Customer Engagement Takes on New Urgency for Restaurants

As your restaurant customers try to make their way through the current pandemic, it’s clear that customer engagement is more important than ever. If they make it easy for their customers to reach them and keep up to date on what’s happening, there’s a better chance they’ll gain more business.

The good news is, unlike building an outdoor dining space, customer engagement isn’t necessarily expensive. It simply means making effective use of technology and social media platforms, with perhaps a bit of creativity tossed in. Below are some practical tips to ensure your customers have their engagement bases covered.

• Be easy to reach – Despite all the technology around us, many customers still want to simply call a restaurant and talk to someone, whether it be to make a reservation or place a takeout order. If they have to call repeatedly because the line is busy, they may go elsewhere. A simple solution is to make sure you have enough phone lines – and personnel to answer them – so customers can get through without an issue.
• Effective use of social media – Social media channels are a great way to keep customers updated on goings-on at your customer’s restaurant. Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter can help get the word out about specials, events, or just to serve as a reminder that the place is ready to serve the public. And posting regularly can help keep their restaurant top of mind.
• Online reservations and takeout ordering – Encouraging customers to make reservations or place takeout orders online provides several benefits, including easing the burden on those taking phone orders, reducing the possibility of staff errors, and providing the ability to access valuable data on the customers.
• WiFi splash page – A strong WiFi network should be business as usual these days for a good customer experience, and a requirement if your customers are offering online menus. It can also be used as an opportunity to collect a customer’s email address and/or phone number, perhaps in exchange for a free drink or dessert.

For more information on how to increase customer engagement, read the full story on the Comcast Business Community, and be sure to share this information with your restaurant customers.