Social Media and Fast Food Restaurants

Social media is something that has quickly gained the attention of Americans across the board. Americans as young as 13 and as old at 60+ actively use some sort of social media throughout the day. Mind you, different social medias draw attention from different age groups. I have noticed that Twitter and Instagram appeals to the younger generation, ranging from teens to late 20s. Facebook on the other hand, no only targets the youth market but reaches out to adults in their late adulthood as well.

Seeing as so many Americans are collecting involved in this one thing, what is something Americans like to do as well? EAT. They must eat to survive. Aside from eating the food they have at home, I know that many people like to go out to eat as well. Restaurants are not only competitive with the food they make but they are also in a battling out in the social media world.

Seeing the graph above, we see how Starbucks  is the KING of social media right now. This graph does not include Instagram but the last time that I checked, Starbucks had 1,700,000+ followers. Social media is something that is super important for fast food restaurants. It is assumed that people go to fast food restaurants because they want they food fast and in a hurry. Social media fits in the world of the fast paced American. Someone can look at the social media of a restaurant to find out about any special deals, the latest items of the restaurant, fan feedback about the restaurant and so much more. Rapport and word of mouth is something that most restaurants thrive off of when they first start. Social media helps these restaurants reach people they normally would not reach.

Having social medias also builds a relationship with consumers. On Instagram for example, people get a behind the scenes look on products and things of the business they normally would not see walking into a store. Starbucks, uploads a bunch of pictures that promote customer engagement. Since the holidays are rolling around, customers are familiar with the #redcups holiday cups that Starbucks releases during the fall/winter time. This idea and concept keeps customers engaged and makes them feel more connected with the company. The more closer a consumer feels with a restaurant, the more they will want to come back.

I believe it is safe to say that any fast food restaurant with social media is a better restaurant for having it assisting them to reach the highest level of success.