social media for restaurants
DESCRIPTION
Successful restaurants thrive on positive word of mouth marketing. With the explosion of social media, how can restaurants harness the power of the groundswell to elevate profits and create more volume through these channels? This presentation looks at the different types of media as well as provides concrete techniques with actionable steps to move forward.TRANSCRIPT
Social Media for Restaurants
WHY USE SOCIAL MEDIA?
“Word of Mouth” marketing has long been a proven strategy for successful restaurants.
* 76% of consumers think that businesses don't tell the truth in advertising
WHY USE SOCIAL MEDIA?
Social media is simply an extension of word of mouth marketing that can efficiently:
• Create authenticity • Build brand awareness• Provide customer service• Perform market research• Promote events that add value to
guests• Distribute relevant and original
content• Connect guests to each other• Control the medium
• #1 Social Networking site
• Connect with guests with your restaurant and with each other
• 8/08 - 100 million users 4/09 - 200 million users• Create special deals,
post unique content, make announcements
URBAN SPOON
• Peer-to-peer reviews of restaurants
• Access to critic, blogger and peer-to-peer reviews
• Monitor what your guests are saying about your restaurant
YELP
• Peer-to-peer reviews for shopping, restaurants and services.
• 22.8 million unique visitors in 1/09
• Find out what your guests are saying, post special deals or events, respond to comments
BLOGS
• Communicate thoughts in an online journal format
• Blogs are about passionate people talking about what they know best
• Share the stories behind menu items, post a series of videos showing the preparation of a dish, talk about what is going on in the restaurant
• Short messages that are searchable and all the rage
• Doubled in users March 2009
• Grow conversations, develop a following, become a thought leader, talk about what’s going on in your restaurant
TEXT
• Communicate with consumers through text messaging• 95% of Text messages are opened• Deliver coupons and promotional codes
YOUTUBE
• User generated videos rich in content
• You’re the TV station!• Create videos that
showcase products and services, encourage guests to upload video testimonials, share links to videos on other channels
WHERE DO I START?
• Craft a plan (POST)– People– Objective– Strategy– Technology
• Start slow• Ask for help
TIPS
• Have a personality, a perspective and passion
• Understand your guests have opinions and they will share it with others whether you like it or not
• Make a schedule, budget time and create specific goals
• Be evolutionary not revolutionary• Think like your guests
NEXT ACTIONS
• Leverage the relationship with your current guests• Search for your business or a competitor on a social media
site• Submit a review on a restaurant• Empower a team within your organization• See how Gary Vaynerchuck has revolutionized the wine
business: http://garyvaynerchuk.com/
