So you have decided to add your restaurant to twitter. Your account is up, your logo is uploaded and your are ready to post your first tweet. . . but before you do, read this post first:

First let people know you are on Twitter -
With a twitter account you will have a unique address. So add it to things and promote it! Add it to your email signature. Add it to on your website. Have it print out on your receipts. Put a small sign up at the front entrance.

Your Twitter Voice – How does your personality shows through Twitter
Everyone has personality but sometimes it’s better to remain anonymous yet professional in your approach to posting. If you want to post about items unrelated to your restaurant then get your own account. Potential customers reading your Twitter may not want to hear about what you watched on TV or how your feel about the weather. With that being said – sometimes creating an inviting persona will allow people to connect to you. Your restaurant will have a face and a positive attitude. If the customer enjoys the postings they will hopefully connect this to the restaurant as well. This can be a fine line to walk – remember this is your brand out there.

What to post on Twitter -

• Re-tweets – Someone else mentions your restaurant – let your customers know about it!
• Daily Specials – Food, Drink – anything that would make dining at your restaurant today different then any other day.
• Sports – If you are showing the game let people know and give them a reason to pick your place (see note above).
• Pictures – Restaurant full? Picture, Desserts look great? Picture, Perfect poor? Lineup out the door? Seasonal Produce Delivered?
• Hours – Changing hours? Open for Sunday brunch? Closed for a private function?
• Comments – You have a comment section on your website right? Post the positive ones and tactfully address any negative ones.

Twitter Discipline -
Set a realistic schedule and stick to it. I cannot stress this more. There is nothing worse then looking up a Twitter account to find that it’s been dormant for months. The urge when you start out will be to post and post often, but will you be able to maintain this pace over time? Set up a realistic goal – do you have time in your day to post one item? Once a week? Don’t over commit. Find some time in your schedule that will allow for an update. Build this task into your day and don’t let it slip.

If you find you are too busy to keep this schedule then either stop and remove your account or find someone who can do it for you. Many web developers, including Salt & Pepper Media, are more then happy to take on customers under a social media retainer. A small monthly fee will allow someone else to assist you in keeping your social media current and relevant to your customers.

- Ben / S&P Media