With 300 million monthly active users posting an average of 70 million photos per day, it's no exaggeration to say that Instagram has become the photo-sharing social network. The platform isn't so appealing for businesses that are centered on non-photogenic products or intangible services, but for enterprises in the food industry, it's a perfect fit. Whether you've recently jumped aboard the Insta-wagon or are looking for ways to improve your account, you've come to the right place. Here are seven Instagram basics for your restaurant.

1. 7 Instagram tricks you can
actually use for your restaurant

2. Ready to jump on the
Instagram bandwagon?

3. 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.

4. Let your product sell itself

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. Go behind the scenes

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. Debut new drinks and dishes

11. 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

12. 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.

13. Run contests

14. 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.

15. 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.

16. Create your own hashtag

17. 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.

18. 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.

19. Monitor likes and comments

20. 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.

21. 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.

22. Don’t exist in a vacuum

23. 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

24. 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.

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