Online search is a leading method of finding a restaurant in 2022. Subsequently, it is more important than ever to have a respected and trusted online reputation for your restaurant. This review discusses online reputation management for restaurants to help you reach your restaurant’s potential.
What Does Online Reputation Management Mean?
Online reputation management is a digital marketing and public relations strategy to help improve and maintain how you are viewed online. This service is primarily used as a way for businesses to create positive associations for their brand, particularly among their prospective customers. Online reputation management usually includes (but is not limited to):
- Responding to customer reviews
- Gathering consumer feedback
- Accumulating customer testimonials
- Encouraging social shares
- Sending emails via campaigns
Your restaurant should have a personalized online reputation management strategy. For example, your business may need to focus more on acquiring customer testimonials to display on your website and social media channels, whereas another restaurant may have more of an issue with poor reviews.
What Are The Benefits of Online Reputation Management?
Online reputation management provides you with an edge over your local competition, especially if they are not actively managing their online reputation. A reputation management strategy lets your customers know you care about them and take pride in your restaurant and services. Here are four key benefits of a sound online reputation management strategy.
Improve The Reputation and Visibility of Your Brand
Your brand is what makes your restaurant unique; it is what sets you apart from your competitors. Restaurants develop a reputation in their community. Of course, you want to have the best reputation possible, such as serving the best Italian food in the city or having excellent service. Online reputation management includes creating the brand that you desire and avoiding (or addressing) negative associations with your restaurant.
Establish Trust and Credibility With Your Customers
A failure to respond to poor reviews that your customers leave on review sites could hinder your ability to rank well within Google as well as deter those who do find your restaurant through online search.
The fact is bad reviews are likely to happen regardless of the quality of your food and services, and showing that you care for your customers enough to respond to their feedback can leave a positive impression when prospective customers view your brand online.
Gain a Better Understanding of Your Customer’s Pain Points
A pain point refers to an issue or concern that your ideal customer has regarding your industry. This can include anything that your customer may experience along their journey, such as long delivery times, high costs, or not having a desirable kids menu (among many other possibilities).
As mentioned, online reputation management includes gathering customer feedback. This could be accomplished through surveys, testimonial acquisitions via email campaigns, and other reputation management strategies. You can use this information to better serve your customers, which subsequently can also improve your restaurant’s online reputation.
Increase your Restaurant’s Overall Sales Via Online Channels
Restaurants in 2022 must have the ability to sell through online channels. If your restaurant cannot be discovered or found through Google, ordering and delivery platforms, etc. — or if your reputation on these platforms is less than ideal — then your restaurant will not reach its full potential. Online reputation management is designed to improve your visibility and reputation through online channels, leading to more prospective customers as well as an improved conversion rate.
When Should I Consider Online Reputation Management for My Restaurant?
You should consider online reputation management for your restaurant if you are not satisfied with how your restaurant’s brand is viewed online or if you have seen a decrease in customers that are referred to you from online channels (i.e. search engines, social media, delivery apps, etc.) More specifically, you should consider online reputation management if any of the following is true:
- You have received multiple bad reviews that are public and affect your reputation
- You know your customers enjoy their experience but they are not leaving online reviews
- You are not seeing an ideal level of returning customers
- You are not obtaining visitors from word of mouth referrals in the local area
- You would like to acquire more customer testimonials to display on your website and social media channels
It is also important to choose a reliable online reputation management company that understands the restaurant industry. The restaurant industry is unique from other industries, so a personalized reputation management plan (rather than a cookie-cutter, one-size-fits-all approach) is of the utmost importance.
Tunl Agency Specializes in Online Reputation Management for Restaurants
Tunl Agency offers reputation management services for restaurants, along with other digital marketing services that are the most relevant to restaurant owners. To learn more about reputation management with Tunl Agency, contact us by phone or message today or schedule a consultation.
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