Monday, January 7, 2013

Going Back to Basics

Many restauranteurs spend an incredible amount of money in marketing, trying to fill in their restaurants with customers.

happy_customers
However, often they forget the basics: Their food is just OK and their service could be improved.

Customers are smart. They might go to a restaurant once or twice attracted by a clever marketing campaign, but everything will be wasted if their experience is less than stelar.

Many times I recommend restaurant owners and managers to focus on the essentials. Deliver the best food that you can make at fair prices, have a nice and clean restaurant, and give an impeccable service.

That's all.

If they do this, customers will love the restaurant and will become the best marketing and sales force by telling their friends (in person or via Social Media), leaving great reviews in Yelp and other review sites and coming back for more.

There is not better restaurant marketing that over-delivering.

If you want to spend some marketing budget, do it by surprising your customers giving them freebies that they don't expect. A free appetizer (it doesn't have to be big or expensive), a complimentary artisan bread, perhaps a liqueur at the end of a really good meal, these go a long way to surprise and delight your customers. Yes, it will cost you a bit (if you are smart, you can come up with creative and inexpensive treats) but consider this as a marketing investment. Instead of doing the old tiring ads, invest money directly on your clients. You will be rewarded a thousand times.

Try it and let me know how it goes.