4 Simple Steps to Utilize Pinterest For Restaurants

Posted on August 31, 2012 by Sinclair

4 Simple Steps to Utilize Pinterest For Restaurants

A few weeks back, we discussed the value of Yelp as an internet marketing tool. This week, we’ll focus on Pinterest, one of the newest social media sites. Focusing on 4 simple steps to utilize Pinterest for restaurants

Think of Pinterest as a giant, multi-user scrapbook. People can “pin” various images to different boards, categorized whatever way they like. The boards cover everything from quotes and funny sayings to cars, design, and sports. So as a restaurant owner, why should you care about using Pinterest for restaurants?

Pinterest is one of the fastest growing social media platforms, boasting over 17 million users a month. Among users, Food & Drink rank as the second most popular categories, creating a great marketing opportunity for restaurant owners. Here are a couple tips on how to improve your restaurant’s Pinterest profile.

Pinterest Tip #1 – Keep your style consistent. What themes, style, and atmosphere have you created in your restaurant? What type of cuisine do you have? Is it casual dining? Slightly dressier? Is your establishment known for its amazing cocktails? What is your signature dish? These are all features that should be incorporated into your boards.

Pinterest Tip #2 – Post quality, and regularly. 80% of pins on Pinterest are repins. By posting original content you can generate more engagement and drive more traffic to your website. Make sure to post high quality photos.

Pinterest Tip #3 – Position your restaurant as a destination. Pinterest is like one giant wish list. People are constantly adding things they’d like to do, places to see, cool restaurants to try. If you position yourself as one of those destinations it can help drive traffic to your site.

Pinterest Tip #4 – Engage. Users can engage, comment, and talk with each other. Join the dialogue. Follow other people’s boards, or encourage them to add content to your board. You could have a fan board, where people upload pictures of themselves eating their favorite dish at your restaurant. Engage and communicate with your fans to get the best interaction on your site.

There are multiple ways to utilize Pinterest for restaurants as well as other social media sites.

Sinclair Risk & Financial Management has innovative restaurant insurance and risk management solutions for Restaurants, food and beverage manufacturers, processors, packers, and distributors. Contact us today for more information about our Restaurant Insurance Programs.

Yelp Marketing Tips for Restaurants

Posted on August 10, 2012 by Sinclair

Yelp Marketing Tips for Restaurants.

What is Yelp?

Yelp is part of a crowdsourcing movement that relies on anonymous volunteers rather than paid participants. Customers can post reviews on thousands of businesses across a wide variety of industries, ranging from jewelry and auto repair shops to restaurants and nightlife.

Why does Yelp matter.

Yelp has emerged as a huge influence particularly in the restaurant industry. The site itself commands 71 million unique visitors per month. Restaurants command the largest portion of Yelp traffic, nearly a third of all reviews.

Why is Yelp important for the restaurant industry.

As a restaurant owner, it is essential to take a proactive marketing approach to Yelp. Reviews will be written with or without your involvement. If you have a business account with Yelp, it will give you an opportunity to control the content that is on your review site, and to interact with reviewers.

How do I use Yelp business account?

Think of it as an online integration of traditional customer service. If a customer’s response with a positive review, saying they had a great experience, you thank them for their feedback and invite them to come again. For negative views, tread slightly more carefully. Thank the customer for their feedback. Apologize for their experience if necessary. If you have rectified the issues, let them know it has been fixed, and invite them to come back again.

Above all, continue to engage and interact with your customer. Post photos on your site, set up deals and encourage customers to check-in to your establishment when they visit. The same basic principle of customer service applies to Yelp as in your restaurant.

For Additional resources, see Restaurant Engine.

Restaurant Insurance: Online Marketing Tips

Posted on July 20, 2012 by Sinclair

Restaurant Insurance: Online Marketing Tips

Everyone has an opinion. Social media has amplified consumer feedback into larger than life megaphones that can affect a restaurant’s business if not managed properly. They also can be exceptional tools to generate buzz for your establishment. This post, Restaurant Insurance: Online Marketing Tips, is brought to you by Sinclair Restaurant Insurance programs.

Social media is only a buzzword until you come up with a plan to make it work for you. Below are some tips to optimize your restaurant’s internet marketing strategies, ensuring that you get the best return for your business.

Gather intelligence. Assess your restaurant’s online presence on the internet. Are customers talking about your restaurant? Are the reviews positive? Negative? Negative feedback can be an opportunity to improve your own restaurant and convert dissatisfied customers and learn what you can improve on. Listen carefully and always respond (politely, of course). Once you’ve analyzed your current status, you have a starting point from which to develop and implement your marketing strategy.

Identify your message. Everything from Facebook and Yelp to your webpage should be a direct reflection of your restaurant’s distinct values and approach and it should be cohesive across the board. Are you a casual restaurant? Known for organic cuisine or unique cooking techniques? A visitor to any one of your social media platforms should know what your restaurant is about instantly.

Engage. Don’t make a profile for your restaurant and forget about it. A customer should never log onto your restaurants events page to find out it hasn’t been updated since 2009. Post content regularly. Publish video interviews with the restaurant’s chefs and staff to give your sites more personality. Create a dialogue with customers by responding to all their comments, negative or positive. Every interaction with your restaurant is a chance to attract new customers and build loyalty with your current ones.

For more information about restaurant industry, check out Restaurant.org

Restaurant Study: Personalized Online Marketing Strategy Key

Posted on May 30, 2012 by Sinclair

A comprehensive online marketing strategy is key to generating customer engagement and business for your restaurant. But what truly matters to your customer?

According to the New National Restaurant Association and LivingSocial research, electronic marketing channels complement traditional and offline channels as part of a successful marketing mix. However, it is the personalized online messages that have the greatest impact.

“Finding the right marketing mix is crucial to success in the restaurant industry,” said James Balda, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer of the National Restaurant Association. “Our new research outlines the challenges and opportunities of both offline and online marketing to help restaurant operators find the ‘sweet spot’ for promotions by identifying what consumers respond to and how various messaging vehicles are perceived.” Below are some of the highlights of the study.

Online marketing can elevate a restaurant’s brand and attract new customers. Restaurants that use online marketing tend to be viewed by consumers as more modern and more popular.

Customized marketing messages can result in more sales. According to the survey, 87% of consumers would go to or order from a restaurant if provided with a savings offer; on the back end, 95% of restaurant operators perceive savings offers to be an effective marketing tool. Customers reported they would be more inclined to order from that restaurant again if they referenced past restaurant patronage, allowed them to make reservations, or identified them by name.

Consumers sensitive to social media and internet advertising. Customers perceive the least effective efforts to entice them to go to a restaurant include online advertisements (58%), social media (56%), and radio ads (56%). They tended to respond much better to personalized messages and exclusive offers.

Consumers overwhelmingly supported personalized media outlets as influential in their restaurant choices. These elements can be crucial in developing your restaurant’s online marketing strategy. Sinclair Risk and Financial Management has innovative insurance and risk management solutions tailored specifically to the restaurant industry. Contact us today for more information.

Restaurant Business: Decorating Mistakes to Avoid

Posted on May 2, 2012 by Sinclair

As a restaurant owner, you want to create a unique, optimal dining experience for your customer that extends from the food to the atmosphere. It is the first impression a customer gets when they arrive and it can make or break their first impression. Here are tips to create the exact ambiance you want in your restaurant, and avoid traditional pitfalls.

Bad lighting. How a room is lit can make or break a diner’s experience. There is a fine line to balance in lighting; you want to make sure it is bright enough to read the menu easily, but not so bright that the light becomes harsh and unflattering.

Seating section. Having a private room or at least an areas sectioned off for large parties is a draw for groups looking host anything from family reunions to business meetings- and it’s a great opportunity to boost your income.

Temperature. No one ever likes to keep their coat on for dinner- being cold can mar a customer’s experience. Keep the dining area set at room temperature for optimum comfort level.

Music. This of course varies on your establishment (if you own a bar it will be slightly different). But in most dining places, the music should be a complementary addition to the dining experience, not the main focus. It should barely be noticed, but fit the theme of the restaurant.

Mismatched Décor. Make your theme cohesive and unified. If the building has changed hands in the past, make sure to remove any signs that there was an establishment before you. It will provide a more unique, enjoyable eating experience for your guests.

Sinclair Risk and Financial Management has innovative insurance and risk management solutions for the restaurant business. Our staff is knowledgeable about the specific issues that affect your establishment. We will craft a comprehensive insurance program that fits your needs. Contact us today for more information.