How to Reassure Diners Before They Walk in the Door

Curb Appeal

How your restaurant looks from the outside is an influencing factor in whether potential customers will choose your restaurant. Spend some time on your restaurant’s curb appeal. If people like what they see, they will stop in to eat.

If you want to boost your curb appeal, there are several small things you can do. Make sure your windows are always clean. Not only will a tidy-looking exterior portray your establishment as well-kept, clean windows also make it easier for passersby to view the interior of your restaurant and help them decide to stop in.

You also need to make sure your signage is visible to catch people’s attention. A flashy sign that communicates the theme of your restaurant can help interest potential customers and let them know you are there. Finally, take color meanings into account when choosing your color scheme. There is psychology in color—for example, red stimulates the appetite.

Keeping your Guests Safe, Healthy, and Happy

Before they get to your bar or restaurant, customers want to know what their dine-in experience is going to be like:

• Place a layout of the seating arrangements at your establishment on your front window, website, and Facebook page.  This will reassure people who aren't certain that they can be safe and maintain their health when they choose to dine out
• Be proactive with your email list and on your website about how your bar and restaurant are practicing food safety.  Tell customers what to expect and what you promise — then deliver on it!
• Open, simple communications are essential for helping your customers regain their confidence.  Make certain every sign and message you post is reassuring and friendly.
  

Focus on Positive Reviews

Foodies almost always look up a Google or Yelp review before they decide to eat at a restaurant, so positive reviews are crucial to your success. A positive review can easily convince a potential customer to eat at your restaurant. In fact, around 68% of customers are swayed by positive reviews online.

In order to accumulate more positive reviews, practice asking customers to leave a review. Give your employees rewards if they succeed in asking customers to do so. You can also incentivize your customers to give your business positive reviews by offering small gives or discounts for those who do.

Make Your Customer Experience Better than Ever

There has never been a greater need to create a fabulous customer experience for your restaurant. That experience begins online with your Google My Business presence, and your website.

• To help customers make the most of their planning and visit to your bar or restaurant, think mobile-first for your website.  Every aspect of your website and menu must be accessible on a mobile phone
  
• Be sure that your Google My Business page is up-to-date with relevant safety, hours, and menu information
• Make certain your website includes a mobile-friendly menu that does not require visitors to “pinch and zoom” in order to read your menu.   Bonus points if your mobile menu lets customers order!

Go Social

Taking your restaurant to social media can spread awareness about your business to a whole new audience. You can reach potential customers who might never have otherwise heard about your restaurant. Posting high quality photos of your menu items is sure to interest hungry social media scrollers, and you can also draw your followers’ attention to promotions, discounts, and new offerings.

Many people rely on social media to find places to eat, so promoting your restaurant on social media, where people are located all the time, is a very smart (as well as free!) move. You can interact with your existing customers, find new ones, and give them all a taste (figuratively speaking) of what you have to offer. And seriously, who doesn’t love some scrumptious food pictures on their feed?

Through social media, positive reviews, and great curb appeal, you can win over new customers before they even set foot in your restaurant. If you focus on these few elements, you can watch your restaurant attract many more customers.

An important part of running your restaurant smoothly is having a good POS system. Schedule a product tour today!