If you’re a restaurant wanting to promote your business during the Super Bowl, you need to have a solid social media plan. The Super Bowl is one of the biggest events of the year, bringing millions of people together to watch the game, eat, and celebrate. It’s the perfect chance to attract customers and increase sales with dine-in specials, takeout deals, or catering options. But before you start promoting, it’s important to know about some rules and risks that could affect your plans.
This guide will walk you through the challenges and opportunities of promoting your restaurant for the Super Bowl so you can impress your customers and play it safe. Let’s get started!
Get the Word Out Early
One of the most important Super Bowl tips for restaurants is to get the word out BEFORE the big event. Customers have a ton of options for where to go for the Super Bowl. Get your restaurant’s name in their brain before someone else does. We recommend starting your promotions somewhere between 2 – 4 weeks before the game.
Capture Attention with Game-Day Photos
The photos you use for your posts are the most important as they are what will catch the attention of someone scrolling on Facebook or Instagram. Avoid using stock photos or widely available images that could come from anyone. Instead, show what makes your restaurant unique: your guests, your team, and your space!
P.S. None of these require a professional photoshoot. For better results, check out our guide on how to take great smartphone photos for social media – lighting. Grab your smartphone and take a few shots. Don’t overthink it—just do it!
Creative Post Ideas for Super Bowl Success
Here are some quick ideas for game-day posts. For more inspiration, check out our tips on how to take great smartphone photos for social media – composition:
- Special Hours: Clarify any special hours your restaurant may have. A photo of the outside of your restaurant works great for this.
- Food and Drink Specials: Have your team whip up specials and snag quick shots. Use these photos for multiple posts.
- Friendly Faces: Photos of a smiling bartender behind a creative cocktail or a chef holding a game-day dish perform well.
- Details on Specials: Be very clear about what your specials are, when they are available, and whether they’re for dine-in, takeout, or both. This prevents having to answer lots of questions in the comments.
- Show Off Your Setup: Post photos of your TVs, game-day décor, or sports memorabilia.
- Engage Your Audience: Capture team members or customers wearing jerseys or other fun game-day outfits.
Super Bowl Promotional Tip: Use Instagram Stories
Don’t forget, one of the best Super Bowl tips for restaurants is to leverage Instagram Stories too! Stories are only live for 24 hours, so they’re great for multiple friendly reminders to guests or more casual photos you may not necessarily want on your profile. Learn more about using Instagram Stories effectively to benefit your business.
Examples from Real Restaurants
Here are some examples of how other restaurants have creatively promoted game day on social media:
Featuring happy guests creates a sense of community and celebration, making your restaurant feel like the go-to spot for game day. The smiling faces and sports gear evoke excitement and show your establishment as a fun place to watch the game with friends.
This post builds excitement by focusing on fans enjoying the game-day atmosphere with drinks in hand. It showcases the fun and lively experience customers can expect at your restaurant, while emphasizing the celebratory energy of the Big Game.
By highlighting a signed helmet and pairing it with beer, this post creates a strong connection to the game-day atmosphere. It appeals to fans by showing off unique touches, like sports memorabilia, that make your restaurant stand out.
This post grabs attention by showcasing game-day staples like pizza and wings, making it clear what guests can enjoy if they choose your restaurant. The inclusion of a football ties directly to the Super Bowl theme, reinforcing the event while highlighting the food.
A packed bar with guests watching multiple screens demonstrates your restaurant’s ability to deliver the ultimate game-day experience. This post highlights the vibrant atmosphere, enticing guests who want to join the excitement and camaraderie.
Super Bowl Promotional Pitfalls to Avoid
The NFL is very protective over their copyright and trademarks. To stay compliant:
- Avoid using the exact phrases “Super Bowl” or “Super Sunday” in promotional material. Instead, use terms like “The Big Game” or “Game Day.” Your audience will know what you’re referring to.
- Don’t use official logos or graphics. Photos featuring your team or guests wearing apparel with those logos are fine, but steer clear of using the logos themselves.
- Avoid reposting photos or content from the official NFL or team social media pages.
- Avoid using “NFL” in promotions: While it might be tempting, any direct reference to the league itself is also protected.
Why Original Content Wins
Original and organic photos tend to perform better on social media anyway. Plus, they help your restaurant stand out from competitors who might rely on generic graphics that anyone could use. It’s a win-win!
Bring Your Game-Day Strategy to Life
Now it’s your turn. Get to posting, have fun with it, and engage your audience. May your favorite team take the W!
If you have any creative game-day marketing ideas, share them in the comments or tag us in your posts. We’d love to see them!
Did you know?
We've been managing social media accounts for restaurants since 2012. For almost a decade, we've partnered with restauranteurs who are serious about using social media to generate business. Whether you're a good fit for our service or not, let's schedule a call and we'll give you free personalized advice on how to improve your social media presence. Either way, you'll walk away from the call more confident about your ability to promote yourself online - completely for free.
