Times are tight for the consumer. Yet, they still go out! They go to spas, out to dinner, hotel/motel time! It is our job as operators to make sure that their experience is as good as it gets so we can count on them for future business. That’s not too far fetched is it? People who get clubbed over the head with a black jack and have their purses snatched are more than likely going to go somewhere they can find value. They want to go somewhere they can trust. Recently, we have come across a tool that we feel is vital to the operator of any service industry concept. You are able to hear first hand from our Mp3 box (top right of your screen) one of the people responsible for this technology.
I know when you are in the building everything is halo’s and rainbows. I know this. But when you leave….yeah, you don’t know do you? They say you can’t be there all the time. This is very true. However, you can keep tabs on what’s happening inside your four walls and what’s being said outside those four walls with a click of a mouse. Technology is just creeping up on the dinosaurs. Time to evolve my friends.
The Restaurant RoundTable Guys suggest that you follow the yellow brick road and click on the banner below. There is no place like home. Why not enjoy home while you are actually off. Let these guys do the secret shopping so you can do what you always wanted…keep your people accountable!
SikWorld
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Valuable info. Lucky me I found your site by accident, I bookmarked it.
I just stumbled into your blog and can’t remember when I heard such straight-talk about the restaurant business or at least this far away from the dumpster.
Right about this point people like me would say something stupid like I honestly enjoyed your perspective, or what brilliant insight, or some meaningless platitude, but i just can’t do it!
What I will say is …Dudes & Dudettes this is freaking awesome!
Having grown up in the restaurant business and spending many years doing my homework in the back booth, bussing tables, taking out the trash, busting down boxes, and cleaning out the greasetrap really helps to appreciate straighttalk about our business. From the first time I dropped a my first tray of dirty dishes in the middle of the dining room all the way up to the time they handed me the keys I have always loved the restaurant business.
So now you have my qualifications: that’s it just another restaurant guy, not an expert, not a guru, and not somebody trying to sell some worthless crap! Nope, just me restaurant guy who works for a food distributor.
Now, specific to “What Do Your Customers and Dare I Say Guests Think About You?”…
First there is no amount of table touching, comment carding, shaking hands, kissing babies, free dessert, dollar off discounting, emailing, your comment here buttons, and ear to the ground old school listening that can get you the real sentiments of your restaurant guests. We live in a different age and we have to understand that guests are talking outside of our four walls. They are saying good things, bad things, and other things that influence not only your current customers but your potential customers. You need to listen in ways that you have never done before. Your customers are rapping about you and they are doing it in ways that have big fat ripples! (tremendous implications.)
So what’s a restaurant to do? Not as easy to do as it is to say but they have to get themselves in a position where they can listen, respond, and engage.
Yup, I am talking social media folks! We built a host stand to meet and greet guests but many restaurants don’t have a social media presence or if they do and they are not deriving all the benefits available. My no-nonsense answer is that you probably don’t steam clean your hood by yourself but you think you can manage social media all by your lonesome.
Folks, get some professional help in both the building of your social media presence and the ways to listen and act on what is being said. That grad student with the cool glasses who helps you out on weekends and puts all of the cutesy touches on your facebook has been a huge help, but it’s getting serious out there folks. Your competitors are capitalizing on the social media wave and it ain’t just about free advertising!
Hey Restaurant Secrets Guys, thanks for letting me use your blog, mine is in the shop!
You can use our blog anytime! Thanks for the great content Mark! If you’d like to see Mark on facebook click this blue stuff. http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/foodsho?ref=ts
I would like to exchange links with your site restaurantmanagersecrets.com
Is this possible?