15 Restaurant Marketing Tools to Reach More Customers [2024]

I’ve seen firsthand that restaurant marketing tools are most valuable when they make something you already want to do even easier—like landing new customers or more regulars. And with the right one, you can simplify and make your day-to-day operations even easier. 

But, choosing the perfect mobile app can feel overwhelming, so I’m here to cut through the noise. My goal is to help you save time and cut out frustration as you work towards your marketing goals—and because you're already wearing so many hats, I’ve prioritized options that are easy to learn and can fit into tools you already have.

We'll show you the most powerful tools in each category, what they're great at, and what users think of them—so you can decide which tool is right for your restaurant.

1. Wix
2. Owner.com
3. WordPress
4. Google Keyword Planner
5. Google Business Profile
6. Hootsuite
7. Canva
8. Later
9. Descript
10. Mailchimp
11. GetReponse
12. SendPulse
13. Chatmeter
14. Podium
15. Birdeye

Websites — earn more direct online orders

A restaurant's website is more than just an online menu; it’s a virtual storefront that can make or break your business. 77% of diners look up a restaurant online before visiting, so it’s important to make sure your website is effective and put together correctly. 

Restaurant website builders are a lifesaver when it comes to crafting a professional-looking site without the hassle or cost of hiring a web designer. Here are some of my favorite restaurant website builder tools you can compare to help you get the most out of your website: 

Best for: Customizable designs 

Wix is easy to use and lets you customize it a lot. It might take a little time to learn, and some features cost extra, but the results can be impressive.

With its drag-and-drop editor and library with many templates to choose from, you can create a website that perfectly matches your restaurant's vibe. However, this flexibility comes at a price. While Wix is great for creative control, it can be tricky to use for those unfamiliar with web design. Ultimately, it's a powerful tool that requires technical know-how to harness its full potential.

‍What they do well: 

• Highly customizable 
• Large selection of templates 
• Ability to add additional apps 

What needs improvement:

• Can be overwhelming to use as there are so many templates 
• Limited free restaurant-specific features 

Real customer reviews: 

Wix has a 4.4 rating on Capterra. Customers report that Wix is “accessible to anyone who has a little interest and commitment. Enables the creation of very professional websites, with an excellent image bank and templates.”

There aren’t a ton of negative reviews, but some customers said there’s been some hiccups with customer service and some glitches.

Best for: Growing direct online orders 

Owner.com is what I would recommend if you want a restaurant website builder that drives more online orders with automatic marketing. Our AI-powered website builder creates stunning, high-converting sites that boost direct online orders. Features include online ordering and built-in SEO so you rank high on Google.  

If you're a delivery or takeout-heavy restaurant that wants to drive more direct online orders, we're great. If you're a fine-dining concept or mostly get one-time customers (like in a touristy area), we're not so great.

Forget complex platforms; we offer an easy-to-use solution with built-in marketing tools and a mobile app. We use proven designs for your website and mobile app to drive more orders. But as a result, we don't allow for much customization. But, we do let you add your own logo and branding. 

Our tool is ideal for more established restaurants that care about driving direct orders and ditching third-party fees. We also offer a flat fee with no commissions, even for deliveries.  

What we do well: 

• Complete online ordering system that features a mobile app  
• SEO features that use AI to get more traffic  
• Speedy set up
• Features a loyalty program to attract and retain customers

What needs improvement:

• Our designs were created to convert, so extravagant designs aren’t in our wheelhouse — we really shine at helping restaurant owners drive direct orders and reduce dependence on third parties, which is ideal for takeout-heavy, fast-casual restaurants.
• Our premium features may not be ideal for new restaurants.  

Real customer reviews: 

Currently, Owner has a 4.9 rating on Capterra. Customers love the speediness of setup and the stellar customer service: “They are easy to talk to and I sense they really care about their client’s success. I also like how fast they launched the website, online ordering, and mobile app.” 

Owner has also increased online delivery efforts for customers: “Our customers are ordering and using our online more and more. It's easy, and has the opportunity to provide great promotions.”

Best for: Customization flexibility 

Want a website you can completely customize for your restaurant? WordPress gives you tons of options to tailor your site to your vision, but the tradeoff is that it takes more effort to learn than some. Think of it as building your dream kitchen from scratch—powerful but requires technical skills. 

With WordPress, you have complete control over your site. You can tweak every little detail, from the colors to the code. Plus, there's a huge library of add-ons, or "plugins," that can do just about anything. Need online ordering? There's a plugin for that. Want to book reservations? No problem.

What they do well: 

• Highly customizable
• Many plugins available 
• Various themes to choose from 

What needs improvement:

• Harder to learn than other options 
• Requires more maintenance 

Real customer reviews: 

WordPress has a 4.6 rating on Capterra, with customers singing a lot of praise: “I LOVE the ability to customize and add a variety of added features without being nickeled and dimed for every additional thing. Unlike some other "easier to use" platforms out there, WP offers a lot of customization and many plugins, themes, and extra cost nothing to implement.” 

Customers also say that it “needs a plugin for everything. It can be very difficult to reach peak design & functionality” and that “there is a learning curve and it's not beginner-friendly if you know nothing about installing it” 

SEO — get found online with search engine optimization

Almost half of all Google searches are looking for local businesses, so mastering SEO can be a game-changer for your restaurant. Our data at Owner has shown that restaurants see 10 to 15 times more new customers come from Google than they do from social media. 

Navigating the world of SEO is challenging, but with the right tools, you can understand it a little better. Check out my top recommendations below:

Best for: Finding your menu-market fit 

One of the top reasons why restaurants fail is because they haven’t been able to find their menu-market fit. I've talked about the importance of menu-market fit in my restaurant marketing plan post, but basically, it's about offering the food people actually want. I always suggest the Google Keyword Planner to restaurant owners who need to figure this out. 

Yes, it's simple, but it's free and can help you gauge rough demand in an area for a certain cuisine or dish type. In other words, when people search for food online, it usually means they're looking for something new. If they had a favorite spot, they'd go there directly. 

With this tool, you can quickly enter keywords that are related to your cuisine or restaurant. A list will then be generated showing related terms and their popularity, giving you insight into what customers are searching for and ultimately want from restaurants. 

What they do well: 

• Helps identify customer needs and preferences 
• Discovers your competitors 
• Enhances your online presence

What needs improvement:

• Limited to search; doesn’t take into account social influence 
• Could be time-consuming to sort and analyze 

Real customer reviews: 

Google Keyword Planner doesn’t have many reviews available. I'd recommend checking out Reddit threads about it instead.

Best for: Connecting with customers 

Google Business Profile is a free tool that helps you climb the local search ranks for more hungry customers.  It can help diners find you more easily and leave reviews, plus you can even post attractive food pics to keep them hooked. This is so important for SEO purposes because Google’s “local pack” shows searchers information from your Google Business Profile. 

The local pack is the local search results that appear above the main results whenever someone is searching for something in Google. 

This is the first thing that customers will see when they search for what they want to eat in Google, so don’t skip over this tool. It shows details about your restaurant, like your contact information, a description of what your joint is all about, website and menu links, reviews, and your online ordering link. 

A well-set-up GBP makes your life easier by attracting more customers.

‍What they do well: 

• Completely free to use 
• Helps increase your visibility on Google Maps and Google Search 

What needs improvement:

• Requires constant monitoring 
• Limited customization 

Real customer reviews: 

Google Business Profile doesn’t have many reviews available. I'd recommend checking out Reddit threads about it instead.

Social media — reach more customers with social media

If you use social media for your restaurant, keeping up with it can feel like a full-time job. Creating fresh, engaging content day after day is exhausting. But don't worry, you're not alone! There are tools out there to help you streamline the process. These tools can provide you with a direct line to customers, helping you efficiently reach a wider audience with minimal traditional advertising costs.

Let's dive into some of my favorite options to help make the social media experience feel more manageable. 

Best for: Scheduling social posts 

Hootsuite is a lifesaver for busy restaurant owners. It helps you manage all your social media accounts in one place, saving you tons of time. You can schedule posts in advance, reply to customers on social, and track your performance all from a single dashboard. 

Plus, you can monitor what people are saying about your restaurant online, which is crucial for managing your reputation. This is the most popular tool in this list, but it’s a bit pricey. So, if you want something more basic or have different goals for your social media efforts, check out some of the other options on this list.

What they do well: 

• Simple design and intuitive options 
• Ability to track Twitter conversations so you can see what customers are saying
• Shows you analytics so you can better understand your social media efforts

What needs improvement:

• Paid plans can be costly 
• More advanced features 
• Free plan has limited options

Real customer reviews: 

Hootsuite scored a 4.4 on Capterra. Customers praise Hootsuite for being “such an easy and helpful tool for scheduling social media for an organization.”  Sometimes, customers report that some of their scheduled content “failed to post”. 

Best for: Quick and affordable design help

Need an Instagram post for your new burger special? Canva has you covered with tons of pre-made templates. Revamping your menu and want it to look as classy as your establishment? Canva has templates for that too—no need for a costly professional design team. 

Canva is great for simple designs, like quick social media graphics. You may need a more complex tool if you want to do something like a full brand redesign.

‍What they do well: 

• Offers a variety of templates, even in the free version  
• Has a large library of graphic elements to choose from  
• Easy to use for nondesigners 

What needs improvement:

• Storage limitations 
• Templates can be generic
• Paid version is required to remove watermarks from templates  

Real customer reviews: 

Canva has a 4.7 rating on Capterra, and high ratings across the board when it comes to ease of use (4.7) and customer service (4.4). Canva receives a lot of praise on how this tool is “easy to use for a great price.” Another customer said, “as someone who does not specialize in marketing or social media posts this app has been a God-send. It is very easy to use, easy to navigate, and easy to implement.”

Customers report the issue with watermarks: “The inability to remove watermarks without the paid version. This prohibits a user from downloading their design and further editing it without a blurry version.”   

Best for: Creating and scheduling Instagram content

Trying to juggle all your social media accounts at once? Later is basically a one-stop shop for managing your content. It can help you easily publish and schedule content. The tool even has an AI-powered tool to help you write captions. 

I love using Later because it’s perfect for Instagram — so it’s a great choice if your restaurant usually attracts customers from that platform. Unlike Hootsuite, it’s packed with features specifically for Instagram. You can plan out your feed, schedule Stories in advance and even find the best times to post. Plus, it helps you find those perfect hashtags.

I would definitely recommend this one if Instagram is or could be a profitable marketing channel for your restaurant. 

What they do well: 

• Offers strong features for Instagram 
• Scheduling story highlights and posts 
• Offers analytics so you can see what’s working 

What needs improvement:

• You can’t post multiple photos within one Instagram post
• Limited design capabilities
• Design options might be more restricted than other tools

‍Real customer reviews: 

Later has a 4.4 rating on Capterra. Customers love that the “Instagram posting is great and their free plan is very generous to get a good feel for the software.” 

They also report that the tool can glitch sometimes, like errors in uploading posts.   

Best for: Creating video shorts for your social profiles

Descript is one of my favorite tools for making videos for your socials. You can edit a video just by editing the script!

If you want to film some fun behind-the-scenes takes, like how customers’ favorite meals are made, this tool can be a great option. It’s an AI-powered editor that is super simple to use, so you can do cool things like record voiceovers or add text captions to your videos.

What they do well: 

• Easy to use and learn 
• Cloud-based, so you can access files at any time
• Ability to add text and captions to videos 

What needs improvement:

• Could benefit from a tutorial upon sign-up
• Users report some lag when editing 
• Doesn’t automatically integrate with other tools

Real customer reviews: 

Descript has a high 4.8 rating on Capterra. Positive reviews include: “Really love how easy it is to edit audio and video with text. Searching for specific phrases or moments via text instead of scrolling and trying to find it saves so much time!”

While some reviews state it’s easy to use, some also say that the “learning curve can be a bit much; there are not enough tutorials that get right to the point.”

Email marketing — stay top of mind with email marketing

Email marketing is the secret weapon for getting customers to order again and turning them into regulars. Repeat orders are so key because many first-time customers don't make you as much money. 

But let’s face it, managing email lists and crafting compelling campaigns is time-consuming.

That's where the right tools come in. Imagine having a system that automatically sorts your guests, creates targeted email campaigns, and even sends the perfect message at the ideal moment. 

In fact, I’ve seen restaurants like Sushi Me Rollin’ increase their sales by over $1,500 per month by using email marketing to stay top of mind with customers. 

I’ll drop some of my favorite email marketing tools below:  

Best for: Beginners just starting out 

If you're new to email marketing or have a limited budget, Mailchimp is a great place to start. It is the easiest to use on this list and offers a free plan to experiment with. However, if you need more advanced features or have a large email list, I’d recommend exploring a paid plan or other options.

What they do well: 

• User-friendly interface which makes it easy to navigate 
• Free plan, which allows to test the waters 
• Uses automated email marketing 

What needs improvement:

• There are not many design options to choose from
• Advanced users may find features to be too simple  

Real customer reviews: 

Mailchimp scores a 4.5 rating on Capterra. Customers love that the tool has a “pretty straightforward pricing plan with an awesome customer service solution” and that “it's very easy to use with free options that are still very robust.” 

Some customers mention that it can be lacking in features, saying that users “are restricted to specific designs and formats only, which can be a little frustrating when your business doesn't match those categories.”

Best for: Budget-friendly option with more features 

Depending on the plan, GetResponse can be more affordable than Mailchimp, so I usually recommend it to restaurant owners who are a bit more budget-conscious. 

It also offers more features than Mailchimp. My favorites are their AI email generator, autoresponders and lead generation paired with list growth solutions. You can even sync with Canva to further customize and design your templates further. 

What they do well: 

• Pricing plans are more affordable than other platforms
• Offers more robust features like landing page builders
• Ability to place customers into groups

What needs improvement:

• May take longer to learn than Mailchimp
• Users report that it can be a bit slow to load

Real customer reviews: 

GetResponse received a 4.2 rating on Capterra. Customers appreciate how the tool has everything in one place: “I love it, what can I say, I'm happy to pay the low price for using such a great marketing solution. Everything in the one place - what's not to like.” 

However, some customers report that “loading time is slow” and that the list segmenting feature could be a bit more advanced. 

Best for: Multi-channel marketing 

SendPulse is like a Swiss Army knife for your restaurant—it's not just about emails. You can also use it to chat with customers, automate your marketing and keep track of your regulars.

It also helps you test emails to see which one works best, so you can improve your emails over time. Plus, you can connect SendPulse to other ways to reach customers, like social media. 

What they do well: 

• Simple to use  
• Provides A/B testing abilities 
• Connects with other channels to reach more customers 

What needs improvement:

• Extensive features can be more challenging to learn 
• Limited customization options 

Real customer reviews: 

SendPulse has a 4.6 rating on Capterra. Customers love its simplicity, saying that its “simple user interface and great deliverability makes it one of the best email marketing tools of this industry.” 

Some users reported that the software can be a bit slow to load, as well as some customer support issues.  

‍Review collection — manage your reputation and presence

Maintaining your reputation is important to keep your customers happy, build loyalty and create a strong brand image. It’s also a good place to respond to negative reviews to help retain win-back customers. 

Since 92% of customers read restaurant reviews before choosing where to eat, managing your reputation is crucial. What excites me is that there are tools out there that can actually help you manage your reviews and address a complaint before it becomes an issue. I’ll share a few of them below:

Best for: Automating review collection 

Chatmeter is a fantastic tool to help you stay on top of your restaurant's reputation. It automates review collection, pulling in reviews from all over the web so you can easily see what customers are saying.

Chatmeter also makes sure your restaurant's info is correct everywhere online. This means your Google Business Profile, Yelp and other sites will always have the right address, phone number and hours. When your info is accurate, it's easier for people to find you, which means more customers!

What they do well: 

• Quickly helps you respond to negative reviews
• Helps optimize your listings 
• Keeps tabs on the competition

What needs improvement:

• Some users report poor customer service
• Insights and analytics can be limited 

Real customer reviews: 

Chatmeter scores a 4.5 on Capterra. Reviewers appreciate that the tool allows for easy responses to reviews: “I check the site almost daily and enjoy reading the wonderful positive reviews. If there are negative reviews it provides us the ability to respond quickly and address the concern.”

However, some customers report that customer service can be lacking. 

Best for: Growing reviews with automatic replies 

Podium makes handling customer reviews a breeze. Its AI magic ensures every review gets a thoughtful reply. Plus, it works as a personal assistant that automatically asks your happy customers to leave reviews on Google through text. 

What I find awesome about Podium is that it gathers all your reviews and messages in one spot and works seamlessly with other apps you already use.

What they do well: 

• AI-powered responses
• Helps track and respond to reviews across multiple sites 
• Offers tools for texting and messaging with customers

What needs improvement:

• This is a costlier option 
• Users report inconsistent customer service 

Real customer reviews: 

Podium has a 4.3 rating on Capterra. Customers have shouted out that the tool is simple to use: “The ease of use is great, I love taking the conversation from the website to texting, and it's great for that. It also makes it pretty easy to request reviews, and so that is great.”

Some users report that the search features within the app can be hard to use — they say that it’s hard to look up past conversations. There are also reports of difficult account setup.

Best for: Analyzing customer feedback

Not only does Birdeye gather all your online reviews into one place, but it will also analyze those reviews for you. Want to know what people love or what you can improve? Birdeye pulls and analyzes reviews into a single dashboard and then will let you follow up with a generated response. Plus, it helps you build a killer online reputation and even gives you tools to reach new customers. 

What they do well: 

• Automating review requests 
• Provides access to analytics reports
• Includes social media integration

What needs improvement:

• Onboarding could be smoother 
• Users say it can take a while to load

Real customer reviews: 

Birdeye has a rating of 4.7 on Capterra.  Customers love how user-friendly this tool is: “This software gives a great boost to your online reputation. The customer support is excellent and the dashboard is super user-friendly.” There’s also a lot of praise for their customer support. 

On the other hand, some report that the tool can be a little “clunky” to use. 

Restaurant marketing made easy with the right tools

In this fast-paced industry, every minute counts. The right restaurant marketing tools can free up your valuable time and streamline your efforts, allowing you to focus on what matters most — creating a memorable dining experience. 

These tools not only save you time, but they can also help you stretch your marketing budget further. The right marketing tool will automate tasks, attract new customers, and build loyalty.

I highly recommend the tools above to help you effectively market your restaurant and stay ahead of the competition. Whether you need help with email marketing, social media management, SEO or building a stellar website, the right tool can make all the difference in your marketing game.

Want your marketing plan to cook up some serious results? Teaming up with Owner.com will not only help you build a website but can give you access to automated marketing tools, a loyalty program, SMS marketing and more. 

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