6 expert tips to boost your restaurant's communications

If you're a restaurant owner looking to attract customers by improving your communications, you've come to the right place! We've put together this article to help you with your communication strategy. Grab a sheet of paper and a pen, and take note of these valuable tips to boost your communication:

Here are 6 expert tips to boost your restaurant communications!

• Tip 1: Stand out with an original brand image

Branding is all about giving a company a personality. This involves creating elements that will make it recognizable at a glance to its customers. To define yourself clearly to others, you first need to know yourself well. Start by identifying your company's core values and qualities.

Next, you need to define the overall style of your brand: your design can be minimalist, retro or chic; it can be inspired by pop art, hand-drawn illustrations or geometry. The key is to choose a style that matches your defined brand identity.

Last but not least, you need to create a logo, the ultimate branding tool! The most successful brands in the world can be identified simply by their logo, which just goes to show how important it is. All you need to do is create a distinctive sign capable of establishing a strong relationship with your audience.

• Tip no. 2: Be present and active on social networks

Social networks are essential for boosting your restaurant's sales, because every year, nearly 200 million photos with the hashtag "food" are shared on Instagram! The more you're present on social networks, the more visible you'll be!

The key to being visible on social networks is to publish regularly. "Regularly" doesn't mean publishing 10 photos a week, but maintaining a steady rhythm of publications that interest your audience. That could be 2 or 3 posts a week in the feed and stories every day.

Be inventive and creative with your food photos! You need to make your target customers want to come to your restaurant. It's that little bit of extra effort that will help you to increase your clientele in the long term, and win new customers in the process.

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• Tip no. 3: Set up competitions

For a restaurant, organizing a competition is an excellent way to build customer loyalty, create word-of-mouth and attract new customers. The types of online events offered by Pongo help to generate virality and thus increase awareness of your restaurant. The contest needs to be interactive and fun, so that customers participate and encourage their friends to do so.

Here are the ingredients for a successful competition:

• a worthwhile reward
• simple rules
• ambassadors (optional)
• fun

A word of advice: don't be too stingy on the prizes you offer, or very few people will want to take part.

For example, you can offer an exclusive, private brunch, two top-of-the-range menus, etc.

Tip no. 4: Work on your restaurant decor

Have you ever seen photos of the decor of Big Mamma restaurants? They're everywhere! Their decor is their best marketing weapon. Tourists love the menu, of course, but above all they love having their photo taken there. It's free advertising for the restaurant. So our final piece of advice is to invest in a beautiful décor in keeping with your brand image. It's a definite investment, but one that pays off in the long term.

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• Tip 5: Register your restaurant on tourism platforms and manage customer reviews

We need to be able to find you everywhere! Remember to register on :

• guides used by locals and tourists alike
• TripAdvisor
• Google My Business
• Zenchef
• TheFork

On the "customer reviews" section, you should check them at least once a week. Most people who pass by your restaurant at lunchtime will check your reviews on these applications. This way, the quality of your dishes and your offer will enable you to collect valuable positive reviews. Don't hesitate to ask customers who seem satisfied with your service to leave a review on these platforms.

Note that you may also receive negative reviews. In this case, it's very important to take the time to respond publicly, while remaining diplomatic.

Last but not least, the opinions and advice of your clientele are essential to your restaurant's success. So, to satisfy your customers, there's nothing better than asking them what they want. Our tip: get your community to vote for a new dish every month!

• Tip no. 6: Optimize your card on delivery platforms

Since the Covid-19 crisis, restaurateurs have had to change the way they work by developing their presence on delivery platforms like Deliveroo, UberEats, etc. Unfortunately, most restaurateurs don't apply themselves when it comes to creating their menu on these platforms. And yet, your menu is your restaurant's showcase for the users of these applications. Here are a few tips you can apply to optimize your content:

• Take pretty pictures of your dishes
• Update your menu with "deliverable" and "non-deliverable" meals
• Write complete descriptions

These initiatives won't cost you much time, but they'll give your restaurant greater visibility and thus boost your sales.

Bonus: if you own inexpensive ordering terminals in your restaurant, all the above tips will also apply. You'll kill two birds with one stone!

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