When you first open your doors, it's the culmination of what may seem like endless days and nights of work and preparation. On the other hand, it's just the beginning of the restaurant's life. It's an incredibly stressful time but there's anticipation in the air. As a new kid on the block, many people will want to try you out. The excitement goes to a whole new level when the money begins to roll in. Sometimes, it's a lot.
Despite having spent weeks hiring and training the staff trying to get everyone on the same page, the business will undoubtedly experience a period of operational smoothing while the staff gets 'in the groove' of performing their assigned duties and working together to get customers taken care of. During the initial 30 days, kinks are to be expected that will require your attention and action.
While all of this is going on, there will be a flurry of online reviews that come your way. These initial reviews typically include both good and bad comments. Some people will think the food was great, others not so much. Some will likely praise the service while others write about how bad it was. These opinions should give you insight into additional things you need to work on to improve, change or resolve. When these issues are ignored or aren't properly dealt with, similar remarks are likely to be posted. What happens then is that over the course of the next few months, new people who might have given you a try are dissuaded from even making their first visit because they've been 'warned' that the restaurant is poorly managed.
Revenues begin to slide and the restaurant is no longer full. The decision is then made to offer discounts to entice people in but that cuts down on profit margins and trains people to visit only when they can take advantage of those price reductions. Neither of these things are good. The other result is that less and less new online reviews are written. That's because people are not inspired to post reviews of a business that doesn't listen or seemingly care what their customers think. The restaurant has peaked so to speak and it's just a matter of time before they close their doors.
If this scenario sounds familiar, you may want to take action (and call us) before it's too late. You've got to give people reasons to recommend and rave about you to others.
Despite having spent weeks hiring and training the staff trying to get everyone on the same page, the business will undoubtedly experience a period of operational smoothing while the staff gets 'in the groove' of performing their assigned duties and working together to get customers taken care of. During the initial 30 days, kinks are to be expected that will require your attention and action.
While all of this is going on, there will be a flurry of online reviews that come your way. These initial reviews typically include both good and bad comments. Some people will think the food was great, others not so much. Some will likely praise the service while others write about how bad it was. These opinions should give you insight into additional things you need to work on to improve, change or resolve. When these issues are ignored or aren't properly dealt with, similar remarks are likely to be posted. What happens then is that over the course of the next few months, new people who might have given you a try are dissuaded from even making their first visit because they've been 'warned' that the restaurant is poorly managed.
Revenues begin to slide and the restaurant is no longer full. The decision is then made to offer discounts to entice people in but that cuts down on profit margins and trains people to visit only when they can take advantage of those price reductions. Neither of these things are good. The other result is that less and less new online reviews are written. That's because people are not inspired to post reviews of a business that doesn't listen or seemingly care what their customers think. The restaurant has peaked so to speak and it's just a matter of time before they close their doors.
If this scenario sounds familiar, you may want to take action (and call us) before it's too late. You've got to give people reasons to recommend and rave about you to others.
