There are quick service restaurants that seem to sky rocket to the top. You know the ones. They grow at a fast pace and customers are drawn in like a magnet to what they have to offer. Everyone is talking about how you need to try it and you begin to see them pop up in every city. If you are left scratching your head and wondering what makes them so successful, we are here to help you answer that question and hopefully help you take your business to the next level.
Cult Culture
We have talked about the culture of your business and how you want to create a culture that draws in employees. You want them to feel seen, understood and like they are an integral part of your team. You also want to create a culture for your customers. Do you have a secret menu that only a select group of people know about? People want to be in on the secret and feel part of a group. Obviously, the goal is for it to not be a secret and spread like wildfire, but you keep it a “secret” by not adding it to your actual menu. The idea is to make people want to be part of your culture, so define who you are and find people who align with that. Maybe it’s how you greet people every time they come in, or the swag that they get when they order a certain item on the menu. Find something that speaks to your business and then let the world know, then foster that community!
Connect Emotionally
This might seem like an odd statement for a restaurant, but people today are craving connection. Yes, even with their dining choices. Find something unique to your restaurant and make it part of your marketing. Maybe it’s a charity your restaurant gives back to. Start a campaign getting the community involved in this charity, and in doing so, they will feel connected and see a different side to your restaurant that makes you a superior choice in their mind. You could even host a 5k for a cause or have an organization that you give back a certain percentage of your profits to on a certain day of the week. When you are creating content for social media, add in your philanthropic efforts every now and again to remind your customers that when they dine with you, they are also supporting an incredible cause!
Stand Out
This one is obvious and kind of hits every aspect of successful branding, but we wanted to leave you with some tangible ways you can stand out in a crowd. The first is very simple. Stand out in the way you treat your employees. Your appreciation and respect for them overflow into how they treat the customers. When you inspire your employees to work hard but still have fun, they will likely carry that sense of fun while they are working. A way to build on this is through thorough team training and team building exercises. Another idea is for your restaurant to serve a dish in a really special way! Customers are willing to show up and spend money when you have something that tastes good and is served in a way that is aesthetically pleasing. I mean, what’s the point if you can’t take a cute picture and post it to your social media these days? On that note, we will end with the idea of standing out by being active on social media. Maybe it’s engaging with customers or having fun with trendy tik toks. Whatever it is, you will reach more people and it is a great platform to showcase who you are and the culture of your brand.
