Social trends and changes in people's needs have a major impact on how a restaurant can attract attention. This is compounded by changing trends and the effectiveness of marketing opportunities. There are many ways to make a business thrive, but in this area too, it has become important to use methods that are as economical and efficient as possible.
What are the possible solutions?
Personal recommendation is still the most effective. Word of mouth, reaching the public in this way, is nothing new. People like to talk about what they like and don't like. And opinions and recommendations have been marketing tools for centuries. To get a good opinion of a restaurant, you have to do some serious work. It's more complex, but the key is to maximise guest satisfaction. If you get this right, you can be sure that they will spread the word about your restaurant.
The power of online space
In recent years, email campaigns, virtual events and social media have become a huge part of marketing. As a result, people can express their opinions faster and more widely, are easily accessible the information was. Therefore, these solutions are more important than ever. Now potential customers / guests can view thousands of reviews at the click of a button. Digital „word of mouth” has therefore become a more effective tool than personal recommendations. It is important that we can somehow generate, control and in a positive direction, to the benefit of the business we can translate.
The power of opinions
The power of word of mouth is incredibly important, whether it's in person or digitally. The fact that „word of mouth” works both ways is hugely important. A positive review can bring in guests, but a negative review can be devastating. As social media has multiplied the number of reviews posted, the potential for false reviews has also increased. Restaurant managers need to be very careful to ensure that positive reviews are always at the top of the news feed. One way to raise the standard of reviews is to invite a local journalist or influencer to come and experience the restaurant. A meal can generate quality reviews that go a long way, creating a positive attitude for guests.
Influencing the direct experience
The guests in the restaurant are the opinion leaders. In fact, they are the ones who, in one way or another, get the word out about the unit. Operators need to look for ways to engage them in positive communication, which can be as simple as a like on the page, a post tagging them. It's worth asking them gently to leave a review on the restaurant's page on Tripadvisor, perhaps in return for a free coffee or cake. The guest lists should be constantly updated with an e-mail list, if the restaurant does not have one, it is worth creating one. In the course of the future, you can add the guests who are already you can contact us with our offers, via our newsletter. It's worth making the whole communication process as simple as possible so that the guest is only a few clicks away from giving their opinion. An extra incentive could be, for example, a free prize draw for customers who write a review or reply.
Rewarding loyalty is a big pull
Loyal guests who return again and again are more likely to increased advertising their favourite restaurant. The old-fashioned loyalty card is a proven way to keep customers coming back to a restaurant. Who wouldn't want to be rewarded? It's a very simple mechanism that can be done with an app or just a card and stamp. Loyalty can come from fostering a sense of community, being part of a community for a cause that the restaurant conceptually and consciously builds can be a huge driver. It depends largely on emotional methods, so continually rewarding regulars is always essential.
The principle of balance
As in everything, it is essential to strike a balance when providing information to customers. Customers are more likely to talk and interact with your catering service if you generate stories for them. Sharing, greater information flow can be achieved by communicating a special event or promotion. Remember, menu changes, special evenings and occasions are all ideal opportunities to maintain interest and attract new guests. However, care must be taken not to overdo it, so it's a good idea to entrust this task to a marketing expert.
Continuous monitoring
In the online space, it is possible to add to, or take away from, posts and comments. It all depends on how up-to-date we are in our communication about the restaurant. It's important that we don't just rush to comment and react to information about us, but that it develops into a daily routine. A lot of unpleasant negative content can be turned around by this and positive reviews can be „rewarded”. Regularity is an investment that pays off in the long term, but of course it takes work. The benefits are only realised when you have built a stable audience, which is months, even years of work.
Source : https://www.ktchnrebel.com/five-tips-wordofmouth-foodservice-review/
