How Local Venues and Restaurants Can Grab More Social Media Eyeballs for Consistent Walk-ins and Bookings – While Food Influencers Rave About Their Food.
The hospitality industry is crowded and competitive.
People don’t go around walking to find the best spots to eat.
Instead, they check social media recommendations, read Google reviews, or watch food influencers before deciding where to go.
This is why a strong online presence is essential for venues and restaurants.
But random food pictures, margin-killing discounts, and shoutouts with no long-term impact won’t keep tables full.
In this case study, see how Ca De Vin and Two40Three stood out by turning social media into a consistent customer acquisition engine.
Case Study #1: How CaDeVin Optimized Its Social Media and Leveraged Influencer Partnerships to Double Engagement and Increase Online Visibility
BEFORE: A Great Restaurant That Needed More Attention Online
CaDeVin is a Melbourne hotspot with incredible food, but their online presence and reach clearly needed a solid boost to attract new traffic.
Their Instagram posts were sporadic and inconsistent, with no clear storytelling to capture attention or build a brand identity.
Some posts got engagement, but most didn’t, averaging only 10-15 likes with barely any comments. It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t driving real traffic.
But the biggest issue we found is that they also had no structured system for influencer partnerships, meaning they weren’t reaching new audiences or maximizing social proof.
So, their marketing relied mostly on word of mouth and they weren’t using digital strategies to consistently attract new customers.
They weren’t failing, but they were missing opportunities and limiting growth without a solid system to increase visibility and engage new customers.
After: A Social Media Strategy That Made CaDeVin a Go-To Spot
We didn’t just post more or throw money at ads, we reworked their entire approach to make sure their social media actually brought people in.
First, we handpicked 5-8 local foodie influencers per month. Not just any influencers, but ones whose audiences actually cared about where to eat in Melbourne.
But we didn’t stop at a simple “free meal for a post” deal, we actually had these influencers create engaging reels (not just static posts). These reels featured authentic experiences, behind-the-scenes shots, and strong calls to action.
And to improve credibility, each influencer also left a detailed Google review, boosting Ca De Vin’s search credibility and making them stand out in local dining searches.
On social media, we replaced random food shots with story-driven content that built anticipation and engagement.
We teased limited-time menu items to create FOMO. We used interactive content like polls, “Would You Try This?” quizzes, and customer features to turn passive viewers into engaged followers.
We also made their brand look premium and polished by bringing in professional photographers and setting up a structured posting schedule (3x per week) so they stayed top of mind.
Beyond content, we made sure customers felt connected by actively engaging in comments, responding to messages, and interacting with foodies online.
And to expand their reach even further, we secured brand collaborations with Aperol and Hawkers, aligning CaDeVin with other well-known names in the industry and increasing its exposure to even wider audiences.
Each step is worth mentioning because they’re all crucial for creating the results we’re aiming for.
Results: More Engagement, More Visibility, More Bookings
From August 2024 up to January 2025, the difference was clear:
- Engagement increased and reach exploded, bringing in thousands of potential new customers.
- Bookings increased and customers started mentioning influencer posts when visiting.
- Google Reviews improved, strengthening credibility and increasing organic traffic.
Case Study #2: How Two40Three Strengthened Its Social Media Brand, Leveraged Meta Ads, and Influencer Marketing to Boost Engagement and Drive More Bookings
BEFORE: Doing the right things but without the right strategies to make it work
Two40Three is a lively Perth venue known for great food, drinks, and atmosphere. But while the in-person experience was top-tier, their online presence wasn’t pulling in new customers.
Since no one was managing their social media, their Instagram was inconsistent, missing strategy, and not optimized for engagement. They simply post food pictures with generic captions.
But some posts performed well, but there was no clear direction to ensure they consistently reached the right audience.
They also weren’t fully leveraging influencer marketing. While they had occasional collaborations, there was no structured system to maximize social proof and turn influencer content into real traffic and bookings.
Meanwhile, similar venues were growing their reach, popping up on local food pages, and turning online engagement into real foot traffic. And, the competition was so tight that we needed to run ads for them, too.
Two40Three had the experience to offer, but they needed to make sure more people knew about it.
AFTER: A Paid + Organic Strategy That Turned Attention Into Real Customers
To fix this, we combined high-impact influencer content with a creative paid advertising strategy.
We brought in 5-8 highly relevant foodie influencers per month. Not just accounts with big numbers, but ones with engaged, local audiences who actually impact dining decisions.
Instead of generic static posts, influencers created high-energy reels featuring their experience at Two40Three. These weren’t just “look at this dish” posts. They showcased the venue’s vibe, highlighted menu standouts, and included clear calls to action to visit.
Every influencer also left a detailed Google review to increase credibility and search visibility, helping the venue rank higher in local searches and making it more discoverable to potential customers.
On social media, we made key shifts with their day-to-day social presence to increase engagement. We did a quick profile branding makeover and made sure we post regularly with professionally shot photos and casual, fun captions.
And, we also found out that responding to comments and DMs quickly resulted in more engagement and more regulars, so we doubled down on it.
But instead of purely relying on organic reach, we also ran 1-2 highly targeted “Happy Hour” ads per month to drive more attention and bookings.
RESULTS: More Visibility, More Engagement, More Customers
More engagement from both organic posts and influencer content.
- Increased engagement, views, and reach, bringing Two40Three to thousands of new potential customers.
- More bookings and walk-ins, with customers mentioning influencer posts when visiting.
- Better Google search visibility, leading to more organic traffic.
