How Restaurants Can Transition From Reactive Mode To Strategic Positioning
The past year has been a period of reckoning for the food and restaurant industry. Engaging customers through technology, storytelling, and personal connection has become a high priority for restaurants. The in-person chemistry between a restaurateur and their regulars has been sacrificed again and again as cities have managed multiple waves of closures and re-openings. However, it’s not all doom and gloom for the restaurant business. In fact, as vaccination becomes more widespread and restrictions begin to lift throughout the United States steadily, restaurants that were “ahead of the consumer engagement game” are seeing a swift return to success.
When it comes to small businesses, direct communication between restaurants and their customers is essential. Effective consumer engagement is a two-way street and offers benefits to all involved. For the customer, there is the benefit of receiving personalized attention from a small business owner. For the restaurant, there is the potential to understand what motivates a customer, predict their needs, and target services to the most applicable audiences.
Communicating around food is especially important because eating is so personal, and eaters can be pretty picky. Think about an ideal restaurant experience – at a minimum, a server asks about dietary restrictions, ensures that you’re enjoying every bite, and makes suggestions for side dishes and wine pairings. An open channel of communication between restaurants and customers that leverages tech platforms helps to break down barriers so that finicky eaters feel cared for. On the business side, since so many dietary refinements are pervasive, it becomes relatively easy to classify customers into demographic categories. This way, vegetarians, wine lovers, midnight snackers, and dessert lovers can get appropriate reminders, deals, and promotions from a restaurant.
The catch? There are hundreds, perhaps thousands, of tech platforms that are available to restaurant owners. Choosing the best path forward is a significant process, but one that is worth the work for restaurants looking to remain resilient. If you’re a restaurant owner looking for ways to increase engagement, ASTRALCOM can help. Check out our specialty in conversion marketing.
