Social media has become a standard part of the "what do I want to eat" research process. When a potential customer hears about a restaurant they may want to try through word of mouth or an online directory (Yelp), chances are, they're going to Google it. The top 3 on the SERP are more than likely going to be their website, Yelp listing, and their Facebook page.   

Because of this, restaurant marketers need to take a strategic approach to their social media strategy in 2018. Your social media strategy should detail who you're targeting (buyer personas), what factors impact their decision, and what social media networks they're on. This is all part of creating a successful restaurant marketing strategy.

Once you've narrowed those factors down, it's time to get an understanding of when will be the most optimal times to post for your audience. Every social network has higher and lower traffic times throughout an average day and week. Posting strategically at higher traffic times will help drive traffic to the content you're sharing on social.

So when is the best time to post on social media? It varies from network to network and may vary among different industries. For example, a restaurant is likely going to see peak traffic during lunch and dinner hours while a B2B company will see peak traffic throughout working hours Monday through Friday. We made the infographic below that will guide you in creating a social media strategy for 2018. Be sure to bookmark this page and conduct some A/B testing on how your audience responds to various posting times.