18 media in which to promote your restaurant

More than three restaurants are opening in Paris every day. Competition between restaurants is intense, and the choices available to consumers are increasingly varied. In this particularly competitive environment, a coherent and powerful press relations strategy is essential for ambitious restaurateurs who want to stand out from the crowd and raise the profile of their establishment.

Your restaurant's location and storefront are no longer the only criteria that drive customers to the door. Consumers are less and less likely to stop at random to dine or lunch in an unfamiliar establishment. To make their choice, more and more are placing their trust in the media. Today, no less than half of all French people consider reviews by food journalists to be extremely influential in their culinary decisions. If it's essential to be well referenced, to keep your social media (Facebook and Instagram) or having an aesthetically pleasing website, it's not always enough. The recognition and approval of a third party, such as a media outlet or guide, offers legitimacy among consumers. In addition to raising your profile, it helps you gain the trust of potential customers, encouraging them to give your establishment a try. However, awareness is not the only reason why media coverage is so important, as it can also help you gain visibility. Today, 85% of French people search for a restaurant on a search engine. After looking at the ratings and reviews of a restaurant, many of them want to learn more about the place they want to eat. To make their choice, they turn their attention to those online media articles that establish sufficient legitimacy in the restaurant landscape. They want to know about the concept and history of the establishment, or even the chef himself, the specialities served, the origins of the produce, the generosity and palatability of the portions offered, the welcome and friendliness of the place. In short, they want to be sure that their dining experience lives up to their expectations. It's not uncommon for them to type your establishment's name into a search engine and consult media articles praising you, thus boosting your digital visibility.But which media are the most relevant to appear in, in order to maximize your restaurant's notoriety from the moment it opens? We've compiled a list of 18 of the most notorious and valuable media in the restaurant sector.

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1. Le Fooding

Le Fooding is the emblematic culinary guide to the hottest restaurants, bars and chefs across France. It comes in the form of a website, an annual paper mook and an app. Each year, it publishes a list of the best addresses in France, with trendy, sought-after concepts that every foodie should discover. It also lists all the country's gastronomic events and festivals. The free Le Fooding application offers a geolocation system and the possibility of carrying out personalized restaurant searches, with table reservations just a click away.Having a place in Le Fooding (website, print or application) thus offers notoriety and visibility among a young, urban and well-informed clientele, all of whom are restaurant enthusiasts.

FOODING MEDIA FILE :

• Type of articles published: restaurant listings with reviews and sought-after writers.
• Media creation date: 2000
• Number of copies of Fooding sold each year: around 50,000
• Number of Facebook subscribers: 83K
• Number of followers on Instagram: 266K
• Average number of visits per month to the website: 772K
• Audience: national, CSP+.
• Emblematic journalist(s): Alexandre Cammas (founder)

2. Télérama Sortir

Télérama Sortir is the urban and cultural guide belonging to the weekly magazine Télérama. Available as both a print and digital supplement, with a page dedicated to "Sortir Grand Paris", it features articles on bars and restaurants previously tested by journalists from the editorial team.

TELERAMA'S MEDIA SHEET:

• Type of articles published: quality restaurant reviews.
• Media creation date: 1947
• Number of copies sold each year: approx. 500K
• Number of Facebook subscribers: 53K
• Number of followers on Instagram: 10.7K
• Average monthly visits to the website: 8M
• Audience: Parisian, CSP +
• Emblematic journalist(s): Esterelle Payani

3- Le Figaroscope

Le Figaroscope is a cultural and gastronomic guide to Paris, owned by LeFigaro media. It is published every Wednesday in paper format, and features the best addresses and outings in Paris experienced by the editorial staff. A website is also available.

FIGAROSCOPE MEDIA FILE :

• Type of articles published: Quality table reviews. List articles such as "10 restaurants of the week in Paris" are also published every week. A "palmarès gourmand" of the best dishes and products is published every first Wednesday of the month. Finally, Emmanuel Rubin, the renowned food critic, publishes a weekly column called "haché menu".
• Media creation date: 1987
• Number of copies of the magazine sold each year: approx. 136K
• Number of Facebook subscribers: 26K
• Number of followers on Instagram: 7K
• Average number of visits per month to the Figaro.fr website: 266M
• Audience: national, CSP+.
• Emblematic journalists: Emmanuel Rubin and François Simon

4- France Bleu Paris

From Monday to Friday, the famous radio station broadcasts a program called "Le resto du jour à Paris". Every day, it presents a Parisian restaurateur and the history of his or her restaurant.

FRANCE BLEU MEDIA FILE :

• Type of articles published: 15-minute audio interview with a restaurateur
• Media creation date: 2000
• Number of Facebook subscribers: 17K
• Number of followers on Instagram: 1K
• Number of France bleu daily listeners: 3,853K

5- My Little Paris

Before being a website, MyLittleParis was a short, punchy newsletter designed to recommend the best ways to go out in Paris. Written in a tone of confidence and personalized advice, this newsletter has truly infiltrated the daily lives of the French, and particularly Parisians, as they receive it twice a week.Highly invested in food culture, My Little Paris has launched a series of 5 foodcasts with renowned food critic François Simon. The company doesn't stop there, either: MyLittleParis also offers its readers a newsletter with special offers in partnership with restaurants, and publishes posts on its social media site in which it presents its best addresses.

MY LITTLE PARIS MEDIA SHEET:

• Type of articles published: restaurant tips
• Media creation date: 2008
• Number of Facebook subscribers: 896K
• Number of followers on Instagram: 789K
• Average number of visits per month to the website: 131K
• Audience: Parisian, CSP+.
• Number of subscribers to MylittleParis daily newsletter: 4M
• Emblematic media journalist(s): Amandine Péchioda, Alvina Ledru-Johansson

6- Thank youAlfred

MerciAlfred, the masculine counterpart to MyLittleParis, also includes a newsletter, website and social accounts. Its editorial line is to suggest the best Parisian addresses for these gentlemen, according to their preferences and attractions.

MERCI ALFRED MEDIA FILE:

• Type of articles published: Bons plans restaurants
• Media creation date: 2010
• Number of Facebook subscribers: 149K
• Number of followers on Instagram: 10.9K
• Average number of visits per month to the website: 83.26K
• Audience: Parisian, CSP+, 18-40 years old
• Number of MerciAlfred daily newsletter subscribers: 250K

7- Le Bonbon

Originally a paper magazine, Le Bonbon's promise is to restore a village dimension to Parisian neighborhoods, with the publication of 5 monthly editions referring to different neighborhoods and a night edition. It is presented as the forerunner of Parisian urban trends for Millenials (18-34 year-olds). Its content highlights outings, tips, lifestyle and cultural events in the cities it covers (7 at present), and its digital version features a "food & drink" tab.

CANDY MEDIA FILE :

• Type of articles published: Articles on restaurants discovered by the editorial team, articles in list form.
• Media creation date: 2009
• Number of Facebook subscribers: 428K
• Number of followers on Instagram: 87.8K
• Average monthly visits to the website: 2.97M
• Audience: national
• Emblematic journalist(s): Olivia Sorrel Dejerine

8- Demotivateur Food

Demotivateur Food is a section of Demotivateur, an entertainment social media site focused on food. Primarily focused on social media, it offers viral video content centered on gastronomy, designed to be seen and relayed by as many Internet users as possible. Le Demotivateur Food is also a website providing recipes and culinary addresses. They have also launched their "à table" section on both social media and the site, inviting readers to discover certain figures in the restaurant world in video format.

MEDIA FILE OF DÉMOTIVATEUR FOOD :

• Types of articles published: recipe videos, appetizing photos, short articles on restaurants, articles listing the best culinary addresses by theme (Italian, brunch, barbecue...).
• Media creation date: 2015
• Number of Facebook subscribers: 3M
• Number of followers on Instagram: 236K
• Average number of visits per month to the Demotivateur.fr website: 3.49 M
• Audience: national, mostly 18-34 year-olds
• Emblematic journalist(s) : Léa Rège

9- Time Out Paris

Time Out Paris is a print magazine specializing in trendy places to go out in Paris. It has a digital version and a large readership at social media. Its English version also attracts many foreign tourists and expatriates.

TIMEOUT PARIS MEDIA SHEET :

• Type of articles published: Articles in list form listing the best restaurants by specialty or dish, articles listing "restaurants by neighborhood" in Paris, more in-depth articles on a table, tested by the editorial team in the "latest reviews" section.
• Media creation date: 1968
• Number of Facebook subscribers: 286K
• Number of followers on Instagram: 51.5K
• Average number of visits per month to the TimeOut.fr website: 1.8M
• Audience: Parisian
• Media icon(s): Tina Meyer, Jill Cousin

10- Going out in Paris

Sortir à Paris is an online diary specializing in Parisian outings. In its "Food and drink" section, it lists both upcoming food events and articles on restaurants.

FICHE MEDIA DE SORTIR À PARIS :

• Type of articles published: Article on tables and articles in the form of a list of the best culinary addresses by theme, dish, specialty
• Media creation date: 1998
• Number of Facebook subscribers: 453K
• Number of followers on Instagram: 25.3K
• Average monthly visits to the website: 1.8M
• Audience: Parisian, 18-34

11- ANousParis

Originally a weekly urban magazine distributed in the Paris metro, ANousParis was designed to be an explorer of good addresses in Paris, providing its readers with information on the best places to go out and things to do in the City of Light. Now online, it offers two sections, "A manger" and "A boire", dedicated to the capital's food scene.

MEDIA FILE OF ÀNOUS PARIS :

• Type of articles published: Articles in the form of themed lists (best addresses), latest restaurant openings, ideas by type of cuisine.
• Media creation date: 1999
• Number of Facebook subscribers: 114K
• Number of followers on Instagram: 22.3K
• Average number of visits per month to the website: 257K
• Number of copies sold of monthly magazine: approx. 300,000
• Audience: national

12- Paris moves

Parisbouge.com is a cultural and urban web guide listing events and tips for going out in Paris. Two pages dedicated to restaurants and bars are offered on its website.PARIS BOUGE MEDIA SHEET :

• Type of articles published: Reviews of existing or upcoming restaurants, articles written in the form of lists (the best crêperies, brunches...) and more in-depth articles illustrating the best addresses according to the editors.Date of creation of the medium: 2006
• Number of Facebook subscribers: 73K
• Number of followers on Instagram: 11.3K
• Average number of visits per month to the website: 233.27K
• Audience: Parisian

13- Gilles Pudlowski's blog

The blog of journalist and writer Gilles Pudlowski, formerly of Le Point, offers its readers good addresses, news about gourmet chefs and honest reviews, both positive and negative, of French restaurants.

MEDIA FILE OF GILLES PUDLOWSKI'S BLOG :

• Type of articles published: Specific articles for each restaurant tested by the blog author.
• Media creation date :
• Average monthly visits to the website: 203K
• Audience: national
• Emblematic journalists: Gilles Pudlowski, Alain Angenost, Didier Chambeau

14- ParisZigZag

Initially an amateur blog created by two friends, ParisZigZag is now a site dedicated to the discovery of Parisian cultural and trendy hotspots (unusual visits in Paris, good addresses...). With its "Bars & Cafés" and "Restos" pages, it offers unmissable food content.

PARIS ZIGZAG MEDIA SHEET :

• Type of articles published: Specific articles on a restaurant and its concept, articles in list form.
• Media creation date: 2011
• Number of Facebook subscribers: 283K
• Number of followers on Instagram: 19.8K
• Average number of visits per month to the website: 463.4K
• Number of newsletter subscribers: 87,000
• Audience: Parisian
• Emblematic journalist(s) : Léa Philippe

15- DoitinParis

Doitinparis is a blog dedicated to Paris tips and outings for Parisian women. With a tab dedicated to "bars & restaurants", this blog unveils the best trendy addresses in Paris.

MEDIA SHEET :

• Type of articles published: Reviews of existing or upcoming restaurants, articles written in list form (the best crepêries, brunches...) and more in-depth articles illustrating the best addresses according to the editorial team.
• Media creation date: 2008
• Number of Facebook subscribers: 506K
• Number of followers on Instagram: 99.4K
• Average number of visits per month to the website: 134K
• Audience: Parisian
• Emblematic journalist(s) : Elodie Rouge

17- Parisgourmand.com

The guide that lists all the best restaurants in Paris, from bistros and brasseries to trendy spots and gourmet restaurants. The site classifies restaurants by genre, type of cuisine, specialty, neighborhood or service, making it easy for web users to find what they're looking for. But it's also a site that keeps you up to date with all the latest news from the capital, events, openings, product releases, chefs' lives... a whole host of very popular searches.

MEDIA SHEET :

• Type of articles published: Restaurant listings in numerous categories, special holiday articles, lists of the best establishments for a special occasion, as well as articles on what to do in and around Paris, all the latest news and events not to be missed, information on wine and champagne estates...
• Media creation date: 2006
• Average number of visits per month to the website: 109k
• Audience: Parisian, CSP+ 18-40 years old
• Emblematic journalist(s): Manuel Mariani (co-founder)

17- Women's media

Paulette, Marie Claire, Elle with its "Elle à table" column, Grazia... are just some of the women's magazines that cover cooking and culinary topics, so don't hesitate to contact them.

18- Emblematic guides

Once you've established your culinary reputation, don't forget to turn to iconic guides such as Routard, Gault&Millaud and Lonely Planet, not forgetting the Michelin Guide if your restaurant has a Michelin star.

Conclusion

With this non-exhaustive list of well-known media outlets in the food sector, you're all set to launch a fine press relations strategy. But identifying the right media and contacts for your restaurant is only the first step in a well-thought-out press relations strategy. To optimize press coverage, it's important to work out how you're going to approach these journalists. Build a powerful story, implement a relevant follow-up strategy, welcome journalists in due form... While getting press coverage in the most relevant media is essential to building a solid reputation for your establishment, it 's also vital to build a broader communications strategy. A restaurant's presence on social media is essential to attracting new customers and building loyalty. Establishing partnerships with the most relevant influencers is also particularly important. In this article, you'll find the essentials to ensure you're working with the right people and building the right influencer marketing strategy.

One last thing: as a restaurateur, you can choose to be your own media ! Simply optimize your Instagram page so that it becomes both a digital showcase and a means of attracting customers. The recipe for optimizing your networks in the guide below

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