin 
• New York cheese pizza and pasta 
• Top Steakhouse in LA 

Crafting Effective Video Titles and Descriptions

Make sure your video title is clear but catchy. Include primary keywords so that your audience knows what it is.

For instance

• Best Italian Restaurant in Miami– Delish Pizza and Pasta
• Top Underwater Restaurant in Chicago– Fresh Seafood Dishes
• Best Steakhouse Restaurant in Washington– Juicy and Succulent Steak

In the description, give a gist or detailed summary of the video content. Infuse keywords naturally into the sentences. Make sure to avoid KW stuffing. 

Using Tags and Categories

Tags help a lot in optimizing your video and boosting it. You can use both broad and specific tags. For instance–

• “Italian restaurant,” 
• “Washington dining,” 
• “Wood-fired pizza”
• “Sizzling Steakhouse” 

Make sure to pick the right categories when uploading the video on YouTube. Choose ones that go well with the content. 

For restaurants, it should be Food, travel, restaurant, etc. 

Creating Engaging Thumbnails

Thumbnails are the first thing that your viewers will notice. So, you have to make it creative, interesting, and engaging. 

It’s better to feature the best thing about your restaurant and use that in your thumbnail—for instance– dishes with nice plating or artistic interior. 

Add text overlays to the thumbnail. This will give context and increase more clicks. It also lets your audience know what the video is about which can help promote your restaurant more effectively. 

However, all of these depend on the type of your video.

Let’s say, it’s about a new menu item.

• The thumbnail can feature a close-up shot of the dish. 
• Add text like “Featuring Out Latest Menu Item: Fettuccine Pasta.”

Implementing Structured Data for Video SEO

Structured data basically helps feed detailed data and info about your video content into the search engines. It works to improve the visibility of your video to a great extent in SERPs. 

It’s better to use structured data. Include deets like–

• Video title
• Description
• Thumbnail URL 
• Upload date
• Duration 

Add this markup to your website’s HTML. Google’s Structured Data Markup Helper can help you here. 

Promoting Your Restaurant Videos

Sharing on Social Media Platforms

Post or share the video on mediums like 

• YouTube
• Facebook
• Instagram
• TikTok
• Snapchat

Embedding Videos on Your Website and Blog

Embedding can be an effective way to display your best content. Plus, it keeps your audience hooked. This helps optimize your website, video, and brand overall. 

So, embed videos on your restaurant website and blog. 

Using Email Marketing to Distribute Videos

It’s even wise to distribute videos on platforms beyond social media. Include the content in email newsletters. This works to increase open rates and engagement. 

Collaborating with Influencers and Food Bloggers

Content with food bloggers and influencers because they’ll help you reach wider audiences. Not only will it boost your credibility but also grab new regulars. 

Running Paid Advertising Campaigns

Use different platforms to run video campaigns. You can try Google Ads or Facebook Ads or both. 

It can work to drive traffic and increase conversion. 

Also, track your ad performance and adjust the strategy accordingly. 

Measuring Video Marketing Success

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to Track

KPIs can help a lot in measuring the success–performance—and efficiency of your video. You can also understand what resonates with your beloved audience.

Some track metrics are–

• Views
• Engagement
• Click through rates
• Conversions
• Comments and feedbacks
• Reactions
• Likes 
• Dislikes 

Tools for Analyzing Video Performance

Analyze the performance of your video through some good tools. They can give valuable data and insights so you can understand what you have to do to refine your strategy. 

Some tools include

• Google Analytics
• YouTube Analytics
• Social Media Insights 

Adjusting Strategies Based on Data Insights

If you wish to refine your video marketing strategy for a restaurant, go through data insights and customer feedback. 

Focus on what works and adjust what doesn’t.

Case Studies and Success Stories

• Starbucks’ Customer Testimonials
• The Restaurant Boss Success Story
• Chipotle Adding Tiktok Viral Fajita Quesadilla To Digital Menu
• The uniqueness of KFC Chizza: All chicken, no crust 

Hype Your Restaurant With Good Marketing Video Content 

Craft a nice video that features the best part of your restaurant. Highlight good food, a beautiful interior, friendly staff, and a good vibe in the video that can entice the viewers. 

Make sure to plan carefully, shoot the video skillfully, edit it precisely, and market it smartly. That’s what makes the video marketing efficient. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)