You spent months on the build-out, the kitchen and the permits, and a few weeks before opening you realize nobody knows you’re about to open. Your opening is the biggest visibility moment a restaurant gets, and it only happens once.
4 to 6 weeks before: set up the basics
- Create or complete your Google Business Profile with name, address, categories and hours, including your opening date
- Set up Instagram and Facebook with the same name and logo
- A simple website with the menu, address and contact, even a single page
- Choose the signature dishes you’ll feature
Consistent information everywhere matters to Google; we explain why in the Google Maps guide for restaurants.
2 to 4 weeks before: build curiosity
People love seeing behind the scenes: the sign going up, the room coming together, tasting sessions, meeting the chef. Make short videos of each step. They keep your page alive and later become great raw material for opening ads.
Opening week: a local campaign and a busy day on camera
Run a Meta campaign for awareness and messages, aimed at people who live or work within a reasonable distance, using your intro video with the date and any opening offer. On opening day, film and photograph the busy room, the food and your guests (with their consent). That content keeps working for months. We film openings for local businesses; see video production.
The weeks after: turn first guests into regulars
After the opening buzz, the room usually gets quieter, and that’s normal. The real work in this period:
- Ask your first guests for Google reviews
- Reply quickly to every review and message
- Reuse opening-day video in later campaigns
- Create a specific reason to come back on slow nights
We cover the next steps in filling slow weeknights and getting more Google reviews.
Common opening mistakes
- Advertising before the menu and hours are final
- Inviting a big crowd before the kitchen can handle volume
- Forgetting to photograph and film opening day
- Stopping all marketing after week one
Frequently asked questions
How early should we start marketing before opening?
At least a month, ideally six weeks, especially to set up your Google profile and build an early audience.
Is a soft opening worth it?
For many restaurants, yes. The kitchen gets tested, and you collect your first reviews and real content.
How much should we budget for opening ads?
It depends on your area and goals. Opening-week spend is usually higher than a normal month.
Related reading
Run a restaurant, café or bar in Toronto or Newmarket? See what we built for Shomal Restaurant, North Grill, Thornhill Pub and Gilaneh, and the results: restaurant marketing in Toronto. You can also read about Video production or book a review session.
