Today I wanted to talk about how you can improve your business, increase sales and get your name and brand more well known by focusing on those customers that walk through your door every day.
Ten tips to Building Relationships with Customers:
Smile and be friendly - one of the first impressions you and your staff make it extremely important to customers so work on your smile and on being super friendly.
Start to recognize faces - when you pay attention to customers, it will become easier each time when you can say hello, it's nice to see you again or Welcome, is this your first visit with us?
Learn the names of customers - this is easier to accomplish if you keep a reservation list for your restaurant. When customers come in, introduce yourself and find out their name too. Make mental or written notes to help you remember their name. When you stop at their table to find out how everything is going with their meal, use their names to help you remember it. Customers will often appreciate the time and attention you take to learn their names.
Learn the eating and drinking patterns of customers - we've found that customers really appreciate it when you can remember what they ordered the last time they visited. You'll be able to recommend the same dish or same cocktail or offer something similar that they may like to try on the next visit.
Teach your staff to build customer relations - it's not only important for you as the restaurant owner or manager to know the customers but, also that your staff realizes how important it is as well. This is one way that successful servers build a customer base that dines at your business and asks for one or two servers to take care of them.
Be honest with customers - always tell customers the truth when they ask things such as where the fish is from, is it fresh, ingredients used to make the dish and so on. Customers appreciate honesty and will frequent your business when they know you'll always offer the best and most honest advice in choosing a menu item or specialty drink.
Learn more about your customers - once customers make a second and third visit to your restaurant, you can start to learn more about them, their family, how often they dine out, big events or parties they are planning and other ways to determine how you can be of service to them. You want your customers to think of you and your business for all their dining needs and the more you know about them, the more likely they are to think of you and your restaurant first.
Share your business card with customers - before your customers leave your business, make a point to give them your card to help them remember you and your name plus the positive experience they had at your business. Ask your customers to think of you for all their dining and party needs. Customers will be more likely to spread the good word about how friendly and thoughtful you were with their friends and family. This will help you to build your name and brand to increase future business.
Start a customer loyalty program - we've had huge success by offering a loyalty program for our customers to join. Decide in your own business how you could start one too. Here's an idea: Make a business card for customer loyalty, punch their card with each visit for free coffee, free desserts, free appetizer or free cocktail after a certain amount of purchases or after spending X amount. Customers usually love being rewarded for being good and loyal customers. You may find that they bring their friends in and share your loyalty program with others. This is another great reason you should learn to Make your own business cards so read our post about it here and get started soon!
Be genuine - customers can sense and feel when you are truly genuine about what they like, want and need from a dining experience.
Read more about Building Customer Relationships in this best seller.
Other things to keep in mind while building customer relationships:
Always be respectful - not everyone will want to meet you or want you to know more about them. That's okay. Continue to give your best customer service to everyone. You'll be surprised that even those customers that want to stay anonymous will continue to support your business because you respect their privacy.
Give customers want they want - find out if your customer drinks a special bottle or wine or needs a certain condiment with their meals and bring it in as often as possible. Not all items will be available to you but, do try your best to get the items your customers have asked for. Customers will appreciate that you take the time to learn their needs and wants and provide it the next time they visit.
I hope you'll use these tips on building customer relations to help you and your business so that you can be the most successful restaurant. Got other ways that you build relationships with customers? Share your ideas in the comments for others. Find more ways to achieve restaurant success here.
Cheers until next time!
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