As a food influencer, it’s relatively common to receive an invite from a restaurant to dine for free in exchange for social media coverage. The offers may vary slightly, with some restaurants offering additional payment or a discount instead of full compensation, but the basic principle is that it’s an even exchange of their food for your services. It’s important to know, though, that as an influencer, your behavior and reviews can set the standard for others dining at that restaurant. That’s why it’s important to follow a set of guidelines when reviewing a restaurant or attending one of its events. Below are our rules for success:

1. Be Kind

This one may seem obvious, but restaurant workers have difficult jobs! They’re required to juggle multiple tables or customers at once, the work is physically demanding, and they are constantly dealing with people. When you’re dining at a restaurant, whether an influencer or not, it’s always beneficial to be kind and polite to the host or hostess, your server, and anyone else who may assist you.

2. Leave a Tip, Even if the Meal Is Free

Out of all the points on this list, consider this one to be the golden rule. No matter what your meal costs, the staff still has to operate at their best — and they’re most likely not being paid extra for it. It’s best practice to leave a tip for whoever helps you, whether that’s a waitress at a restaurant or a scooper at an ice cream shop. If the restaurant doesn’t provide you with a receipt, use the pricing on their menu as a guideline. Restaurant workers rely on tips, and their hard work should be recognized by you.

3. Ask for Expectations in Advance

As with any business transaction, it’s smart to know what you’re getting into before you agree to it. Before agreeing to work with the restaurant, ask what they would like in return. Make sure you know how many posts they expect, the type of content they’re looking for, and when they would like it to be posted. Also ask when they want you to come by, as some restaurants may request that you go in during a less busy time.

4. Be Prepared

Before going to the restaurant, look through their website and social channels to get an idea of the vibe, food, and experience. And don’t be afraid to ask the restaurant what they recommend! As a golden rule, look for a dish that’s pretty, a dish that’s popular, and one that’s a favorite of the people who work there.

5. Be Honest, But Courteous

As an influencer, building trust with your audience is key — and the best way to build trust is by being genuine and authentic. If your experience at the restaurant is less-than-great, speak to the person who invited you and give them an opportunity to correct those issues. In your review, use gentle language and match the cons with a pro. Maybe you didn’t like the dessert, but your drinks and appetizers were fantastic! Be honest about your experience without blasting the business on social media.

6. Acknowledge That You Were Invited

If a restaurant invited you to dine there, it’s best practice to acknowledge that somewhere in your caption. You don’t necessarily need to say that your food was comped, but you should thank the restaurant for inviting you or mention that you were asked by the business to eat there. If you were paid to do a restaurant review, clearly mark your posts as sponsored. In addition to it being a required guideline by the FTC, it’s also an important way to continue building that trust with your audience.

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6 Restaurant Rules All Food Influencers Should Follow