Choosing the right restaurant marketing agency is a challenging task. Whether opening a restaurant or already running one, partnering with a top marketing company ensures your brand is positioned effectively.
In this article, we will present the 10 best restaurant marketing agencies and guide you on what to look for when selecting the right partner.
Key Takeaways
- Restaurant marketing agencies specialize in promoting restaurants, offering services like SEO, branding, social media management, and digital advertising to help grow visibility and revenue when running a restaurant.
- A strong online presence is essential, with tactics such as local SEO, managing online reviews, and social media engagement playing a key role in attracting customers when opening a restaurant or growing an established one.
- Tailored marketing solutions help restaurants enhance customer engagement, increase online visibility, and drive traffic.
- Choosing the right restaurant marketing agency involves assessing their services, industry expertise, and portfolio to ensure they align with your goals and budget.
What is a restaurant marketing agency?
A restaurant marketing agency is a specialized service provider dedicated to promoting and growing restaurants by implementing targeted marketing strategies.
These agencies help increase restaurant revenue by improving visibility, attracting customers, and enhancing engagement through digital marketing techniques.
Key services include restaurant SEO to boost online search rankings, restaurant branding to create a memorable identity, and tools like social media management, website development, content creation, email marketing, and paid advertising.
10 Best Restaurant Marketing Companies
Are you wondering how to create a digital marketing strategy? Do you consider working with a restaurant marketing agency? You’ve come to the right place.
Below, you will find a list of the best restaurant marketing agencies with their pros and cons.
1. UpMenu
UpMenu is a comprehensive restaurant marketing agency that provides digital tools to help restaurants grow their online presence and boost revenue.
It specializes in website development and provides an online ordering system tailored to the unique needs of the food service industry.
UpMenu also offers marketing solutions like email campaigns, restaurant loyalty programs, and customer engagement tools to enhance a restaurant’s visibility and customer retention.
Pros
- UpMenu offers a full range of digital solutions and services, including website development, an online ordering system, and restaurant marketing tools, making it a one-stop solution for restaurants.
- You can create your own restaurant website by using a restaurant website builder.
- The option to send push campaigns, SMS, and email campaigns.
- The possibility to build branded Android and iOS apps for restaurants.
- UpMenu provides additional features such as a restaurant loyalty program and the possibility to create coupons and promotions.
- UpMenu offers services designed specifically for the food service industry.
- No commission fees.
- Transparent pricing.
Cons
- UpMenu doesn’t offer the service of setting up Google Ads for restaurants.
- UpMenu doesn’t provide a restaurant Facebook Ads setup.
Digital solutions provided by UpMenu Restaurant Marketing Agency start at $890.
2. Foodie Restaurant Marketing Agency
Foodie Restaurant Marketing Agency is the first full-service agency in the U.S. specializing in restaurant marketing, providing tailored solutions to help food industry businesses thrive.
With over 20 years of experience, they have partnered with global and national brands, offering services such as branding, website design, SEO, restaurant social media marketing, and digital advertising.
Their expert marketing team focuses on delivering measurable results through strategic, long-term approaches, helping restaurants grow their presence and engage customers effectively.
Pros
- Foodie focuses exclusively on the restaurant industry.
- The agency has successfully partnered with global and national brands.
- Foodie offers a comprehensive range of marketing services, including web design, branding, email and SMS marketing, paid media, social media management, and online reputation management.
- Foodie develops strong digital marketing strategies for restaurants with tailored marketing campaigns.
Cons
- While their expertise in the U.S. market is strong, restaurants outside the U.S. may find the agency less suitable if they seek global reach and experience.
- The lack of transparent pricing.
- The lack of dedicated restaurant solutions such as an online ordering system, tableside ordering, and a QR code menu.
Foodie Agency does not provide a price list on its website. To find out the pricing, fill out the form on their website.
3. Gourmet Marketing
Gourmet Marketing is a full-service restaurant marketing agency, founded in New York City in 2009, that now operates globally.
They offer a comprehensive range of digital marketing services, including SEO, social media management, email marketing, web design, and online reputation management, specifically tailored to the restaurant industry.
In 2023, an average of 45% of their clients’ total direct revenue came from organic channels, demonstrating the effectiveness of their strategies.
Pros
- Gourmet Marketing focuses specifically on the restaurant industry, providing tailored strategies for restaurants.
- As a dedicated marketing agency, they offer local SEO for restaurants, social media, and email marketing to help restaurants grow their online presence.
- They specialize in brand development and creating user-friendly websites.
- They also offer photography services, including food photography, product photography, and interior photography.
Cons
- The lack of pricing on their website
- While they focus heavily on digital marketing, there is no information available about other potential services like offline or local marketing strategies for restaurants.
Gourmet Marketing doesn’t share pricing on its website. To get a quote, you need to fill out the form available on their website.
4. Vigor
Vigor is a branding and marketing agency with over 20 years of experience, specializing in the hospitality industry, particularly restaurants.
With five locations and a track record of creating over 250 unique concepts, they offer both branding and rebranding services to help businesses stand out in a competitive market.
Their services include brand strategy, design, digital marketing, and advertising.
Pros
- Vigor offers a full range of tailored services, including restaurant branding, restaurant advertising, and website design.
- Vigor excels in restaurant rebranding.
- They provide restaurant interior design and hotel food & beverage concept development.
Cons
- The lack of pricing on their website.
- The lack of dedicated restaurant solutions like an online ordering system or a restaurant mobile app.
Vigor does not provide a price list on its website. To find out the pricing, fill out the form on their website.
5. Agency Creative
Agency Creative takes a deep dive into understanding each restaurant’s brand to create effective strategies, develop compelling ad campaigns, and use the latest technology for both traditional and digital marketing efforts.
Pros
- Their expertise spans across various dining formats, from QSR to upscale dining.
- The agency is Google AdWords and Facebook certified.
- They specialize in local SEO and online review strategies.
Cons
- Their website does not provide upfront pricing information.
- While Agency Creative offers services to restaurants, their broader marketing scope includes industries like healthcare, finance, and retail, which may result in less specialized focus on restaurant-specific challenges compared to agencies dedicated solely to restaurant marketing.
Agency Creative does not provide a price list on its website. To get a quote, fill out the form available on their website.
6. Tambourine
Tambourine is a hotel marketing agency that specializes in helping hotels, resorts, and tourism-related businesses grow their brand and boost direct bookings.
They offer a wide range of services with a strong focus on results.
Pros
- Tambourine focuses not only on the hospitality industry but also offers dedicated restaurant marketing services, ensuring customized solutions for both hotels and food service businesses.
- Their services include website development, SEO, digital marketing, social media management, and strategies for increasing direct bookings.
- For restaurants, Tambourine provides specialized services, including brand development, digital marketing, and strategies to increase customer engagement and reservations.
Cons
- While their specialization in hospitality is beneficial for hotels and resorts, businesses outside this industry may not find their services as applicable or relevant.
- Pricing information is not available on their website.
Like many marketing agencies, Tambourine’s pricing information is not readily available on their website, requiring potential clients to inquire directly for quotes.
7. Double Up Social
Double Up Social is a social media marketing agency and content creation agency launched in 2018, specializing in the hospitality industry.
Their primary focus is on helping businesses in industries like restaurants, cafés, bars, quick service, food & drink retail, e-commerce, and hotels grow their online presence and attract more customers.
Pros
- They offer a wide range of services including social media management, content creation, SEO, and website development.
- They emphasize producing high-quality, engaging content that resonates with the restaurant’s target audience.
Cons
- No pricing on their website.
- As a niche agency, Double Up Social may lack the global reach and infrastructure needed for businesses focusing on restaurant expansion into international markets.
Double Up Social does not list pricing on its website. To receive a quote, you’ll need to fill out the form provided on its site.
8. The Digital Restaurant
The Digital Restaurant is a marketing agency that specializes in providing digital marketing solutions for the restaurant industry.
They focus on creating custom digital strategies to help restaurants attract more customers, improve brand presence, and grow revenue.
Pros
- The Digital Restaurant focuses specifically on the restaurant industry, providing tailored digital marketing solutions like website design, SEO, and online ordering systems for restaurants.
- They offer a wide range of services including social media marketing, reputation management, and custom online ordering systems.
Cons
- The lack of pricing on their website.
- While they excel in digital marketing, restaurants looking for traditional marketing services or in-person promotional strategies may find their offerings limited.
The Digital Restaurant doesn’t display pricing on its website. Potential clients need to contact them directly for quotes.
9. Resto Experience
Resto Experience is a full-service restaurant marketing agency that specializes in helping restaurants grow their business through comprehensive solutions.
They deliver strategies that improve both customer engagement and operational performance, boosting profitability.
Their approach supports restaurants in optimizing both front-of-house and back-of-house operations.
Pros
- Resto Experience offers a range of digital marketing solutions including content creation, social media management, and web design and development.
- In addition to marketing, they provide on-demand graphic design and consulting services
Cons
- The lack of dedicated restaurant solutions such as an online ordering system, tableside ordering, and a QR code menu.
Resto Experience generally charges 1% of your monthly net sales, with a minimum monthly fee of $2,500.
10. Stevens Group
The Stevens Group is a public relations and marketing agency that specializes in providing strategic communication services for a variety of industries, including hospitality, luxury brands, and food and beverage companies.
Pros
- The Stevens Group specializes in public relations for a range of industries, including restaurant public relations, hospitality, luxury brands, and food and beverage companies.
- They offer a variety of services such as media relations, crisis communication, and brand development.
Cons
- Like many PR agencies, they do not provide pricing details on their website.
- The lack of dedicated restaurant solutions such as an online ordering system, tableside ordering, and a QR code menu.
The Stevens Group doesn’t display pricing on its website, requiring potential clients to contact them directly for quotes.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How a marketing agency can help your restaurant?
A restaurant marketing agency offers industry-specific expertise to create tailored strategies that boost online presence, attract customers, and manage campaigns, allowing restaurant owners to focus on operations while the agency drives sales growth.
How to choose the right restaurant marketing agency?
To choose the right restaurant marketing agency, follow these steps:
- Define your restaurant goals.
- Evaluate your current restaurant marketing strategies.
- Assess potential restaurant marketing agencies, considering their services, expertise in the food and beverage industry, and portfolio.
- Check your restaurant marketing budget and determine how much you can allocate to hiring an agency. Prioritize agencies that offer the best value for your investment, rather than simply opting for the lowest-cost option.
- Select an agency to work with.
What is the best marketing for restaurants?
Here are key marketing strategies that are proven to work for restaurants:
- Local SEO: This includes claiming and optimizing your Google My Business listing, using location-specific keywords, and gathering customer reviews.
- Social Media Marketing: Engaging with customers on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok is highly effective for restaurants.
- Managing Your Online Reputation: Platforms like Yelp, Google, and TripAdvisor are key. Responding to reviews helps build trust and credibility.
- Email Marketing: Sending a regular restaurant newsletter with promotions, updates, and special offers helps maintain engagement.
- Loyalty Programs: Implementing a restaurant loyalty program encourages repeat visits.
- Targeted Paid Advertising: Running Google Ads, or Facebook Ads, can drive traffic to your restaurant.
- Partnering With Local Food Bloggers or Influencers: Restaurant influencer marketing can provide exposure to new audiences and build credibility.
How much does marketing cost for a restaurant?
According to Aaron Allen & Associates, restaurants should allocate 3% to 6% of their sales toward marketing. New and growing restaurants, however, should spend up to 10% of their total sales to boost visibility and growth.
What is the best marketing company?
When it comes to selecting the best restaurant marketing company, here are ten top options to consider:
- UpMenu
- Foodie Restaurant Marketing Agency
- Gourmet Marketing
- Vigor
- Agency Creative
- Tambourine
- Double Up Social
- The Digital Restaurant
- Resto Experience
- Stevens Group
