Meta description: Should restaurants invest in PR campaigns or backlinks? This article compares the pros and cons of each digital marketing strategy to determine the best approach for driving customers to local eateries.
Introduction
For restaurants trying to boost online visibility and attract more local customers, two common digital marketing tactics are PR campaigns and backlink building. But which strategy delivers the best digital marketing for restaurants when it comes to driving real business results?
In this article, we’ll compare the pros and cons of PR and backlinks to help local restaurant owners determine where to focus their online marketing efforts and budget.
PR Campaigns: Press Releases, Media Coverage and Brand Awareness
PR campaigns aim to generate media coverage and increase brand awareness through press releases, interviews, guest articles, and other earned media tactics.
Pros of PR Campaigns:
- Media coverage lends credibility and authority to your brand.
- Stories and interviews showcase your brand personality and values.
- Increased brand awareness can drive website traffic and sales.
- PR efforts can help manage crises and reputation.
Cons of PR Campaigns:
- No guarantee media will cover your story.
- Typically requires hiring a PR agency.
- Difficult to track direct impact on sales.
- Media coverage can be short-lived.
Backlink Building: Higher Rankings and Direct Referrals
Backlink building focuses on acquiring strategic backlinks from other high-authority websites to improve search engine rankings and referral traffic.
Pros of Backlink Building:
- Directly influences search engine rankings and visibility.
- Referral traffic is targeted and relevant.
- Inbound links signal trust and authority to Google.
- Provides trackable results and ROI.
Cons of Backlink Building:
- Time and resource intensive process.
- Risks low-quality links harming site reputation.
- Google algorithm changes can devalue links.
- Doesn’t highlight brand personality well.
Backlinks vs. PR Comparison
| Factor | Backlinks | PR Campaigns |
| Impact on Brand Awareness | Low | High |
| Influences Search Rankings | High | Low |
| Provides Referral Traffic | Yes | No |
| Credibility and Reputation | Moderate | High |
| Cost | Moderate | High |
| Results Tracking | Easy | Difficult |
The Verdict: Both Have a Role in Restaurant Marketing
For best digital marketing for restaurants, the ideal strategy is to leverage both PR and backlinks in your overall marketing plan.
- PR builds credibility and brand recognition which make people more likely to click on your search listing and website.
- Higher search rankings and quality backlinks directly drive referral traffic.
A balanced approach delivers compounding benefits that maximize your online visibility and support conversion goals.
Tips for Optimizing Your Restaurant’s PR and Backlinks
- Create shareworthy and linkworthy content– Unique stories, local events, chef interviews, and data-backed lists all provide PR and backlink opportunities.
- Pitch media and local websites– Actively pitch your story ideas and content to journalists, local newspapers, restaurant sites, regional magazines, and local blogs.
- Monitor media mentions and links– Use Google Alerts and link tracking tools to quickly respond to new coverage and link opportunities.
- Promote content across channels– Share your media coverage and quality links on social media and email newsletters.
- Build relationships– Connect regularly with local media, bloggers, partners, and ambassadors to foster ongoing PR and linking options.
The best marketing for restaurants combines brand storytelling through PR with the direct website traffic of high-quality backlinks. With some effort and creativity, you can earn great coverage and links to drive real business results.
Start Driving More Customers to Your Restaurant
Now you know that leveraging both PR and link building is ideal to boost your local restaurant’s online visibility and traffic. Ready to get started? Our digital marketing experts specialize in data-driven solutions to acquire more customers for restaurants and small businesses. Contact us today for a free website and online presence audit.
