The Secret Ingredient in Your Restaurant's Social Efforts

Getting others to sing your praises is the epitome of memorable marketing. How do you get customers speaking about your restaurant with passion, and how do you celebrate and spread those words? Within your social media strategy you'll want to incorporate testimonials in consistent and creative ways. The third person/customers voice reigns supreme. Eyes are attracted to quotes, put them in!

Stop selling and start sharing. If you want people to talk about you, give them something that creates more meaning in their lives and they will in turn spread the word and come back to visit. Give away a favorite recipe, dinner for two with two movie tickets, etc.

Ask the questions. "What did you enjoy about dining with us tonight?" If you loved what they say, ask them if you can spread the quote and buy the table a round. I promise you they will tell their friends you did that!

Give people the story to share. We all want another good story to share! What makes your spot different and spectacular? Is it organic, fusion, mexican, comfort, use that and add a new element of appeal at the tables. "The chef wants to bring our diners back in time, tonight we're recreating her grandmothers Cordon Blue, and she wants to know your thoughts." Be sure you explain in terms of "you" what you do for them, not just mentioning how awesome your food is. See features vs benefits. 

Video offers hyper Value. We've all searched Google with a hankering for pizza, thai, or a new sandwich joint... "A website with video is 53 times more likely to show up on Google's first page than one without video." -Forrester Research. Video is a powerful driver of testimonials, becoming one of the most trusted ways to bring emotion to opinions. You can go pro-production or use your smart phone to film folks in the restaurant asking what they think of your new appetizer or evening special. You can use video to highlight a new item on the menu, to give a recipe of one of your drinks, or how the restaurant came to be, and why Friday nights are bomb. 


Go get 'em!


What are you doing to bring testimonials to potential clientele?

Managing Client Expectations is Wings

Hello Gorgeous Darlings! Understanding your craft is key, but knowing how to manage expectation is wings.


Successful Professional Relationships
Be clear. This is what I can do for you and this is how I do it. The idea is to be as clear as possible and ask questions when murky. Use your intuition to fill in the blanks, if you feel like something needs to get hashed out  — do so. 


Know your Limitations
You have to know who you're not, to really know who you are. Explain what you do not do. A hefty component to success is your ability to educate clients on what specifically you can do for them. Even mentioning what is not included in the package price is a great way to build understanding.


Be Bright, YOU are the Light they're Hiring
Let your inner smile fill the room. Be brave and know that this person — just like you, wants to figure out the best way to do this. And is most likely relieved to have found you — if it's not a good fit,  let it go. 


Clean as you go
As much as you can include the client on how the process goes the more they get it if there's any changes with time or money. This is not meant to take years of explaining. If you let them know why you're making certain decisions, where your time was spent last week on the project they'll get it before you need to tell them the price needs adjusting. 


Keep the End in your Sight
Set an end date baby, with a VERY specific outline of what it includes. One DVD, one edit, one screening. And, if there is work completed after this date the price will be... I've heard so many horror stories of surprise misunderstandings to get to finish line.


Lovely Lovely Money
I like to give a ruff estimate at the very first face to face conversation, not on email or over the phone, but before any real negotiations take place. Trust me here. You may be in two different ball parks, and you want your vital resources to be spent courting those who are most likely to buy. False expectations have ruined many a great project. If there's wiggle room and you both sense that you want to work together there's usually a meeting point. And get some money up front. 


Sign a contract fool
If it's not in writing, it didn't happen, darling. Verbal agreements can add tension to business relationships, getting it on paper adds comfort, clarity, and commitment.  


Imagine it and ask for it
How do you want the deal to develop, the terms of communication — phone first, email only, if I don't hear from you how would you like me to respond? And when you communicate with your work, flow be sure to ask for what you may need back. Nothing urks me more than someone asking me a question with no intuitive thinking of what I'm going to counter. Answer questions before they're asked! And ask for what you need/want before you take off running.