Restaurant reputation management is crucial and can mean the difference between creating a franchise and going out of business in a few years.
Word of mouth, as well as traditional marketing methods, are slowly fading into our rearview mirror as the emergence of online reputation management (ORM) and guest reviews for restaurants work to showcase you in a positive (or negative) light on the web.
Consider this: Reviews matter more to customers than pricing and discounts, and customers will pay more for the same item from a company with good reviews versus one with no reviews
In this article, we’ll cover why having a positive online reputation is important to becoming successful, along with effective restaurant reputation management tips and tools your managers can start implementing today to get you started on the right foot.
We offer ORM solutions for individuals as well as businesses. Get started today with a free consultation with one of our experts. Call us at 844-461-3632 or fill out the contact form below.
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Why Your Restaurant’s Reputation Matters
Google is talking … and your customers are listening.
Today, it’s become essential for restaurant owners to maintain their online presence now more than ever.
With the emergence of online review sites such as OpenTable and even Google, having a poor star rating could be costing you thousands of dollars in revenue each and every month.
Seeing as customers are beginning to trust guest feedback and reviews online more than a personal recommendation, it can be scary when you receive a negative review.
Where do you turn to for help dealing with negative reviews online and poor customer satisfaction?
Thankfully, our experts have the answer to your problem: online reputation management for restaurants.
An Overview of Restaurant Review Management
For years, word-of-mouth marketing would have sufficed. However, as we previously stated, individuals today are now Googling where to eat lunch or dinner instead of asking people they know for suggestions.
Most of the time, users will bypass any options with anything less than a 4-star rating. That is why restaurant reputation management and restaurant reviews are so important.
Start by routinely monitoring your restaurant’s web presence through Google, Bing, and Yahoo. Google is the primary search engine used by most individuals nowadays. However, it’s important that you cover all of your bases by monitoring other guest feedback sites, too.
You can sign up and track your business online by using tools such as Google Alerts. This simple tool allows you to track certain keywords, such as the name of your restaurant and the restaurant owner’s name.
You’ll receive an immediate email notification the moment a new review is left online. Furthermore, you will be alerted if the name of your restaurant is mentioned in a news article or a social media post, too.
The internet is home to various restaurant review management tools, and it’s important that restaurant owners use them regularly to stay on top of restaurant reviews, particularly negative feedback.
Start by creating an online reputation management plan for your restaurant that protects your brand and puts your eatery in the spotlight.
At NetReputation, we work with individuals and businesses to help them build and take control of their online reputation. Give us a call at 844-461-3632 to learn more.
The Importance of Star Ratings in Online Reviews for Restaurants
There’s so much power that guest feedback carries when it comes to a restaurant’s reputation.
It’s vital that, as a restaurant owner, you’re aware of the changes in consumer trends that are happening online and in your local area. This way, you can prioritize the comments and ratings left by your customers, deal with negative feedback before the situation snowballs, and improve customer loyalty.
To put this into perspective, here are some fascinating statistics about the power of online reviews:
- 88% of consumers would use a business that replies to all reviews, both positive and negative, while only 47% would use a business that doesn’t respond to its reviews.
- The “sort by newest” feature on Google reviews is the most useful according to 47% of consumers.
- Google is the most-used website for reviews, followed by Facebook, Yelp and Tripadvisor.
This is why it is imperative to work consistently on generating more positive reviews on a daily basis. It’s also integral that you professionally reply to negative feedback ASAP — after all, one negative review can lose you a customer for good.
Responding to Online Reviews
Customer reviews are gold when it comes to building your restaurant’s reputation. Make sure you are actively responding to all customer feedback on as many review platforms as you possibly can.
Whether the review was positive or negative, you should always reply. This way, you have a chance at creating a loyal customer, especially if you handle unflattering feedback properly.
What your past customers post online has a significant impact on the future success of your business. Positive online reviews make the business world go round, and ensuring a positive presence on various review websites is a great start.
If you have not yet created various business listings to manage your restaurant’s online reputation, now is the time to do so.
Top Restaurant Reputation Management Sites
Here are the top review sites that potential restaurant-goers tend to search online:
- Eat24
- Gayot
- MenuPages
- OpenTable
- Tripadvisor
- Yelp
- Zagat
- Zomato
We recommend creating a business profile on each of the review sites listed above.
How Can We Help Your Restaurant’s Reputation Grow?
At NetReputation, we have over a decade of experience working with local small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) such as restaurants.
Our efforts include optimizing your current online reputation through the following methods:
- Audit of your restaurant’s reputation online
- Search engine optimization (SEO)
- Content creation
- Social media management
- Customer review generation and management
If you’re looking to grow your restaurant or improve your current online reputation, we can help.
With over 1,500 satisfied clients, we employ tried-and-true ORM strategies specifically for restaurants. We’ll control bad reviews and generate a more positive presence for your local eatery.
For more information, fill out the form below. One of our reputation analysts will reach out to you as soon as possible. We can’t wait to hear from you!
Request a Free Consultation
by Net Reputation