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

Easy and Affordable Ways to Promote Your Food Business

We understand that times are tough for food businesses. 

Whether you're running a café, restaurant, food van, or catering service, keeping customers engaged and attracting new ones can be challenging—especially when marketing budgets are tight. 

The good news is that there are plenty of easy, cheap, or even free ways to promote your food business effectively. 

Here are some strategies to help you boost visibility and sales without breaking the bank.

1. Leverage Social Media (Free)

Social media is one of the most powerful and cost-effective tools for promoting your food business.

Post high-quality photos of your dishes to entice customers.

Use Instagram Stories, Facebook Reels, and TikTok to showcase behind-the-scenes content, daily specials, or customer testimonials.

Engage with your audience by responding to comments and messages promptly.

Run interactive polls, Q&A sessions, or giveaways to keep your followers engaged.

2. Encourage User-Generated Content (Free)

Your customers can be your best marketers. Encourage them to share their dining experiences on social media by:

Creating a unique hashtag for your business.

Running a contest where customers share their meals for a chance to win a free dish or discount.

Featuring user-generated content on your social media pages to build a sense of community.

3. Optimise Your Google Business Profile (Free)

Having an up-to-date Google Business Profile can increase your visibility in local searches. Ensure that:

Your address, contact details, and opening hours are correct.

You upload high-quality photos of your food and premises.

You encourage happy customers to leave positive reviews.

You respond to reviews to show engagement and appreciation.

4. Partner with Local Businesses (Free or Low Cost)

Collaboration is a great way to expand your reach. Consider:

Partnering with local coffee shops, bakeries, local breweries, or markets for cross-promotions.

Offering exclusive discounts to employees of nearby businesses.

Featuring local suppliers or artisans on your menu to create mutual support.

5. Offer Discounts and Loyalty Rewards (Low Cost)

Everyone loves a good deal! Implementing a simple loyalty programme can encourage repeat customers.

Provide a stamp card where customers earn a free item after a set number of purchases.

Offer a small discount for referrals or first-time visitors.

Run limited-time promotions to create a sense of urgency.

6. Engage with Local Media and Bloggers (Free or Low Cost)

Local food bloggers and journalists are always looking for new places to review.

Reach out to them with a friendly email introducing your business.

Invite them for a complimentary meal/drink in exchange for an honest review.

Offer to collaborate on a giveaway to increase exposure.

7. Host Small Events or Tasting Sessions (Low Cost)

Hosting an event doesn’t have to be expensive.

Organise a tasting session for new menu items.

Host a cooking demo or workshop.

Collaborate with local musicians or artists for a themed evening.

8. Make the Most of Email Marketing (Free or Low Cost)

Email marketing remains a powerful tool for customer retention.

Collect emails from customers through your website or in-store.

Send a monthly newsletter with updates, promotions, and special offers.

Personalise emails with customer names and tailored recommendations.

9. Get Listed on Food Delivery Apps and Directories (Varied Cost)

If you offer takeaway or delivery, make sure you're visible on food apps and directories like:

Just Eat, Deliveroo, or Uber Eats (if applicable to your area).

Local online food directories or community pages.

Your own website with an easy-to-use online ordering system.

10. Engage with Your Community (Free or Low Cost)

Building relationships with your local community can generate loyal customers.

Participate in local markets, fairs, food fairs, or charity events.

Sponsor a small community event or sports team.

Offer a “pay-it-forward” scheme where customers can donate a meal to someone in need.

Final Thoughts

Promoting your food business doesn’t have to be expensive. By using these simple and affordable strategies, you can increase visibility, attract new customers, and keep existing ones engaged. The key is consistency—stay active, be creative, and always provide great food and service.

Of course, That's Food and Drink will help promote your business for free. Please get in touch if we can help.

Which of these strategies will you try first? Let us know in the comments or share your own tips for food business success!