If you’re in the restaurant business, you know there’s simply no substitute for excellent customer service. Great customer service produces customer loyalty and fans happy to spread the word about your business. That’s as true of the restaurant business as it is of any industry.
Technology and an ever-increasing customer demand for convenience and outstanding customer service have led to the creation of innovative new ways designed to help restaurateurs keep up with that demand.
Technology and an ever-increasing customer demand for convenience and outstanding customer service have led to the creation of innovative new ways designed to help restaurateurs keep up with that demand.
1. Online Ordering
Online ordering has become a byword for customer convenience among many restaurateurs. It’s a free service that more and more customers are expecting of restaurants to make their experience more satisfying. Online ordering is a powerful way to engage with one’s clientele, particularly its younger members. Millennials especially, who are known for their dislike of talking on the phone, have helped drive the growth of online ordering and helped make it popular among restaurants and consumers alike.
Online ordering also allows customers to avoid long wait times on the phone and the tremendous frustration of having one’s call dropped. And it’s not just for traditional sit-down restaurants. McDonald’s, the fast food pioneer, has experienced considerable success with its free mobile ordering app. Offering the convenient, time-saving option of ordering online builds customer loyalty and increases sales.
Online ordering also allows customers to avoid long wait times on the phone and the tremendous frustration of having one’s call dropped. And it’s not just for traditional sit-down restaurants. McDonald’s, the fast food pioneer, has experienced considerable success with its free mobile ordering app. Offering the convenient, time-saving option of ordering online builds customer loyalty and increases sales.
2. Email Engagement
Email is still an effective means of engaging with customers and potential customers online. Gather emails wherever possible, via your website, at food fairs and tastings, and wherever you interface with the public. (You can easily add a pop-up form on your website for collecting email addresses.) Once you have a healthy collection of emails, you’re ready to do some powerful direct marketing. Send special offers, like discounts on entrees or two-for-one drink specials, to encourage new customers to give your business a try. If you want to send bulk emails, consider using MailChimp, an affordable and efficient resource that gives you the ability to create and manage mailing lists.
3. Upgrading
As improved online engagement and streamlined operations make you more profitable, you may find it’s time to upgrade to keep the momentum going. Whether you’re looking at upgrading your website or making physical improvements, it could make sense to consider sourcing external funding. There are a number of lending options to help you cover the cost, including term loans, small business loans, or business lines of credit. Check out one of the many helpful online resources if you aren’t sure where to begin looking.
4. Customize
When you’re striving to engage with customers online, it’s important to let people know what you do best and what differentiates you from your competition. A great way to let people know what you do best is to make it possible for customers to find your restaurant based on menu specialties, whether it’s lobster, mostaccioli, mushroom risotto, etc. Restavista is a social media tool designed to help people find a restaurant based on a specific food. Setting up an account on Restavista will cause your restaurant to pop up in search results for dishes on your menu. It requires setting up an account, but it’s a good way to get your name out there and encourage people to visit your website.
The restaurant industry is on an upswing, much of it driven by improvements in marketing and using the Internet for customer engagement. You can make productive connections online without spending the kind of money that traditional advertising would typically cost. It’s well worth the effort to check out some of the many free and affordable options at your disposal.
Author:
Lindsey Weiss