The Ultimate Guide to Restaurant Marketing: How to Drive More Online Orders

In today’s digital-first world, growing your restaurant means more than just great food and friendly service

It means mastering online marketing. Whether you’re looking to boost delivery, increase repeat orders, or simply get discovered by more people, smart restaurant marketing can make a huge impact on your bottom line.

At Fudli, we help restaurants take control of their online presence and build direct relationships with their customers. In this guide, we’ll walk you through key strategies to market your restaurant effectively and grow your online ordering system in a sustainable, brand-first way.

What Does Restaurant Marketing Really Mean?
Restaurant marketing is about more than just pretty food photos on Instagram. It’s about building long-term connections with your customers, through digital channels you own and control. This includes your website, email list, SMS, social media and even the printed flyers that go out with delivery orders. When done right, marketing keeps your brand top of mind and your customers coming back.

Step 1: Know Who You’re Talking To

🎯 Build a Customer Profile

Understanding your current and ideal customers is the foundation of effective marketing. Think about the people who regularly order from you — their age, lifestyle, habits and location. Are you serving busy professionals? Families? Students? Tourists?

Ask yourself:

• What’s the typical age range of my customers?
• Are we a neighbourhood favourite or a destination spot?
• Is our brand casual and cozy, or fast and functional?

When you define your audience clearly, it becomes much easier to create content and offers that actually resonate.

Step 2: Highlight What Makes You Stand Out

🌟 Define Your Unique Selling Points

Why do people love your restaurant? What keeps them coming back? Maybe it’s your signature dish, your sustainability values, your late-night hours, or your unbeatable value. Whatever it is, that’s your marketing gold.

Make sure your unique qualities shine through in your website, content, menu design, and promotional messaging.

Ask yourself:

• What are we known for?
• What do customers rave about in reviews?
• Do we host events, collaborate with local creators, or offer seasonal exclusives?

Step 3: Make Sure You’re Discoverable Online

📍 Optimise for Local Search

When someone searches for “best Indian restaurant near me” or “Thai delivery in [Your Area],” you want to show up. That’s where SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) and local listings come in.

Quick wins:

• Keep your Google Business Profile up to date (photos, hours, menu links)
• Add location-specific keywords to your website (e.g., “Vegan brunch in Shoreditch”)
• Use tools like Google Search Console to track and improve visibility

Step 4: Promote Across the Right Channels

📸 Social Media

Social platforms are where food brands come to life. Instagram and TikTok are perfect for showing off your dishes, your team and your story. Engage with customers, repost their photos, and give sneak peeks of new items.

Tips:

• Post 4–5 times per week
• Use location and niche hashtags
• Encourage user-generated content
• Use Stories and Reels for behind-the-scenes moments

📬 Email Marketing

Build a direct line to your customers by collecting emails through your online ordering system. Send updates about new menu items, promotions, or exclusive deals. With Fudli, you can automate this process to build loyalty without the extra admin.

Step 5: Combine Digital with Offline Tactics

🧾 Delivery Inserts & Flyers

Don’t underestimate the power of old-school methods. Add flyers or exclusive discount codes to your delivery bags to encourage customers to order direct next time instead of through marketplaces.

Step 6: Use Paid Ads the Smart Way

If you’re investing in online ads, make sure they’re targeted. Use the customer data from your Fudli dashboard to reach similar audiences on Instagram, Facebook, or Google. Retarget people who’ve visited your site but haven’t ordered yet, and offer a compelling reason to come back.

The Fudli Difference

Fudli isn’t just a platform for taking online orders — it’s a complete system to help restaurants own their customer relationships, grow repeat business and increase profitability. With Fudli, you can:

• Launch a fully branded ordering website in just days
• Build and engage your customer database
• Offer loyalty offers and personalised promotions
• Send notifications and emails that drive action
• Cut out third-party commission fees that eat into your revenue

Ready to Grow Smarter?

Marketing your restaurant doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Start by focusing on the channels you own, the customers you know, and the brand experience only you can offer.

Fudli helps you grow your online orders — not just today, but sustainably into the future.

👉 Want to learn more? Book a free demo and see how Fudli can help your restaurant thrive.