Community Highlights: Meet Jessica Huang of Restaurant Marketing

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Huang.

Hi Jessica, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Aside from my early experience in waitressing and hostess roles starting at 16, my professional career truly began in the tech industry. While studying Communications with an emphasis on PR in college, I worked at a managed services company that provided me with a deep understanding of Salesforce, Microsoft, and various other technologies. This role not only gave me a strong foundation in systems and operations but also introduced me to the world of marketing. I was responsible for the company’s branding, digital strategies, and conference/event marketing, which ultimately set the stage for my future career.

I spent several years in tech, even fulfilling a personal dream of working at Salesforce HQ in the Bay Area. But outside of my corporate career, I had a growing passion for food—trying new restaurants, capturing dishes through photography, and sharing my experiences online. What started as a simple hobby quickly evolved into something more. In 2015, before I even moved to the Bay, I launched a side business focused on food marketing. In the beginning, I took on any client I could, often working for pennies just to gain experience. I specialized in social media, graphic design, food photography, and email marketing, laying the groundwork for what would eventually become my full-time venture.

Now, nearly a decade later, Restaurant Marketing has partnered with some of the largest brands in Southern California and across the U.S., including Yogurtland, Wood Ranch, Finney’s, and The Halal Guys. What started as a side passion has grown into a thriving business, proving that the best careers are often built at the intersection of skill and passion.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Running a small business hasn’t always been a smooth road, it rarely is. It comes with its own set of challenges: limited resources, the constant need to prove yourself, and the pressure of wearing every hat in the business. You’re the strategist, the marketer, the salesperson, the client manager—and sometimes, even the intern. Add to that the speed at which the marketing industry evolves, and it’s easy to feel like you’re sprinting just to stay in place.

When we first launched our agency, we made the decision to specialize in restaurant marketing. It was a bold move into a niche that’s incredibly competitive and deeply personal—where margins are tight, customer expectations are high, and every marketing dollar needs to deliver. That first year was undoubtedly the hardest. We were working around the clock, often for little to no pay, just to get our foot in the door and build a book of business. Many of those early projects were done for free or at heavily discounted rates, not because we undervalued our work, but because we knew we needed to earn trust and build credibility from the ground up.

Portfolio-building in those early days was about much more than just nice visuals or performance metrics, it was about relationships. We had to show restaurant owners that we understood their world, their challenges, and how to create marketing that didn’t just look good, but actually brought people through the door. Each success, no matter how small, was a stepping stone. Over time, those small wins added up to real results, and we finally had something tangible to show prospective clients: proof that we could deliver, that we understood the market, and that we were worth investing in.

We’ve been impressed with Restaurant Marketing, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I started Restaurant Marketing because I saw a unique opportunity to merge two major parts of my life: my passion for food and my background in branding, design, and digital strategy. While working in tech, I spent years building a strong foundation in marketing, system operations, and creative development. But outside of work, I was constantly exploring the food scene, visiting new restaurants, photographing dishes, and sharing those experiences online. Eventually, I realized I didn’t just enjoy restaurants as a customer—I wanted to help them grow and thrive.

In 2015, I made the leap and launched Restaurant Marketing. Like many small business owners, the first year was the hardest. I said yes to every opportunity, taking on clients at little to no cost just to gain real-world experience, build a portfolio, and prove I could deliver results. I focused heavily on social media management, food photography, branding, and email marketing, essential tools that restaurants weren’t always using to their full potential. My goal wasn’t just to make things look good—it was to help restaurants connect with their communities and drive measurable growth.

What sets us apart is our deep understanding of both the hospitality world and the digital landscape. We’re not a generalist agency, we specialize in restaurants and food businesses, and we understand the pressures they face: tight margins, high competition, and the need to stand out in a saturated market. Our work is strategic, creative, and rooted in data, but also infused with personality, storytelling, and real-world experience. We pride ourselves on helping independent restaurants look as polished and compelling as national chains, while staying true to their identity.

We’ve become known for our ability to elevate a restaurant’s presence through thoughtful branding, consistent visual storytelling, and community-first marketing. Whether we’re managing a launch campaign, rebranding an established spot, or simply fine-tuning an email strategy, we approach every project with the same goal: to help our clients grow sustainably and authentically.

One of the things I’m most proud of is that we’ve been able to earn the trust of restaurant owners who were initially hesitant to invest in marketing. Many came to us after being burned by agencies that didn’t understand their world. We changed that by listening, showing up, and delivering real results. There’s nothing more rewarding than seeing one of our clients go from struggling with visibility to having a line out the door.

What I want readers to know is this: We’re not here to throw trendy strategies at the wall. We’re here to partner with passionate food businesses, understand their unique story, and help them share it in a way that drives both connection and revenue. Our offerings, from full-service social media management to branding, email marketing, and content creation, are designed specifically for the restaurant industry. We know what works because we live and breathe this space.

At the end of the day, Restaurant Marketing is about helping great food find its audience and helping great restaurant owners feel seen, supported, and successful.

Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
To see more of our work, visit restaurantmarketing.com or follow us on Instagram at @restaurantmarketinginc for a behind-the-scenes look at our latest projects.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://restaurantmarketing.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/restaurantmarketinginc/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/restaurantmarketinginc
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/restaurant-marketing-inc/
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@restaurantmarketing