7 Instagram tricks you can actually use for your restaurant

Ready to jump on the Instagram bandwagon?

With 300 million monthly active users posting an average of 70 million photos per day (!!!), Instagram has become the photo-sharing social network. It’s the perfect way to showcase your food and get customers’ mouths watering. Read on for 7 tips and tricks that you can actually use for your restaurant.

Let your product sell itself

Photos of food (aka #foodporn) are extremely appealing to Instagram users.

Post images of specials and hashtag them with their key ingredients to drive engagement among foodies in your area who will hopefully be inspired to drop by for a bite.

Account to follow: @tattebakery Why it’s worth your follow: Tzurit Or is pastry chef and owner at Tatte Bakery. Her Instagram is filled with brightly colored confections that make you wish you could scratch and sniff your screen.

Go behind the scenes

People are fascinated with what happens "behind the curtain," so post behind-the-scenes glimpses of your restaurant. Share a shot of employees prepping for the day, chronicle the process of putting together patrons' favorite dishes or post regular features that showcase your staff’s personality.

Account to follow: @pissinginthepunchbowl Why it’s worth your follow: Marcus Nilsson, a professional food photographer, gives a behind-the-scenes look at professional food styling and photo shoots.

Debut new drinks and dishes

Show some love to your Instagram followers by debuting seasonal drinks or dishes exclusively via the social network. Build suspense in the days leading up to the big reveal by posting photos of the ingredients. Encourage people to guess the new menu item to boost engagement.

Founders Black Rye, a winter office favorite

Account to follow: @ediblebrooklyn Why it’s worth your follow: Edible Brooklyn celebrates the famous borough’s foodie culture, highlighting local spots with a cult following.

Run contests

Speaking of engagement, try running a contest. You could do anything from asking followers to caption a photo to encouraging them to share what their favorite dish on your menu is and why. Offer the winner a gift card or free meal.

Account to follow: @superbafoodandbread

Why it’s worth your follow: Superba’s Instagram highlights the very best of the West—fresh food, fresh beaches and fresh as hell people.

Create your own hashtag

Remember how people love to post photos of food? Create your own unique hashtag for customers to use and capitalize on this. Track the posts and "regram" the best ones to make their photographers feel special while promoting your brand in the process. Again, you could even offer a prize for the most artistic or mouthwatering images.

Account to follow: @thefeedfeed Why it’s worth your follow: All the photos featured are from their community members. There is a variety of dishes and ingredients showcased, so you can count on exotic meals and new potential favorites.

Monitor likes and comments

It's not enough to log on, post a photo and log off. Use the activity dashboard to easily see who's liking and commenting on your photos and determine what kinds of posts are the most popular. Don't forget to actually read the comments too - if you respond, this shows you're listening and that you care, just as you’d do in your restaurant.

Account to follow: @biggayicecream Why it’s worth your follow: You’d expect some wild photos from a place with such a bold name, and Big Gay Ice Cream Shop doesn’t disappoint. Fun pics and funny captions are posted daily — everything from customers and cones to the personal thoughts of owners Douglas Quint and Bryan Petroff.

Don’t exist in a vacuum

You have an Instagram and that's great, but is it the only social network you use? If the answer is no, make sure to sync your Instagram with Twitter and Facebook. The site ifttt.com allows you to to cross-post native pictures. Cross-posting to other platforms is a great way to increase your views and get the word out there about you Instagram account. Don’t be afraid to post non-food related photos on occasion; it helps you connect with fans on other levels.

Not everyone is excited for a snow day

Account to follow: @sonyayu Why it’s worth your follow: Sonya Yu is a self-described "professional food pornographer.” She shares bright, creative photographs of her food and her adorable dog.

If you're looking to give your restaurant's Instagram strategy some oomph, consider trying some of these tips to boost your presence.