15 STEPS TO BOOST YOUR CUTOMERS FOR RESTAURANTS, TAKEAWAY & FOOD RETAIL BUSINESSES
1. Word of mouth: Research continuously proves that word of mouth by a friend, loved one or co-worker is still the most effective way to win new customers.
2. Show off your staff: In an age of automation and robotic customer service reps, the human element is severely lacking. Show off your 5-star staff doing what they do best! Seeing happy, smiling employees does wonders for your reputation, as customers long to be served by joyful workers.
3. Have a functional website: Can local customers find your restaurant online? Make sure they can with a well-optimized website that does what you want it to do. The key is to get them to your website before they find your competitors. You can create a food blog, list daily specials and direct visitors to your social media profiles and online review sites.
4. Engage in local SEO practices: Websites aren’t just for big companies; now more than ever, small local businesses are realising the importance of having a website and implementing an Internet marketing strategy. Since 72% of all searches are related to a search for local content, you should be 100% sure that your website will show up for those searches relevant to your restaurant.
5. Enlist local food bloggers: Ask local food bloggers to review your restaurant in return for a free meal. The outside link will help with rankings, and the positive review will help your reputation.
6. Monitor review sites: You live or die on your reputation, so pay close attention to what people are saying about your restaurant online. This is where your offline visitors can tell the online world about their (hopefully positive) experience at your restaurant. Thank visitors for positive reviews and respond to and respectfully resolve negative reviews.
7. Use an online restaurant reservation tool: Invite your customers to make a reservation on sites like Open-Table. You need an online restaurant reservation tool to make it easier for your customers and easier on yourself. And sometimes people just don’t want to pick up the phone – they’d rather make their reservation in just a few clicks.