Influencer Marketing For Restaurants In 2025

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The restaurant industry is experiencing a marketing revolution. Traditional methods, once staples, are losing their grip in our digitally-driven world. Where print ads and billboards fall short, online strategies, especially influencer marketing, are thriving.

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With one in four marketers leveraging this approach, visually compelling content showcasing your restaurant on platforms like Instagram and TikTok can significantly boost customer engagement.

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In this guide, let's explore about influencer marketing for your restaurant in 2025.

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What exactly is Influencer Marketing for Restaurants?

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To attract new customers, restaurants collaborate with social media food influencers. These food influencers who have a dedicated online following share authentic reviews and experiences about the restaurants. This form of marketing capitalizes on the trust between influencers and their followers, effectively extending the restaurant's reach beyond traditional advertising.

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Types of Restaurant Influencers

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Food Influencers: These influencers specialize in food content, regularly reviewing restaurants and sharing culinary experiences, recipes, and food-related tips.

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Travel Influencers: These influencers incorporate restaurant reviews and culinary explorations into their travel content, promoting restaurants to both tourists and locals.

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Local Influencers: These influencers are experts on their local food scene, providing recommendations and insights on the best restaurants in their area.

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How to Get Influencers to Promote Your Restaurant

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1. Search Online

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You can simply use Google to search for “food influencers in {city},” or use an influencer search tool like Favikon to make better decisions. With over 10 million creators across Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, LinkedIn, and X, it’s a goldmine for finding the right restuarant influencers.

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Here's how to use Favikon to find influencers to promote your restaurant:

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1. Sign up and log in to your Favikon account.

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2. Go to Favikon's "Advanced Discovery" feature.

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3. Filter by Criteria: Use the filters to narrow down your search based on:

• Niche: Select the food/travel/local industry.
• Location: Target influencers in specific regions or countries.
• Audience Demographics: Filter by age, gender, interests, and other relevant factors.
• Social Media Platforms: Choose the platforms where you want to find influencers (e.g., Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Twitch).
• Other Filters: Use filters for follower count, engagement rate, and other metrics.

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2. Check Their Content

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There are lots of popular food influencers on social media. However, not all influencers will resonate with your restaurant's target audience. Favikon’s AI profiles dive deep—past posts, audience demographics (age, gender, location), and engagement trends—plus an Influence Score to rank impact.

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Align your influencer selection with your buyer personas and marketing strategy to effectively reach your desired market.

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3. Check for Authenticity

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Authenticity is vital. Avoid influencers who appear scripted, has fake followers, or solely motivated by payment. Favikon AI-analysis flags suspicious activity, like unnatural follower growth or low engagement relative to follower count.

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Work with someone who actually loves your food and someone who can tell a real story about it.

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4. Reach Out for Collaboration

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Once you find the right influencers, you can simply use Favikon's messaging feature to reach out and discuss collaboration opportunities.

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Discuss the scope of the collaboration, compensation, and deliverables. Don't forget to negotiate fees. Consider factors like the number of posts, stories, and the scope of the campaign. You can also negotiate based on metrics like story views, website clicks, and engagement.

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Once you've reached an agreement, finalize the partnership and launch your campaign.

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Examples of Effective Restaurants Influencer Marketing Campaigns

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Doritos’ “Crash the Super Bowl” Revival - January 2025

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Doritos brought back its fan-favorite “Crash the Super Bowl” campaign in early 2025, inviting influencers and everyday creators to submit their own ads. Food influencers were key in promoting the contest, creating buzz with their own Doritos-inspired content. Finalists’ ads aired during the Super Bowl, blending user-generated content with influencer amplification to reach millions.

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KFC Japan’s Christmas Colonel’s Cooking Show - December 2024

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KFC Japan tapped into its long-standing “Kentucky for Christmas” tradition with a live-streamed event in 2024 called the Christmas Colonel’s Cooking Show. The brand collaborated with local food influencers and streamers to showcase the Colonel preparing festive dishes.

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Shake Shack's Mouthwatering Campaign - January 2021

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Shake Shack, known for its delicious burgers and shakes, collaborated with the popular food influencer @foodwithmichel to generate excitement around their new chicken sandwich. 

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The influencer's visually appealing video, highlighting the mouthwatering ingredients and textures of the sandwich, garnered over 42,000 views and created a major social media buzz. The result was a noticeable increase in sales and heightened interest in Shake Shack's new offering, showcasing how targeted influencer collaborations can effectively drive product awareness and consumer demand.

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Conclusion

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Influencer marketing offers restaurants a fresh way to fill seats and build buzz in a crowded market. By partnering with the right creators and crafting authentic campaigns, you can turn followers into diners.

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Ready to Start Your Restaurant Influencer Marketing Campaign?

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You can effortlessly streamline your planning and creator selection with Favikon's AI-powered platform, designed to connect you with ideal influencers for genuine collaborations with your restaurant brand.

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Influencer Marketing For Restaurants: FAQ

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How do I ask an influencer to promote my restaurant?

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Contact them directly via their official channels or through Favikon’s direct messaging feature. Introduce your restaurant, explain your desired promotion, and outline your offer. Negotiate terms to reach an agreement.

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What is a restaurant influencer?

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A content creator specializing in food, providing reviews, culinary experiences, recipes, and food tips.

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How do I invite an influencer to my restaurant?

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Find local food influencers. Engage with them on social media. Send personalized invitations for a dining experience. Provide a memorable meal, and discuss potential collaborations.

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Also See 👀

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How Much Does It Cost to Hire an Influencer?

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Does Influencer Marketing Work? [Examples & Statistics]

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How to Reach Out to Influencers: The Only Guide You Need

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