Hungry customers, fast orders, and a race to stay ahead. That’s pretty much how most quick-service restaurants (QSRs) deal with the hustle. But even the best players in the game need to know when people most likely to buy from them are ready to order and how to get to them to turn them into customers.
People don’t sit around planning their cravings; they just happen. And when they do, no one’s staring at billboards; we’re glued to our phones, or watching Netflix, with our food decisions hugely influenced by seeing the right ad, image or message at just the right time (“Man, that’s making me crave a burger!”).
Or perhaps you’re grocery shopping on a Sunday? A “You’re tired, why cook? Grab a family meal for just $9.99” ad pops up when you’re walking into the supermarket. Suddenly your dinner plans just got easier.
That’s digital advertising, making sure that when customers are ready to say yes, your business is the first one to grab that opportunity. But digital ads don’t just drive online orders—they can also bring more customers through your doors. You can head over to see how digital ads can increase restaurant footfalls.
What Kind of Digital Ads Work Best for QSRs?
When it comes to grabbing attention (and appetites), not all digital ads are created equal. QSR brands need ads that move fast, drive instant action, and reach customers strategically. Here’re some ad types that are making a difference in the digital ad space:
Display Ads – The OG. That burger you eyed once is now following you everywhere online. And that’s not a coincidence. Display ads, the ads that pop up when you browse the internet, remind potential customers about your menu and nudge them toward an order.
Social Media Ads – A well-placed, high-res shot of crispy fries mid-scroll? This is where cravings can be instantly activated. Social ads thrive on visuals and a sense of community, making them perfect for customers to make quick decisions and drive a restaurant’s sales.
Connected TV Ads – Streaming a show on Netflix or Prime Video when a hi-res “Limited-time spicy wings deal” ad pops up, complete with crunches and slurps. Now suddenly you wanna have a snack. Spicy wings, in particular.That’s the power of Connected TV ads driving both online orders and in-store visits.
Geo-Targeted Ads – “You’re 0.5 miles from fresh, hot pizza.”, a tourist sees while browsing for directions on their phone in a city. One quick turn and boom, you’re at the counter. These ads catch customers when they’re close by – or at a competitor’s outlet – and ready to grab a bite.
Search Ads – People Google their cravings. If your ad pops up for “best tacos near me,” you just won the sale. As simple as that!
But here’s the thing. Managing digital ads manually is like flipping burgers during the lunch rush without tongs—it’s just not going to work.
Programmatic changes the game by automating placements, optimizing in real-time, and much more. Running a QSR isn’t just about serving great food. You also have to get the right customers through the door (or into the app) at the right time.
So, What Makes Programmatic a Game-Changer for QSRs?
They’re stuck in traffic, thinking about pizza.
They’re on their couch, craving wings.
They’re grocery shopping, contemplating whether to cook or grab takeout.
They’re near your competitor’s restaurant, not too far from your joint.
Your job is to make sure your digital ad pops up at the time it matters most, to people it matters most to. Programmatic advertising places your ad exactly when and where your hungriest customers are ready to order. You don’t have to worry about manually placing ads, monitoring results, and guessing who to target.
-Your programmatic ad automates your ad placements so your offers reach the right customers at the perfect moment, without wasting budget.
-It optimizes in real time—so if a certain audience responds better, your ads will adjust automatically.
-It helps drive both online orders & in-store visits—by meeting customers where they already are.
Programmatic ensures your brand is visible at the right time, in the right place, with the right offer.
With the rise of mobile connectivity and changing consumer habits, traditional advertising alone doesn’t cut it anymore. QSR customers are digitally active, highly mobile, and impulse-driven—they see, they crave, they order.
But precision targeting isn’t just about appearing online—it’s also about using real-time insights to reach customers based on their intent, location, and preferences.
5 Reasons to Use Programmatic Ads for Your QSR Right Now
All the different kinds of digital ads we spoke about earlier – display, social, connected tv, geo-targeted, search – and more, including video & audio (think Spotify ads) can be run programmatically.
And here’re some things you can do with programmatic advertising that make this digital advertising approach an excellent option for restaurants and QSRs:
Personalized Offers – AI-driven insights help customize deals and recommendations based on customer preferences, making ads feel less like ads and more like helpful suggestions.
Automated & Optimized Placements – No need to manually place ads or guess who to target. Programmatic automates ad placements, so your offers reach the right customers at the perfect moment—without wasting budget.
Real-Time Optimization – If a certain audience is responding better to your ads, programmatic automatically adjusts in real time to improve performance.
Multi-Channel Reach – Whether through CTV, display, or social media ads, programmatic ensures a consistent brand presence across platforms where your customers are already spending time.
Retarget with Ease – If someone has spent time browsing your menu online, or say, has clicked on one of your ads before, you can use this information to get a better ad, with a better offer, in front of them again.
Behavior-Based Campaigns – You can set up your programmatic campaigns to target, say, people looking for Mexican ingredients on Amazon shopping or those seeing recipe videos on YouTube. Get to high-intent audiences quicker and more effectively.
Measurable Results – Unlike traditional billboards, every ad impression and conversion can be tracked, helping you optimize campaigns for better ROI.
With food delivery and takeout sales booming, QSR competition is more intense than ever. Now it’s more about making sharper, data-driven marketing moves. Programmatic advertising keeps your brand top-of-mind and right in the path of hungry customers when it matters most.
No wasted budgets. No missed chances. Just high-impact campaigns that turn cravings into conversions.
