You already share your best food, drinks, and daily specials with customers on Instagram, showing off your creativity and bringing your brand's personality to life — but what if your content could do more? Every photo and video you share is an opportunity to spark cravings, build trust, and connect with customers before they order.
Why visuals matter more than ever for restaurants
Today's diners make decisions with their eyes, and they make them fast. 87% of diners say they've visited a restaurant after seeing it on social media. Once they're on DoorDash, visuals continue to drive action. Merchants who add photos to their menu items see up to a 44% lift in monthly sales compared with items without photos. And when something's trending, diners don't wait — 56% have ordered a viral menu item they spotted online, often deciding where to eat within 5–10 minutes.
These habits highlight just how powerful visuals are in shaping where customers choose to eat. Whether it's a well-lit photo of your signature dish or a quick video capturing the artistry behind it, great visuals make your food stand out.
For small and independent restaurants, this kind of storytelling matters more than ever. Strong photos and videos don't just help you compete with bigger brands — they give customers a glimpse into your atmosphere, your values, and what makes your food special. That emotional connection often starts long before a customer steps inside or places an order.
The power of video on your store page
And while adding imagery to your store page is a great first start, short videos add motion, personality, and context that photos can't always capture. A 10-second clip of your chef plating a dish or your barista finishing a latte instantly conveys energy and craft, giving customers a taste of what makes your business unique.
Videos can:
Boost engagement. Diners spend more time browsing menus that include motion, helping your page stand out.
Build authenticity. Real clips make your brand feel approachable and human.
Show experiences, not just dishes. Highlight ambiance, service, or behind-the-scenes moments to help guests imagine visiting or ordering from you.
Your store page header is an especially powerful place for video — it's the first thing customers see when they land on your page. A short, well-lit clip in that space can convey your restaurant's atmosphere, energy, and quality at a glance.
Connect your Instagram and showcase your best visuals
Building and maintaining a strong visual presence across platforms can take time, especially for small teams. That's why DoorDash added a new DoorDash Merchant Portal feature that makes it easy to link your Instagram account and bring your existing content to your DoorDash store page.
Once connected, your Instagram photos and videos appear in your Merchant Portal, ready to feature on your store page header and menu items — no extra uploads required.
It's a simple, time-saving way to keep your online store page fresh, cohesive, and true to your brand.
Tips for using Instagram photos and videos effectively
Once your content is linked, a few creative choices can help you get the most impact:
Choose menu-ready imagery.
Select clear, well-lit shots of your most popular dishes.Keep branding consistent.
Use images or video that reflect your logo colors, plating style, or décor for a seamless first impression.Refresh seasonally.
Rotate images and videos every few months. Highlight new menu items, holiday specials, or limited-time offers.Include your people.
Candid shots of your team cooking, prepping, or plating add a human touch and show customers who's behind the food.Monitor performance.
Keep an eye on which photos and videos drive higher conversions in your Merchant Portal analytics. Use those insights to guide future content.
Build a stronger brand presence with DoorDash
Visual storytelling doesn't just make your store page look better; it makes your brand more memorable. By connecting your Instagram account, you can easily bring your visual identity and personality into your DoorDash experience. This feature helps you do more with the content you already have, so you can spend less time uploading and more time growing your business.
Explore the feature in your Merchant Portal or read more on how to connect your account.
