As many business owners already know, people are more likely to share their bad experiences rather than their good ones. In order to get a good review, businesses are going above and beyond to deliver unique dining experiences that will compel customers to pull out their phones or laptops and write about it to their friends . In the end, it is impossible to avoid bad reviews but if you can maintain these 5 key success points you’ll be attracting five-star reviews by the droves.
Consistency
Customers expect consistent service from the businesses they visit because when it comes to food and beverages they do not like surprises. That’s why it is important to consider speed, quality and politeness as top factors customers think about when they decide what rating to give you. A well-trained staff, a reliable POS system, and an experienced kitchen is key. When combined they provide the human touch, efficient and organized customer service, and of course, the tasty food that is needed for great reviews. Do you have all these bases covered?
Specials
Using special ingredients or even seasonal produce helps grab people’s attention, and it gives the restaurant a chance to offer something new for their regular customers to get excited about. Dishes that are offered for a limited time don’t just increase your chances of receiving an online review, they also cause customers to visit more frequently and on a more consistent basis. An additional way to use specials is for ingredient management, specials help kitchens utilize inventory that may be time-sensitive such as seafood, dairy and seasonal fruits and vegetables.
Trends
Having unique dishes or a unique restaurant design can inspire customers to want to walk in, try your food and share their experience with their friends online. A good example is the trend of self-serve kiosks, as it is a modern touch many customers are looking for when they are in a rush and trying to avoid waiting in a long line. Using technology in your restaurant to make the dining experience more engaging, convenient and fun is a great way to leave a lasting impression and earn a five-star review.
Entertainment
A great way to get people to talk about your restaurant is to give them a show they’ll enjoy along with their food. While they wait on their food to get served, they can be provided entertainment to help them pass time, it also gives them an experience to write about. Live music, trivia games and even photo booths are great ways to give customers a unique experience. Many times, by adding entertainment to a dining experience business can add a few more stars to their review.
Service
Offering good service has many layers, and it is easy for servers to get sidetracked and to forget the fundamental service focus that is necessary for long term success. No matter how tasty your menu is, customers won’t leave high marking if they experience issues with the service they’re provided. Long wait times, cramped waiting sections, distracted servers and poor communication between the serving staff and the kitchen can all become reasons for low reviews.
These are just a few keys to keep you focused on what you should be doing anyway to keep your restaurant on top of people’s minds. Good reviews will follow when you’re doing everything right while serving your customers.
