Marketing for Knoxville Restaurants
From new openings to established favorites, we help restaurants fill tables and build loyal followings.
Restaurant Marketing in Knoxville
Knoxville's food scene is thriving—and competitive. From the established favorites on Gay Street to the new concepts popping up in South Knoxville and Bearden, diners have more options than ever. Standing out requires more than great food—it requires smart marketing that gets people in the door and keeps them coming back.
We help Knoxville restaurants build their digital presence, attract new customers, and turn first-time visitors into loyal regulars who bring their friends. Whether you're launching a new concept or breathing new life into an established spot, marketing matters.
The Knoxville Restaurant Landscape
Knoxville has transformed into a legitimate food city. The downtown revival brought serious restaurants to Market Square and Gay Street. Old City has its own vibe. Bearden caters to West Knoxville families. Happy Holler and Central attract the creative crowd.
The opportunity: Knoxville diners are adventurous and support local. The food blogger and Instagram food scene is active but approachable. Media coverage of new restaurants is strong. Word spreads fast when a place is good.
The challenge: Competition is real. New restaurants open constantly. Delivery apps have changed expectations. Staffing is difficult. Margins are tight, so marketing dollars need to work hard.
Restaurants that thrive here combine great food with smart marketing. They're active on social media, they manage their online reputation, and they stay visible in a crowded market. That's where we help.
What Works for Restaurant Marketing
Google Business Profile Optimization
When someone searches "restaurants near me" or "best tacos in Knoxville," your Google Business Profile determines whether you appear. For restaurants, this is often the deciding factor—people check hours, look at photos, read reviews, and often call directly from the listing.
We'll optimize your profile with appetizing photos, accurate categories and attributes (outdoor seating, reservations, delivery options), complete menu information, and regular posts about specials and events. A strong GBP is foundational.
Instagram & Visual Social Media
Food is inherently visual, and Instagram is where Knoxville diners discover new places. A strong social media presence showcases your dishes, atmosphere, and personality in a way that makes people crave what you serve.
We help with strategy, content calendars, and creating (or guiding) content that works. Learn the fundamentals in our social media guide. Great restaurant content mixes beautiful food photography with behind-the-scenes authenticity.
Review Management & Reputation
Reviews on Google, Yelp, and Facebook significantly influence where people eat. A restaurant with 4.5 stars and 500 reviews beats a 4.7 star with 20 reviews because volume builds confidence. And yes, people read the negative reviews to see how you respond.
We'll help you build a system for earning reviews consistently—staff training, follow-up processes, and making it easy for happy customers to leave feedback. We also help you respond professionally to all reviews, including the difficult ones.
Local SEO
Beyond your Google profile, your website should appear when someone searches "Italian restaurant downtown Knoxville," "brunch spots in Bearden," or "best date night restaurant Knoxville." These are high-intent searches from people actively looking for somewhere to eat.
Local SEO for restaurants includes optimizing your website for cuisine type, location, and dining occasion keywords, plus building citations in restaurant directories and local listings.
Email Marketing
Building a list of loyal customers and staying in touch is one of the most cost-effective marketing strategies for restaurants. Email drives repeat visits without the ongoing cost of ads.
We help you build your list (table cards, wifi login, receipts, online ordering), create valuable content people actually want (not just constant promos), and send at the right frequency. Special events, new menu items, and exclusive offers for subscribers give people reasons to stay subscribed.
Paid Social Advertising
Facebook and Instagram ads let you target potential customers in your area based on dining preferences, behaviors, and demographics. This is particularly effective for special events, new openings, or when you need to fill seats on slow nights.
We create targeted campaigns with mouthwatering creative that drives reservations and foot traffic, tracking results so you know what's working.
Content Ideas That Work for Restaurants
Restaurants have natural content opportunities. Here's what performs well:
Food & Drink
- Beautiful dish photography
- New menu item reveals
- Seasonal specials
- Signature cocktails
- Daily/weekly specials
Behind the Scenes
- Kitchen prep and cooking
- Chef profiles
- Ingredient sourcing stories
- Recipe development
- Setting up for service
People & Culture
- Staff spotlights
- Customer celebrations
- Regulars appreciation
- Team events
- The owner's story
Community & Events
- Local event participation
- Charity involvement
- Special event promotions
- Holiday celebrations
- Collaborations with other local businesses
Types of Restaurants We Help
We work with restaurants across concepts and price points. While the fundamentals apply broadly, each type has specific marketing considerations:
Fine Dining
Aspirational content, special occasion marketing, OpenTable/Resy presence, media relations, wine program promotion
Casual Dining
Family-friendly messaging, value positioning, loyalty programs, regular specials, community involvement
Fast Casual
Speed and convenience messaging, lunch crowd targeting, online ordering, delivery optimization
Cafes & Coffee Shops
Morning routine positioning, work-friendly messaging, pastry and food photography, loyalty programs
Bars & Breweries
Event promotion, happy hour marketing, new release announcements, sports and entertainment tie-ins
Food Trucks
Location updates, event schedules, following announcements, catering promotion
Bakeries
Product photography, special order promotion, wedding/event marketing, seasonal offerings
Pizza Shops
Delivery area optimization, late night positioning, value deals, online ordering
BBQ Restaurants
Smoking process content, catering focus, competition BBQ tie-ins, generous portion positioning
Ethnic & International
Authenticity storytelling, cultural education, ingredient stories, family recipes
Knoxville Dining Areas
Different areas of Knoxville have distinct dining cultures and customer bases:
Downtown/Market Square
Tourist traffic, event nights, date night, walkability, competition for attention
Old City
Nightlife overlap, concert crowd, younger demographic, late night
Bearden
Family-friendly, accessible parking, neighborhood regulars, lunch business crowd
West Knoxville/Farragut
Suburban families, Turkey Creek shopping traffic, reliable parking, takeout-friendly
South Knoxville
Emerging scene, local community focus, destination dining, unique concepts
Happy Holler/Central
Creative concepts, local/artisan focus, walkable neighborhood, loyal locals
We help you target the right customers in your area with messaging that resonates with that specific audience.
Frequently Asked Questions
How important is Instagram for restaurants?
Very important for most restaurants. Food is inherently visual, and Instagram is where people discover new places to eat. Focus on high-quality food photos, behind-the-scenes content, and engaging with your local community.
Should we be on every food delivery app?
Being on delivery apps increases exposure, but the fees eat into margins. Consider which apps your customers actually use, negotiate better rates if possible, and always drive customers to direct ordering when you can.
How do we get more Google reviews?
Make it easy and ask consistently. Train staff to mention reviews after positive interactions. Include review links on receipts. Respond to every review to show you care about feedback.
What should we post on social media?
Mix of: food photos, behind-the-scenes content, staff spotlights, specials/promotions, community involvement, and user-generated content. Keep promotional content to about 20% of your posts.
How do we compete with chains and franchises?
Lean into what makes you unique—local ownership, unique recipes, community involvement, personal service. Tell your story. Chains can't compete on authenticity and local connection.
Is Facebook still relevant for restaurants?
Yes, especially for reaching customers 35+, promoting events, and for your business info/reviews. Many people still check Facebook to find hours, menus, and reviews. Don't neglect it.
How do we handle negative reviews?
Respond professionally and promptly. Apologize for the experience, offer to make it right, and take the conversation offline. Never argue or get defensive publicly—other customers are watching how you respond.
Should we use influencers?
Local food influencers can be effective for reach and credibility. Look for influencers with engaged local followings rather than huge follower counts. Offer a great experience rather than just free food.
Ready to Fill More Tables?
Let's talk about marketing your restaurant to Knoxville diners.