Consumers take a lot into consideration when choosing a restaurant. Most of the time it comes down to what they are in the mood for when choosing a place to eat, and other times, it may be more of a subconscious checklist. Either way, they are sizing up restaurants before they make a decision. They consider the menu prices, the service if they have been there before, what their friends have said about it, what other reviewers say online, the cleanliness, the location and much more. Obviously you can only do so much about some of these, but for the most part, you can ensure that customers have a good experience when they visit your restaurant and make it a likely choice for them to want to choose again and again. Here are a few tips to get you started in the right direction.
Convenience
It doesn’t matter if you are a quick service restaurant or a full service restaurant, customers want convenience. Having a place where people can order online and pick up their order to go is going to bring in more people. You are targeting a whole new demographic and are able to serve more people, therefore making a higher profit. Convenience also looks like quicker ways to order or pay for your meal, so technology is going to play a big part in offering convenience at your restaurant. Condensing your menu to fewer items is also a plus for customers. They do not want to look through pages of options, but would prefer to see a few great choices.
Service
Customer service is always high on the list of what matters to people. Make sure your staff is well trained and ready to serve. Having staff that are well informed and taken care of will spill over into how they interact with customers. Technology that allows them to do their job with ease and allows for great communication will surely pay off. Good service can lead to good reviews, which will likely lead to more customers through your door since people rely heavily on online reviews to help them make decisions.
Good Food at Good Prices
Obviously, good food is a must when you are running a restaurant. Be consistent with your recipes and find good ways to package to-go orders, so the food is still just as good when customers get it home. Make sure your customers know all about your promotional offers. Social media is a great way to share about your incredible prices and showcase your delicious food. People want to know where they can get the best deal, but they also want the food to be good, so take both into consideration when building your menu. Of course, in today’s society where prices are at an all time high, it might seem rather difficult, so remember that your prices should be fair, not impossible. Find options to have on your menu that are cost effective for you.
Make sure you take a step back every once in a while and put yourself in your customers’ shoes. What would you love about your restaurant as a customer and what are some things you might want changed? Ask yourself these questions and answer honestly and you will have happier customers!
