What time and where do your customers “play around social media”?

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You already know that is important to promote your restaurant in social media. You have asked someone to start posting something in facebook or other social media platform in order to promote your restaurant. Do you know if these efforts are bringing you new customers or retain the existing? Let me tell you something, it all depends on which platform you are posting it, and if you are posting interesting content for your target market.

So, how to find what are these effective social media platforms and when is the best time your customers are using these social media? The best thing to do is “Ask them!” You can do it directly or through a survey, and believe me, the time and efforts you spend acquiring this information will pay off as soon as you start making your social media efforts at the “right time” and “place”.

Do you know which social media platforms your customers use? How did you found out?

 

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75% engagement | 25% promotion rule - Social Media for Restaurants

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We already know that social media platforms like Facebook and YouTube are powerful tools to engage with your clients and promote your special menus/items. What happen in most of the restaurant social media platforms is that they spent 95% promoting their products (ex: come and try our Valentine’s Day set) and only 5% or 0% in engaging with their “fans”.

In this post, I will explain why you should spend much more time (approximately 75%) on engaging with your customers, instead of promoting your products (around 25%).

I understand that your objective is to let your customers know what you are serving in order to drive more sales. But you should stop for a while and think, why people love social networks? Why they use it daily? Is it to buy products and meals? Probably not! People use social media to see what their friends are doing, to communicate with their families and see what’s happening related to their hobbies and interests.

If your clients are using social media to communicate with their friends and relatives, why it is important for you to be there as well? Simple, to communicate with them as someone close to them, who cares about what they say. Social media marketing efforts are more powerful for client retention than to client acquisition, and we know that in the restaurant business a regular customer worth much more than a few onetime visitors.

So please don’t just post about your new menu items, focus on starting conversations with your clients through comments/ likes that will make your client feel important to you and be part of your restaurant. This will make them come back regularly and not just because you are offering a special menu for Valentine’s Day.

Do you have any social tactics that you have seen great results?

 

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How to write effective facebook post titles for your restaurant promotions

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So, you want to promote your upcoming event or new restaurant dish on Facebook and not sure what title you should give to the post in order to get more post views? If this happens to you, below are some tips that will help to get more attention in your posts, and eventually bring more likes and shares.

1- Define your target market for that post. This is extremely important because you need to create a title that it is interesting to your target. A good Facebook post title is usually not appealing to everyone, so you need to define well to who you are talking to.

2- Study what post titles have worked for you and your competitors in the past. Try to understand why the title(s) worked, so you can tweak it without losing its power.

3- Focus your title about the guest experience and the product qualities. Example, don’t write “the best lobster in Macau!” but instead “Come and experience the best lobster you ever tasted!”

4- If you have a strong offer that will attract likes and comments, make it short, simple and direct. Examples: Book today for 2 nights at XXX hotel… and get 30% off, or Dinner at Restaurant A this Saturday, and get a free signature dessert.

5- Write your title as breaking news rather than advertisement. People love to be informed about the latest news. Ex: Introducing the New Mooncake! Blueberry Mooncake!

6- Use one of your guest testimonials as your post title. Potential customers always trust more on third party comments and reviews. Example, “the best egg tart in town!” Always write it in the first person point of view and add quotation marks around it.

Like with the Pareto Principle, in out of 10 persons, 8 will read your title but only 2 will read your post. Do you have any other tips? Please leave them at the comment box below.

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How to collect restaurant testimonials to strengthen your brand credibility

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As we all know, restaurant testimonials are very important. These are independent indication of your restaurant’s services and qualities, It also increases what is called social proof (people tend to believe other’s reviews much more than what you mention in your promotional materials).

In this post, I will help you with the procedures on how to get client testimonials that will benefit your brand and bring more customers to your door.

In order to get them, you will need to contact your clients and ask for it. Prepare the questionnaires ahead of time in order to save time and effort. The client will appreciate this and will make the conversation much easier because you don’t need to think about the next question, just follow your questionnaires, and it is done. You should also consider offering them a reward too (ex: free dessert) for their time and in helping you about your business.

After receiving the customer testimonials, you should take some time to study if these will fit your objectives and target market. Example, if you receive a testimonial “your restaurant rocks!” and your target market are high end executives, I don’t think that these are appropriate to be included in your promotional materials. However, if you have received testimonials that will “elevate” or promote your brand, I suggest to contact the person again and ask them to sign a consent as seen below before you publish the testimonial. If possible, also ask to post their thumbnail photo next to the review. It will also help increase the credibility of the review.

Testimonial example:
“”I’m aware that my testimonial may in appear in promotional materials by “your restaurant name”. I understand that I will not receive any compensation from my testimonials, and I waive my right to approve the promotional materials where my testimonial appears.”

Lastly, go ahead and share the testimonials through your website, facebook, twitter and any other promotional tools that you believe the testimonial will increase its credibility, and interest in your restaurant.

Do you collect client testimonials too? How do you do it?

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