To run a successful restaurant, it’s necessary to feel the needs of the patrons and deliver first-class service on a consistent basis. This industry is rapidly changing in response to new technologies, as owners look for a way to gain an edge in a tough marketplace. Chat marketing is one of the tech-based business approaches that can dramatically change the fortunes for a restaurant. Below are 6 reasons smart restaurants are investing in chatbots and conversational marketing.
Gaining new customers from the online channel
There are limits to how far a restaurant can get on word-of-mouth recommendations alone. Connecting with potential guests on social media and motivating them to try the food is practically necessary in today’s world. Chat automation can accelerate and amplify this channel, leading to a flood of new customers who first heard about the restaurant online.
- Taking suggestions about the menu
Most people are eager to share their tastes and discuss their favourite dishes, which can help restaurants to shape their offering. With chat bots, these opinions can inform the decisions about the menu composition and/or special offers. Taking a hint from potential customers can save the restaurant from costly mistakes, and creates a positive buzz in the community.
- Handling reservations in a dynamic and personalised way
It is imperative to keep as many tables filled as possible without turning away anyone in order to turn a profit in the restaurant business. A restaurant chatbot can provide valuable assistance in active managing of reservations and urgent responding to requests for them, especially if they are connected with an online database that is updated every time a table becomes available.
- Responding to complaints immediately
If a client is unhappy with any aspect of the service, it’s much better to provide him with a channel to air his displeasure than receive bad reviews on social networks and dining blogs. Chat bots can maintain a nuanced conversation and address all elements of each complaint, helping to sooth the concerns of the customers and identify the core issues behind the problem.
- Conducting promotional campaigns on a budget
Chat marketing can be a very effective way to attract new customers, launch limited-time offers, and conduct a wide variety of other promotional activities. Bots can be easily programmed to act in a manner consistent with the objectives of the campaign, so the cost of getting the message across will be lower than if online ads or paid posts were used instead.
- Turning social media contacts into paying customers
Due to geographic limitations and other factors, it’s more difficult for restaurants to leverage online popularity into an actual increase of business volume. Using a smart bot as a conversion tool is proving to be very effective in this niche, since the intricate nature of bot’s conversation lines mimics personal recommendations in many regards.
