Giving Your Guests a Reason to Return

There is fierce competition in today’s restaurant market but giving your guests a reason to return is one of the best ways to keep your section full. Remember, as goes the restaurant so goes your tips. The level of service that today’s diners expect is at a low point, so wowing them with a simple reason to return will reap you and your restaurant steep rewards. Ken Blanchard and Sheldon Bowles in," Raving Fans: A Revolutionary Approach To Customer Service" noted customers are satisfied only because their expectations are so low and because no one else is doing better. If you really want a booming business, they advise, you have to create "raving fans."

Looking for Opportunities

A reason to return opportunity can be found at almost every table you just have to be creative. The simplest thing can make the difference and you will be surprised at just how many opportunities you find once you train yourself to start looking for them.

One waiter I once worked with made it a point to go and get a specialty soup the area was known for even thought the restaurant he was working at didn’t serve the soup. How? For those guests that he knew were disappointed in not being able to get it, he ran next door to a competitors restaurant, got a bowl to go, and then came back and served it.

What? Yep, that’s right. Lucky for him the management at the restaurant he was working at could see the big picture and appreciated the efforts of this. Simpler things can be done however, how many times have people asked if there was a cigarette machine and you simply pointed the way. Taking the time and effort to simply ask what brand they wanted and going to get them for the guest would have been a golden opportunity.

Selling Your Guests a Reason

Reasons to return can be done through selling too. If you are using proper up-selling techniques turning a guests dining experience can be enhanced as well. Don’t think that suggesting a bottle of wine that would go perfectly with what the table has ordered is just a way to get more money out of them. If the suggestion will truly enhance the dining experience you have given them a better experience.

Different restaurant types lend themselves to different opportunities when it comes to applying the reason to return philosophy. Talk to your manager or owner and see what you can come up with working together and implement a program yourselves. This will not only benefit your restaurant by the positive customer chatter, but your tips and long term growth will be enhanced as well