In this blog you will discover how to boost footfall and supercharge your local business with Influencers!

We know running a successful restaurant involves wearing many hats. From crafting mouthwatering menus to providing exceptional service, there's never a dull moment. Today, we're excited to share a game-changing strategy that can take your restaurant's visibility to new heights with limited resources and budget by collaborating with local influencers!

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1. Create a gifted collaboration strategy

Start by identifying your strategy. If your local establishment offers a variety of products or services, hone in on one of those to promote. I suggest selecting a product or service that offers a healthy profit margin and you have the capacity to fulfil orders once demand increases using the below strategy. In this blog, we detail how to leverage a gifted collaboration. Offering an influencer a free product or service in exchange for content and promoting it on their social channels. Gifted collaborations are a great way to offset any influencer fees that would usually apply, but if you are to proceed with this strategy it's important you bare in mind what influencers you decide to collaborate with.

Now you've selected your product / service, let's delve into what type of influencers you should collaborate with...

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2. Selecting suitable influencers based on budget and product

There are many types of influencers, each type named based on the size of their audience. Here's a guide on the different terminology used to describe the types of influencer:

Up to 10,000 followers = Nano influencer

Up to 50,000 followers = Micro influencer

Up to 250,000 followers = Macro influencer

Up to 1 million followers = Celebrity status

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If your product or service is worth £100, I suggest collaborating with influencers with up to 10,000 followers, as influencers within this follower range would usually charge around £100, therefore a gifted collaboration is a fair value exchange.

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3. Sourcing suitable influencers based on budget and product

See attached a standard operating process we use to source and contact influencers via instagram

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4. Develop a compelling offer

Now you have refined and established the size and type of influencer you would like to collaborate with it's important to create a compelling offer that will encourage them in-store. This has to align with your overall strategy. An example would be a free meal and drink for two if it's a season menu you would like to promote. If it's a new launch then it may be a free VIP experience for one night only. There are many ways you can position and promote a compelling offer to encourage influencers to collaborate. If your offer isn't getting influencers excited and biting your hand off to be part of the collaboration, it probably isn't compelling enough.

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5. Understand and establish your audience

Wo are your typical customers? Based on age, gender, location and interests. A tip to quickly get an understanding on this is to check your audience demographics on your instagram account. This will give you a good idea on the type of audience that are following your account and are receptive to the content you publish. Understanding this information will give you a much clearer understanding of the type of influencer you would like to collaborate with based on similar values, content and messaging across their social media accounts.

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6. Establish clear guidelines and permissions

If you're offering a free product or service in exchange for an influencer to create content and promote it across their channels then it's imperative that you ensure influencer's are generating results. In order to ensure collaborations go as smoothly as possible it's super important you set clear guidelines from the outset to save confusion and risk of detrimenting what could be the start of a long-term relationship. For example, If an influencer would like to collaborate with your brand and redeem your offer, what would you like in exchange? Most brands on our platform require 3 Instagram stories all tagging the brand and also one Instagram reel or TikTok. You can request to see an influencers content, requesting your approval before posting and also the rights to repurpose content as and when you wish. Failure to do this can quickly lead to misunderstandings.

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7. Scaling your influencer campaigns

Test and iterate by experimenting with a range of different offers, influencers and posting guidelines. It's important to get as granular as possible by measuring the impact of an influencers post based on views, engagement and any direct bookings through an influencers instagram stories. Understanding this information will enable you to see what influencers are generating the most results, giving you the option to further extend this collaboration by offering further access to exclusive offers or the option of payment.

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Benefits of an influencer collaboration

In a world dominated by social media, influencers have become the go-to source for recommendations. Here's why teaming up with them can be a recipe for success:

1. Expanded Reach: Influencers have a dedicated following eager to discover new and exciting experiences. Partnering with the right influencer can instantly introduce your restaurant to a wider audience.
2. Authenticity and Trust: Influencers build trust with their followers through authentic content. When they rave about your restaurant, it feels like a personal recommendation, creating a genuine connection with potential customers.
3. Engaging Content Creation: Influencers are skilled content creators. Imagine your delectable dishes showcased in stunning photos or entertaining videos, captivating your audience and sparking their curiosity.
4. Social Proof: Positive reviews from influencers act as social proof, convincing potential diners to choose your restaurant over others. It's like a digital word-of-mouth recommendation that can't be ignored.

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How We Can Help:

Social Plug is a platform that automates the process of connecting local restaurants with influencers who align with your brand and values. We take the guesswork out of the process, ensuring a seamless collaboration that benefits both parties.

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Next Steps:

1. Book a Discovery Call: Let's discuss your goals and explore how influencer marketing can elevate your restaurant's presence.
2. Tailored Strategy: We'll craft a personalised strategy based on your unique offerings, target audience, and brand personality.
3. Influencer Matchmaking: We identify influencers whose audience aligns with your ideal customer profile, ensuring maximum impact.
4. Campaign Execution: From planning to execution, we'll handle the logistics, so you can focus on what you do best – serving fantastic food!

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Don't let your restaurant be a hidden gem!