Use Online Giveaways to Bring Diners Through Your Doors
Do you want to turn online followers into real guests filling your tables? Then it’s time to start using social media contests for restaurants strategically—not just for engagement, but for driving real foot traffic. When done right, these contests can transform passive scrollers into paying customers eager to visit your restaurant.
The best restaurant contests do more than give away free meals. They build excitement, expand reach through shares and tags, and motivate people to experience your food in person. Here’s how to plan, launch, and automate contests that bring more diners through your doors.
Craft an Offer That Makes Social Media Contests for Restaurants Irresistible
Start with a prize that’s directly tied to your restaurant experience. The key is to make participation irresistible while ensuring that the reward drives a visit.
You can structure your offer in one of two ways:
✔️ One big prize: a dinner for two, chef’s tasting menu, or private dining experience.
✔️ Everyone wins: a smaller incentive for all participants—like a free appetizer, drink, or dessert with their next meal.
The “everyone wins” model works exceptionally well for restaurants because it brings more people in, not just one lucky winner. Imagine announcing, “Everyone who enters gets a free side dish with their next order!” You’ll see a steady stream of guests walking in to claim it.
Just make sure your offer aligns with your menu and brand. A steakhouse giving away an entrée makes sense; a café offering coffee vouchers works even better. Avoid generic giveaways like cash or unrelated items—they may get attention online, but won’t attract diners genuinely interested in your food.
Design Engagement That Fuels Local Buzz
Next, think about how people will enter. Every step should boost your visibility and reach more local food lovers.
Ask participants to:
✔️ Follow your restaurant’s page.
✔️ Like and share your post to their Stories or tag a friend they’d bring with them.
✔️ Comment with their favorite menu item or why they love dining out.
Each of these actions spreads your contest organically, reaching new potential guests nearby. When your followers share your post, your restaurant appears in the feeds of hundreds of local users who may not have discovered you yet.
For example, a pizza restaurant might host a “Tag Your Pizza Crew” contest—inviting followers to tag the friends they’d share a pizza with for a chance to win a free dinner. Every tag boosts reach, while the promise of food creates immediate craving and motivation to visit.
Or imagine a brunch café running a “Snap Your Stack” challenge, where customers post their pancake photos, tag the café, and enter to win a free weekend brunch. The contest spreads through real guest content, creating authentic buzz and visual appeal.
Automate Entries and Follow-Ups for Social Media Contests for Restaurants
If your contest takes off, manual tracking quickly becomes overwhelming. That’s where automation helps.
Use a chatbot tool or social media automation platform to manage entries, confirm participation, and deliver offers instantly. When someone tags your restaurant, comments, or sends a message, your system can:
✔️ Send a thank-you message and confirm their entry.
✔️ Share details on how to redeem their prize in person.
✔️ Deliver a unique code or coupon to track visits.
Automation makes your contest professional, efficient, and scalable. It also helps you capture valuable customer data—like names, emails, or favorite menu items—for future promotions.
Turn Contest Entrants into Regulars
The true goal of any restaurant contest isn’t just one visit—it’s to build repeat business. Once people come in to redeem their reward, make sure they leave with a reason to return.
Train your staff to recognize contest participants and give them a standout experience. Then, invite them to join your loyalty program, follow your page for future specials, or sign up for exclusive offers.
For example, after a guest redeems their “free appetizer” offer, your follow-up email could share a limited-time menu item or a midweek special designed to bring them back. Every visit is an opportunity to turn a first-time guest into a loyal customer.
The Takeaway
Social media contests are one of the most effective ways to connect online excitement with in-person dining. By crafting an on-brand offer, encouraging engaging actions that amplify your reach, automating your responses, and nurturing long-term loyalty, you can turn digital buzz into full tables.
Run your next contest with intention, and you won’t just gain likes—you’ll gain loyal diners who keep coming back for more.
