How to Use Social Media and Memes for Free to Promote Your Food and Drink Business

Whether you're running a cosy bakery, a stylish café, or a charming small hotel, social media is one of the most powerful tools you can use to promote your food and drink business, and best of all, it’s free. 

In an era where attention spans are short and competition is fierce, memes and creative content can help you stand out from the crowd, connect with your audience, and boost your brand visibility.

Here’s how to get started:

1. Choose the Right Platforms for Your Brand

Not all social media platforms are created equal, especially when it comes to food and drink. Focus on the ones where your ideal customers spend the most time.

Instagram: Perfect for showcasing beautiful food photography, daily specials, behind-the-scenes shots, and Reels.

Facebook: Great for connecting with local communities, sharing events, and posting menus.

TikTok: Ideal for short, snappy videos, kitchen hacks, or funny hospitality moments.

X (formerly Twitter): Useful for witty banter, trending memes, and quick customer interactions.

Pinterest: Excellent for recipe content, party planning ideas, and seasonal inspiration.

YouTube: Long or short videos

2. Use Memes to Build a Relatable Brand Voice

Memes are one of the internet’s favourite languages. They’re fun, shareable, and great for showing off your personality. Whether it’s a trending format or a food-related pun, memes can help humanise your brand and make you more relatable.

Tips for meme success:

Keep it on-brand: Use humour that aligns with your business values and target customers.

Stay timely: Jump on popular formats and trends (like Barbie, "No one: Absolutely no one:", or AI jokes) while they’re still fresh.

Use free tools: Canva, Imgflip, or Meme Generator allow you to create memes in minutes.

Example:

A bakery meme during exam season:

"Me: I’m going to be healthy this week. Also me: Buys six brownies to cope with stress."

📸 Include a shot of your brownies and a cheeky caption: “We’re here for emotional support. Always.”

3. Showcase Your Day-to-Day with Authentic Content

Customers love to see the people behind the food. Use Stories, Reels or TikToks to show:

How your croissants are made

The staff prepping for a busy breakfast

New cocktail recipes being tested

Guests enjoying a Sunday roast

Keep it real and fun, you don’t need polished video production. A bit of humour, a happy tune, and a peek behind the curtain go a long way.

4. Ride the Trends. But Put a Foodie Spin on It

Jumping on trends is a free way to boost visibility. Monitor trending hashtags and challenges and think about how they could apply to your business.

Dance challenges → Your bar staff making cocktails in rhythm

Voiceover trends → A dramatised take on your daily delivery arriving late

Seasonal trends → Pumpkin spice everything? Share your version with a wink.

Tools like TikTok’s “Discover” tab or Instagram’s “Explore” section are great for spotting what’s hot.

5. Encourage and Repost User-Generated Content

Happy customers often post about their meals. Encourage them to tag your business and then reshare their posts (with permission). It’s free publicity and adds authenticity.

Offer a small incentive: “Tag us in your post and you might win a free coffee.”

Create a hashtag for your brand: e.g., #BrewedAtTheBay or #StickyToffeeSnaps

6. Schedule and Plan for Consistency

Using social media doesn’t have to take up your whole day. Free scheduling tools like Meta Business Suite or Buffer allow you to plan your content in advance. Aim for a mix of:

Product photos

Behind-the-scenes

Customer reviews

Humorous memes

Local collaborations or events

7. Join Local Conversations

Don’t underestimate the power of your local community online. Join local Facebook groups, tag other local businesses, and comment on posts where appropriate. Memes that tap into shared local experiences (“that moment when the seagull steals your chips on the promenade”) are great for engagement. But be careful not to hijack conversations as that never ends well. 

Final Thoughts

You don’t need a marketing agency or a massive budget to get people talking about your food and drink business. All it takes is consistency, creativity, and a willingness to have a bit of fun. Memes and social media let you tell your story, share your values, and build relationships with customers – one funny post or delicious photo at a time.

So go ahead – bake it ‘til you make it. 

The meme image illustrating this blogpost was created by me using https://imgflip.com/memegenerator

How to Promote Your Eating Place on a Budget: Clever & Cost-Effective Ideas

Running a café, restaurant, or takeaway can be immensely rewarding, but marketing often feels like a luxury reserved for businesses with deep pockets. 

The good news? You don’t need a big budget to get your eating place noticed. 

With some creativity, consistency, and local know-how, you can generate buzz without burning through your savings.

Here’s how to promote your food business as cheaply as possible—while still getting real results.

1. Leverage Social Media—Properly

Social media is free to use and incredibly powerful if done right. Focus on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok, where food visuals thrive.

Post high-quality photos of your dishes (natural lighting works wonders).

Share behind-the-scenes content—chef prepping, daily specials being made, or funny kitchen moments.

Use relevant hashtags (#FoodieUK, #LondonEats, #HiddenGems) and geotags.

Run giveaways (e.g. “Tag a mate for a chance to win lunch for two!”).

Pro Tip: Post consistently. Even three times a week can build engagement.

2. Claim and Optimise Your Google Business Profile

If people can’t find you online, they won’t visit. Claim your free Google Business Profile and make sure all the details—opening hours, location, menu, photos—are up to date.

Encourage happy customers to leave a review, as strong ratings help your listing appear in local searches (especially “restaurants near me”).

3. Partner with Local Influencers or Bloggers

No need to aim for massive influencers. Micro-influencers (1k–10k followers) in your area often have a more loyal, engaged audience.

Offer them a free meal or sample in exchange for a post or honest review. Look for food bloggers or local lifestyle content creators—you’ll often find them by searching hashtags or location tags on Instagram or TikTok.

4. Offer Referral Incentives

Word-of-mouth is powerful—and free. Give your regulars a reason to bring others.

Example ideas:

“Bring a friend and get 10% off your next visit.”

“Refer a mate, get a free dessert.”

Simple, trackable, and effective.

5. Join Local Facebook Groups and Forums

Local community groups (e.g., town-specific Facebook groups, Nextdoor, or local forums) are excellent places to build awareness.

Be genuinely helpful—don’t just spam adverts. Share special offers, promote local events you're part of, or answer questions about places to eat in the area.

6. Collaborate with Other Small Businesses

Is there a local brewery, coffee roaster, or farm shop nearby? Cross-promote each other’s products or create a joint offer.

Example:

“Enjoy a slice of our homemade cake with locally roasted coffee from Smith & Sons Roasters—only £5 this week.”

You tap into each other’s audiences without spending extra.

7. Host Low-Cost Events or Pop-Ups

Even on a small scale, events get people talking. Think:

Live acoustic music nights

Board game evenings

Local artist pop-ups

Tasting nights or “secret menu” days

These give people a reason to visit—and share the experience on social media.

8. Create a Loyalty Card or Email List

Encourage repeat visits with a simple stamp card or digital loyalty scheme.

Also, collect email addresses (with permission!) and send out monthly updates featuring offers, seasonal menus, or events. Tools like Mailchimp offer free email marketing for small lists.

9. Get Listed on Local Directories and Food Apps

Make sure your eating place is listed on:

TripAdvisor

Yelp

Local tourism websites

Delivery platforms (if you offer takeout)

Many are free to join or offer freemium listings.

10. Don’t Underestimate Good Signage and Word of Mouth

Sometimes, the simplest strategies are the most effective.

Make sure your signage is:

Clear

Well-lit

Visible from the street

And train your team to give excellent service—because a recommendation from a satisfied customer beats any advert.

Final Thoughts

Promoting your eating place doesn’t have to cost the earth. With a little creativity and consistency, you can build a loyal customer base, grow your visibility, and stand out—without spending a fortune.

Start small, track what works, and stay connected to your local community. That’s where real, sustainable success begins.

Think Before You Slogan: Why Your Food or Drink Brand’s Message Matters

In the world of food and drink branding, a great slogan can be your most powerful marketing tool. 

It’s the phrase that lingers in customers’ minds, gets repeated at dinner tables, and sometimes becomes part of pop culture. 

But a confusing or poorly worded slogan can do just the opposite—muddy your brand message, make your audience cringe, or even turn them away.

Take Pepsi’s recent slogan: “Living it, not liking it.” At first glance, it feels like a rallying cry for passion or authenticity—perhaps Pepsi is trying to align with a bold, unapologetic lifestyle? 

But dig a little deeper, and the meaning becomes murky. “Not liking it”? For a product you’re asking people to drink and enjoy, that wording seems counterintuitive. 

Some viewers have even interpreted the advert as suggesting that Pepsi isn’t something you’re supposed to like—just something you endure. Hardly the message you’d want to send about a drink you are trying to market.

This highlights a crucial truth for any business, especially in food and drink: words matter.

Your slogan isn’t just decoration—it communicates your values, personality, and promise to the customer. 

It's often the first impression someone gets of your brand. If it doesn’t make sense, or worse, gives off the wrong impression, it can undermine everything else you’re trying to build.

What Makes a Great Slogan?

Here are a few principles to keep in mind when crafting your own slogan:

Clarity over cleverness: A pun or twist of phrase can be memorable, but only if the meaning is clear. Confusion is the enemy of engagement.

Speak to the benefit: Your slogan should hint at why your product is worth trying. Is it delicious, comforting, energising, or indulgent? Say so.

Stay on brand: If your business is fun and quirky, your slogan can reflect that. But don’t stray so far into quirkiness that your core message gets lost.

Test your ideas: Run your slogan past people who haven’t been involved in creating it. Their first impressions can reveal whether it’s landing the way you intend.

Bottom Line

Whether you're selling artisan chocolate, local craft beer, or a new plant-based snack, don’t rush your slogan. It should earn its place alongside your logo, website, and social media presence as a key brand asset. Learn from the big players—not just from what they get right, but from the missteps too.

Because at the end of the day, you don’t just want people “living it.” You want them loving it.