YouTube content is watched for over a billion hours per day.

Yes. One billion hours. Per. Day.

That makes YouTube’s video content more popular than all the video content being watched on Netflix and Facebook combined. 🤯

Needless to say, there are countless YouTube viewers among those billion hours of view time who are interested in finding the best places to eat, are reading restaurant reviews, watching food videos, and following cooking guides by chefs.

Restaurant owners need to consider these potential customers among the vast throngs of these food-centric YouTube viewers as a market that is primed to be tapped into.

Rather than try to use slick marketing maneuvers to get someone to come into your restaurant, though, plan around building a relationship with that YouTube market.

In short, restaurant owners should use YouTube to create trust and build a loyal following.

YouTube allows restaurant owners such as yourself to showcase in pictures why your restaurant is a destination, not just a two-dimensional ad in a magazine.

In a world that tends to favor visuals, YouTube helps to keep the names of restaurants in mind. When the rivals only share food photos on Instagram while you narrate your story on YouTube, it means you will get more reservations.

While YouTube may be a great Internet destination for watching our favorite videos, how much do we, as restaurant owners, know to make use of YouTube. After all, being a YouTube viewer is a lot different than being a digital marketing who use YouTube to bring business into a restaurant.

What you need to get from point A to point B in this journey is a guide. You need to know what tools are out there. You need to know if money should be spent on YouTube ads and what can be done without any expenses. Time is always a luxury, so you haven't got forever and a day to make this all work. And by “working,” how do we even know if what we're doing is even having any impact.

For you, friend, this article has been written. You can thank us later.

Welcome to Digital Marketing with YouTube for Restaurants.

Grab your cup of coffee, turns off your phone (unless, of course, you're reading this on your phone), and let's begin our journey.

What is Digital Marketing with YouTube for Restaurants?

Digital marketing on YouTube for restaurants refers to the marketing tactics employed by restaurants on YouTube to promote themselves through videos and advertisements.

It involves creating and sharing videos that highlight your food, service, ambiance, story, or team, and then optimizing that content so it reaches the right audience.

Different kinds of endeavors include:

• ● Original video content: Showing how chefs work behind-the-scenes, restaurant atmosphere, etc.

• ● Influencer partnerships: Engaging YouTube food vloggers who have large, loyal followings. 70% of marketers rate YouTube as a key platform for influencer campaigns.

• ● Paid ads on YouTube, like bumper ads or video ads, target people who watch on their phones and TVs.

• ● Search Engine Optimization (SEO) for YouTube is the practice of making your video content easier to find when people search on YouTube or Google.

For restaurant owners, YouTube is like a virtual storefront. You visually tell your brand story. You reach customers before they decide where to eat.

Why YouTube Is Great for Restaurant Ads

There are more than 2.7 billion people who log into YouTube each month. The food videos are growing fast. “Food” and “restaurants near me” are popular searches in many cities.

This is important because:

• ● Videos show food better than just photos. A video of a dish being made or served makes people want to eat it.

• ● Food channels have loyal fans. A local food vlogger can bring in more customers than ads in the flyer campaigns.

YouTube keeps videos forever. Unlike Instagram, which deletes stories after one day, YouTube continues to grow and that growth has the effect of adding a steady stream of new viewers day after day.

So, the market is there. It's your responsibility, then, as a digital marketer on YouTube to reach the viewers who want the food that you're selling.

What Does Digital Marketing with YouTube Mean—And How Does It Work?

Let’s look a very common use case: a person in Los Angeles looks up some of the best tacos in LA on YouTube.

Instead of watching a boring food critic's video, they see your restaurant's video. This video shows fresh tortillas being made, carne asada grilling, customers laughing, and the chef making tacos.

This is how digital marketing works on YouTube: create the content, promote your content to the correct audience, have those viewers buy from you.

If we’re being honest with each other, though, we know that it isn’t as simple as simply uploading a video. What is also required is a plan to turn views into people coming to eat.

Here is how it goes:

• ● Content: Make useful videos about your food and restaurant. You can showcase behind-the-scenes kitchen footage, chef Q&A sessions, events, and new dishes.

• ● Enhancements to the Content: Use local words in titles and descriptions so people searching for local food will find your videos.

• ● Viewers: Target Local people with ads that come up on YouTube when they are in your area, looking for restaurants.

• ● Conversions: Get viewers to come in by putting links to reservations or ordering online in your videos.

YouTube marketing lets your restaurant be discovered by people who are actively searching for where to eat in your city. If your content is put together well and draws their interest, then yes, there is a market out for it.

“Alright, alright!” you say. “What do I need to do to get started.”

Just like on television, YouTube has the concept of channels. Your channel is where your videos would be listed. This is your slice of YouTube that viewers can use to find you / your restaurant.

To start, then, we need to see how to get ourselves a YouTube channel. We look at that next.

Step-by-Step: How to Start a YouTube Channel for Your Restaurant

Starting a YouTube channel for your restaurant isn't as overwhelming as it sounds. You're good to go by using a phone, some creativity, and a solidly planned approach.

Here's a step-by-step guide made specifically for busy restaurant owners:

Step 1: Ensure that you have a Google Account to use for your business.

• To use YouTube, you need a Google account. If you already have one for your restaurant's Gmail or Google Business Profile, you're ready. If not:

  ● Go to accounts.google.com

• ● Click “Create account.”

• ● Choose “To manage my business”

• ● Fill in your restaurant’s details

Use your business email and keep your login credentials secure. This account will give you access to YouTube, Google Analytics, and more.

Step 2: Create Your YouTube Channel

• Once you’re logged in with your Google account:

  ● Visit youtube.com

• ● Click your profile icon (top-right corner)

• ● Select “Your Channel.”

• ● Choose “Use a business or other name.”

• ● Enter your restaurant’s name (e.g., “Taco Spot LA”)

This sets up your official channel. You now have your own branded video hub! 🎉 👏

Step 3: Customize Your Channel Branding

• Make your channel look professional and recognizable by adding:

  ● Channel logo – Use your restaurant's logo as your profile photo (minimum 98 x 98 px).

• ● Banner image – Upload a high-quality banner with your tagline, location, or hours (2560 x 1440 px recommended).

• ● Make sure that the 'About' section includes a lively and short explanation of your restaurant. Mention your address, contact details, and add a link to your website or place where guests can check the menu.

Description should include words like 'best sushi in Los Angeles' or 'family restaurant in Beverly Hills' so that you show up more often to people searching in those areas.

Step 4: Plan Your Video Content

Once you start recording, your audience should have something they desire. A viral video is not your main focus; you need videos that others can connect with and trust.

• Here are a few high-performing video ideas for restaurants:

  ● Chef interviews or 'day in the kitchen' clips

• ● New menu item teasers

• ● Customer testimonials or event highlights

• ● “How it's made” videos for your signature dishes

• ● Local collaborations or delivery updates

Start with 3–4 videos per month. Consistency matters more than perfection.

Step 5: Record and Edit Your First Video

You don't need a production team. A modern smartphone with decent lighting works great.

• Recording Tips:

  ● Use natural light when possible

• ● Keep background clean and relevant (e.g., kitchen, dining area)

• ● Keep it short (1–3 minutes) for beginners

• ● Use a tripod or a stable surface

• Editing Tools (Free & Easy):

  ● CapCut (mobile)

• ● Canva Video Editor (desktop/mobile)

• ● iMovie (Mac/iPhone users)

Add your logo, background music (royalty-free), and captions if possible.

Step 6: Upload and Optimize Your Video

• Now that your video is ready, it's time to upload it:

  ● Click the Create button (camera icon with a + sign)

• ● Choose “Upload video”

• ● Add a title (e.g., “Behind the Scenes at Taco Spot LA – Freshly Made Daily!”)

• ● Write a description including keywords, links to your menu, website, and contact info.

• ● Add tags like “Los Angeles food,” “Mexican food LA,” or “DTLA tacos.”

Choose a custom thumbnail (an eye-catching still image) to improve clicks.

The End (for Now) – Key Takeaways

YouTube needs no introduction. It is the most well-known video content distribution system in the world.

Having your restaurant on YouTube is a logical progression from relying on traditional print media to get the word out on your restaurant to being part of the fast-evolving world of digital marketing.

• In this article, we looked at the basic concepts of how to achieve success on YouTube:

  1. What it means to do digital marketing on YouTube

• 2. Create a YouTube channel

• 3. Upload video content that shows the best of what your restaurant is

These are all important first steps, but your learning doesn't end here.

In part 2 of our Digital Marketing with YouTube for Restaurants series, we look at how to get viewers to find your videos on YouTube

YouTube is not a fire-and-forget it mechanism. For that reason, we’ll also look at ways of taking everything we learned and packaging it up into a digital marketing strategy.

We can’t wait to see you there!