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Kick-start your restaurant’s 2023 with a New Year’s resolution which can easily be kept. Don’t give up halfway through the year… stick with these three resolutions all year to make 2023 a successful year.
The internet has encompassed almost every part of daily life, including the choice of where to dine out. Your restaurant needs to be easily found via search engines, specifically on Google maps. Also, ensure the type of cuisine and your address are clearly advertised.
When deciding on where to eat, many diners will choose to look at menus online, so make sure your menu is easily accessible and easy to read. Once potential customers have looked at your menu, stop them from looking for alternative restaurants by allowing them to book a table online.
Social Media is no longer just for the younger generation, so there’s no excuse not to be actively using at least one channel. More than 2.96 billion people are active on Facebook, and over 1.44 billion use Instagram. This is a huge audience to advertise your restaurant and your brand.
As well as your food, promote meal deals and special events across your social media platforms, engaging with current and potential customers. Run competitions encouraging people to engage with your posts – for example, offer a free drink to the first ten people who share a photo. Social media platforms can also be used to manage complaints, don’t let one nasty tweet or Facebook comment negatively affect your business.
A great customer service experience will encourage diners to return, as well as encourage them to tell their friends and family. In September 2022, a report found that more than 40% of consumers still rely on word-of-mouth recommendations from friends and family as inspiration for visiting the venue. Similarly, recommendations from family and friends on social media were a draw for one in three. Customer service horror stories can be seen everywhere online but don’t forget that diners are spreading the good (and bad!) word offline.
Improving the customer’s experience isn’t limited to staff service either – your restaurant needs to give guests something extra. Consider offering free Wi-Fi or purchasing a portable charging system to allow diners to charge their phones whilst they’re eating.
Engage with customers via your website, social media and in-house to provide an overall positive dining experience. The combination of these three resolutions will help ensure a positive year of profits for your restaurant.
