How to Get More Customers to Your Restaurant

Running a restaurant in today’s world isn’t just about good food—it’s about visibility, engagement, and keeping people coming through the door. Whether you’re a cozy neighborhood spot or an upscale dining experience, getting more customers is always a top priority.

But with increasing competition, tighter marketing budgets, and ever-changing digital trends, many restaurant owners are left wondering: What actually works?

In this guide, we’ll break down tried-and-true tactics to attract more diners—plus show you how influencer marketing is the most cost-effective and trackable way to grow your customer base in 2025. We’ll also show you how Mustard.love makes the whole process easier and more impactful.

1. Nail Your Google Presence

The first step in getting more customers is showing up where people are searching—Google.

Here’s how to boost your local visibility:

• Claim and optimize your Google Business Profile
• Keep your hours, menu, and photos updated
• Encourage happy customers to leave reviews
• Use keywords in your business description (e.g., “Best tacos in Austin”)

📍 Tip: Google Maps is the new homepage for restaurants. Make your listing pop with strong photos and consistent 5-star reviews.

2. Leverage Instagram and TikTok for Discovery

People eat with their eyes first—and social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok are where dining decisions start.

Make sure you're posting:

• High-quality food shots
• Behind-the-scenes kitchen content
• Reels of your ambiance, signature dishes, or customer reactions
• Trending sounds and local hashtags

But here's the truth: Organic reach is down. That’s where influencers come in.

3. Use Influencer Marketing to Drive Real Traffic

Influencer marketing has become one of the most effective ways to bring in new customers. Why? Because creators have trust, attention, and loyal followings that are already tuned into food content.

Here’s what influencer marketing does for your restaurant:

• Builds awareness with highly targeted audiences
• Creates buzz through mouthwatering content
• Sparks urgency (“I NEED to try this place this weekend!”)
• Drives trackable visits, reservations, and orders

But working with influencers can also be time-consuming, expensive, or unpredictable—unless you’re using the right platform.

💡 Mustard.love connects you directly with vetted food and lifestyle influencers who are ready to visit, post, and promote your restaurant. No guesswork. No messy DMs. Just real results you can track.

4. Offer a Great First-Time Experience

You only get one chance to wow a new customer. If someone discovers you through an influencer, your job is to turn them into a regular.

Here’s how:

• Have your team ready to deliver a warm, on-brand experience
• Feature a “Welcome Plate” or freebie for new diners
• Ask for feedback, reviews, or a follow on social

Make that first visit memorable enough that they tell friends, post about it, or return next week.

5. Run Limited-Time Promotions (The Right Way)

Promotions still work—if they’re done with purpose. Instead of blanket discounts, try:

• Special tasting menus
• Weekend-only dishes
• Collabs with local brands
• Events or influencer-hosted nights

The key is to make the promotion feel exclusive and shareable.

✨ Want to amplify that promotion? Mustard lets you create influencer campaigns around limited-time offers—so creators help build the hype before your event or release.

6. Get More Reviews (Without Being Pushy)

Reviews are one of the most powerful forms of marketing—and a major influence on search visibility.

How to encourage more without begging:

• Include a QR code on your check that links to Google or Yelp
• Train your staff to ask politely after a great experience
• Follow up on delivery orders with a review request
• Feature recent reviews on social to build trust

Bonus tip: When influencers review your restaurant on blogs, YouTube, or Substack, you also get valuable SEO backlinks that help you show up higher in search results.

7. Host Content Creators the Smart Way

Don’t just invite influencers at random. Host them with purpose and structure:

• Choose creators who align with your brand and location
• Offer a set menu or signature experience
• Clarify what kind of content you’re hoping to receive
• Track performance after they post

📅 With Mustard.love, you can:

• Approve creators who want to visit
• Let them book based on your availability
• Automatically send them campaign briefs and deliverables
• Track clicks, engagement, and content reuse rights

It’s influencer marketing without the time suck.

8. Reuse Influencer Content Everywhere

When creators post high-quality content about your restaurant, don’t let it disappear into the algorithm.

Repost it on:

• Your Instagram feed and Stories
• Google Business Profile
• Your website or menu page
• Flyers, newsletters, or ads

🖼️ Mustard campaigns come with clear content usage rights, so you’re legally covered and free to make the most of every post.

9. Build Community, Not Just Customers

Modern diners want to feel like they’re part of something. Use your marketing channels to:

• Share your story and behind-the-scenes moments
• Feature your regulars or team members
• Run local giveaways or charity partnerships
• Collaborate with local influencers for co-branded campaigns

The more people feel connected to your brand, the more likely they are to show up and bring others.

Why Mustard.love Is the Secret Weapon for Customer Growth

Most restaurant owners don’t have time to manage influencer outreach, negotiate deliverables, or figure out which posts actually drove results. That’s why Mustard.love exists—to help restaurants grow through content that actually gets customers in the door.

With Mustard, you get:

✅ Direct access to top creators in your city
✅ Built-in campaign tools (briefs, scheduling, usage rights)
✅ Real-time performance tracking
✅ Legal protection for content reuse
✅ A full-funnel approach that connects buzz to bookings

Whether you want to drive traffic this weekend or build long-term awareness, Mustard helps you get more customers, faster.

Final Thoughts

There are dozens of ways to attract more customers to your restaurant—but the smartest strategies are the ones that are trackable, repeatable, and scalable.

Influencer marketing checks all those boxes—and with a platform like Mustard, you can finally stop guessing and start growing.

👉 Ready to bring in new customers with authentic content?
Get started with Mustard.love and see how influencer marketing can fill more seats, more often.

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